Month: March 2007

KAREKIN REFUSES TO ATTEND OPENING OF AKHTAMAR ‘MUSEUM’

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 28 2007

The head of the Armenian Orthodox Church, Karekin II, has refused to
attend a reopening ceremony of a restored Armenian church in eastern
Anatolia because the church will operate as a museum but not as
a church.

The Armenian Orthodox Church released a written statement yesterday
and brought to mind that the invitation for the ceremony on March
29 [tomorrow] for the reopening of the ancient Akhtamar Church
was extended by Van Governor Mehmet Niyazi Tanýlýr to Karekin
II, whose official title is Catholicos of All Armenians, via the
Armenian Foreign Ministry. Karekin II will not participate in the
ceremonies after having considered that "the Holy Cross Armenian
Church, recently renovated by the Turkish authorities, will not
operate as a church under the spiritual authority of the Armenian
Patriarchate of Constantinople and instead will be designated as a
museum, and that the opening ceremonies will be conducted solely with
a secular program and not in accord with the canonical rites of the
Holy Apostolic Armenian Church," the brief statement said.

"In this new century, when there is a universal desire for mutual
understanding and collaboration between peoples, as well as in the
context of dialogue between religions and cultures, this action of the
Turkish authorities against the pious Christian beliefs and emotions
of the Armenian people cannot be perceived as a positive step on the
path of bringing the two nations closer," the statement added. Karekin
II, who had paid a week-long visit to the Armenian community in Turkey
last year in June, in the past angered Turks by saying their ancestors
committed genocide against Armenians around the time of World War I,
an allegation vehemently denied by Turkey.

Turkey, which has no diplomatic relations with Armenia, denies that
Turks committed genocide, saying Armenians who lived in the Ottoman
Empire were killed in internal fighting among ethnic groups as the
empire collapsed.

–Boundary_(ID_1qnN2LhfPopHxGaKO3pWXg) —

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A NEW BEGINNING FOR AKHTAMAR
Terry Richardson Van

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 28 2007

The island church of Akhtamar has hosted many dignitaries in its
1,086-year history.

Built on the orders of Gagik Artsruni, ruler of the kingdom of
Vaspurakan, it was the seat of (decreasingly influential) Armenian
patriarchs from 1116 until 1895. In the 19th century several noted
European travellers paid visits. Layard, the British archaeologist
cum diplomat, describes being rowed across the blue waters of Lake Van
to Akhtamar in the company of "four sturdy monks." Some years later,
the intrepid Isabella Bird made the same trip, writing disparagingly
that the incumbent patriarch "has the reputation of extreme ignorance,
and of being more of a farmer than an ecclesiastic."

Tomorrow, it will be officially opened by dignitaries from the
contemporary political scene — with top brass from the military
joined by representatives from the Ministries of Culture and Tourism,
the Interior, the National Intelligence Agency (MIT) and a former
governor of Van. They’ll have a long way to travel, as Van lies some
1,237 kms southeast of Ankara. The $1.5 million restoration of this
beautiful church, which began in May 2005, was government funded —
an allocation of resources that has significance well beyond the rescue
of an important historical building. Since the inception of the Turkish
republic in 1923, the country’s Armenian past has been either ignored
or denied. That doyen of female travellers, Freya Stark, visiting
Van in the late 1950s, wrote that she planned to extend her stay as
"the island of Akhtamar, with a famous 11th century church which no
one for years was allowed to visit" had just been opened to visitors.

Cynics will suggest that it was only after the EU made funds
available and invited proposals for this project that the Turkish
government stepped in. Whatever the reason, the restoration of an
Armenian Christian building is a promising sign that a balanced view
of Turkey’s past is taking root at the highest levels. In a gesture
of reconciliation, officials from Armenia have been invited to the
ceremony — even though Turkey and Armenia severed diplomatic ties
years ago.

Political ramifications aside, what is it that makes Akhtamar (or
more properly Surb Khach — the Church of the Holy Cross) so special?

Not its size — this is a gem of a church, not a giant of a
cathedral. Built on a cruciform plan, with four apses, it measures only
15m by 12m. Yet it is wonderfully proportioned, its central polygonal
drum surmounted by a pyramidal roof straining towards the heavens,
its reddish sandstone perfectly complementing the glimmering snow on
the mountains ringing the azure lake.

What makes it unique, however, is the profusion of relief carvings —
based on scenes from the Old and New Testaments — which liberally
decorate the exterior. Although the execution of the carvings is rather
naive, the depictions Adam and Eve, Jonah and the whale and King Gagik
presenting a model of the church to Jesus (amongst many other scenes)
are delightful. They also show a distinct eastern (Iranian and Islamic)
influence, not surprisingly given that the monophysite Armenian church
was at theological odds with the mainstream Byzantine Orthodox Church
in Constantinople, and preferred to be ruled by the Islamic Abbasid
Caliph based in Baghdad. A team of five architects were in charge of
the recent restoration, including a Turk of Armenian origin. The roof,
cracked, leaking and sprouting grass and moss, has undergone a major
overhaul. The faded, defaced murals of saints have been carefully
patched-up and repainted, new floorboards laid and the relief carvings
on the exterior walls restored to their former glory.

Over the years Akhtamar has been targeted by treasure hunting villagers
(convinced that the departed Armenians must have buried their valuables
near the church), trigger happy local hunters who used the relief
carvings of biblical figures for target practice, and thoughtless
youths who daubed the interior with crude graffiti. The region’s
severe winters had also taken their natural toll.

Restoration was imperative. Those of us, however, who had grown used
to its isolated, crumbling yet romantic glory will find it hard to
accustom ourselves to the spruce new pier, ticket office, walkways,
guard posts and shop (please, no Akhtamar tea-towels!) — not to
mention the scrubbed-up facade and gleaming interior.

Lovers of the remote and romantic can take solace in the fact that
the impossibly blue waters of Lake Van hold another jewel of an
island church — that of Surb Hovhannes (St John) on the islet of
Carpanak/Ktuts. An hour and a half from Van’s harbour by a tiny,
rusting ex-fishing vessel, it is completely deserted bar a colony
of screaming gulls. Be warned, though. Local rumours suggest that
this charming monastery church, dating back to the 15th century, has
been earmarked for an Akhtamar style makeover. A 779-year era ended
on Akhtamar with the death of its last patriarch in 1895. Another,
much shorter, concluded with the departure of the last monks in
the vicissitudes of 1916. Until the end of the 1950’s Akhtamar was
forbidden to foreign visitors. For the last fifty odd years it has been
the goal of adventurous travellers seeking out a remote, infrequently
visited ruin in one of the world’s most austerely beautiful spots
— Lake Van. What the future holds for this unique island church is
uncertain, but if its restoration leads to any further rapprochement
between Turkey and Armenia, it will have been $1.5 million well spent.

[FINGERTIP FACTS]

Getting to Van: Turkish Airlines from Ýstanbul and Ankara – daily
flights. Atlas Jet daily from Istanbul. Sunexpress Mondays and
Wednesdays from Antalya. Regular coaches from all parts of Turkey

Getting to Akhtamar: A ferryboat leaves from the quay on the mainland
opposite the island at frequent intervals in the summer; on demand
at other times of the year. Prices were YTL 2.5 per person in 2006,
but may well have risen for 2007

Getting to Carpanak: Currently the only way is to hire a boat from Van
harbor, which costs around YTL 150. The boat holds up to 20 people,
and will wait for you to explore/picnic on the island. If you visit
in June/July you’ll be mobbed by nesting gulls.

Admission and opening hours: Akhtamar dawn-dusk, the price of YTL
2 in 2006 is likely to rise considerably following the official
opening. Carpanak island/church has neither site guardian nor entrance
fees at present

Where to stay

Akdamar Hotel; central Van. Best of the city hotels
Tel 0432/214 9923

Merit Hotel; 12km from Van, on the way to Akhtamar. Beautiful lakeside
location Tel 0432/312 3060

Þahin Hotel; central Van. Cheaper than the above, perfectly adequate
Tel 0432/216 3062

Where to eat

Besse; central Van on Melek Ýþ Merkezi, Sanat Sokak. Excellent value,
traditional food and soothing surroundings, but no alcohol

Sacý Beyaz; central Van, junction of Kazým Karabekir Caddesi and
Cumhuriyet Caddesi. Poshest of Van’s many patisseries, with some
tables outside for people watching

Guides and Maps

The Ahtamar Reliefs (published by Turizm Yayýnlarý); Armenian
Van/Vaspurkan (Mazda Publishers Inc) Blue Guide: Turkey; Rough Guide
to Turkey; Lonely Planet:Turkey; Kartographischen Verlag Reinhard
Ryborsch map series no:6

–Boundary_(ID_NDXnIclGxkO/9XYz5sJldA)–

GATES: RHETORIC HARMS TURKEY, U.S. RELATIONS
By William H. McMichael – Staff writer

AirForceTimes.com, VA
March 28 2007

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on Tuesday said Turkish anger over
proposed U.S. congressional resolutions could have a negative effect
on that country’s support for the U.S. military conflicts in Iraq
and Afghanistan.

"Our two nations should oppose measures and rhetoric that needlessly
and destructively antagonize each other," Gates said in a speech
before the American-Turkish Council in Washington, D.C. "That includes
symbolic resolutions by the United States Congress, as well as the
type of anti-American and extremist rhetoric that sometimes finds a
home in Turkish political discourse."

Two recently introduced bipartisan congressional resolutions condemn
the 1915-1917 mass killings of 1.5 Armenians as "genocide" – something
long acknowledged by historians but that Turkey denies.

Gates said that, partly as a result of that tension, the war in Iraq
is "one of the most difficult matters we have had to work through
as allies."

Turkey, a NATO ally, would like to wipe out the Kurdish militant group
popularly known by its old initials – PKK, for Kurdistan Workers’
Party – that is based in northern Iraq. More than 20 years of Turkish
conflict with the separatist group has produced some 30,000 total
casualties, according to the U.S. State Department.

The U.S. wants to maintain the relative stability that much of northern
Iraq enjoys.

"We recognize that every Turkish citizen killed by the PKK is a setback
for success in Iraq, and a setback in our relationship with Turkey,"
Gates said. "As President Bush has underscored, the United States
is committed to the stability and territorial integrity of Iraq,
and opposes policies or groups that would undermine that integrity
in any way."

Gates said that the strategic relationship between the U.S. and
Turkey "has undergone some turbulence in recent years," later adding,
"All relationships need work to remains strong."

But ties remain strong, Gates said, noting that Turkey has provided
access to Iraq from its Incirlik Air Base, has commanded two security
force rotations in Afghanistan and is a partner in the Joint Strike
Fighter project. Gates also said 16 U.S. Navy ships made port calls
in Turkey last year.

Turkey, as well as other NATO members, has a vital interest in a
successful outcome in Iraq, Gates said.

"Whatever disagreements we might have over how we got to this point
in Iraq, the consequences of a failed state in Iraq, of chaos there,
will adversely affect every member of the Atlantic alliance, and none
more so than Turkey," Gates said.

Yet while Turkey will continue to play a role in that effort, the
U.S. needs other countries in the region to do their parts to help
stabilize Iraq, Gates said.

"Iraq’s neighbors will have to play a constructive role going forward,
even if they haven’t done so in the past," Gates said.

"Especially in encouraging political reconciliation and reduction of
violence within Iraq. This is certainly the case with Syria and Iran,
who have not been helpful." Gates has voiced similar thoughts since
becoming defense secretary.

Gates has previously called for greater dialogue with Iran. But in
his speech, he seemed to express some pessimism over the efforts.

"In dealing with a regime like Iran’s, one has to be realistic,"
Gates said. "The American search for elusive Iranian moderates is a
recurring and mostly fruitless theme since the revolution in 1979."

But he said the recent regional talks in Baghdad "were a good start"
and that the U.S. is open to higher-level exchanges.

"We should have no illusions about the nature of this regime," Gates
said of Iran. "Or about their designs for their nuclear program,
their intentions for Iraq, or their ambitions in the Gulf region."

007/03/military_gates_turkey_070327/

DEFENSE SECRETARY SAYS AMERICA NEEDS TURKEY AS CONGRESS MULLS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL

All Headline News
March 28 2007

Matthew Borghese – All Headline News Staff Writer Washington,
D.C. (AHN) – At a time when the United States is engaged in Afghanistan
and Iraq, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says America’s relationship
with Turkey is "under valued and under appreciated."

Turkey, which borders Iraq and holds a substantial portion of ethnic
Kurds, "is vitally important to security challenges facing the U.S."

according to Secretary Gates, who spoke at a Washington, D.C. dinner
hosted by the American-Turkish Council (ATC).

Secretary Gates says, "Our military, economic, political and personal
ties remain strong," adding that American companies are currently
working with $175 million from Turkey to develop the new Joint Strike
Fighter (JSF). Ankara has agreed to buy 100 of the F-35 Lightning II
supersonic stealth fighters when they roll off the production line.

Turkey has contributed troops to the NATO International Security
Assistance Force in Afghanistan, and more importantly allows American
planes to reach Iraq via its airspace. Without such access, Gates
says bringing troops and supplies to Baghdad would be "exceedingly
more difficult and vastly more expensive."

"Iraq’s neighbors will need to play a constructive role going forward
even if they haven’t done so in the past; especially in encouraging
political reconciliation and a reduction in violence within Iraq.

This is certainly the case with Syria and Iran. They have not been
helpful," Gates adds.

The Defense Secretary also subtly spoke out against a bill currently
in Congress, which would classify the deaths of Armenians in Turkey
as a genocide, saying, "The two nations should oppose measures and
rhetoric that needlessly and destructively antagonize each other.

That includes symbolic resolutions by the United States Congress
as well as the type of anti-American and extremist rhetoric that
sometimes finds a home in Turkey’s political discourse."

ARMENIA, UKRAINE DISCUSS SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

ITAR-TASS, Russia
March 28 2007

YEREVAN, March 28 (Itar-Tass) — Prospects for bilateral relations
between Armenia and Ukraine were discussed in Yerevan on Wednesday
by the foreign ministers of the two countries, Vartan Oskanyan and
Arseny Yatsenyuk. The Ukrainian minister arrived in Yerevan to attend
the funeral of Armenian prime minister Andranik Margaryan.

The ministers also discussed possibilities of broadening cooperation
in international organizations, Itar-Tass learned from the Press
and Information Department of the Armenian Foreign Ministry. The
draft resolution on "frozen conflicts" submitted to the UN General
Assembly by GUAM countries (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine)
was touched upon in this connection. At the guest’s request, Oskanyan
familiarized him in detail with the process of settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. There was an exchange of opinions on the Kosovo
question.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PERSONAL RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIAN AND AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTS ARE TRUSTFUL, TOP RUSSIAN OFFICIAL SAYS

Today, Azerbaijan
March 28 2007

Russia and Azerbaijan have strategic, confidential and partnership
relations, Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov told, when the
parliamentary delegation began its visit to Azerbaijan.

"Trustful personal relations between the Russian and Azerbaijani
presidents are a pledge of continuity in the two countries’ policies
after 2008," he said.

"On Tuesday during his visit to Moscow Azerbaijani President Ilkham
Aliyev had a good and open talk with Vladimir Putin. All issues have
been discussed and mutual understanding found," he said.

"We are parliamentarians and our task is the formation of a legal
field that consolidates agreements at the high level," Mironov said.

In reply to journalists’ question whether the problem of Nagorny
Karabakh will be on the agenda of the Federation Council delegation’s
visit, Mironov said "it would be wrong to be in Baku and not to touch
on this problem, this open wound."

He pointed out that "only Baku and Yerevan have the way out of this
problem." Russia "will accept any decision the two countries will
reach. If they wish, Russia will provide assistance guarantees."

Itar-Tass

URL:

CAPTURED AZERBAIJANI SOLDIER RECEIVES NEXT LETTER FROM HIS FAMILY

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 28 2007

On March 21, the representatives of the International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC) visited Azerbaijani soldier Samir Mammadov,
who was captured by Armenian Armed Forces on December 24, 2006,
the ICRC office in Azerbaijan told the APA.

ICRC representatives in Armenia delivered the letter of Samir
Mammadov’s family to the soldier. The representatives also monitored
detention conditions and situation of the soldier.

ICRC representatives have visited Azerbaijani captured soldier Samir
Mammadov for 12 times.

OSCE MONITORING MISSION MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 28 2007

OSCE monitoring mission has made some recommendations related to
the fires in Nagorno-Karabakh in the contact line of Azerbaijani
and Armenian troops, Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental
Activities Bernard Snoy told the APA. The recommendations include
taking some measures and implementing projects. The mission recommended
holding seminar on operation of water reserves, fighting against
fires and hold meeting on discussion of report of the mission as
short-term initiatives. But as long and medium-termed initiatives, the
mission recommends rehabilitation of burnt forests and lands, planning
measures against fires, prophylactics of the fires, modernization of
equipment, investigate the fires, regional cooperation on fighting
against fires and operation of water reserves and taking necessary
measures in order to protect environment.

According to Snoy, these recommendations have been filed firstly
"to governments of Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh" as well as to
relevant structures and programs of OSCE and UN. The recommendations
are aimed at rehabilitation of fire-affected areas, elimination of
the risk of fire in future and reduce its possible negative results.

OSCE MISSION SAYS THE FIRES IN THE BORDER LINE AFFECTED THE REGION’S ECOSYSTEM

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 28 2007

"The monitoring group was not able to review firefighting equipment
in the eastern part of the contact line. Azerbaijani representatives
stated many times that their equipment and technical devices meet
modern standards and can be used in firefighting. They said that the
only obstacle to the work in the regions near the contact line is
mined areas, unexploded military equipment and fire from the opposite
side. The group visited firefighting departments in Nagorno Karabakh.

They found out that firefighting services are equipped with out-of-date
equipment used for 20-25 years. At the same time Nagorno Karabakh’s
relief prevents taking efficient measures against fires.

There is lack of equipment to extinguish fire manually in the
places where cars can not reach. There is also shortage of water,
it is connected with lack of irrigation system, artesian wells, and
lack of agreement and mutual activity between the two sides of the
contact line to use all water resources," says the report drawn up
by OSCE mission which monitored the fire-hit places, Bernard Snoy,
Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities told the
APA. According to the report, the fires caused damage of greenery and
economic losses. Economic losses in Nagorno Karabakh are estimated
to amount to 3.5 million Armenian drams ($9m).

"The head of Tartar region executive power said 10,548 families
suffered from the fires. Azerbaijani press writes that the damage is
estimated to amount to AZN7.5m ($8.6m). Economic losses to be caused by
the degradation of ecosystem have not been estimated yet. Some local
residents say that smoke started as a result of fire were dangerous
for the health of sick people. The head of Agjabadi executive power
said that smoke had a negative influence on the people suffering from
asthma and cardiovascular diseases as well as the elderly. There are
bullet holes on fire engines in Nagorno Karabakh and Tartar. Heads of
Tartar and Agjabadi executive powers said that the number of people
bitten by snakes increased. About 48 appealed to hospitals. It is
connected with migration of snakes and rodents from the fire-hit
places. The discussion over the influence of fires on environment
underlined several times that fires influence atmosphere and cause
climate change."

ARMENIAN DELEGATION IN TURKEY TO DISCUSS FUTURE COOPERATION

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
March 28 2007

KARS (A.A) -28.03.2007 -An Armenian delegation of architects,
engineers, archeologists, Turcologists, journalists and NGO
representatives, headed by Armenian Deputy Culture Minister Gagik
Gurjian, arrived in eastern city of Kars early on Wednesday to
participate in the inauguration of the Armenian Church on Akdamar
Island in Van Lake.

Tight security measures were put in place for the Armenian delegation,
which is actually in Turkey as the official guest of the Culture &
Tourism Ministry.

Speaking to reporters, Gyurjian said that they are not in Turkey
just to witness the renovation of the Akdamar Church and added: "We
think we can discuss new projects regarding the future. Our experts
can cooperate in many areas including archeology, architecture and
industry".

The Armenian group will visit historical and tourist attractions in
Kars today.