Month: March 2007

US struggles to avert Turkish intervention in northern Iraq: Ankara
claims Kurdish rebels preparing attacks Operations could wreck
American peace strategy

SIMON TISDALL ANKARA
The Guardian – United Kingdom
Published: Mar 23, 2007

The US is scrambling to head off a "disastrous" Turkish military
intervention in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq that threatens to
derail the Baghdad security surge and open up a third front in the
battle to save Iraq from disintegration.

Senior Bush administration officials have assured Turkey in recent
days that US forces will increase efforts to root out Kurdistan
Workers’ party (PKK) guerrillas enjoying safe haven in the Qandil
mountains, on the Iraq-Iran-Turkey border.

But Abdullah Gul, Turkey’s foreign minister, MPs, military chiefs and
diplomats say up to 3,800 PKK fighters are preparing for attacks in
south-east Turkey – and Turkey is ready to hit back if the Americans
fail to act. "We will do what we have to do, we will do what is
necessary. Nothing is ruled out," Mr Gul said. "I have said to the
Americans many times: suppose there is a terrorist organisation in
Mexico attacking America. What would you do?. . . We are hopeful. We
have high expectations. But we cannot just wait forever."

Turkish sources said "hot pursuit" special forces operations in
Khaftanin and Qanimasi, northern Iraq, were already under way. Murat
Karayilan, a PKK leader, said this week that a "mad war" was in
prospect unless Ankara backed off.

Fighting between security forces and Kurdish fighters seeking autonomy
or independence for Kurdish-dominated areas of south-east Turkey has
claimed 37,000 lives since 1984. The last big Turkish operation
occurred 10 years ago, when 40,000 troops pushed deep into Iraq. But
intervention in the coming weeks would be the first since the US took
control of Iraq in 2003 and would risk direct confrontation between
Turkish troops and Iraqi Kurdish forces and their US allies.

Several other factors are adding to the tension between the Nato
partners:

* The firm Turkish belief that the US is playing a double game in
northern Iraq. Officials say the CIA is covertly funding and arming
the PKK’s sister organisation, the Iran-based Kurdistan Free Life
party, to destabilise the Iranian government.

* US acquiescence in plans to hold a refer endum in oil-rich Kirkuk in
northern Iraq. Turkey suspects Iraqi Kurds are seeking control of
Kirkuk as a prelude to the creation of an independent Kurdistan.

* Plans by the US Congress to vote on a resolution blaming Turkey for
genocide against the Armenians in 1915. Faruk Logoglu, a former
ambassador to Washington, said that if the resolution passed,
relations "could take generations to recover".

* Record levels of Turkish anti-Americanism dating back to 2003, when
Turkey refused to let US combat forces cross the Iraq border.

The US is already fighting Sunni insurgents and Shia
militias. Analysts say a surge in violence in northern Iraq,
previously the most stable region, could capsize the entire US
plan. But pressure on the Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, is also growing as a result of forthcoming elections.
Military intervention was narrowly avoided last summer when he said
that "patience was at an end" over US prevarication. Now conservatives
and nationalists are again accusing him of not standing up to
Washington.

"If they are killing our soldiers . . . and if public pressure on the
government increases, of course we will have to intervene," said Ali
Riza Alaboyun, an MP for Mr Erdogan’s Justice and Development
party. "It is the legal right of any country to protect its people and
its borders."

US support for Iranian Kurds opposed to the Tehran government is
adding to the agitation. "The US is trying to undermine the Iran
regime, using the Kurds like it is using the MEK [the anti-Tehran
People’s Mujahideen]," said Dr Logoglu. "Once you begin to
differentiate between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ terrorist organisations, then
you lose the war on terror." But he warned that military intervention
might be ineffective and could be "disastrous" in destabilising the
region. A recent national security council assessment also suggested
that senior Turkish commanders were cautious about the prospects of
success.

Daniel Fried, assistant secretary of state, said last week that the US
was acting to assuage Turkish concerns. "We are committed to
eliminating the threat of PKK terrorism in northern Iraq," he said.

General Joseph Ralston, the US special envoy dealing with the PKK
issue, was less upbeat, admitting that "the potential for Turkish
cross-border action" was growing. "We have reached a critical point in
which the pressure of continued [PKK] attacks has placed immense
public pressure upon the government of Turkey to take some military
action. As the snows melt in the mountain passes, we will see if the
PKK renews its attacks and how the Turkish government responds . . . I
hope the Turks will continue to stand by us."

But a Milliyet journalist, Kadri Gursel, said: "The US attitude has
really pissed off the government and the army. The US really doesn’t
understand how exhausted and fed up they are."

A Kurd is arrested at an Istanbul rally on Wednesday. Turkey’s leaders
are under pressure to crack down on Kurdish militants

ARMENIAN DELEGATION ALSO TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
DEDICATED TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH TO START IN TBILISI ON MARCH 23

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian delegation left for
Tbilisi on March 22 to participate in the international conference
dedicated to reproductive health to be organized in the capital of
Georgia. As Armen Ashotian, a NA Deputy, Republican, doctor by
profession, informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent, the conference is
organized with the assistance of the UN Development Programme,
European Parliament and a number of other international structures and
is held under the patronage of the First Lady of Georgia.
Parliamentarians of the South Caucasus states, specialists of
corresponding departments of the executive power, representatives of
the civil society will participate in the conference.

In A. Ashotian’s words, this is a long-term and continual program,
within the framework of which there were numerous gatherings in the
past as well. "It is very important for us, taking into consideration,
how embracing theme it is: it involves problems of demography, health
care, AIDS, narcotism and numerous other issues which in this or that
way influence on our people’s problem of reproduction as an ethnos,"
the deputy said. In his words, he will participate in the conference
by the invitation of the UNDP Office, and Sukias Avetisian, the Deputy
Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Social, Health Care and
Nature Protection Issues, a Republican, will participate in the
conference from the committee. A. Ashotian will make a report
dedicated to national efforts in the direction of the theme being
discussed and it is expected that the discussions will be effective
and useful.

In his words, the report dedicated to demographic problems recently
made public by the UN in which "the demographic prospect of Armenia is
not very bright not only compared with the countries of the region but
also by itself, also proves the staring importance of the problem. In
A. Ashotian’s words, in the case of not taking corresponding steps,
according to previsions, the number of the population of Armenia will
decrease to 2.5 mln in 2050, from the present official number of 3.2
mln people, and loss of the population of 700 thousand people is
rather big for a country like Armenia.

Besides the working days of the conference, March 23-24 discussions,
the First Lady’s reception as well as meetings at the Parliament of
Georgia and a number of other official events are also envisaged for
the participants. The deputy did not exclude that regional problems,
including Armenian-Georgian ones, are also touched upon during the
events. "I think that the Azerbaijani delegation will not have an
aversion to stress about its 1 mln refugees, taken from nowhere and
other baseless statements about which they, I think, speak even at the
exhibition of postage-stamps," A. Ashotian said.

"AYLENTRANK" IS FOR CIVILIZED STRUGGLE, INITIATIVE MEMBER VAHAGN
KHACHATRIAN SAYS

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The goal of the "Aylentrank"
(Alternative) public-political initiative is to reach system changes
what must be started from power shift. Vahagn Khachatrian, a members
of the initiative, former Yerevan Mayor stated about it at the March
23 debate. At the same time he stressed that they are for civilized
ways of struggle, particularly, for impeachment and will not go to
power shift by a revolution. "I am afraid of that atmosphere which
gives birth to a revolution," the "Aylentrant" representative said.

Another participant of the debate, Hranush Kharatian, the Chief of the
Department on National Minorities and Religious Issues of the RA
Government’s staff mentioned that there are many people respected by
her in the "Aylentrank" staff. But, in her words, there are also such
people who "have no moral right to be engaged in policy" as they did
not publically confess their mistakes and did not yet give any answer
for their offences committed during the government of the Armenian
National Movement (ANM).

In response, V. Khachatrian mentioned that the present authorities
were not able to present serious criminal accusationn to
representatives of the former authorities. "They made an attempt to
arise "the case of black oil," but they saw that the tracks brought to
ones responsible for the present system," the former Mayor stated.

THEATRICAL-CONCERT TOURS TO START SOON IN MARZES OF ARMENIA, ARTSAKH
AND JAVAKHK

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Theatrical-concert tours within the
framework of the "Cultural Marz" program will be held for the first
time this year in the marzes of Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk. Those
tours being held on the initiative of the RA Ministry of Culture and
Youth Issues have a goal to activize cultural life in the regions as
well as in Artsakh and Javakhk.

As Karo Vardanian, the Chief of the Ministry’s Cultural Policy
Department mentioned at the March 22 press conference, the government
for the first time this year allocated money from the state budget for
this program. In his words, the money will be given to those state
theaters, ensembles, orchestras and other organizations of the capital
which would like to go on tours: the money will be given for the
travel and living expenses.

Karo Vardanian stated that the Al. Stanislavski Opera and Ballet
National Academic Theater will go on the first tour: the 40-person
company will perform the Carmen Suite performance in March in Gyumri.

K. Vardanian mentioned that besides the tours, mastery courses will
be organized in the marzes: specialists of different spheres of
culture will periodically visit marzes, read lectures.

ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN REOPENING OF SURB KHACH CHURCH
COMPOSED OF ARCHITECTS, ARCHEOLOGISTS AND HISTORIANS

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. A 6-member Armenian official
delegation mainly composed of architects, archeologists and historians
will participate in the reopening ceremony of Surb Khach Church on
Aghtamar Island of Van. The delegation headed by RA Deputy Minister of
Culture and Youth Issues Gagik Gyurjian is composed of Artyom
Grigorian, Director of the Monument Preservation Agency of the
ministry, Mkrtich Minasian, Chairman of the Union of Architects of
Armenia, Ruben Safrasiain, Turkologist, Director of the Institute of
Oriental Studies of the RA National Academy of Sciences (NAS), Murad
Hasratian, Doctor of Architecture, employee of the Art Institute of
the RA NAS, and Pavel Avetisian, Director of the Institute of
Archeology and Ethnography of the RA NAS.

Representatives of the ministry said at the March 22 press conference
that the day of departure and the route have not been clarified yet.
They failed to answer some questions of reporters, particularly the
questions about the re-consecration of Surb Khach Church and the
mounting of its cross. They did not know if the church will be a
historic monument or religious rituals will be held in it.

Head of the Cultural Policy Department of the ministry Karo Vardanian
told reporters not to hurry as they will receive answers to all thier
questions after the delegation returns from Van.

BY PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF SURVEY AT BORDER POINTS OF ARMENIA, 3.46% OF
GOERS AND 18.05% OF ENTRANTS IN ARMENIA IN LATE 2006 WERE JOB SEEKERS

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The results of the study of goers and
entrants through all border points of Armenia were summarized. The
study was conducted in September-December 2006 on the initiative of
the RA National Statistical Service, and with the assistance of the
program "Competitive Armenian Private Sector" of the Armenian Tourism
Development Agency and the USAID. The survey involved 3% of goers and
entrants and was conducted 7 days each month.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, in the indicated
period, 3,620 out of 7,545 entrants – survey participants had status
of Armenian resident, while 3,155 out of 6,012 goers had status of
non-resident of Armenia. 2,708 or 25.9% of entrants were outgoing
tourists, 41.8% of goers – incoming tourists. 30.83% of entrants
(51.02% of goers) had the purpose to visit their friends, 27.75% of
entrants (18.45% of goers) – business purpose, 18.05% (3.46%) – job
purpose, 10.8% (9.27%) – recreation purpose and 2.4% (3.77%) – medical
treatment purpose.

Men made up 57.7% of entrants (59.5% of goers). During the indicated
period, the average daily expenses of an entrant made 17.2 US dollars,
those of a goer – 51 dollars.

361.4 TONS OF HUMANITARIAN AID BROUGHT TO ARMENIA IN JANUARY, 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. 361 tons of goods at the total cost of
2.05 mln U.S. dollars, instead of correspondingly 1 mln 557.7 thousand
dollars and 155.6 tons indexes of the same month of the previous year,
were brought to Armenia in January, 2007, as humanitarian aid.
According to data of the RA National Statistical Service, textiles
made 34.9% , equipment and apparatus made 16.1%, and different
industrial goods made 15.8% of the got assistance.

5 ARMENIAN SPORTSMEN AWARDED GOLD MEDALS AT 20th CHAMPIONSHIP OF DUEL
TYPES HELD IN CALIFORNIA

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. 5 from 8 Armenian sportsmen, Edmond
Muradian, Arayik Avetisian, Sos Karapetian, Norayr Avetisian and
Karlen Minasian, were awarded the first prize, gold medal, and Karen
Karapetian and Karlen Minasian were awarded silver medals and Tigran
Sedrakian was awarded bronze medal at the 20th championship of duel
types held on March 2-4 in the city of Ontario, the state of
California.

As Docendo Full Contact Karate Federation Chairman Haik Vardanian
stated at the March 22 press conference, representatives of 32
countries participated in the championship. Sportsmen of Armenia
competed in different weight categories and, besides individual
victories, had team victories as well, again occupying the first
place, owing to gathered common points. In H. Vardanian’s words, the
Armenian sporstmen’s victory was accepted with great inspiration by
the Armenian community of California.

He also mentioned that the federation sportsmen will compete in
November in the championship of the Docendo professional league to
take place in Las Vegas.

The federation acting in Armenia from 1995 participated in different
international tournaments, having world champions, cup winners.

EXAMINATION OF COURT ACTION AGAINST HRANT DINK POSTPONED

ISTANBUL, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Turkish court
postponed examination of the court action brought against Hrant Dink,
Arat Dink and Sargis Serovbian by the Shishli Prosecutor’s Office
according to Article 301 of the Criminal Code of Turkey. The next
court sitting will take place on June 14.

As Marmara states, the first sitting on the case took place on
September 22, 2006, but was postponed because of charge of the court.

To recap, Agos newspaper editor-in-chief Hrant Dink was killed on
January 19, 2007, from a Turk nationalist’s shot.

To also recap, the reason for bringing a court action was the
interview given by Hrant Dink to the Reuters agency where Dink said:
"Yes, I call those events a genocide. The people which lived on those
lands for four thousand years, was annihilated after the 1915 events."
Just this statement was considered one insulting Turkishness what is
considered criminally punishable in Turkey.

ISTANBUL SECURITY BODIES’ OFFICIALS JERRAH AND GULER TO BE PUNISHED
FOR NOT PREVENTING HRANT DINK’S MURDER

ISTANBUL, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The state bodies
finished the examination concerning faults found place in the Istanbul
and Ankara Secu rity Bodies on the occason of Hrant Dink’s murder. The
inspectors stated that Jelaleddin Jerrah, the Istanbul Security Bodies
head neglected in his duties as though they stated from Trapison about
organizing an enroachment upon Hrant Dink, however, no serious steps
were taken in the direction of failing the enroachment or securing
Dink’s safety. The inspectors proposed to subject Jerrah to
disciplinary punishment.

As Marmara states, a more serious punishment is envisaged for Ahmed
Ihsan Guler, the Chief of the Security Information Department of
Istabul, who ignored the information about Dink and did not seriously
pursued Yasin Hayal, planning that crime.