FIRST MATCHES OF ANOTHER TWO PAIRS – PARTICIPANTS OF QUARTER FINAL OF ARMENIAN FOOTBALL CUP TOURNAMENT TAKE PLACE
Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2007
YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. First matches of two pairs of quarter
final of Armenian football cup tournament took place on April
6. Yerevan’s Pyunik defeated Ijevan’s Bentonit with a score of 4 to
0 and Ararat defeated Ulis with a score of 2 to 0.
The return games of quarter final are scheduled for April 10.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
TANER AKCAM: ISSUE OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS CHINESE TORTURE FOR TURKEY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 06 2007
ISTANBUL, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. In his interview to
the Turkish newspaper "Zaman", Taner Akcam, of Michigan University,
Turkish historian, said that he is in favor of the bill on the Armenian
Genocide recognition submitted to the US Congress. "The issue of the
Armenian Genocide is a Chinese torture for Turkey. Every year we ask
themselves the question if the US Congress will adopt a resolution
about recognition or not. Let the congress adopt it, and we’ll get
free," he noted.
According to Akcam, Armenians will also benefit from adoption of such
resolution. "In case of the resolution’s adoption, Armenians will
say that yet another country has joined the countries recognizing the
genocide. Everybody in the US is convinced that Turks committed the
genocide but they are just reluctant to inflict pain on Turkey. The
problem is that in case of the resolution’s ratification Turks will
not allow Americans to use the Incirlik military base," he said.
The newspaper "Marmara" (Istanbul) reported that the Turkish historian
also spoke about the structure of the Turkish government and relations
with Armenia. "The current problems with Armenia will be solved if
people like Yusuf Halacoglu (NT: director of Turkey’s Institute of
History), Gyunduz Aktan (NT: member of the dissolved Turkish-Armenian
Reconciliation Commission), and Shyukru Elekdag (NT: retired diplomat,
deputy from opposition Republican People’s Party), who form state
policy, are isolated," Taner Akcam expressed an opinion.
"NEW YORK TIMES" MAKES CORRECTION BY REPLACING WORD "MASSACRE" WITH "GENOCIDE"
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 06 2007
ISTANBUL, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The newspaper
"New York Times" (US) made a correction in an article published in
its March 29 issue.
In the article "Resolution on the Armenian Genocide Angers Turkey"
by Brian Nolte and Shebnem Arsu (Istanbul), the genocide committed
in 1915 is presented as "massacres" of Armenians.
According to the newspaper "Marmara" (Istanbul), on April 5 the
editorail staff of "The New York Times" made a correction and wrote
that the actions committed against Armenians in 1915 were not massacres
but a genocide.
The newspaper reminded its readers that in 2004 its editorial board
made a decision, according to which the events of 1915 are considered
as genocide and the editorial staff must use the word "genocide"
when addressing this issue.
OSCE OBSERVERS NOTE SHORTCOMINGS AHEAD OF ARMENIAN POLLS
Aravot, Yerevan
6 Apr 07
Text of report by Anna Israyelyan in Armenian newspaper Aravot on 6
April headlined "First report of OSCE observers"
[OSCE] observers have been working in Armenia for about a week
as ambassador Boris Frlec’s mission began to work officially on
21 March. On 25 March, 29 long-term observers were sent to 11
locations. Another 13 members of the team are located in Yerevan.
One of the general conclusions the observation mission has drawn
in its first interim report is that some instability is seen on the
horizon. This is partly due to the emergence of new political forces.
"In this term, a rapid rise of the Prosperous Armenia Party, which
has been functioning since March 2006, is noticeable."
The observers have noted a restriction on gatherings in the run-up to
the [12 May] election, citing as an example the Yerevan musicality’s
moves to prevent rallies in Freedom Square. The mission is studying
the materials of this case, which has been taken to court. Perhaps
our authorities are aware of this, which is why they do not prevent
the upcoming rallies planned to be held in Freedom Square.
Observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights [ODIHR] have dedicated a separate subsection to the voting of
[Armenian] citizens residing abroad. Almost all provisions that allowed
voting in Armenian embassies and consulates have been removed from
the Electoral Code. According to the mission, "relatively belated
implementation of those changes make it difficult to keep voters
informed".
The observers are planning to discuss the issue of voting by diplomatic
workers and Armenian citizens abroad.
The interim report also mentions recent amendments to the Electoral
Code. In particular, the report expresses concern that the requirement
of a quorum for [electoral] commissions’ work has been removed during
the electoral campaign. "While it can be a necessary anti-boycott
measure, the lack of the requirement on a quorum creates conditions
for passing decisions by commission chairpersons or a small number
of commission members."
The mission has underscored that it is crucial that electoral
commissions act based on the principles of "lawfulness, collegiality
and publicity."
ELECTIONS STALL NABUCCO PIPELINE PLANS
By Vincent Boland in Ankara, Kerin Hope in Athens, and Peggy Hollinger in Paris
FT
April 6 2007 17:11
Plans to build the â~B¬4.6bn ($6.2bn) Nabucco pipeline to transport
Caspian gas to western Europe have almost ground to a halt after
becoming embroiled in electoral politics in France and Turkey.
Turkey has refused to approve extending the construction project to
include Gaz de France, the French utility. The move, which officials
said might be revised after the French presidential elections in May,
reflects simmering anger in Ankara over France’s support for Armenia’s
claim of genocide by Ottoman Turks during the first world war.
A threatened boycott of French goods in Turkey after the French
parliament voted last year to make denial of the genocide claim a
crime has not had much success. But the Turkish government warned at
the time that it might exclude French companies from contracts. The
face-off with GdF may be a result of that, some diplomats in Ankara
said on Friday.
The 3,300km Nabucco project is designed to bring gas from the Caspian
region to Europe through Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and
Austria. It is backed by the European Union and the US as a way of
reducing Europe’s dependency on Russian gas supplies, but has hit a
series of hurdles that have delayed the start of construction.
The dispute over the participation of GdF, the favourite to join the
consortium building Nabucco, could complicate matters further. Industry
observers said the negotiations with a new investor had taken longer
than expected, with some blaming the strained relations between Ankara
and Paris.
Extracting the project from politics could take some time. Turkey
is holding a general election later this year, and the Armenian
issue has exploded onto the political agenda. But some analysts said
the stand-off between Turkey and GdF could have as much to do with
negotiating tactics as with politics.
Turkey is keen to sell its part of its excess gas supply to western
European buyers, in addition to receiving transit fees for shipping
central Asian and perhaps Middle Eastern gas through Nabucco.
"The Nabucco project is an opportunity for Turkey to unload its
excess supply," a Sofia-based analyst said. "But if talks with a
French buyer aren’t going well, it doesn’t cost anything to bring up
the Armenian issue."
–Boundary_(ID_myRr4k9rxnUn7hHeWnEho g)–
From: Baghdasarian
TURKEY’S E.U. MEMBERSHIP DISCUSSED IN NEW YORK
Turkish Press
April 6 2007
-ILKIN: "TURKEY MUST BE MADE AN EU MEMBER WHEN IT COMPLETES ITS
HOMEWORK"
NEW YORK – "Turkey must be made an EU member when it completes its
homework. Yet if it does not enter the EU, Turkey will remain as a
democratic and secular country," said Baki Ilkin, Turkish Permanent
Representative to the United Nations, on Wednesday.
A panel discussion titled "Is Turkey or the EU at a turning point?"
and co-sponsored by the New York University, Turkey`s Permanent
Representation in the UN and Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen
Association (TUSIAD) took place in New York yesterday.
Among the topics discussed at the panel discussion were Turkey`s EU
membership and its consequences, Europe`s and the EU`s "Christian
identity" and whether or not the EU is ready for Turkish membership.
"Turkey has always looked at the West since the Ottoman Empire era.
The Turkish Republic, founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, gave high
attention to westernization, modernization and secularism," told
Baki Ilkin.
"Turkey has always been a part of Europe. It would be impossible to
talk about European history without including the Ottoman Empire. The
concept of secularism has been dominant in Turkey for the past 85
years. Regardless of whether Turkey becomes an EU member or not,
secularism will continue to lead Turkey as an important principle,"
remarked Ilkin.
"It is natural to expect EU to accept Turkey, a secular nation,
to membership. Turkey is a role model as a democracy in which Islam
and secularism live side by side," indicated Ilkin. "Nevertheless,
Turkey has never attempted to impose a similar system in any country."
"In the event that Turkey does not become an EU member, it will
continue its progress, stability and secular democracy," reiterated
Ilkin.
Baki Ilkin noted that "the EU must accept Turkey once Turkey completes
its homework. If Turkey is left out, this would be sad for the EU. The
EU will be left in a position as an entity that rejected a Muslim but
secular nation, Turkey. Rejection of Turkey`s bid to join the EU will
cause disappointment in the minds of millions of Turks."
In reference to a question on Turkish workers who may flood into
EU countries, Ilkin responded that similar concerns were brought up
before Portugal, Spain and Poland became EU members. "Workers from
these three countries later returned back to their homelands. Even
if Turkey becomes an EU member, there will be temporary restrictions
on the free movement of labor," underlined Ilkin.
In regard to a question on Cyprus, Ilkin mentioned that this issue
is not a matter between Turkey and Greek Cypriots. "This is an issue
that must be resolved between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots
by a compromise. The Greek Cypriots for many years tried to portray
the Turkish Cypriots as an obstacle in finding a solution. However,
the referendum in 2004 and its results showed that the Greek Cypriots
are the party that refused a solution in Cyprus. The Greek Cypriots,
nonetheless, were made a member of the EU," said Ilkin.
"EU countries must convince the Greek Cypriots to establish an
agreement with the Turkish side in Cyprus," underscored Ilkin.
Asked about Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, Ilkin commented
that "in the recent past, Turkey went through some important
legal reforms. No one has been punished in cases where prosecutors
based their arguments on Article 301. We are in favor of freedom of
expression. However, this principle must apply in all countries. If
the Turks can not freely express their ideas, as in the case of
the so-called Armenian genocide, can we talk about a freedom of
expression?"
Reminded about certain comments that Turkish support to the EU dropped,
Ilkin stated that "it is not merely Turkey`s responsibility to awaken
support for the EU. It is the duty of both Turkey and EU to help
maintain public support for the EU in Turkey."
In regard to a question on "privileged partnership", Ilkin said that
"no Turkish government will accept 2nd class treatment in the EU."
-TUSIAD REPRESENTATIVE-
Meanwhile, TUSIAD`s Brussels Representative Bahadir Kaleagasi indicated
that "Turkey`s membership in the EU will bring many political and
economic advantages to the union. Many EU leaders support Turkey`s
bid to join the union."
According to Kaleagasi, the customs union between Turkey and the
EU functions very well. "Turkish companies successfully compete in
Europe. Conditions in Turkey will be much better when it actually
becomes an EU member," noted Kaleagasi.
Kaleagasi stressed that "French President Jacques Chirac`s recent
comments that the EU needs Turkey in order to be a global player
are correct".
-EU COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE-
On the other hand, Fernando M. Valenzuela, Head of EU Commission
Delegation to UN, remarked that "Turkey`s membership process will
be difficult and long. The EU is at a turning point on Turkey`s
application to EU."
"Certain circles in Europe express concern on Turkey`s membership
due to its huge size, economic status, and cultural and religious
differences. Yet these characteristics may be used to EU`s advantage,"
told Valenzuela.
"Turkey`s Muslim population should not constitute a problem in EU.
Some said that Spain`s culture is also different. Yet Spain has been
an EU member since 1986," indicated Valenzuela.
Valenzuela added that "Turkey`s different religion should not be used
against its membership."
-OTHER PANELISTS-
Taking the floor at the panel discussion, historian Tony Judt remarked
that "it would be a great mistake if the EU does not let Turkey in
as a full member. Not letting in Turkey would make the EU a loser in
the Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia."
Steven Cook of the Foreign Relations Council underlined that "Turkey`s
membership in the EU will have an impact on the Muslim world. Turkey`s
membership in the EU will play a vital role in relations between the
West and the Muslim worlds. Any rejection of Turkey`s application will
cause problems in relations between the West and Islamic worlds. If
Turkey is not made a member of the EU, this would only fuel claims of
a clash of civilizations. The EU leaders must make the right decisions
(in favor of Turkey`s EU memebership)".
PARTNERSHIP OF GAZ DE FRANCE TO NABUCCO PROJECT POSTPONED
Turkish Press
April 6 2007
ANKARA – Partnership of the "Gaz De France" to the Nabucco Project
envisaging construction of a pipeline to transport Azerbaijani and
Iranian natural gas to Europe through Turkey, has been suspended for
a while.
Sources said that Omv of Austria, Mol of Hungary, Bulgargaz of
Bulgaria and Transgaz of Romania accepted Gaz de France`s becoming
the 6th partner of the project while Petroleum Pipeline Cort (BOTAS)
of Turkey put reservations.
Approval of a bill on so-called Armenian genocide by the French
parliament last year influenced the Turkish party`s decision.
Meanwhile, construction of the 3,300 km-kilometre pipeline is expected
to begin in 2008 and is planned to be finished in 2012.
The construction is estimated to cost 4.6 billion euro. The cost is
to be shared among the five gas companies in each of the countries.
The transport capacity of the pipeline will reach up to 25.5 billion
cubic meters per year in the long term, around or after 2020.
ARMENIA: ELECTION RACE AGAINST PM’S BROTHER COULD PROVE PRESSURE COOKER
Haroutiun Khachatrian
EurasiaNet, NY
April 6 2007
As Armenia’s parliamentary elections approach, attention is focusing
on how its relatively fragmented opposition will fare at the polls,
and whether any government pressure will be applied to sway the vote.
The recent withdrawal of a former Nagorno Karabakh military leader
from a race that would have pitted him against the brother of newly
named Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian has become a campaign case study
for this question.
Twenty-four parties and one election bloc have so far been registered
to take part in the May 12 parliamentary elections. Nineteen of the
parties, ranging from the Communist Party to the strongly pro-Western
Heritage Party, are pro-opposition. The single election bloc registered
calls for the impeachment of President Robert Kocharian on the basis
of what it claims was the rigged 2003 presidential election. One
hundred and forty-one candidates have been registered for 41
first-past-the-post district races.
Final registration ends on April 7. The official campaign season
starts on April 8.
Despite their numbers, opposition parties, however, claim that they
are ill-matched for the fight ahead, which is expected to be dominated
by the two pro-government heavyweights, Republican Party of Armenia,
which holds the largest parliamentary faction, and newcomer Prosperous
Armenia, which claims the largest membership (370,000) among Armenian
political parties. [For details, see the Eurasia Insight archive].
Instead, relatively weak opposition parties are choosing their battles
carefully. Arshak Sadoian, the founding president of the National
Democratic Alliance Party and a veteran parliamentarian, has withdrawn
from a first-past-the-post race in Yerevan to avoid conflict with
another opposition politician and to save party resources for the
proportional vote. Another small opposition party, the pro-Western
Liberal Progressive Party, took the opposite strategy, withdrawing
from the proportional race in an attempt to improve the chances of
its leader, Hovhannes Hovhannisian, to win in a single mandate race.
The test case for these maneuvers, however, has been the March
27 withdrawal of Samvel Babaian, leader of the Dashink (Alliance)
Party and former de facto defense minister of the separatist Nagorno
Karabakh region, from a race in the southern city of Goris that would
have pitted him against parliament deputy Alexander Sarkisian, the
51-year-old brother of newly named Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian.
Instead of Babaian, Dashink will support Samvel Haroutiunian,
a candidate backed by former Foreign Minister Raffi Hovannisian’s
Heritage Party.
The race in electoral district #37 between Sarkisian, a member of
the ruling Republican Party of Armenia now headed by his brother,
and Haroutiunian is expected to be one of the election’s fiercest.
Already, it has attracted widespread media coverage.
Concerns that heavy government pressure had been brought to bear
in Goris in favor of then Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian largely
motivated this interest. With Serzh Sarkisian now appointed as
prime minister, that interest is only likely to increase. The
53-year-old minister, like Babaian a native of the disputed Nagorno
Karabakh region, however, has pledged to ensure that a free and fair
parliamentary vote is held nationwide.
Questions raised by the Central Election Commission (CEC) about
whether or not Babaian had met the five-year residency requirement
for running for parliament were among the events originally cited to
suggest that the government had a hand in the Goris race. The former
military commander had submitted documents to the CEC indicating that
he had lived in Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno Karabakh, from 1994
until 2006, Aravot newspaper reported. (Babaian moved to Armenia after
being amnestied in 2004 from a 14-year prison term for an alleged plot
to assassinate de facto Nagorno Karabakh President Arkady Ghukassian.)
In the end, however, Babaian was registered as a candidate for
proportional election on Dashink’s 38-member party list.
The residency issue was not Babaian’s only difficulty, however.
Hmayak Hovhannisian, an unaffiliated parliamentarian who ranks number
four on the Dashink party list of candidates for proportional election,
told 168 Zham newspaper on March 24 that the National Security Service
had interrogated Babaian about allegations that one of his bodyguards
possessed an illegal weapon. "This was an attempt to exert pressure
on us," Hovhannisian claimed.
As often in Armenian politics, ulterior motives were sought as well.
Media outlets have cited Babaian as a likely candidate to replace
Prime Minister Sarkisian as defense minister, with some implying
that the ex-military leader bowed out of the race against Alexander
Sarkisian to enhance his chances for the post. Others have also
contended that the 40-year-old Babaian may himself run for president
of the self-declared Nagorno Karabakh Republic in July.
Despite the speculation, Dashink Party officials, however, have
not stated that government pressure was the reason for Babaian’s
withdrawal from the Goris race. In a March 27 interview with news
agency Noyan Tapan, Gnel Ghlechian, a member of the party’s ruling
council, cited disappointment with the inability of opposition parties
to consolidate locally as a reason for the decision. Local government
officials had made deals with opposition members, Ghlechian charged,
and had "made use of all administrative and material resources"
to deprive opposition members of a fair chance to campaign.
On April 6, domestic election observation group It’s Your Choice
stated that it will closely monitor the race in Goris for detection
of any such practices, the A1+ news site reported.
Editor’s Note: Haroutiun Khachatrian is a Yerevan-based writer
specializing in economic and political affairs.
HSBC BANK ARMENIA PAYS AMD 1.9BLN DIVIDENDS IN 2006
Arka News Agency, Armenia
April 6 2007
YEREVAN, April 6. /ARKA/. HSBC Bank Armenia paid AMD 1.9bln (about
5.2mln) dividends in 2006.
Ruzanna Shahinyan, the bank financial director, told journalists on
Thursday that AMD 1.4bln ($3.8mln) of this amount were dividends paid
as a result of the bank’s activity in 2005.
She said the remaining 500 million or $1.3mln is interim amount
for 2006.
Shahinyan said the bank intends to enlarge its profit to $13 to
14mln in 2007. It means 60% of this amount should be targeted for
paying dividends.
In her words, the bank started paying dividends in 1995 and now
dividend payment totaled $21mln.
Tony Turner, general executive director of HSBC Bank Armenia, in
turn, said that dividends payment policy topped the agenda of the
bank shareholders’ session.
"It was decided to pay dividends equal to a half of profit gained
before taxation", he said.
HSBC Bank Armenia was registered on September 25, 1995. 70% of the
bank’s stakes belong to HSBC Holdings plc and 30% to Armenian overseas
investors.
COUNCIL OF CIS COUNTRIES’ BORDER TROOPS COMMANDERS TO HOLD SESSION NEXT WEEK IN ARMENIA
Arka News Agency, Armenia
April 6 2007
YEREVAN, April 6. /ARKA/. Council of CIS member countries’ border
troops commanders is to hold its regular session on April 10 to 13
in Tsakhkaszor, Armenia.
Armenian National Security Service’s press office says that struggle
against international terrorism as well as crackdown on illegal
migration, smuggling and drug and arms trafficking are to be discussed
at the session among other issues.
According to the information, representatives of CIS Executive
Committee, CIS defense ministerial board, CSTO, EurAsEU Integration
Committee and CIS Anti-Terrorist Center applied for participation in
the session.