Month: July 2007

The government uses administrative levers to pressure on people

A. Danielyan
04-07-2007 12:26:29 – KarabakhOpen

The election campaign continues, and the candidates have met with
voters in different places. However, nothing is known about two
candidates, Armen Abgaryan and Vania Avanesyan. They say Vania
Avanesyan does not meet voters because of the lack of funding. He said
he uses the free airtime on the public television and radio, the Azat
Artsakh Newspaper, and `there is no money to pay for more airtime.’

Armen Abgaryan is silent, refuses to hold interviews, does not meet
voters, or the meetings are not reported in the media. The reasons are
not known.

The other three candidates Masis Mayilyan, Bako Sahakyan and Hrant
Melkumyan meet with voters. We asked the candidates if equal
opportunities were created for the election campaign. Vania Avanesyan
said, `The opportunities are equal but not all the candidates have
possibility to use them.’ Bako Sahakyan thinks, `The law provides for
equal opportunities, and nobody has the right to create them.’ Hrant
Melkumyan says he has not faced difficulty yet because `the Communist
Party has offices in the capital and in the regions.’ Masis Mayilyan
holds the contrary opinion. He said the opportunities are not equal.

`Before the election campaign the administrative levers were not used
openly, now they are. The media ignore the law. We have already noticed
two major breaches, one on the first day of the campaign, the other on
the second day when after the time provided for the campaign one of the
candidates was propagated, and the other was denounced. My election
headquarters made a statement on the first day.’

Unfortunately, the government uses administrative levers to pressure on
people, which makes us revise our tactics. We often have to work in an
`underground’ mode to not stake people. It reminds me of the year 1988.
At that time the `crackdown’ of the government made act so, everyone
remembers. The government is now making the same mistake.

I think it must be a matter of honor for the government to hold a fair
election. For the government, which is going to leave, it is double
responsibility because it will shape public opinion on their
activities. They must acknowledge that the upcoming election is
essential to the international image of the country and its
development, Masis Mayilyan said.

TERRY HAD A SLIP OF THE TONGUE

Lragir.am
03-07-2007 12:53:13

On July 2 the Ago Group for monitoring of obligations assumed by
Armenia before the CoE Committee of Ministers led by Pier Sjorgen,
ambassador of Sweden to the CoE, visited Yerevan. The group had
meetings with NGOs, parties, and the minister of foreign affairs of
Armenia. In the evening Pier Sjorgen and Vardan Oskanyan held a news
conference at the foreign ministry.

The foreign minister of Armenia said the meeting was effective,
important and useful. They discussed what has been done and what has to
be done, the new government, the forthcoming presidential election.
However, `the focus was on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue.’

The ambassador pointed to the discussed issues which are primary to the
CoE: elections, freedom of speech, independent judiciary. The Ago Group
said the CoE is hopeful that progress of the parliamentary election of
May 12 will be sustained in the presidential election. And the judicial
school will help establish an independent judicial system, the teaching
program of which was worked out by the CoE, CoE thinks.

With regard to the upcoming NKR presidential election, Terry Davis, CoE
Secretary General, had referred to it as so-called, and used the word
separatist for Karabakh. The reporters wondered if this is support for
Azerbaijan on CoE’s behalf. Ambassador Pier Sjorgen said the CoE does
not recognize the elections held in the areas of frozen conflicts.
Vardan Oskanyan said Armenia responds to all the statements which do
not match the spirit of the settlement process, even if there was a
misunderstanding, intention or unawareness. According to Vardan
Oskanyan, Terry Davis made a careless statement. Vardan Oskanyan asked
the Ago Group to pass his opinion to Terry Davis.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The United States of America celebrates Independence Day

armradio.am
04.07.2007 10:01

On July 4, the United States of America celebrates the 231st
anniversary of its independence and the signing of the Declaration of
Independence on that day in 1776.

On July 3, Americans and Armenians jointly marked the day at a
celebration at the US Embassy in Armenia. During the event, US Chargé
d’Affaires Anthony Godfrey stated, `Two hundred and thirty one years
ago, our founding fathers declared that our basic rights are granted
not by the state, not by a king or president, but by our Creator.’ He
added that `US ` Armenia relations are strong. We share a vision for
our families of a world without fear of terror, where our children can
grow strong and free.’ He also took note of the strong
Armenian-American community in the United States and their contribution
in helping to make America great and in strengthening the bonds between
the two countries.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PACE President due in Armenia

armradio.am
04.07.2007 10:22

President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)
Rene van der Linden is arriving in Armenia. Public Relations Department
of the National Assembly informs that meetings with NGO representatives
are envisaged in the framework of the visit. The PACE President will
meet with RA President will be received by RA President Robert
Kocharyan, the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and NA Speaker
Tigran Torosyan. Meetings with the members of the Parliamentary
Standing Committee on European Integration and heads of NA factions are
expected. The results of the visit will be summed up with a press
conference at the National Assembly. On July 5 PACE President Rene van
der Linden will leave Yerevan for Tbilisi.

ArmTech ’07 to be held in San Francisco

armradio.am
04.07.2007 11:20

The Armenian Technology Congress (ArmTech) announced the launch of
ArmTech ’07, a global high-technology-focused event to be held in San
Francisco July 4-7, 2007, at the Fairmont Hotel. This is the first high
technology congress and exhibition designed for professionals
interested in engaging in the global Armenian community and the rapidly
rising technology sector of Armenia. Designed to promote both
professional networking and valuable connections for operating
companies and entrepreneurs, the event will feature presentations of
the technology achievements and challenges of Armenia by numerous
operating companies, service providers, academic institutions, and
government officials from the US, Armenia, and around the world. The
Armenian Development Agency (ADA) is an organizational sponsor of the
event and provides extensive development and marketing support.

`The time is right for an international event to draw together
professionals who want to engage in the global Armenian community and
support the rapidly rising technology sector of Armenia,’ said Tony
Moroyan, the founder and co-chair of ArmTech Congress and a principal
executive of venture and incubation activities including Viasphere
International in Armenia. `ArmTech, envisaged as recurring every two
years, is an unprecedented opportunity to obtain business and
professional information and make key connections spanning the high
tech industry, as well as with government representatives from Armenia
and within the US, major players in the financial and services sectors,
and leading academics.’

`The sphere of high technology has quite developed in Armenia, and
investor interest is increasing,’ said Vahagn Movsisyan, General
Director of Armenian Development Agency and co-chair of ArmTech
Congress in Armenia. `Much has changed since the major Armenian
investment conference in New York in 2001, and now it is necessary to
redefine in depth the optimal directions. We are delighted to support
ArmTech ’07 as a globally inclusive program to increase understanding
and support among foreign investors and other stakeholders, fostering
the trust and opportunities that will drive the increasing growth and
sophistication of high tech economic activity in Armenia.’

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
July 4 2007

An Open Memorandum On Solutions Other Than a Military Operation Into
Northern Iraq

by Barýn Kayaoðlu
Wednesday , 04 July 2007

Tour d’horizon

In the past few weeks, consensus has emerged among sensible observers
that a military operation into Northern Iraq would not be useful for
Turkey. (USAK’s Northern Iraq Report, for one thing, has helped the
debates.) Even the Chief of General Staff Yaþar Büyükanýt conceded
two days ago that an operation would not `root out’ the PKK from
Northern Iraq but merely `strike a blow.'[1]

If a military operation is not the solution, then what are the
alternatives to military strike for Turkey? Let us engage in a `tour
d’horizon’ to answer that question.

Short-term solutions

For Turkey to triumph over terrorism with minimum loss and maximum
gain, a combination of short and long-term solutions is in order. The
first thing to do is to ask Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoðan and Gen.
Büyükanýt to make more responsible statements. Right now, these two
officials look like they are not engaged in a concerted effort to
protect Turkey from the PKK. In fact, they appear as if they are
fighting each other rather than the PKK. Effective decision-making
can only come about when decision-makers work together rather than
against each other.

Once high-ranking officials act more responsibility, it will be
easier for them to realize that Turkey has more to gain by talking to
Iraq’s Kurdish leaders. Extravagant statements directed against the
autonomy of Iraqi Kurds – which is Iraq’s internal affair to begin
with – are causing Ankara to lose a viable dialogue channel. Only
through such a channel could sincere Turkish concerns about the PKK
be communicated to Masoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani.

Once that line of contact is established, the following should be
impressed on Iraqi Kurds: Turkey is not using the PKK as a pretext to
destroy Iraqi Kurds. To substantiate that, Turkish leaders should
make it clear that they would respect the outcome of the coming
Kirkuk referendum so long as it is done in a fair, transparent, and
democratic way. Turkey should disentangle Iraqi Kurds’ autonomy from
the PKK for its own good.

Iraqi Kurds, for their part, should also do the same. By tying their
political fate to the PKK, Iraqi Kurds are jeopardizing their own
gains. They are reluctant to move against the PKK at the moment
because they do not want to lose one of their trump cards that could
fight back in the event of a Turkish military operation. That might
make sense. However, Iraqi Kurds’ fraternization with the PKK is
exacerbating a situation that is not necessarily improving for either
Turkey or Iraqi Kurds. Thus, Iraqi Kurds must understand that though
Turkey will not benefit from moving against the PKK’s camps in
Northern Iraq, the Kurdish Regional Government has more to lose from
such an eventuality.

Long-term solutions

Despite the PKK’s claims that it is fighting for Kurdish rights, that
is not the case. Turkey was on a shining path of reform that began
alleviating the lot of Turkish Kurds from 2000 until 2005. That year,
the PKK recommenced its attacks and things began to worsen for the
people of southeast Turkey once again. Coupled with the European
Union’s excessive demands on Turkey at the onset of the accession
negotiations in 2005 (that Turkey should accept the tragedies during
World War I as a genocide of the Armenian people and that Turkey
recognize the Greek Cypriot administration as the Republic of Cyprus
– unrealistic expectations at the moment), the Turkish government’s
zeal for reform has melted away.

Rekindling that zeal is precisely the solution to Turkey’s
predicament. More positive results will come about by granting
greater rights and liberties to Turkish Kurds. Together with economic
measures, such as the completion of the GAP (Güneydoðu Anadolu
Projesi – Southeastern Anatolia Project) that aims to harness the
waters of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers for the benefit of the
people in the southeast, greater social and political opportunities
will pull the rug under the PKK’s feet.

The last solution relates to combating the PKK. Turkey needs to set
up a multi-agency counter-terrorism task force comprising
professionals from the MÝT (Milli Ýstihbarat Teþkilatý – National
Intelligence Organization), the Police Department, and the military.
Through this new agency, Turkey will gain a more effective mechanism
which will directly fight the PKK.

This last point is not meant to disparage the immense endeavor and
sacrifice of the Turkish military in its struggle against the PKK.
However, the need for a specialized security force is more imminent
than ever. In fact, that point has been raised by several retired
military officers in the recent past.

Take retired general Osman Pamukoðlu. In concluding his memoirs a few
years ago, Gen. Pamukoðlu – who was the former commander of the
Hakkari Commando Brigade and is no stranger to the PKK’s terrorism –
states the following: `In fighting the PKK, a total of 20,000 troops,
including hand-picked officers and NCOs, would be more than enough.
We shall train them for four to six months. In the following 14
months, we shall clear the mountains, valleys, and forests by working
in four groups of 5,000 men. We do not need anything [i.e. additional
hardware] besides helicopters and mountain howitzers.'[2] Although
this memorandum’s specific recommendation with regards to enforcement
is slightly different than that of Gen. Pamukoðlu, the gist of the
arguments are the same – only a fully professional force can
effectively curb the PKK.

Many observers have been criticizing the United States for
mishandling its war on terror for the past six years. The Bush
administration is doing a poor job in fighting terrorism. However,
there is no point in criticizing the United States for its sole
reliance on coercion in fighting terrorism and sparing Turkey from
criticism for the same mistake. As this memorandum argues, there are
myriad options in front of Turkey that have to augment a military
solution. Taking advantage of them would deal the finishing blow to
the PKK.

Barýn Kayaoðlu is a Ph.D. student in history at the University of
Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia and a regular contributor to
the Journal of Turkish Weekly.

E-mail: [email protected]

[1] Büyükanýt’tan `iki boksör benzetmesi’ [Büyükanýt’s `two boxers’
analogy], ntvmsnbc.com, June 28, 2007; available from

[2] Osman Pamukoðlu, Güneydoðu’da Unutulanlar Dýþýnda Yeni Birþey
Yok: Hakkari ve Kuzey Irak Daðlarýndaki Askerler [Nothing New Except
for What Has Been Forgotten: The Soldiers in the Mountains of Hakkari
and Northern Iraq] (Ýstanbul: Harmoni), 331-2.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 4 2007

Turkish Lawyers Association chairman: Hrant Dink’s spouse exerts
pressure on court

[ 04 Jul 2007 14:58 ]

Turkish Lawyers Association chairman Kamal Kerincshiz accused Rakel
Dink, widow of the assassinated owner and editor of `Agos’ newspaper,
Turkey’s Armenian minority Hrant Dink of exerting psychological
pressure on court, Mr.Kerincshiz told APA’s Turkey bureau.
He stated that Dink’s widow accused Turkish nation and state in the
application she has sent to court.
`It is not right. The court invited citizens through media 15-20 days
ago. People who gathered in the funeral of Dink have been invited to
court again. But 500 people who gathered in front of the court
building early in the morning read statement and left. They tried
exerting pressure on court by gathering people in front of the
building, but it did not work. When Dink was insulting Turks, we were
closely following his court hearings. The group accusing us of
occupying court wanted to surround court at this time, but they
failed. Though 450 lawyers were said to defend Dink’s rights, there
were only 50 lawyers in the court on Monday.
Lawyer Kerincshiz said that Turkish society can not accept slogan `We
are all Armenians’.
`Because Turkish nation is not Armenian. Some did not show the
reaction in the court they had shown in the funeral ceremony. Because
they knew that they were mistaken,’ he said.
The Lawyers Association’s chairman called decision of court on
releasing 4 people right. `I think this releasing will continue. Our
inspectors detained people who were guiltless. Those people who
participate in crime should be detained. I do not consider rightly
the formula `the sufferers will be pleased if more people are
detained. I think the number of released ones will rise,’ he said.
/APA/

Presidnet Kocharyan received UNHCR new representative in Armenia

armradio.am
04.07.2007 12:42

President Robert Kocharyan today received the newly appointed
representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Armenia
Bushra Halepota.

Noting that there has always been a productive cooperation between the
Armenian Government and this important international structure, the
President expressed confidence that it will continue successfully
developing.

The interlocutors spoke about socio-economic problems of the refugees,
their housing problems, as well as the census of refugees.

Robert Kocharyan noted that the full integration of the refugees into
society is one of the Government’s priorities. He said the country’s
development and economic growth create opportunities for solving the
problems of the refugees.

Regnum, Russia
July 4 2007

Armenian MP: Robert Kocharyan unwilling to become the youngest
retiree

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan will do his utmost to preserve
the power after his resignation, Armenian MP Viktor Dallakyan
announced at a news conference today and added that `Kocharyan is
unwilling to become the youngest retiree.’

According to the MP, `despite the fact that under the new Armenian
constitution, president of Armenia practically becomes like Queen of
the United Kingdom,’ the current prime minister aspiring for
presidency is trying to establish a unipolar system of power in the
country. `Serzh Sargsyan, representing political majority in the
country, wants to become president and appoint a person from his camp
to the prime minister’s post,’ he said. Thus, Dallakyan predicts
fight between the acting president, Robert Kocharyan, and Prime
Minister Serzh Sargsyan.

Speaking on chances of the opposition at the presidential election in
2008, Viktor Dallakyan noted that if the opposition nominates a
single candidate, it can become serious rival for the current
authorities.

Besides, the MP called ex-president Levon ter-Petrosyan a powerful
political figure. `However, before discussing his candidature at the
presidential election, he must present his political platform.’

As for the presidential election in Nagorno Karabakh, according to
Dallakyan, it will not influence Armenia’s life, moreover, nothing
extraordinary must be expected from it. `I can surely say that no
document regarding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement will be
signed before the presidential election in Armenia,’ he noted.

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
July 4 2007

Turkish police say Dink murder not a terrorist act

Four of those charged with involvement in Dink’s murder were released
by the court Monday.

Güncelleme: 11:28 TSÝ 04 Temmuz 2007 Çarþamba

ISTANBUL – The murder of a prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist last
January was the act of a group of friends rather than a terrorist
plot, according to a Turkish police report.
Haberin devamý

Parts of the report, tabled in evidence during the first day of the
trial on Monday of 18 persons alleged to have been involved in the
killing of Hrant Dink, were made public by lawyers representing the
victim’s family late Tuesday.

According to the report, the plot to murder Dink was concocted and
carried out by a small group of friends, led by Yasin Hayal, who has
links with right wing groups.

Dink was gunned down outside the office of the Turkish-Armenian
newspaper Agos on January 19. The alleged gunman, who can only be
identified by is initials O.S. as he is under 18, has given as
statement admitting to carrying out the shooting.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress