Month: December 2008

PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR PUTIN AND HIS ARMENIAN COUNTERPART TIGRAN SARGSYAN MADE STATEMENTS FOR PRESS

States News Service
December 5, 2008 Friday

The following information was released by the government of the
Russian Federation:

Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, friends and
colleagues.

I would like to greet our Armenian friends and colleagues once
again. This is the first visit by Tigran Sargsyan as Prime Minister. We
welcome him.

Before sharing my opinion with you on the talks we had, I would like
to speak about one important subject.

The day after tomorrow, December 7, we will observe a mournful date
– 20 years since the devastating earthquake of 1988. This dreadful
disaster was a tragedy for all peoples in the U.S.S.R.

We are mourning the tens of thousands of people who perished during
those painful days. We remember the heroic exploits and selfless work
of volunteers from all Soviet regions who came to Armenia’s rescue. The
day after tomorrow, a monument devoted to the earthquake’s victims and
rescue teams’ exploits will be unveiled in Gyumri, former Leninakan.

The monument was built on the initiative of the Russian public and
on voluntary donations. This is evidence of the durable friendship
between the Russian and Armenian people.

Today, we discussed all aspects of our cooperation in all
areas. Naturally, we focused on economic cooperation.

This year, experts have registered dynamic development of bilateral
trade and economic contacts. Trade is steadily going up; this year,
it has increased by almost 17%.

Russian investments are promoting the Armenian economic upsurge. They
have already exceeded $1.6 billion.

We consider the expansion of big Russian companies like Gazprom,
INTER RAO UES, Russian Railways, and some banks, the VTB Bank, for
instance, in Armenia to be quite useful.

We have good prospects for joint projects in the fuel and energy
sector, non-ferrous metallurgy, transportation, construction, banking,
and information technologies.

The Russian-Armenian Intergovernmental Commission is working to
further promote bilateral economic contacts. During the talks, we
expressed satisfaction with its performance.

At the same time, we understand quite well that the achieved results
are far from reaching the limits of our potentialities, and will
continue to further develop our cooperation.

We have exchanged opinions on joint steps in trade and the economy,
and talked about the problems linked with the global financial crisis,
issues that affect our two countries in various ways.

In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that the Russian side is
satisfied with the course of today’s talks. They are not over yet. At
this time, Mr Prime Minister and I will have an extended meeting with
a number of Russian colleagues. We will talk about some aspects of
our cooperation in more detail.

Thank you for your attention.

Tigran Sargsyan: Good afternoon, Mr Putin and other colleagues.

First of all, I would like to express my condolences in connection with
the death of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, Alexy II. This
is sad news not only for Russians, but also for Armenians. We have
always had warm feelings for the Patriarch, and were aware of his
attention. During his patriarchate, the Russian Orthodox Church
developed very warm relations with the Armenian Apostolic Church. I’m
confident that all Armenians are mourning the Patriarch’s death
together with the Russian people.

I’d like to thank Mr. Putin for finding time for negotiations despite
such a sad event.

Our relations boil down to a strategic partnership. Obviously, now
that the global economy is going through the financial and economic
crisis, consultations and meetings are very important for our country,
because we need to coordinate our actions. In this case, it will be
easier for us to overcome the current economic hardships.

As Mr Putin noted, our economic relations are developing
dynamically. We highly appreciate the performance of the
Intergovernmental Commission. From this perspective, this has
been a rather successful year for our cooperation. All energy and
infrastructure projects have made steady headway. This year is
special because our economic contacts and partnership have expanded
substantially, going beyond such traditional spheres as energy and
infrastructure. There is not a single sphere of human endeavor where
we do not have joint projects.

Today, more than a thousand Russian companies are actively expanding
their operation in Armenia, and our goal is to create favourable
conditions for their effective work. On the whole, we are satisfied
with our economic relations, and hope that new agreements will help
us overcome the current economic hardships.

Thank you.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMITTEE ACCEPTING ESSAYS

Mirror
/20081207/LIFE/812070467
Dec 7 2008
MI

Students with winning essays about the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923
and its relationship to other genocides of the 20th century, will
be awarded $100-$500 in the second annual competition, funded by the
Hagopian Family Foundation.

The contest is sponsored by the Armenian Genocide Committee and is
open to middle and high school students.

Edgar Hagopian, chair of the Armenian Genocide Committee and patriarch
of the Hagopian Family Foundation, stated that the project "is a
critical and vital key to perpetuating the history of the Armenian
people in the minds of students as well as having them learn that
a comprehensive study of the Armenian Genocide will aid and educate
legislators and leaders to avert future tragedies."

"It is the youth of our nation that will look back to help not
only this country move forward, but hopefully, one day the world,"
Hagopian said.

Suggested essay themes are:

n Events that precipitated the Armenian Genocide, as well as others.

n Government and individual responses to the Armenian Genocide and
other 20th Century genocides.

n Should the U.S. government formally recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Deadline for submissions is Feb. 13, 2009. Members of the Metro
Detroit Armenian Community will judge the entries. Winners will be
announced on March 27, 2009.

High school students will win $500 for first place, $250 for second
place and $100 for third place. Middle school students will be awarded
$250 for first place, $150 for second place and $100 for third place.

Each teacher of a student submitting a winning essay will be given
a $100 appreciation award.

For complete guidelines visit

ARMENIA: NO ANSWERS FOR MARCH 1 VIOLENCE
Marianna Grigoryan

Eurasianet
December 5, 2008
NY

More than nine months after Yerevan’s March 1 post-election clashes,
the Council of Europe and many ordinary Armenians are taking issue
with the official investigation into the violence for being long on
promises and short on results.

Political tensions after Armenia’s February 19 presidential election
this year led to street clashes between opposition protesters and
security forces that left at least 10 people dead and hundreds
wounded. [For details, see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Many
opposition activists and supporters were arrested following the
crackdown; some went into hiding.

In response to opposition claims about political prisoners, the
government has insisted that steps are being taken to expose the
"real culprits" for the violence. An ad hoc parliamentary commission
was set up in June to look into the violence, and trials of suspected
instigators have begun. In October, a group of experts to assist the
investigation was also established.

These steps, however, have done little to assuage international
concerns. For the third time since March 1, the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE) plans to raise Armenia’s compliance
with PACE resolutions for further scrutiny. [For details, see the
Eurasia Insight archive].

"If no changes are registered by the time when the issue of Armenia
is raised at the PACE session in January, it is likely sanctions
will be imposed," Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
Thomas Hammarberg told EurasiaNet at the end of his November 20-22
fact-finding visit to Armenia. "Unless there is a satisfactory
situation, it is not excluded that Armenia will be stripped of its
voting right."

Two earlier resolutions passed by the Strasbourg-based body (#1609 and
#1620) have stressed the need for Armenia to conduct an independent
and unbiased investigation into the March 1 events.

Patience among many Armenians is already running thin for a resolution
to the question of culpability for the bloodshed.

"It’s been already nine months and I want to know who killed my
husband. Why did he die while he had nothing to do with all that and
was simply coming home from work on that damned night?" asked Yerevan
resident Varduhi Gevorgian, whose husband, Grigor Gevorgian, was
reportedly killed while trying to make his way home by foot. According
to his death certificate, Gevorgian died from a gunshot wound to
the forehead.

The lack of answers for deaths such as Gevorgian’s fuels international
concerns.

At a November 22 press conference in Yerevan, Hammarberg hailed
the formation of the Fact-Finding Group of Experts, but expressed
criticism about Armenia’s degree of "democratic progress."

"The information I have gathered has rather disappointed me," said
Hammarberg, who expressed specific concern over the conduct of trials,
interrogation methods, and the practice of keeping people in custody
for months "without sufficient grounds."

"Tear gas cartridges were found in the bodies of three of those
killed and it was those that caused their deaths," Hammarberg said,
speaking through an Armenian interpreter. "Those cartridges were
fired from guns carried by police and the narrow circle of police
that dealt with guns [on that night] is known. I also thought that
it was possible to establish who carried those guns whose cartridges
caused the deaths." Hammarberg stated that he has twice raised the
matter with the general prosecutor’s office, but "they have so far
failed to clarify the issue."

Yerevan translator Levon Baghdasarian believes that the general
uncertainty surrounding the entire investigation makes it far from
credible.

"The investigation body must be independent and unbiased, but it is
not so," Baghdasarian commented. " What unbiased investigation can
we talk about in this case if the sides that were involved in the
events — the police, the prosecutor’s office — are now conducting
the investigation? That is, it turns out that the murder is being
investigated by the murderers."

Arman Musinian, spokesperson for opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian,
argued that there is no investigation into the March 1 events as such.

"Their logic is ‘If you hadn’t gathered on March 1, there would
not have been victims. Since you did, then you are to blame,’"
Musinian said.

However, 20-year-old student Hakob Manukian said he trusts the
authorities.

"The authorities found themselves in a rather difficult situation after
the March 1 events and now must do everything with a clear conscience
to keep the public’s trust . . .," said Manukian. "No doubt, steps
are being made in this intricate case, however perhaps it would be
correct if international experts were involved in the investigation
for transparency."

Hammarberg said that the authorities have not made any specific
request for assistance from international experts. "If they make such
a request, we are ready to assist," he added.

Meanwhile, government representatives continue to stress that they
are doing their utmost to conduct the most effective investigation
possible.

"In order to have a complete picture to comment on, the investigation
work needs to be completed," Edward Sharmazanov, a senior lawmaker
from the governing Republican Party of Armenia, said. "But I think
everything is being done for the public at large to have exhaustive
answers to their questions."

The complaints, he added, are normal for a developing democracy.

"Reforms are not carried out within one day, particularly for such
an intricate case as March 1," Sharmazanov said. "We are implementing
reforms not for Hammarberg and his European partners, but for having
a democratic and developed Armenia tomorrow."

THE US GOVERNMENT AND KURDS
by Jaff Sassani

OpEdNews
/KURDISTAN-THE-US-GOVERNMEN-by-Jaff-Sassani-081203 -764.html
Dec 7 2008
PA

The US Government has been involved with the Kurdish nation’s case
since President Wilson’s famous declaration of the "program for
world peace".

The number of Kurds in the Middle East and Asia is estimated to be
between 40-50 million, the largest ethnic group in the world with no
country of their own. They have been led by tribal leaders, religious
tribal Islamic Sheik leaders, Socialists, Democrats and Communists. At
the end of each war they were defeated because of many reasons some
of which we will explained below, however the number one reason for
their continued failure is that the Kurds always fight without a plan.

The Kurdish nation is one of the original Aryan (Iranian, Eranshahr)
nations in the region. They formed the first organized Empire in
today’s Iran called the Medes Empire. In the year 647 – 3 B.C. the
Medes, Cimmerians and Mannaeans revolted against Esarhaddon, the
King of Assyria, under the leadership of Kashtaritu (Khshathrita). It
is probable that Kashtaritu is the same person whom Herodotus calls
Phraortes, the son of Deioces (Dayukku). Kashtaritu ruled until the
year 652 B.C. From 652 until 625 the Medes were ruled by the Scythians
or Sakas. In 615 the tribes of Media united under the leadership of
Cyxares (Huvakhshathra), attacked the Assyrian Empire and entered
Kerkuk (Arrapkha). In the year 612 B.C. the Medes together with the
Babylonians occupied Nineveh, and with the occupation of Hrran in 610
B.C. the Assyrian Empire fell. The Medes Empire ended when another
Aryan (Iranian) leader (Cyrus the great) from the royal family
changed the name of the Empire to the Achaemenids Empire (559 –
330 B.C.) after his father’s family name.

The people in the Kurdistan region are called Kurds today. They are one
of the original nations within the Aryan (Iranian) nations, like the
Persian from the Pars region, the Azeri from the Azerbaijan region,
and the Tajik from the Tajikistan region. They have historically had
the power to lead or be part of the leadership within the Aryan nations
just like any of the other Aryan branches. They were the rulers during
the Sassanid Empire before the Islamic Arab army conquered the land
of the Aryan people. The Sassanid Empire went back to the idea of a
united Aryan nation as it was before the Medes and the Achaemenids
Empires. For example they called citizen "Eranshahr" not pars-Ian and
they adopted the flag of blacksmith Kawa or Kavah as their own flags.

They led the Iranian people after Islam too. For example the Safavid
dynasty, Afshar dynasty and Zand dynasty. They have even had political
power in modern days like Dr. Karim Sanjabi who was the opposition
leader to the Shah of Iran after the death of Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh,
the Prime Minister of Iran, and the leader of the Democratic movement
in Iran. The PM was later overthrown by the CIA in favor for the Shah
Mohammed Reza Pahlavi of Iran dictatorship in 1953.

The US Government’s policies are wrong in the region. They never
followed President Woodrow Wilson’s program. We hope the new
administration will follow the "program for world peace" instead of
continuing the dirty games and wrong policies of the past.

We asked for equality with the European people in our article "The
New Administration Should Treat Iranians as It Does Europeans". There
are many articles about the Kurds in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria and
the world, especially about the Iraqi Kurds in Kurdistan. The US
Government is dealing directly with the Kurds in Iraq. They have been
following the wrong policies in the region for a long time. They are
only helping dictators in the region. Those dictators could be the Shah
of Iran, Generals of Turkey, Barzani and Talibani of Kurds, Maliki
of Iraq, Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and the ruler of Pakistan. We
do not understand the US Government’s policy in the region. They are
spending billions of US tax payer money in the region and the region
continues to deteriorate with no gain for either side.

The types of people they support in the area are akin to an Iraqi
mafia. The mind set of the leaders in Iraq is one of personal gain
without regard to the general population. We hope the readers will
understand what kind of the people the US Government is helping to
fight the terrorist organizations in the Middle East. Many writers
like Dr. Michael Rubin and others wrote about the corruption in the
Kurdistan region of Iraq, but the administration has taken no action
at all.

We want to point out the plan of Vice President Elect, Joe Biden,
and the tape "From Turkey to Iran" by Ambassador Peter Galbraith’s,
to advise the new administration with regard to the Kurds’ problems
and its solution in the region.

We ask Mr. Ambassador, as he is known to be one of the advisers to
Mr. Barzani according to media reports: How logical it is to ignore
the rights of 20-30 million Kurds in Turkey and 10-15 million Kurds in
Iran in favor of Mr. Barzani? Mr. Barzani and his partner Mr. Talibani
currently have control of 5 million Kurds in Iraq to rule and abuse
instead of showing humanity and justice for all Kurds.

We hope the newly elected President Obama won’t take this kind of
advice and make the same mistakes as many American administrations
have done since "President Woodrow Wilson’s program for world peace".

The Armenian and Kurdish genocide in Turkey should be recognized
instead of following the wrong and dirty games in practice today. The
US Government should follow the right approach to help Turks, Kurds,
Armenians, Persians and other nations in the region for peace and
stability instead of war and more war.

We are proposing the creation of an Aryan (Iranian) Economic Union
(AU) as we said before. We want to be treated as the European people
are treated. This Economic Union could integrate the Aryan and Turks as
one united people for peace and economic stability. Russia, EU, Israel
and the USA will be benefited by doing business with the proposed AU.

We are one hundred years behind in technology compared to Russia,
EU, Israel and the USA. We are a very good market with natural
resources. If we get help by the powers above it can be more beneficial
for our people and the people in those countries, instead of war
and instability.

We hope that the American people will encourage the new administration
to be on the side of good. We hope that the American people and
its elected Government will be our friend and partner for peace and
justice in the Aryan and Turk land in the Middle East and Asia Regions.

ARMENIA JOINS THE AGREEMENT ON COMMANDING OF CSTO FORCES

WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
December 5, 2008 Friday
Russia

On Wednesday, members of the parliament of Armenia debated ratification
of the agreement "On establishment of a system for commanding of forces
and means of the collective security system of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO)." Deputy Defense Minister of Armenia,
Ara Nazaryan, announced, "The goal of the agreement is creation of an
efficient system for functioning of forces and means of the collective
security system and commanding them in peacetime and wartime, as well
as reliable interaction of the command bodies of the coalition groups
of forces with defense ministries of the CSTO member states." He added,
"Bearing in mind that the system of forces and means of the collective
security system is a necessary and important component, the Defense
Ministry of Armenia requests ratification of this agreement."

FRENCH SENATE BLOCKED THE BILL THAT CRIMINALIZE THE SO CALLED 1915 EVENTS

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Dec 7 2008
Turkey

The Secretary of the State for Interior, Overseas and Local
Authorities, Alain Marleix said that, they are not planning to bring
the issue of criminalizing the persons who deny the so called Armenian
Genocide to the Senate.

In response to the question asked by the Socialist Party representative
Rene Roquet, Marleix said that his country’s position was clear. "The
French government believes that the past should be dealt by the
historians and the parliament is not entitled to adopt bills on
the issue", an argument that is made by the Turkish officials for
several years. He also added that France was pleased by the recent
attempts by the Turkish and Armenian governments for better dialogue,
referring to President Abdullah Gul’s visit to Armenia. He said that
this visit was a bold and an encouraging move and approving such a
bill would jeopardize the positive environment.

The President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy is not in favor of approving
the bill either, however, the Armenian organizations are bombarding
Sarkozy with petition letters trying to put pressure on the President.

Although the Armenian Diaspora is utterly disappointed with the recent
decision, the constitution which was changed last summer enables the
Socialist Party to bring the issue to the Senate. There is however no
consensus among the Senators of the Socialist Party on the issue. The
Armenian Organizations Coordination Center announced the call for a
protest in front of the Senate on 10 December 2008.

On October 12, 2006, the lower house of the French parliament adopted
the bill which would set one-year prison term and a fine of â~B¬45,000
for anyone who denies that the Ottomans committed genocide against
Armenians during the First World War.

The 2006 bill was seen as a political move. Jack Lang, a socialist
MP said: "I believe the Socialist party has adopted an electoralist
point of view. It is not sincere. It is only to get the electoral
support of the Armenian community". Another argument driving the
anti-Turkish bill was to impress the French majority who do not want
Turkey joining the European Union.

On one hand it is argued that the blocking of the bill in the senate
is a result of purely economical concerns. Since the end of 1990s the
issue of "Armenian Genocide" harmed the Turkish-French relations. The
French companies were excluded from the public and military contracts
which cost the French billions of dollars. On the other hand it is
argued that passing such a bill was simply wrong in a country which
advocates the freedom of speech and opinion.

–Boundary_(ID_1+RM2dT0GPl9Cr8nXXqnrQ)–

PRESIDENT OF THE NKR CONVOKED A CONSULTATION…

Azat Artsakh Daily
08 Dec 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

On 8 December President of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic Bako Sahakyan
convoked a consultation on situation in judicial system and the
course of reforms being carried out in this sphere. The President
considered important the establishment of the institute of forensic
department which is to contribute to increasing the effectiveness
of the system’s work. Bako Sahakyan underlined that the necessity
to keep implementing activities to form a corresponding moral and
psychological atmosphere in sphere as well to sum up the activities
of each organ of the judicial system in a public way on an annual
basis. The heads of judicial system organs, NKR finance minister and
other officials partook at the consultation. *** On the same day the
President, accompanied by NKR minister of municipal engineering and
mayor of Stepanakert, visited industrial concrete plant construction
site and a territory of the Center of children’s creative work where
a new kindergarten is to be built. Both objects are located in capital
Stepanakert and sponsored by "Four Direction" company. The Head of the
State got acquainted with construction activities and plans on site.

EUROPEAN UNION SHIFTING RUSSIA INTO ASIA
by Andrei Terekhov

WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
December 5, 2008 Friday
Russia

HIGHLIGHT: EU EASTERN PARTNERSHIP BLOCKS RUSSIA’S PLANS IN THE FORMER
SOVIET UNION; The European Commission is releasing an important
strategic document on the European Union’s eastern policy. It proposes
to triple EU aid to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova,
and Ukraine. Brussels will hold a summit with these countries next
year – and Russia is not invited.

On December 3, the European Commission is to release an important
strategic document on the European Union’s eastern policy. It proposes
to triple EU aid to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova,
and Ukraine. Brussels will hold a summit with these countries next
year – and Russia is not invited.

The EC Eastern Partnership proposal – a document approved by all 27
member states – argues that EU aid to former Soviet countries should be
tripled. By 2020, the EU should provide 1.5 billion euros to Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. These countries
may accelerate their rapprochement with the EU as soon as next year.

The Eastern Partnership is a relatively new initiative. It originated
with Poland and Sweden, and gained momentum after the Trans-Caucasus
conflict in August. Another factor is the Czech Republic’s impending
turn at the EU’s rotating presidency: six months starting January
1, 2009, followed by Sweden as of July 1. Moscow’s relations with
these countries have been problematic. Irena Busic, press secretary
to Swedish Foreign Minister Karl Bildt, explains the initiative as
follows: "Sweden and Poland have proposed a stronger EU policy on
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, and Ukraine. Full participation
by Belarus would be possible only when conditions permit." According
to Busic, establishing the Eastern Partnership would make it possible
to deepen bilateral cooperation between the EU and the countries in
question, in areas such as migration and free trade; it would also
faciliate domestic reforms in those countries.

It is suggested that if these countries "make sustained reform
efforts," the EU would offer them "deeper integration."

The EC proposal makes no mention of EU membership prospects for the
six former Soviet states. Even without that, however, implementing
this plan carries the risk of raising tension in Russia-EU
relations. Alexander Rahr, Russia and CIS programs director at the
Council on Foreign Relations (Germany), told us that the EC document is
"the most significant agenda yet developed by the EU regarding policy
in the East." Germany and France, which have tried to take the lead
in the EU’s eastward activities until now, were primarily focused
on cooperation with Russia. Rahr says: "But now we are moving into
a phase where Russia will be isolated and put under pressure. The
Russian-Georgian war gave the EU a serious scare. And it’s not only
Mikheil Saakashvili who is being blamed for that conflict. Moscow’s
recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
is regarded as their annexation by Russia. The EU will now aim to
reinforce its interests zone in the former Soviet Union." Rahr notes
that the EU intends to include Belarus and Azerbaijan in its interests
zone. In other words, this plan is mostly aimed at containing Russia,
rather than just developing closer relations with democratic states.

Observers suggest that Moscow is unlikely to look on calmly as the
EU starts actively developing democratic institutions in the former
Soviet Union. Rahr says: "The plan will allocate a quarter of a billion
euros for building civil society and democratic institutions in these
six states. The document also mentions creating a free trade area with
these countries – not with Russia. Thus, it completely wrecks Russia’s
idea of a common trade area within the former Soviet Union. After all,
Belarus would be drawn out of its Union State with Russia." Rahr
maintains that visa-free travel would be gradually established
between Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and
the EU; meanwhile, the prospects of Russia-EU visa-free travel would
become more remote. This would create the danger of a new "curtain"
between other post-Soviet states and Russia. "This is a very alarming
document for Russia, showing that the EU is seriously concerned about
the Russian Federation’s ‘neo-imperialist’ policies," says Rahr.

The EC document does not criticize Russia directly, but it clearly
emphasizes weakening Moscow’s influence in the former Soviet
Union. Brussels intends to encourage the project aimed at transporting
Caspian energy resources via the Nabucco pipeline; it supports the
idea of establishing a new transit corridor, bypassing Russia, with
the aim of diversifying hydrocarbon supplies. But the document does
not mention any intention to abandon EU participation in the major
project for transporting Russian natural gas to Germany across the
Baltic Sea floor (Nord Stream).
From: Baghdasarian

BUREAUCRACY, DIASPORA "HAWKS" OBSTRUCT TURKISH-ARMENIAN RAPPROCHEMENT

Zaman
Dec 5 2008
Turkey

Time works against Turkish-Armenian rapprochement. There are obvious
rules in conflict resolution, but it can only be successful if the
will to act overlaps with time management. Slowing down often increases
the chances for counter-dynamics to sabotage it.

The current situation in the flirt between Yerevan and Ankara is
becoming rather worrisome in the sense that it may turn out to be
an opportunity missed. It all began with the right moves. Turkish
President Abdullah Gul Enhanced Coverage LinkingAbdullah Gul -Search
using: Biographies Plus News News, Most Recent 60 Days accepted an
invitation to visit Yerevan and watch a soccer match between the two
countries’ national teams, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed
to proceed with talks on the normalization of relations and Foreign
Minister Ali Babacan looked very pleased that all that was happening.

But there is much more to it than sheer good will. How is work on the
diplomatic level proceeding? Beyond hope, much more is needed. I met
a foreign diplomat the other day. Knowing his "insider’s insight," I
asked him how it all looked. He was not enthusiastic. "On the Turkish
side, I see no problem with either the Office of the President or
with the government," he said. "It is the bureaucracy that worries
me." He was hinting at "some officials" within the Turkish Foreign
Ministry whom he regarded as possible "delay and let it rot" factors
in the process.

But, it also seems that there are differences in how to approach the
"pace" of negotiations on the political level. Gul has been intent on
a firm, swift, target-based method which stems from the concern that
the attitude of the administration of US President-elect Barack Obama
Enhanced Coverage LinkingBarack Obama -Search using: Biographies Plus
News News, Most Recent 60 Days towards recognition of the profoundly
tragic events of 1915 as "genocide" is real – just as much as the
president-elect’s using the G-word is highly possible.

For Gul, the progress in ongoing, speedy talks between Ankara and
Yerevan will not only benefit both countries and the region, but also
serve as a "pre-emptive element" to persuade Obama, Enhanced Coverage
LinkingObama, -Search using: Biographies Plus News News, Most Recent 60
Days Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton that the key issues between Armenia
and Turkey deserve at least a serious try to be resolved. Given his
long-term engagement and sincerity on the issue, Gul can hardly be
blamed for cynical aversion or demonic manipulation.

However, for Erdogan, this issue – as well as most others – is strictly
tied to the critical local elections. He wants to see progress in
slow motion and is not willing to be a target of political rivalry
and populism in the hunt for votes. Babacan will have to pay more
attention to what he says rather than to what the president does.

Meanwhile, as could easily have been predicted, hawks within the
Armenian diaspora are in motion. Intense lobbying, both publicly
and behind closed doors, was initiated to squeeze the Serzh Sarksyan
administration to slow down talks, if not terminate them altogether.

Armenian hawks’ entry into the arena is fuelled by the fear that
the talks, if ended successfully, will help evaporate the historic
demands, the three R’s – recognition (of "genocide"), reparation,
restitution. They base their game on the traditional Armenian mistrust
of Ankara, a centre of evasion and shrewdness in their view. Their
only strength in the developing equation is that there is more than
one power centre in Ankara and they are not in sync with one another
on how to resolve the issue.

Thus, the constantly pumped messages to Armenian President Sarksyan
and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian: "Do not trust the Turks,
or you will be severely deceived by them."

Hawks hope that talks will lead to a cul-de-sac, maintaining the
status quo, and the Obama Enhanced Coverage LinkingObama -Search using:
Biographies Plus News News, Most Recent 60 Days administration will be,
not seeing any progress at all in soccer diplomacy, encouraged to move
ahead to the "genocide recognition" phase. It overlaps totally with the
Turkish hawks’ desire, since their aim is to further diminish sympathy
for the US in Turkey and seek opportunities of a semi-authoritarian
rule closer to Russia.

The pace and resolve, therefore, are even more important than
before. Neither Turkey nor Armenia, despite relatively weak and
hesitant leadership on both sides, should let the momentum melt into
nothing. The US, too, has enormous interest in the rapprochement. For
Russia, it might be argued, that ending with or without concrete
results would not matter much, but Moscow is keen on the establishment
of diplomatic relations and opening of the border for its own
reasons. It adds to the uniqueness of the momentum.

The hawks, seeing that they will lose if Turks and Armenians succeed in
talking calmly and developing a dialogue, will increase the pressure
on Yerevan and Washington. If the Turkish side also gives in to the
delaying tactics and paying too much attention to hawks acting on
behalf of Azerbaijani hawks, the chances will be doomed to diminish.

It is of utmost importance, therefore, that talks do produce concrete
steps before April 24. Once the channels are opened and windows let
light in, the two sides will have come closer to dealing with the
pain in their history.

IMAGE OF POLICE FORCE DEBATED AFTER GANG TERROR IN ISTANBUL

Sunday’s Zaman
Dec 7 2008
Turkey

A recent kidnapping in which the culprits disguised themselves as
police officers sparked discussions on the image of Turkey’s police
forces and security problems in Ä°stanbul. Five men wearing police
vests raided a restaurant in Ä°stanbul’s Avcılar district last
weekend, arriving in a car equipped with police lights.

When they entered, they attacked the people inside the restaurant with
nightsticks and checked IDs. The gang attacked a woman who was working
at the restaurant and dragged her outside by the hair. During the
incident, the gang did not face any resistance. They kept the woman
for six hours and raped her. After they let her go, she went to the
real police. Two members of the gang were subsequently captured. Human
rights organizations and women’s rights activists have argued that
if the image of Turkey’s police forces had not deteriorated so badly,
such an incident would never have happened. In the meantime, Ä°stanbul
Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah announced that not everyone who wears
a police uniform and has police lights on their vehicle is a police
officer. "Citizens should be careful about this. Police officers have
identity cards," he warned. "Citizens should ask people who introduce
themselves as police officers for their police identity cards first."

Nov. 29

Thousands of people protested the latest layoffs resulting from the
ongoing economic crisis in Ankara during a rally organized by workers’
unions and leftist parties. The demonstration’s slogan was "We will not
pay the price of the crisis." The rally, held by the Confederation of
Revolutionary Workers’ Unions (DÄ°SK) and the Confederation of Public
Sector Trade Unions (KESK), took place at Ankara’s Sıhhiye Square.

Nov. 30

A considerable segment of the Turkish nation prefers the old version
of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been criticized for
deviating from his pro-freedom, democratic and reformist line, to the
new Erdogan, the latest results of a monthly opinion poll showed. The
Ankara-based MetroPOLL Strategic and Social Research Center conducted
a survey on the new direction of Turkish politics and the impact
of the global financial crisis on Turkey. According to the survey,
45.9 percent of those polled miss the old Erdogan, saying they
are not pleased with his current "short-tempered" style. Out of all
respondents, only 16.8 percent said they like the current incarnation
of the prime minister. Around 14 percent replied that they like both
versions of Erdogan, while 18 percent said they don’t like either.

Dec. 1

Six people were injured after a bomb exploded in front of the ruling
Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) Ä°stanbul headquarters in
the Sutluce district.

Three people were killed and 17 others were injured after a natural gas
leak caused an explosion at the Alikahya municipal building in Kocaeli.

Bilateral problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Russia and Georgia,
and Turkey and Armenia need to be resolved in order to maintain
stability in the Caucasus region, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said
in Baku. "We cannot leave the resolution of problems to the next
generation. Peace and stability in the region needs to be maintained,"
Babacan told reporters at a joint press conference following his
talks with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, pointing
to dialogue as the key to the resolution of regional problems.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Ankara behind
schedule for a three-day official visit at the invitation of his
Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul. "I’m looking forward to improving
our relations with Turkey. I believe that these relations will continue
at the highest level via my visit," Rajapaksa said in an interview
with the Cihan news agency ahead of his departure from the Sri Lankan
capital of Colombo.

The 22nd hearing in the Ergenekon trial, in which suspects stand
accused of being part of a clandestine and illegal organization
allegedly plotting to overthrow the government, was held. Forty-one
suspects out of the 45 who were jailed pending trial were brought to
the hearing. The chief judge, Köksal Å~^engun, did not show up for
the hearing because of a death in the family. The trial was heard at
a makeshift courtroom on the grounds of Silivri Prison.

The next hearing of the trial of two noncommissioned officers in the
gendarmerie in Trabzon on charges of negligence, which is alleged to
have contributed to the death of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink, was set for Feb. 4, at the request of lawyers representing the
Dink family.

Dec. 2

Turkey has made no effort to ease tensions with Greece despite Athens’
attempts to defuse a long-running territorial dispute and other
differences, Greece’s foreign minister said in an interview. Dora
Bakoyannis said as Turkey reaches a decisive phase in its bid to join
the European Union next year, the time is ripe to make concessions
in talks to reunite Cyprus and over disputed waters in the eastern
Mediterranean. "While we made a conscious effort from the Greek side —
such as the Greek prime minister’s visit to Ankara — Turkey did not
reciprocate," Bakoyannis told Reuters. "We have not had the improvement
we hoped for this year."

The Turkish military announced that its warplanes had struck targets
of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) inside northern Iraq
on Monday, while stating that it had taken the utmost care to ensure
that no civilians were harmed. The statement said all planes returned
to their bases safely and described the operation as "effective." There
was no information on casualties.

The Supreme Military Council (YAÅ~^) convened to make decisions on
dismissals and promotions within the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).The
meeting was attended by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chief
of General Staff Gen. Ä°lker BaÅ~_bug, Defense Minister Vecdi Gönul
and other YAÅ~^ members.

A terrorist organization that was previously not widely known in Turkey
claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on Monday afternoon on the
ruling AK Party Ä°stanbul headquarters in the Sutluce district. The
terrorist organization, called the Revolutionist Headquarters,
announced on its Web site that it was behind the bomb attack on the
AK Party headquarters.

Dec. 3

According to a report issued by the Prime Ministry’s Directorate for
the Disabled for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 68
percent of the disabled in Turkey are given no assistance in overcoming
limitations resulting from their disability. Only 3.1 percent of
those with a speech impediment, 3 percent of the physically disabled,
2.6 percent of the visually impaired and 1.8 percent of the mentally
challenged said they face no barriers to fully participating in life.

James Jeffrey, the new US ambassador to Turkey, presented his
credentials to President Abdullah Gul. As he did when speaking to
reporters upon his arrival in Ankara on Sunday, Jeffrey spoke in
Turkish while presenting his credentials.

The Supreme Military Council (YAÅ~^) unanimously decided to dismiss
24 staff members from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), according to a
statement posted on the General Staff’s Web site. According to the
statement, 19 were dismissed on grounds of drug use and "immoral
relations" and the remaining five were accused of anti-secular
activities. The statement also said members of YAÅ~^ discussed threats
to Turkey’s domestic security and the measures to be taken against
these threats.

Dec. 4

Six million more people will be eligible to vote in the March 29,
2009 local elections than in the July 2007 general elections, thanks
to a new address-based registration database known as AKS, being
used for the first time to confirm voter registration, the Supreme
Election Board (YSK) announced.

A recent report prepared by the parliamentary Human Rights Commission
on the much-debated death of Engin Ceber stated that the activist
was mistreated by gendarmes and prison guards at Ä°stanbul’s Metris
Prison. Zafer Uskul, the head of the commission, delivered a speech at
Parliament. "Our commission is of the opinion that Ceber was mistreated
by gendarmes and prison guards starting from the moment he was admitted
to the prison; however, there is no way the commission can prove that
he was subjected to torture," stated Uskul.

A Turkish court sentenced pro-Kurdish politician Leyla Zana to 10
years in prison for "committing crimes on behalf of a terror group,"
court officials said. She is expected to appeal the decision at the
Supreme Court of Appeals. The Diyarbakır 5th Higher Criminal Court
also revoked Zana’s right to vote and run for political office as
well as other political rights. Zana was a potential candidate for
a mayoral nomination from the Democratic Society Party (DTP) in the
upcoming local elections in March.

The White House announced that US President George W. Bush had
thanked his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, by telephone for
his efforts to promote greater cooperation between Afghanistan and
Pakistan. "President Bush thanked President Gul for his commitment
to a stable and secure Iraq as well as his ongoing work to promote
cooperation between the leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan,"
White House National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe
told reporters.

Dec. 5

More than 18 percent of the Turkish population lived below the poverty
line in 2007 while around 0.5 percent lived below the hunger line,
according to a recent statement released by the Turkish Statistics
Institute (TurkStat). According to the study, posted on the TurkStat
Web site, 18.56 percent of the Turkish population lives below the
poverty line, which refers to the minimum amount a family needs
in order to pay its rent and meet its basic needs, such as food,
transportation, clothing and education.

Amid rising tension between New Delhi and Islamabad in the aftermath
of last week’s terrorist attacks in Mumbai, President Abdullah Gul
hosted a trilateral meeting with the presidents of Afghanistan and
Pakistan in Ä°stanbul for talks aimed at boosting cooperation between
the neighbors.

A suspect who was detained on Wednesday as part of an investigation
into a Monday afternoon bomb attack on the ruling AK Party Ä°stanbul
headquarters was jailed.

Fourteen people accused of having of illegally transferred funds from
various bank accounts to their own after obtaining account information
from Russian hackers were captured in an operation staged by Ä°zmir
police in the Aegean cities of Ä°zmir and Antalya.

President Abdullah Gul, who was planning to visit Diyarbakır next
Monday on the first day of Eid al-Adha (the Feast of the Sacrifice),
has postponed his visit due to a relapse of an ear infection preventing
him from traveling by airplane for about two weeks.

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