Month: December 2008

TURKEY GRANTS RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS TO JEWISH AND ARMENIAN STUDENTS

Hurriyet
Dec 2 2008
Turkey

The president of Higher Education Board (YOK), Yusuf Ziya Ozcan,
requested in the mandate sent to the offices of university rectors that
Jewish and Armenian students in Turkey be allowed to take a vacation
during their religious holidays, Hurriyet daily reported on Tuesday.

The mandate also extends to Jewish and Armenian academic staff being
able to benefit from the same right, Hurriyet wrote.

The decision recognizes the religious festivals of Jewish and Armenian
students at an institutional level for the first time.

YOK also sent the mandate to the chief rabbi’s office and the Armenian
Patriarchal Presidency to inform of the decision, Hurriyet added.

JEWS AND ARMENIANS TO HAVE THEIR HOLIDAYS IN UNIVERSITIES, WHAT ABOUT OTHERS?
Tolga Korkut – [email protected]

BIA
Dec 2 2008
Turkey

YOK’s circular about excusing the Jewish and the Armenian students
and personnel during their religious holidays gets reactions, since
the other religious groups are not included in the practice.

According to the information bianet obtained, the Higher Education
Council (YOK) is getting ready to widen the scope of its circular about
excusing the Armenian and Jewish students and personnel during their
religious holidays. For there have been reactions to the circular in
its original form.

According to the report of Sefa Kaplan from daily Hurriyet, the
YOK circular sent from the YOK president Yusuf Ziya Ozcan to all of
the rectors in its present form has only excused the Jewish and the
Armenian students and personnel during their religious holidays.

Positive but not enough Prof. Dr. Ayhan Aktar with whom bianet met
about the subject describes the move as a positive step, but says
it will not be enough. For the circular in its present form excludes
the other non-Muslim groups.

Neither all the Armenians are Gregorian, nor all the Greeks are
Orthodox, and nor all the Turks are Muslims The academicians with
whom bianet met about the subject say that it was wrong to do the
categorization using terms such as "Ermeni" (Armenian) or "Rum"
(Greek).

The circular in question leaves out the Syrians, the Rums (Greeks),
the Keldani (Chaldeans), and the non-muslim Turks.

The holidays listed in the circular as Armenian holidays are the
holidays of the Apostolic Armenian Church (Gregorian). But there
are Catholic Armenian and Greeks, too. Chaldeans are Catholic as
well. Their holidays are different. The believers of the Greek Orthodox
religion are excluded, too. There are Protestants living in Turkey
and moreover, the Alewite religious celebration of Hıdırellez is
kept outside as well. Then there is Newroz celebrated by many groups
in the Middle East and the Caucasus.

The academicians believe that if there is going to be a practice like
this one, then it should be based on religions, not the ethnic groups.

According to Aktar, they can take the list of the religious holidays
from the religious leaders and make their arrangement accordingly.

There are also academicians who say that it is wrong to include only
the monotheistic religions in the implementation; all of the religions
should be included.

There are more than 90 religious holidays in the USA The state of
New Jersey in the USA prepared a similar list, but they told the
educational institutions in their area that they could have added
other religious holidays they had wished to the list.

The list has more than 90 religious holidays and days: Islam, Orthodox,
Jewish, Hindu, Bahai, Sikh, Shinto, Taoism, Russian Orthodox, Buddhism,
all the other Christian sects.

–Boundary_(ID_SDS/2JXcfzbjOBfHXHtkZQ)–

INDUSTRY LOSES COFFEE PIONEER K. CYRUS MELIKIAN

AMonline.com
Dec 2 2008
WI

K.Cyrus Melikian of Haverford, Pa. recently passed away. He was 88. He
was active as chairman of Automatic Brewers & Coffee Devices Inc. in
Conshohocken, Pa. He is credited with inventing one of the first
coffee vending machines and long active in the vending and coffee
service industries.

He co-founded Rudd Melikian Inc. in Warminster, Pa., which became RMI,
which was sold Automatic Products ltd., which was acquired by Crane
Merchandising Systems.

He was the husband of Roxie Bozoian Melikian and devoted father
of Robert A. Melikian (Susan Hohnsbeen), Karen A. Melikian (Jay
Harrison), Michele Lockwood (Paul) and the late K. Cyrus Melikian
Jr. He was grandfather of Alexander, Hunter, Pearce, Anayis, Armen,
and Casey. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Mary Bozoian.

The family will receive guests Friday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. in
the Chadwick and McKinney Funeral Home, 30 E. Athens Ave. Ardmore and
after 10 a.m. Saturday morning Dec. 6, at St. Gregory the Illuminator
Armenian Apostolic Church, 8701 Ridge Ave., Phila., PA 19128, where
his funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Interment will be at George
Washington Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory
to Armenian Students Association, for benefit of the K. Cyrus Melikian
Memorial Scholarship, 333 Atlantic Ave., Warwick, RI 02888.

ARMENIA C. BANK CUTS REFINANCING RATE TO 7.25%
by Maria Kiselyova

Reuters
Life Style Extra
Dec 2 2008
UK

YEREVAN, Dec 2 (Reuters) – Armenia’s central bank said on Tuesday it
had cut refinancing rate to 7.25 percent from 7.75 percent to boost
economic growth amid falling global prices.

‘In this environment the central bank’s board deems expedient to soften
the monetary policy helping to maintain high economic growth rates,’
the bank said in a statement.

OSCE TO DISCUSS GEORGIA-RUSSIA WAR AFTERMATH

Javno.hr
Dec 2 2008
Croatia

Foreign ministers from the 56-nation Organisation for Security and
Cooperation meet on Thursday and Friday in Helsinki.

Europe’s main security and human rights body will this week discuss
problems lingering since Russia’s brief war with Georgia and hopes
its military monitors can soon return to breakaway South Ossetia.
Foreign ministers from the 56-nation Organisation for Security and
Cooperation meet on Thursday and Friday in Helsinki, the city where
its forerunner, the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe,
was founded in 1975.

But some of the spirit of 1975 may be missing following the OSCE’s
failure in August to stop Moscow and Tbilisi — which are members of
the organisation — going to war over South Ossetia.

"It was quite a dramatic development," OSCE spokesman Martin Nesirky
said of the five-day war. "For that reason it clearly colours the
conversations that will go on, but it doesn’t necessarily poison
the atmosphere."

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is not attending the meeting
of the OSCE, which groups countries from Europe, North America and
Central Asia. She will be in India.

Even if Rice attended, Finnish officials say it would be hard to
secure firm U.S. commitments on any issues because President-elect
Barack Obama does not take office until Jan. 20.

Finland, which hands the OSCE’s annual leadership to Greece next month,
wants agreement on a joint political declaration at the meeting —
something last achieved in 2002 in Portugal. This could be hard
because of the impact of the Georgia-Russia war.

"The odds are against us … we have the crisis in Georgia, this sets
the tone, so we shouldn’t have high expectations," Aleksi Harkonen,
head of the Finnish OSCE Chairmanship Task Force, said of the prospects
of agreeing a joint declaration.

He said it may be better to settle for trying to boost talks between
Russia and Georgia in Geneva on easing mutual tensions.

DISPUTE OVER MONITORS

Russia launched a counter-attack against Georgia in August after
Tbilisi’s forces tried to retake Moscow-backed South Ossetia, which
has declared independence from Georgia.

OSCE military monitors left South Ossetia during the war but Greek
Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanni told Reuters that Athens would do
all it could to secure their return.

"There must be OSCE observers, we must be able to have a complete,
realistic picture of what’s really happening. If goodwill is expressed
by all, we’ll find a solution," she said.

Russia criticised the OSCE for pulling out its observers but has
said the eight monitors who were there before the war are entitled
to return. The OSCE says their return has been blocked.

Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb told Reuters that talks on
the impasse would continue in Moscow on Dec. 8.

"Hopefully we can solve it before the end of the year when the mandate
(for Finland’s leadership of the OSCE) runs out," Stubb said. But he
added: "I won’t give any odds on that."

He said the OSCE ministers would discuss the dispute between Azerbaijan
with Armenia over the mountainous Caucasus enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Nagorno-Karabakh’s mostly ethnic Armenian population broke away from
Azerbaijan in a war in the early 1990s. It now runs its own affairs,
with support from Armenia, and a ceasefire brokered by Russia has
held there since 1994.

The ministers will also discuss Russia’s call for a new European
security pact. France, which holds the European Union presidency,
has said it is ready to discuss such a pact but the United States
has greeted the proposal with reluctance.

President Dmitry Medvedev has said Washington has forfeited its place
at the heart of the world order and that the war with Georgia showed
the security mechanism in Europe, based around NATO and the United
States, needed to be replaced with a new European security pact. He
wants a conference held to set it up.

MINASYAN GIVEN CREDIT FOR PYUNIK SUCCESS
by Khachik Chakhoyan

UEFA.com
Dec 2 2008
Switzerland

FC Pyunik president Karen Arutyunyan said coach Vardan Minasyan was
"not only a great teacher, but a great psychologist as well" after
he led the club to an eighth successive title with a play-off victory
against FC Ararat Yerevan.

Title decider Hired to replace Armen Gyulbudagyants after a shaky
start to the campaign, Minasyan’s side were beaten 3-0 on aggregate
by Anorthosis Famagusta FC in UEFA Champions League qualifying before
dragging themselves back into the title race. Pyunik drew level on
points with Ararat after the final scheduled game of the season,
and then beat them 2-1 in added time in a specially-arranged title
decider. "Ararat were not only league leaders, but they also played
the best football in the country and won the Armenian Cup," said
Minasyan, 34. Ararat looked to be in a class of their own at times,
although FC Gandzasar Kapan, FC MIKA and FC Banants all harboured
title hopes at various times.

Motivational skills "In the middle of the season everybody dropped
points," added Minsayan, who returned to club football following a
spell with the national team. "We were able to reduce the deficit,
although I was still pretty sure Ararat would win the title." The
fact that Pyunik denied them stands as testament to Minsyan’s skills
as a coach and a motivator. After the final whistle in the golden
game on 19 November, club president Arutyunyan said of the former
Pyunik midfielder: "I was right about this group of players and
about Minasyan as a head coach. He was not only a great teacher,
but a great psychologist as well. He is a true professional who has
reached the heights in his own very special way."

International experience Pyunik’s success was founded upon an
indomitable spirit and a successful youth policy. Aside from Sargis
Hovsepyan and Karen Dokhoyan, all of their players were aged between 18
and 20. "Many of our players were in the national youth and U21 teams,"
said Minasyan. "We even had four players selected for the senior
team. This experience helped them to grow." Right-back Hovsepyan,
meanwhile, underlined the culture of endeavour that prevailed among
his team-mates. "Every club has it’s own footballing philosophy,"
the 36-year-old said. "We value the relationships between people. We
always stayed united and believed in ourselves. Our fighting spirit
helped us to win games where our opponents outplayed us."

TURKEY NEEDS NEW CONSTITUTION, SAYS BABACAN

Dec 2 2008
Turkey

Turkish foreign minister said on Tuesday that Turkey could not proceed
on its way with the current constitution.

Turkish Foreign Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU Talks Ali Babacan
arrived in the Belgian capital of Brussels to attend the NATO foreign
ministers’ meeting.

Holding a press conference in Brussels, Babacan said Georgian-Russian
relations after the recent clashes in Georgia as well as NATO
membership processes of Georgia and Ukraine would be on the agenda
of the two-day meeting.

Commenting on Turkey’s EU negotiation process, Babacan said chapters
on the "free movement of capital" and "information society & media"
were expected to be opened to negotiation during France’s rotating
presidency of the EU.

"Our reform process does not depend on the opening or closure of
chapters," Babacan said, stating that reforms improving the life
standards of the public would be implemented step by step.

Babacan said there were currently 30 draft laws on EU, all waiting
to be discussed by the Turkish parliament.

Babacan also said that the EU process was "essential" for the Turkish
economy and macro-economic stability. "EU reforms are the guarantee
of Turkey’s long-term political stability," he said.

Upon a question on the studies for the preparation of a civil
constitution, Babacan said that Turkey needed a comprehensive
constitutional amendment.

"This is the truth and we should accept it. Turkey cannot proceed on
its way forever with the current constitution. If we try to continue,
there will be frequent accidents and problems," he said.

Commenting on the rising tension between India and Pakistan after
the recent terrorist attacks as well, Babacan said "more attention
should be paid" to the relations between the two countries in the
upcoming period.

Following the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting, Babacan is expected
to meet with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn.

Babacan, who will later proceed to the Finnish capital of Helsinki
to attend the ministerial meeting of the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), will also hold separate talks with
his Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts.

ALI BABACAN TO VISIT AZERBAIJAN REGARDING ARMENIA ISSUE
Shamkhal Abilov

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Dec 2 2008
Turkey

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan is in official visit to Azerbaijan
by the invitation of his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov. The
meeting was held between two Foreign Ministers. The main topic of
the meeting was the further development of the bilateral relations,
situation in the South Caucasus, and the mediation role of Turkey in
this issue.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said that, we talked
about the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict at the briefing
right after the meeting. "I have again informed my Turkish counterpart
about Azerbaijan position in this issue. We have also discussed about
the initiative of the Turkish side in the stability and security
platform in region," said Foreign Minister.

Ministers also talked about the energy project between two states
and stressed that the trilateral meeting between president of
Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan will play an important role
for transporting Khazar based energy to Europe through Azerbaijan
and Turkey.

At press conference the Foreign minister of Turkey Ali Babacan said
that, the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations and improving
ties between these countries would have a positive impact on the
Azerbaijan-Armenia talks over Nagorny Karabakh.

It is important here to mention that one of the main reasons of Turkey
in 1992 for closing borders with Armenia was the occupation of the
Azerbaijan territory. Now Turkey sees that this has no any effect
for solving problem with Armenia.

The visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Armenia in September
2008 creates new form for cooperation in the region. The main purpose
of the visit was helping the dialogue between two countries to avoid
the historical enmity and trying to protect peace and security in
the region.

Turkish Foreign Minister said that this is the only way for the
prosperity of the region. In order to solve the problem in the region,
parties of the conflict have to take place in the bargaining table. He
stressed that Turkey effort to improve bilateral relations with
Armenia would help to resolve the long-standing conflict and have
great impact on the negotiation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

On December 1, President Ilham Aliyev received Turkish Foreign
Minister Ali Babacan. President stressed the importance of the Turkish
partnership for Azerbaijan and appreciated the mediator role of Turkey
in Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

"We have relations that enable our cooperation in all fields. We have
common past. And nowadays, everything depend on our political will,"
stated Ilham Alyev. President also talked about the development of
the economic, political, and strategic relations between Turkey and
Azerbaijan, and mentioned that the main principle in relations is
our brotherhood and common history.

The Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kılıc also attended to
the meeting. The meeting then continued behind closed door.

–Boundary_(ID_Ghch8HU929W3otyS1MZvUQ)–

CLINTON WELCOMED BY US ARMENIANS

Hurriyet
Dec 3 2008
Turkey

WASHINGTON – U.S. President-elect Barack Obama’s selection of
Sen. Hillary Clinton as secretary of state seems to have been met with
approval by both Turkey and Armenia, with the largest U.S. Armenian
group and Turkish officials welcoming the decision.

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama’s selection of Sen. Hillary Clinton
as secretary of state seems to have been met with approval by both
Turkey and Armenia, with the largest U.S. Armenian group and Turkish
officials welcoming the decision.

The Armenian National Committee of America, or ANCA praised Clinton’s
record as a strong supporter of the Armenian cause, in a statement
late Monday. However, the ANCA made no mention of Clinton’s opposition
to the passage of an "Armenian genocide" resolution in the House of
Representatives in October 2007, when she cited concerns of a strong
Turkish reaction.

"We extend our thanks to President-elect Obama for this choice
and our congratulations to Senator Clinton on her appointment to
our nation’s top diplomatic post," said Aram Hamparian, the ANCA’s
executive director, according to the statement.

"We are certainly pleased to see that, for the first time in recent
memory, an individual with a strong record in support of Armenian
genocide recognition will serve as America’s secretary of state,"
Hamparian said.

Obama announced earlier Monday, he would nominate Clinton, his former
rival during the Democratic Party’s primaries for the presidential
election, as his secretary of state. Clinton first needs the Senate’s
confirmation to assume her new post. She is not expected to face any
difficulty with that process.

Turkish officials are also happy with Obama’s overall cabinet choice,
although for different reasons.

"We have very good relations with these three figures (Clinton,
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Gen. James Jones). We believe
Obama is forming a very good national security cabinet," said one
Turkish official on condition of anonymity.

Turkish officials see Clinton as an experienced and centrist figure
with a positive understanding of Turkey.

What happened last year?

Like Obama, Clinton, during the primaries earlier this year, pledged
to recognize the 1915 incidents in the Ottoman Empire as "genocide",
if she were elected president. Clinton has also co-sponsored every
so-called genocide resolution in the senate since coming into office
in 2001.

But her position was different late last year. On Oct. 7, 2007, the
House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a so-called genocide resolution,
sending it for a potential floor vote.

Turkey reacted strongly, withdrawing its ambassador to Washington and
warned that the legislation’s passage in a full floor vote would hurt
the U.S.-Turkish relationship in a major and lasting way.

At a meeting with the Boston Globe’s editorial board Oct. 10, Hillary
said she had qualms about supporting a similar measure she co-sponsored
in the senate, according to a Globe article on Oct. 12.

She told the Globe’s editorial board that Turkey’s opposition had
been stronger than anticipated and that congress should proceed with
caution. Eventually President George W. Bush’s efforts forced the
house leadership to shelve the resolution.

Although both Obama and Clinton have pledged to recognize the so-called
genocide, the ANCA, which has now congratulated Clinton, viewed Obama
as the more sincere candidate on Armenian matters and decided in late
January to back him against Hillary in the primaries.

In addition, Hillary’s husband and former president, Bill Clinton,
due to last-minute pressure, prevented a similar resolution from
passing in a house floor vote in October 2000.

TURKEY RECEIVES PEACE PRIZE

Hurriyet
Dec 3 2008
Turkey

ISTANBUL – The "Peace and Sport" organization has awarded Turkey the
2008 "Peace and Sport Image of the Year" prize.

Turkey was chosen for the prize after President Abdullah Gul and
his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsian shook hands prior to a
World Cup qualifying match between Turkey and Armenia in Yerevan on
Sept. 6. Turkey will receive its prize Thursday from Prince Albert
II of Monaco.