Month: December 2008

CHP MEMBERS REACT TO RACIST REMARKS DESPITE PARTY INACTION

Today’s Zaman
Dec 25 2008
Turkey

Republican People’s Party (CHP) politicians have voiced their
objections to racist remarks made by CHP İzmir deputy Canan Arıtman,
who questioned President Abdullah Gul’s ethnic background, but
there have still been no disciplinary actions taken by the party
administration.

A deputy from the CHP recently apologized to the mother of President
Gul, whose maternal ethnic roots had been questioned by Arıtman
when the president did not object to an apology campaign launched
by Turkish intellectuals over the killings of Anatolian Armenians at
the hands of the late Ottoman Empire in 1915, which Armenians claim
constituted genocide. On a television program discussing the apology
campaign Tuesday evening, former ambassador and CHP Ä°stanbul deputy
Å~^ukru Elekdag said he would like to apologize to the mother of the
president. "I would like to apologize to someone and that person is
a woman, a mother. That woman is the mother of Abdullah Gul. I know
she has been quite disturbed by this discussion. For that reason,
I would like to say that I feel the same empathy for her that I would
feel for my own mother and I apologize to her," Elekdag said.

Arıtman’s remarks have drawn ire from CHP politicians, with many
stressing that they don’t share her beliefs. "Arıtman made a very
wrong statement. I don’t approve of such talk of ethnicity," CHP
Chief Accountant Mustafa Ozyurek said. In addition, CHP Adana deputy
Hulusi Guvel criticized the party administration for failing to act
in response to Arıtman’s statements.

The CHP administration issued a warning to Arıtman after she appeared
on two television programs to discuss her allegations about Gul
without the administration’s permission.

On the other hand, CHP parliamentary group leader Hakkı Suha Okay
has criticized Gul, who filed a symbolic YTL 1 lawsuit against
Arıtman for assaulting his "personal and family values, honor
and reputation." Speaking to the Anatolia news agency yesterday,
Okay said, "Filing this lawsuit is an injustice to our citizens of
Armenian roots," explaining that it implied that the president regards
"Armenian ethnicity" as an insult. Emphasizing that "everyone’s roots
deserve respect," he added that Arıtman’s words lacked "class,"
but that the president’s action was inappropriate.

Meanwhile, Arıtman said in a statement yesterday evening that the
media had launched a lynch campaign against her. "I have two questions
for the media outlets trying to lynch me. Has President Abdullah Gul,
who sued me for my words, not offended Armenians? You want my expulsion
from my party. Are you going to demand the president’s resignation,
too?" she asked. "If saying that your mother is British is not an
insult, neither is saying she was Armenian," she said, asserting that
the president had attached a negative meaning to the word "Armenian"
by suing her for her statement.

In light of the current debate, Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate
head Ali Bardakoglu said, "The biggest disservice to humanity would
be to take ethnic roots as a measure," adding that all people are
ultimately the "children of Adam and Eve." Bardakoglu was quoted by
the Milliyet daily as saying: "We have lost our tolerance toward each
other. Let’s leave the judgmental attitudes behind."

Gul: Roots, beliefs and ideas do not matter

In a Christmas message yesterday, President Gul said: "Regardless
of their roots, beliefs or ideas, all of our citizens are honorable
and equal members of our nation. People share all moments of life
together. The contemporary Turkish Republic is a secular and social
state under the rule of law and has adopted this principle with each
member of the society firmly together in unity and solidarity. … with
those thoughts I celebrate the Christmas holiday of all of our citizens
coming from Christian traditions and I wish them happy holidays."

Meanwhile, in response to reporters’ questions about the recent row,
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that he embraces
all of Turkey’s citizens. "Is somebody a citizen of the Turkish
Republic? Is his or her constitutional identity Turkish? That’s what
matters," he said, adding that nobody should be discriminated against
based on his ethnic origin.

–Boundary_(ID_jyMftS/+eXH+WfG0luwIxQ)–

FOREIGN MINISTERS OF ARMENIA, TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN TO MEET SOON

Panorama.am
18:49 25/12/2008

In the beginning of the year Karabakh conflict will become the main
topic to be discussed by the Foreign Ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan
and Turkey. According to the Ambassador of Turkey to Azerbaijan the
Foreign Ministers Edward Nalbandyan, Ali Babacan and Elmar Mamediarov
will have a meeting in Janaury-February of 2009.

According to the Ambassador they will discuss the initiative of Turkey
to establish a Platform of Stability and Peace also. Remind that it is
intended that Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan should
join the initiative. According to some Armenian experts the objective
of the initiative is to isolate Iran from the regional affairs.

ARMENIAN EXPERT: "INTENSIFICATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS IS PROFITABLE ONLY FOR TURKEY"

Today.Az
litics/49826.html
Dec 25 2008
Azerbaijan

"Only Turkey can benefit from recently intensified Armenian-Turkish
relations", considers former spokesman of Armenian Foreign Ministry,
coordinator on external ties of the opposition Armenian national
congress Vladimir Karapetyan.

"Showing the so-called attempts to restore relations with Armenia to
the whole world, still keeps the border closed and does not establish
diplomatic relations", added he.

Moreover, according to him, the trilateral meeting of the Foreign
Ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey in New York helped Turkey
to present itself to the world community as one of the mediators in
the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

Another achievement of Turkey was the suspension of the process of
international recognition of "Armenian genocide", according to him.

"Due to the rumors about creation of the Armenian-Turkish commission of
historians to study 1915 events, no state has recognized "the genocide"
this year", added Karapetyan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FOREIGN MINISTERS OF AZERBAIJAN, TURKEY AND ARMENIA TO HOLD NEXT MEETING EARLY NEXT YEAR

Azeri Press Agency
Dec 25 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Lachin Sultanova – APA. Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Turkey
and Armenia will meet early next year, Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan
Hulusi Kilich told the press conference, APA reports. The ambassador
mentioned that the three ministers first met in New York on September
25 and said Turkey wanted soon solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
release of the occupied territories, therefore such meetings would
be held frequently.

Taking a stance on the declaration on the settlement of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict signed in Moscow on November 2, the diplomat
underlined that Turkey supported such steps.

"We saw that both sides had good intention, and Turkey believes in
good intentions," he said.

The ambassador mentioned that following the August happenings in
the Caucasus, Turkey initiated Caucasus Stability and Cooperation
Platform. The diplomat said officials of Foreign Ministries of five
countries – Turkey, Azerbaijan, Russia, Georgia and Armenia met in
Helsinki in connection with the initiative and added that document
on understanding was being prepared concerning the Platform.

"The document is expected to be completed next year," he said.

HULUSI KILIC: "TURKEY WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT AZERBAIJAN"

Azeri Press Agency
Dec 25 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Lachin Sultanova-APA. Turkey’s ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi
Kilic held a press conference resuming 2008. The ambassador called it
very important year from the view of development of Turkey-Azerbaijan
relationship, APA reports. The diplomat said the two countries
had perfect political relations embodied ten meetings at the level
of presidents and prime ministers and 30 ministerial visits this
year. Speaking about the economic relations Kilic said trade turnover
between the two countries reached 2.5 million dollars. He reminded
about the successful cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan in the
transnational oil and gas projects and said Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway
would be opened in 2010 which would lay a road from China to London.

The diplomat said outgoing year was a year of jubilees for both
Azerbaijan and Turkey. This year was a year of 90th anniversary of
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and its parliament and army, 85th
anniversary of Republic of Turkey, 90th anniversary of establishing
of the Caucasian Islamic Army and its arrival in Azerbaijan and
liberation of Baku. The ambassador said the Ottoman Empire, living
its final days, sent eight thousand troops to Azerbaijan and more
than 1200 Turkish soldiers died in the battles for Azerbaijan.

Kilic said Turkey wanted a soonest solution to the Nagorno karabakh
conflict and would always support Azerbaijan in this issue. Touching
on the campaign of apology to Armenians, the ambassador said the
Turkish nation did nothing to apologize and would not apologize to
anyone. He said those who joined the campaign were wrong.

POISONING FROM FOOD AND MEDICINE

Panorama.am
16:01 25/12/2008

The Rescue Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations reports
that on December 24 Sargis Martirosyan, a citizen of Gyumri city
was taken to "Samariter" hospital. The same day Rostom Kocharyan,
a citizen of Vanadzor city was taken to Vanadzor hospital. Both of
them suffered medicine poisoning. After they received medical cure
the injured were taken to home.

The Rescue Service reports that they received another alarm on December
24 from Vanadzor hospital sthat a citizen of Vanadzor Byureghik Karyan
was taken to hospital will food poisoning (botulism), later Karyan’s
husband Benik Khachatryan was also taken to hospital.

TURKISH, AZERBAIJANI, ARMENIAN FMS TO DISCUSS SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT, SAYS AMBASSADOR

Trend News Agency
Dec 25 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 25 /Trend News, A.Huseynbala/ Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict will be the main subject of discussion at the negotiations
among Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia to take
place in early 2009.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in
1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost the Nagorno-Karabakh, except of Shusha and Khojali, in
December 1991. In 1992-93, Armenian Armed Forces occupied Shusha,
Khojali and Nagorno-Karabakh’s seven surrounding regions. In 1994,
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time
the active hostilities ended. The countries keep on fruitless peace
negotiating. OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by USA, Russia, and France
is engaged in peace settling of the conflict.

Ali Babacan, Elmar Mammadyarov and Edward Nalbandian will meet in
January or February, 2009, Turkey’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi
Kilic said to journalists on Dec. 25.

Ministers will also discuss the Caucasus Platform which was initiated
by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Kilic said.

Turkish PM initiated creation of the Caucasus Stability Platform. All
countries in the region backed the initiative.

OFID TO PROVIDE A $14 MILLION LOAN TO ARMENIA

Trend News Agency
Dec 25 2008
Azerbaijan

Armenian Ambassador to Austria Ashot Hovakimyan and the Director
General of OPEC Fund for International Development Suleyman Al-Harbish
signed an agreement on provision of a $14 million loan to Armenia
from the Fund, reported Public Radio.

The loan is provided to the Armenian government for the implementation
of the ââ~B¬Å~[Farmers of marketing opportunitiesââ~B¬Å&#xA5 ; program. The
program is meant to promote the economy of the urban regions of
Armenia.

The Director General of the Fund noted that this is the second program
jointly implemented with Armenia. Mr. Al-Herbish expressed appreciation
for he cooperation with the Armenian Government and expressed hope
that the cooperation will continue in the future.

On behalf of the Government of Armenia, Ambassador Hovakimyan expressed
gratitude of the provided grant and support. He highly assessed the
cooperation with the Fund and noted that during his visit expected
net year the Director General will have an opportunity to personally
assess the results of the programs implemented.

–Boundary_(ID_nQxRjbRAnG6KMxN6nZPRr A)–

RUSSIA CALLS ON AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA TO AVOID VIOLATION OF CEASEFIRE

Trend News Agency
Dec 25 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 25 /Trend News, R.Novruzov/ Russia calls on
Azerbaijan and Armenia to avoid violation of ceasefire.

Conflicting parties should resolve this type of situation, Russian
Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vasili Istratov told reporters on Dec. 25,
commenting on the murder of an Azerbaijani civilian in Hasangaya
village in Terter region by snipers of the Armenian Armed Forces. As a
result of an open fire by snipers armed forces of Armenia on December
23 at approximately 23:00 was killed by a citizen of Azerbaijan Afig
Mamedov, 1954 birth, which pass close to the cattle line of fire,
said a regional correspondent of Trend News.

Afig Mammadov, 54, was killed by Armenian Armed Forces’ snipers
on Dec. 23 at about 23.00. He was pusturing cattle nearby troops
contact line.

His body was found in the morning of Dec. 24.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenia’s Serzh Sargsyan
and Russia’s Dmitry Medvedev signed a declaration at the end of
their meeting in Mein Dorf castle near Moscow on 2 November. In the
declaration, the parties undertake to observe ceasefire at the troops
contact line.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in
1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost the Nagorno-Karabakh, except of Shusha and Khojali, in
December 1991. In 1992-93, Armenian Armed Forces occupied Shusha,
Khojali and Nagorno-Karabakh’s seven surrounding regions. In 1994,
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time
the active hostilities ended. The countries keep on fruitless peace
negotiating. OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by USA, Russia, France is
engaged in peace settling of the conflict.

ILHAM ALIYEV’S RATIONAL AND BALANCED POLICY PROVIDES CONDITION FOR EFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF STATE SYSTEM: OFFICIAL OF AZERBAIJAN’S PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION

Trend News Agency
Dec 25 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 25 /Trend News, J.Babayeva/ Interview of Elnur
Aslanov, Director of the Political Analysis and Information Department
at the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, with Trend News

Question: In Azerbaijan last year was not ordinary. Thus, presidential
election took place in October, the possibility of changing certain
articles of the Constitution was considered, new agreements on
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were signed, construction of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway was commenced, etc. What is your appraisal
to the outgoing year?

Answer: It is true. The outgoing year has been full of both regional
and global processes. I agree that the main component in the context
of domestic political issues was next presidential election held
in Azerbaijan. The election demonstrated the willingness of society
to a democratic consolidation. The elections predetermined further
development of the country and created a basis of symmetrical reforms
in political, economic and social life. Moreover, open and democratic
character of the election, which was confirmed by authoritative
international organizations, enables saying that the task of the
authorities in the coming years is to intensify democratic development
in the country, to improve the role of civil society institutions in
our lives.

At the same time, important steps to establish a civil society
basis were made this year – for the first time the State funded the
projects of various NGOs through the NGO State Assistance Fund. A
number of significant events were implemented in the field of mass
media. They enable speaking about State’s constant attention towards
representatives of the "fourth power". Certain "movements" commenced
in field of political culture. I associate them with congratulations
from a number of opposition parties to the President in connection
with his re-election, as well as President’s reply gratitude. Today we
can say that a new opposition has been formed in the country, which,
of course, reflects certain moods of the society, because presence of
opposition is an essential attribute of democratic coexistence. Also in
2008, at the initiative of some political organizations the Parliament
commenced discussing amendments to the Constitution, which provides
a ground to discuss country’s promising development. Certainly,
it is the society to make the last say. The society will say "for"
or "against" any changes to the Constitution of the Republic of
Azerbaijan. I cannot fail to mention another factor, which I think is
very interesting. The country began discussion of the Law on Political
Parties, which was adopted in 1992 and today actually aggravates the
political space by its archaism. Discussion on possible financing of
parties shows that the place and role of political organizations in
the country is gradually being transformed.

I totally agree with you that in terms of foreign policy a number
of very important and significant steps were made. These steps
include Moscow Declaration which clearly indicates sides of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict -Armenia and Azerbaijan, UN’s adoption of
Resolution on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, launch of construction of
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and initiative by the Turkish Prime Minister
to hold discussion over the Caucasus platform. It is noticeable that
processes ongoing on international arena last year had impact on our
country as well.

Firs of all, this is a conflict between Russia and Georgia over
the South Ossetia which involved not only conflicting sides and
almost entire world community. As a whole, U.S.-Russia relations,
complicated by the results of talks over missile shield, once again
replaced reference points of world order in wake of Georgia-Russia
conflict. Now it is worth to think and to speak about multi-polar world
order where every party asserts its own interests. Second, one should
not forget that Russia and the United States held presidential election
this year and change of elite is always accompanied with certain
rhetoric on international arena. Third, the world financial crisis and
globalization have engulfed the entire world which is very important,
namely, very essential fact. It affects our daily life and of course,
leaves a track on our agenda. The world community still witnesses
the processes related with Afghanistan and Iraq and issues related
Iran and North Korea are under discussions in various capitals of the
world. Moreover, falling oil prices and willingness of certain parties
to create new routes of gas delivery to Europe provides conditions for
new discussions which are not always productive. This year was quite
difficult and interesting at the same time. I would describe it as
"Year of Analogies" as we compared it with the year of onset of the
Great Depression and year of Fulton Speech which marked beginning of
the Cold War. All the above-mentioned processes showed that there is
no a precedent to the foreign policy line pursued by the Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev. Rationality, balance and suspension lay at
the root of Ilham Aliyev’s policy which ensures efficient development
of the state system.

As to national economy, great achievements are noteworthy which include
first of all remarkable rise in GDP, raise in salaries, creation of
dozens of social and industrial facilities and updating of Azerbaijani
economy as whole. As a result, Azerbaijan became country of reformers
in 2008 and ranked first in Doing Business-2008 report. Second, it is
liberalization through single window in tax and customs agencies. Third
is the policy of drawing investors to Azerbaijan.

Question: What are Azerbaijan’s priority targets and tasks for
near future?

Answer: Updating political, economic and social life of the country
are tasks of Ilham Aliyev for near future. These tasks also include
political reforms, continuation Azerbaijan’s economic development
and of course, stage-by-stage transformation of new behavior norms
and stereotypes. Furthermore, a special emphasis is laid on improving
education as future of the nation is shaped efficiently only through
high-quality education. In foreign policy context, Azerbaijan will
further achieve fair solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the
basis of fundamental principles of international law. Today Azerbaijan
is a powerful country and our neighbors should understand that it will
not work to be occupier for ever. Meanwhile, our foreign policy line
based on balanced approach to all participants of the international
community will be continued.