Month: September 2009

ARMENIA-TURKEY DEAL A STEP FORWARD
By Mariam Harutunian

The News International
Sept 2 2009
Pakistan

Armenia and Turkey have taken a major step forward by agreeing to
a plan for establishing diplomatic ties, experts said on Tuesday,
but the deal does not yet mark an end to decades of hostility.

Domestic opposition, objections from Turkey’s ally Azerbaijan and
lingering distrust between the two countries could still derail their
efforts to overcome nearly a century of acrimony, analysts said. Most
nonetheless agreed that the creation of a timetable for establishing
ties and re-opening their long-sealed border was an historic moment.

"It is a very, very serious step towards the completion of the
negotiating process, and the questions of the border re-opening and
the establishment of diplomatic ties will be solved very soon…. It
is a matter of six months to a year," Yerevan-based political analyst
Alexander Iskandarian said.

The agreement announced on Monday foresees the signing of two protocols
on establishing diplomatic relations and developing bilateral ties
following six weeks of "internal political consultations". Turkey has
long refused to establish diplomatic links with Armenia over Yerevan’s
efforts to have World War I-era massacres of Armenians by Ottoman Turks
recognised as genocide — a label Turkey strongly rejects. Turkey
also closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with ally
Azerbaijan over Yerevan’s backing of ethnic Armenian separatists in
the breakaway Nagorny Karabakh region.

Analysts said the agreement of a precise timetable was a sign of the
seriousness of the plan.

"This is fantastic news, it seems these are very serious declarations,
a very serious timetable," said Hugh Pope, a Turkey analyst for the
International Crisis Group. "Huge progress has been made, starting
with intellectuals and academics and then with some business people
getting involved and even ex-officials have been trying to get Turkey
away from the old nationalist rhetoric," he said.

Washington and Paris on Monday warmly welcomed the deal, which
followed a year of Swiss-brokered talks and a historic visit by
Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Armenia for a football match last
September. Still, it is unclear how long the process of ratification
could take and Turkey has already cast some doubts on the re-opening
of the border.

"At the moment opening the border is not foreseen and it is not the
priority," Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told Turkey’s NTV
channel late on Monday. He later added that Turkey would take no action
"that would hurt the interests of Azerbaijan".

Azerbaijani foreign ministry spokesman Elkhan Polukhov said on Tuesday
that Baku was confident Ankara would not agree to open the border
without a deal on Nagorny Karabakh.

"Azerbaijan’s position is based on numerous statements from
high-ranking officials in Turkey on the question of opening the
Armenian-Turkish border," he told AFP. "The opening of the border
without the settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict would
contradict the interests of Azerbaijan." Turkey’s immediate raising of
Azerbaijan’s interests following Monday’s announcement could signal
a step back on the border issue, Armenian political analyst Sergei
Shakarian said.

"The border will not be re-opened, not within six weeks or six months,
or in two years, because the Karabakh issue will not be resolved within
this time," he said. The agreement could also face strong domestic
opposition in both countries, analysts said, and the ratification
process could drag on.

"It is a very positive development, but of course we cannot say that
the thing is in the bag," former Turkish diplomat Ilter Turkmen told
CNN-Turk television.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SUDAN: WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES’ CALL FOR PEACE IN DARFUR

AllAfrica.com

Se pt 1 2009

Document

The following is a World Council of Churches’ statement on the Darfur
crisis in Sudan:

1. Since early 2003, the conflict in Darfur has unleashed an
overwhelming wave of violence resulting in the death of hundreds of
thousands of civilians and in an immense humanitarian crisis with
millions of innocent people being displaced and subjected to vile
crimes (torture, rape, abductions). The conflict enters its sixth year
and constitutes a moral challenge for the international community
that must no longer silence and ignore the continuous deteriorating
situation of thousands of innocent people who are confronted daily
with death and famine and are subjected to conditions calculated to
bring about their physical destruction.

2. The pursuit of justice, peace and reconciliation has been at
the core of the mission of Christian churches as a response to the
teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are those who
hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed
are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God
(Matthew 5: 6-9). The churches in different parts of the world, and
especially in those countries which have suffered gross human rights
violations, have been struggling against impunity at the national
and international level. The rationale of this struggle has been not
so much to seek punishment, but to overcome violence and impunity,
to support victims and to pursue peace, justice and reconciliation.

3. Churches and ecumenical organizations have always interpreted the
cries of the victims as a demand to respect their rights. Victims have
the right to know exactly what happened in the case of grave human
rights violations. It was within this context that churches raised
their prophetic voice with regard to the Armenian genocide. As it was
stated in the "Report on the Armenian Genocide", adopted by the WCC
central committee, Geneva, 15 – 22 February 2005: "From the Christian
perspective, the path towards justice and reconciliation requires the
recognition of the crime committed as a sine qua non condition for the
healing of memories and the possibility of forgiveness. Forgiveness
does not mean forgetting but to look back with the intention to
restore justice, the respect for human rights and relationships
between perpetrators and victims."

4. Churches should once again assume their pioneering role and raise
their prophetic voice with regard to the Darfur crisis. The crimes
committed in Darfur against innocent civilians amount to the crime
of genocide as prescribed in the United Nations (UN) Convention on
the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and in the
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

5. States have a primary responsibility to protect their populations
from genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against
humanity. However, when states manifestly fail to protect their
populations, the international community shares a collective
responsibility to respond. The international community no longer has
the right to remain a bystander and allow the perpetration of large
scale atrocities, like the ones occurring in Darfur, to continue
unpunished.

6. Unfortunately the government of Sudan has failed to protect its
population. Furthermore, following the arrest warrant issued by the ICC
against the president of the Republic of Sudan, Omar Hassan Ahmed Al
Bashir, the Sudanese government proceeded in the expulsion of a number
of humanitarian aid organizations from Darfur who were providing life
sustaining assistance to millions of people in the region.

7. At the same time, the lack of progress in the peace negotiations
causes further concerns for the future of this war torn region and the
livelihood of its people. It also has an impact on the already fragile
Comprehensive Peace Agreement, signed between the government of Sudan
and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in 2005, which brought
to an end a 21 year conflict in the largest country of the African
continent. The conflict in Darfur is undoubtedly rather complex and
its interconnectedness with other parts of Sudan and ongoing conflicts
in neighbouring countries, as well as its destabilizing effects for
the whole region should not be underestimated, especially in view of
the forthcoming elections in Sudan in 2010 and the country’s critical
2011 referendum on a possible secession of the South from Sudan.

Acknowledging the seriousness of the Darfur conflict and its impact on
peace and stability in Sudan as expressed in the All Africa Council
of Churches general committee "Statement on the situation in Sudan"
issued on 24 – 27 March 2009, the central committee of the WCC,
meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, 26 August – 2 September 2009:

A. Condemns the mass atrocities committed against innocent civilians
in Darfur.

B. Affirms its commitment and support to all national and international
efforts aiming at pursuing justice and accountability with a view
to building a long lasting peace through a truly reconciliatory
process which will allow people to resettle and reintegrate in their
communities from which they were forcefully displaced.

C. Urges the government of Sudan to assume full responsibility for the
protection of its citizens irrespective of their ethnic, religious
or political affiliation, and further calls on all parties in the
Darfur conflict to restrain from all forms of violence and to uphold
respect for the dignity and human rights of all people in Sudan.

D. Calls upon the government of Sudan to allow uninterrupted
humanitarian assistance to reach all suffering people in Darfur
and calls upon the international community to provide the necessary
resources.

E. Appeals to the government of Sudan to actively show its commitment
to justice and peace by honouring the statements and agreements it
has signed, especially the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Relevant Links East Africa North Africa Sudan Religion F. Urges African
nations and the international community, both individually as well as
through organizations such as the African Union, the Arab League and
the United Nations, to continue to support the peace process through
constructive dialogue with all parties involved in the conflict.

G. Appreciates the assistance provided by the peace keeping force
UNAMID (African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur), and
calls for further financial and logistical support by the international
community in order to allow UNAMID to protect the civilian population
most effectively.

H. Acknowledges the significant role of the churches in Sudan in
promoting interreligious dialogue and advocating for peace, justice,
reconciliation and respect for the dignity and well being of all the
people of Sudan.

I. Encourages all Christians to pray for an end to the hostilities
in Darfur and for a lasting peace in Sudan.

TURKEY: BORDER WITH ARMENIA WILL OPEN TO TRADE SIGN IN TO RECOMMEND
By Sebnem Arsu

New York Times
Sept 1 2009

The Turkey-Armenia border, closed for more than 15 years, will be
opened to trade once diplomatic relations are established, the Turkish
Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. Two protocols signed by the longtime
rivals on Monday and released Tuesday said the border would be opened
within two months of the ratification by each country’s Parliament of
an agreement on diplomatic relations. Such an agreement is expected
to be completed within six weeks. The protocols also call for the
formation of an international history commission to study the Armenian
genocide, the central dispute between the countries.

ARMENIA-TURKEY DEAL A BIG LEAP

Saudi Gazette
Sept 2 2009
Saudi Arabia

ARMENIA and Turkey have taken a major step forward by agreeing to a
plan for establishing diplomatic ties, experts said Tuesday, but the
deal does not yet mark an end to decades of hostility.

Domestic opposition, objections from Turkey’s ally Azerbaijan and
lingering distrust between the two countries could still derail their
efforts to overcome nearly a century of acrimony, analysts said.

Most nonetheless agreed that the creation of a timetable for
establishing ties and reopening their long-sealed border was a
historic moment.

"It is a very, very serious step toward the completion of the
negotiating process, and the questions of the border reopening and
the establishment of diplomatic ties will be solved very soon… It
is a matter of six months to a year," Yerevan-based political analyst
Alexander Iskandarian said.

The agreement announced Monday foresees the signing of two protocols
on establishing diplomatic relations and developing bilateral ties
following six weeks of "internal political consultations".

Turkey has long refused to establish diplomatic links with Armenia
over Yerevan’s efforts to have World War I-era massacres of Armenians
by Ottoman Turks recognized as genocide — a label Turkey strongly
rejects.

Turkey also closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with
ally Azerbaijan over Yerevan’s backing of ethnic Armenian separatists
in the breakaway Nagorny Karabakh region.

Analysts said the agreement of a precise timetable was a sign of the
seriousness of the plan. "This is fantastic news, it seems these are
very serious declarations, a very serious timetable," said Hugh Pope,
a Turkey analyst for the International Crisis Group.

"Huge progress has been made, starting with intellectuals and
academics and then with some business people getting involved and
even ex-officials have been trying to get Turkey away from the old
nationalist rhetorics," he said.

Washington and Paris Monday warmly welcomed the deal, which followed a
year of Swiss-brokered talks and a historic visit by Turkish President
Abdullah Gul to Armenia for a football match last September. Still,
it is unclear how long the process of ratification could take and
Turkey has already cast some doubts on the reopening of the border.

"At the moment opening the border is not foreseen and it is not the
priority," Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told Turkey’s NTV
channel late Monday. He later added that Turkey would take no action
"that would hurt the interests of Azerbaijan".

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Elkhan Polukhov said Tuesday
that Baku was confident Ankara would not agree to open the border
without a deal on Nagorny Karabakh. "Azerbaijan’s position is based
on numerous statements from high-ranking officials in Turkey on the
question of opening the Armenian-Turkish border," he told AFP. "The
opening of the border without the settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh
conflict would contradict the interests of Azerbaijan."

Turkey’s immediate raising of Azerbaijan’s interests following
Monday’s announcement could signal a step back on the border issue,
Armenian political analyst Sergei Shakarian said. "The border will not
be re-opened, not within six weeks or six months, or in two years,
because the Karabakh issue will not be resolved within this time,"
he said.

The agreement could also face strong domestic opposition in both
countries, analysts said, and the ratification process could drag
on. "It is a very positive development, but of course we cannot say
that the thing is in the bag," former Turkish diplomat Ilter Turkmen
told CNN-Turk television.

"There is a long process ahead of us, first with six weeks of
negotiations, then the ratification of the protocols before
Parliament. There is no certainty over what will happen in
parliament. It is likely that the opposition will oppose this project,
that there will be long arguments."

TURKEY-ARMENIA HOSTILITY THAWS AFTER 100 YEARS

PRESS TV
Sept 2 2009
Iran

Turkey and Armenia have agreed on a protocol which could result in
reopening of the border between the two long-time foes by the end of
the year.

The two countries have announced that they would sign accords within
six weeks under a plan to end a century of hostility.

According to an unofficial translation of the protocol released by the
Turkish Foreign Ministry, the two countries have agreed to establish
ties in various areas.

Turkey and Armenia have also agreed to support each other in
international bodies, including the United Nations.

Ankara and Yerevan have agreed to open the Turkey-Armenia border
within two months after the implementation of the protocol, Turkey’s
Yenisafak newspaper reported.

"If everything goes as planned, if mutual steps are taken, the borders
could be opened around New Year," Reuters quoted Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu as saying.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with Muslim
ally Azerbaijan, which was fighting Armenian-backed separatists in
the breakaway mountain region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenians also accuse Turkey of committing a massacre against 1.5
million of their kin between 1915 and 1917 as the Ottoman Empire was
falling apart.

Turkey rejects Armenian claims that the killings amounted to
"genocide", and says many people were killed on both sides of the
conflict.

The thaw in relations between Turkey and Armenia seems to have worried
Azerbaijan, which may feel it is losing its traditional supporter,
Turkey.

Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry spokesman Elhan Polukhov has said that
any Turkish move to open its border with Armenia before "the Armenian
occupation of the Azerbaijani territory" is over would be contrary
to the national interests of Azerbaijan.

A LOOK AT ISSUES DIVIDING NEIGHBORS ARMENIA AND TURKEY

Washington Examiner
Sept 2 2009

(AP) Issues dividing neighbors Armenia and Turkey, which announced
Monday they would establish diplomatic relations for the first time:

GENOCIDE: Bitterly divided by killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians
by Ottoman Turks during World War I, which many scholars consider
first genocide of 20th century. Armenia wants it recognized as one of
worst humanitarian atrocities. Turkey denies it constituted genocide,
contending toll has been inflated and dead were victims of civil war
and unrest that killed Muslims as well as overwhelmingly Christian
Armenians.
___

NAGORNO-KARABAKH: Disagree over Nagorno-Karabakh, predominantly ethnic
Armenian region of Azerbaijan controlled by separatists. Turkey closed
border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with ally Azerbaijan, with
which Turks share common language, culture and religion. Move hurt
landlocked Armenia’s economy.
___

SLAYING OF TURKISH DIPLOMATS: Relations strained by murders of dozens
of Turkish diplomats in 1970s and ’80s by extremists seeking to expand
Armenian homeland in eastern Turkey and vengeance for slayings of
Armenians by Ottoman Turks. Militants also attacked Turkish Airlines
counter at Paris’s Orly Airport in 1983, killing eight people and
wounding 56.

OPENING OF ARMENIA-TURKEY BORDER WITHOUT RESOLUTION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT CONTRADICTS AZERBAIJAN’S NATIONAL INTERESTS: FOREIGN MINISTRY

Today.Az
cs/55169.html
Sept 1 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan’s position on opening of Armenia-Turkey border is based on
numerous statements by Turkey’s senior officials, Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry spokesperson Elkhan Polukhov said.

So, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking at the
Azerbaijani Parliament on May 14, said: "Turkey closed its borders
with Armenia after Armenia occupied the Azerbaijani lands. The borders
can be opened only after occupation ends. We will not change this
position until our Azerbaijani brothers agree with this. Everything
is interconnected and cannot be taken separately," Polukhov said.

"Meanwhile, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry once again states that
determining relations with other states is a sovereign right of
every state."

"However, given that this issue directly affects Azerbaijan’s national
interests, opening of Armenia-Turkey border without resolution of
the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict contradicts national
interests of Azerbaijan," Polukhov said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAILS STEPS BY ARMENIA, TURKEY TO NORMALIZE TIES

Today.Az
5191.html
Sept 1 2009
Azerbaijan

The European Commission on Tuesday hailed Armenia and Turkey’s efforts
to normalize ties.

On Aug. 31, Turkey and Armenia in the talks mediated by Switzerland
reached an agreement to launch "internal political consultations"
to sign the Protocol on Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and
Protocol on Development of Bilateral Relations.

Political consultations will be completed within six weeks, and
following that two protocols will be signed and submitted to the two
countries’ parliaments for approval.

The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, also welcomed the
diplomatic progress made.

"This agreement should contribute to peace and stability in the South
Caucasus," EU commissioners Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Olli Rehn said
in a separate statement.

PROTOCOLS NOT TO BE APPROVED WITHOUT KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND ARMENIA’S RENOUNCING ITS CLAIMS: TURKISH MP

Today.Az
90.html
Sept 1 2009
Azerbaijan

Member of the Great National Assembly of Turkey (TGNA) from the
National Movement Party (NMP) Å~^enol Bal commented on the statement
by Turkish Foreign Minister to start negotiations on establishing
diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia.

"The question of normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations have been
raised earlier. But the confusion in this matter which appeared as
a result of the reaction of Turkish society led to the fact that
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan once again promised
in the Azerbaijani parliament that without resolution of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the border between
Turkey and Armenia will not reopen," Bal said.

"As for my opinion, I do not believe Armenia-Turkey relations will
be normalized without resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
and Armenia’s renouncing claims of the so-called "genocide". I do
not believe this will happen," Bal added.

"But at the same time, I think, Turkey, who took large foreign
policy steps recently, faces outside pressure. Still, in recent days
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu promised that in any case,
the interests of our Azerbaijani brothers will not be infringed. We
will not accept a different foreign policy," the Turkish MP said.

"Naturally, our country must solve all problems with neighboring
countries. But this should not take place without taking into account
interests of fraternal countries. Besides, why should Turkey always
make concession?" she said.

Bal also commented on possible reaction of the Turkish Parliament to
the protocol, which will be sent to the Great National Assembly at
the end of six weeks.

"Once this happens, we will evaluate it and make appropriate
decision. Our party has a firm stand on this matter which we have
expressed and express now. Our stand is that the Karabakh conflict
should be resolved, that Turkey must not face claims of so-called
"genocide." We have talked about it and continue to insist on this. We
are interested in a document that will be sent to the Great National
Assembly of Turkey at the end of six weeks. I think since we have a
firm position on these issues approval of any document that does not
meet our stand is impossible."

ARMENIAN POLITICAL EXPERT: SERZH SARGSYAN MOST LIKELY TO MAKE TRIP TO TURKEY

Today.Az
/55183.html
Sept 1 2009
Azerbaijan

Armenian political expert and Deputy Director of Caucasus Institute
Sergey Minasyan commented to Day.Az protocols on the development of
bilateral relations between Turkey and Armenia made public today.

"Protocols made public by Armenian and Turkey first of all point to a
new stage in the process of normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations
and willingness of the parties to continue the process regardless of
the complexity of the regional context," Minasyan said.

"Secondly, they point to political decision Ankara has made to fully
normalize relations with Yerevan and serious impact of this decision
by U.S. and the EU. At the same time, mechanism of implementation of
these protocols (for example, 6 weeks for "internal consultations")
indicate serious limitations both in the Armenian and the Turkish
leadership with regard to domestic policy and a need to prepare
societies of both countries to the final stage – establishment of
full diplomatic relations and opening of borders," Minasyan said.

"Under current conditions, Serzh Sargsyan is most likely to visit
Turkey especially considering that the so-called "6 weeks" exactly
coincide with the date of October 14 -date a soccer match between
Turkish and Armenian national teams," the political expert said asked
whether the president Serzh Sargsyan will trip to Turkey to watch
return football match.

"Moreover, perhaps the afore-said protocols will be signed during
the visit and "meter" of final stage in normalization of relations
between Armenia and Turkey will be launched," Minasyan said.