Month: September 2009

VLADIMIR KARAPETIAN: DRAFT ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS CONTAIN DANGEROUS PRECONDITIONS

Noyan Tapan
Sep 1, 2009

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The draft Armenian-Turkish
protocols, which envisage normalization of bilateral relations,
contain preconditions undesirable for the Armenian side. Vladimir
Karapetian, Armenian National Congress Foreign Relations Executive,
stated this. In his words, "the Armenian authorities have accepted
the precondition put forward by the Turkish side on creation of an
Armenian-Turkish subcommission of historians, which can greatly hinder
the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide."

According to the protocol on development of bilateral relations, in
addition to the others, an intergovernmental commission not engaged
in the historic plane should be created. Its function is "fulfillment
of a dialogue aimed at mutual confidence between the two peoples."

V. Karapetian reminded that as far back as in 2005 Turkish Prime
Minister Erdogan proposed creating a bilateral commission of historians
to study the facts of the Genocide. However the Armenian authorities
of that time declined that proposal.

According to V. Karapetian, it is also alarming that these two
protocols after being signed should be submitted for ratification by
the parliaments.

In his words, it is not a procedure accepted in international
practice. It will give the Turkish side a possibility to constantly
delay protocols’ coming in force and to find new preconditions for
that process: for instance, to link normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations with the Nagorno Karabakh settlement.

SERZH SARGSYAN: NORMAL AND RIGHT WAY IS WHEN SIDES FULFILL THEIR AGREEMENTS

Noyan Tapan
Sep 1, 2009

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President’s Press Office
has provided to Noyan Tapan the text of President Serzh Sargsyan’s
interview to BBC.

Below is interview’s text:

BBC correspondent: Mr President, are you leaving for Turkey to watch
the return game of the two countries’ national teams?

Serzh Sargsyan: You know, this question has two answers. The first
answer is that my leaving or not is not essential. I mean that we
can not link leaving for the football match with the relations with
Turkey. Do you understand?

Let us imagine at least two variants. Let us suppose that we freeze
our negotiations with Turkey and I leave for Turkey to watch the
football match.

And the second variant: we continue the negotiations but I do not
leave for Turkey. Which is more important? I mean that if you ask
your question in the context of negotiations with Turkey and whether
we can achieve some results by October – my answer will be this.

BBC correspondent: And what step do you expect from Ankara to disfreeze
the negotiations?

Serzh Sargsyan: I have declared that twice and have said the following:
I will leave for Turkey to watch the football match if our borders
are already open or if we are on its threshold. That is, if the
Turks fulfill our agreements, it will be one thing and if they
do not fulfill, it will be another thing. We have agreements. I
think the normal and right way is when the sides fulfill their
agreements. Unfortunately, I have not noticed so far much willingness
or striving for fulfilling those agreements. Our wish remains the
same – to establish relations without preconditions.

BBC correspondent: Are you ready to make compromises in the issue of
the events of 1915 and in the issue of whether Turkey will recognize
them as a genocide?

Serzh Sargsyan: Naturally, it is very important: it is important for
our people, is important for Turkey and for the whole world. It is
important that historic justice be restored. It is important that our
two peoples be able to establish normal relations. It is important,
lastly, that it not recur in the future. However we do not consider
the Genocide as a precondition for establishing relations.

BBC correspondent: That is, there is a possibility of a compromise.

Serzh Sargsyan: No, it cannot be called a compromise. It is not the
case when a compromise can be spoken about. We say that yes, there
has been a Genocide and irrespective of the fact of whether Turkey
will recognize it or not, it is a fact that has been admitted by
all specialists engaged in issues of genocides worldwide, has been
recognized by many countries.

However in this case we do not consider it a precondition for
establishing relations with the Turks.

BBC correspondent: However, in any case, it hinders your relations
with Turkey. A person, to which I spoke in Yerevan, has made the
following comparison: when driving a car you should keep control of
what takes place on the way, behind you, that is why you should look
back in the mirror from time to time. However, the most important is
the way laying in front of you.

How much does this comparison reflect the situation?

Serzh Sargsyan: It is right. I understand what that man meant. He
says that we should look at the future. However, he also says that
we do not have a right to forget the past.

ALEXANDER ARZUMANIAN: WHAT IS ON NEGOTIATIONS TABLE TODAY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE EITHER FOR ARMENIA OR FOR NAGORNO KARABAKH

Noyan Tapan
Sep 1, 2009

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. "There is a serious political,
civilization crisis in Armenia. Until it has been settled society
will always express a complaint, the authorities will try by making an
imitation of some action to show to society that allegedly they care
for society’s needs," former RA Foreign Minister Alexander Arzumanian
stated in his interview to Radio Liberty. In his affirmation, the
situation will be always strained until a legitimate power is formed,
until the constitutional order is restored in Armenia.

In connection with predictions on a hot political autumn A. Arzumanian
said that the number of public events will increase in autumn and in
that respect perhaps the opposition will be more active: already on
September 18 the Armenian National Congress will hold a big rally.

As to the Nagorno Karabakh problem, according to the former Foreign
Minister, "what is on the negotiations table today is not acceptable
either for Armenia or for Nagorno Karabakh. Therefore the opposition
first of all demands resignation from the authorities to make it
possible to introduce a change in the negotiations process.

According to A. Arzumanian, the only right step the authorities can do
is resignation and holding of free, fair elections, through which the
people itself will form a power representing it and little by little,
step by step will solve all problems faced by Armenia.

ACCORDING TO KIRO MANOYAN, ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS CONTAIN AT LEAST THREE UNACCEPTABLE POINTS

Noyan Tapan
Sep 1, 2009

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The draft Armenian-Turkish protocols
published on August 31 contain at least three unacceptable points,
which Turkey has so far put forward as preconditions for normalizing
the relations with Armenia. Kiro Manoyan, a representative of the
ARF Political and Hay Dat Office, stated this on September 1.

According to him, Turkey continues to indicate the Nagorno Karabakh
problem as a precondition for normalizing the relations, which in
particular is evident from Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s
statement to Hurriyet newspaper. "Our president’s statement about
this does not correspond to reality," Kiro Manoyan said, meaning the
speech that Serzh Sargsyan made at the meeting of the MFA staff and
heads of Armenian diplomatic missions and consulates on the same day.

The second unacceptable circumstance, in the words of K. Manoyan, is
that in the indicated document the existing Armenian-Turkish border
is recognized as a legal border, which may invalidate the Armenian
people’s right to their historical lands.

The third negative point, according to the ARF representative, is
that the protocols envisage establishing a sub-commission on the
historical dimension. K. Manoyan said this means that Armenia gives
up the international recognition of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

"If Turkey is sincere and it wants to know the historical truth,
it should create the necessary atmosphere in Turkey and hold free
discussions on the Genocide. It may involve experts of other countries,
but not Armenian experts. We have no business to do there," K. Manoyan
noted.

He said that another flaw of the proposed documents is that they do
not establish the dates for the normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations. In particular the Armenian legislation does not envisage
ratification (by parliament) of a document on the establishment of
diplomatic relations. In his words, "by envisaging this requirement
in the protocols, we provide the Turkish side with the opportunity
to endlessly delay the process".

Finally, according to K. Manoyan, the purpose of "internal discussion"
of the protocols is not clear. "We do not know if there will be any
change in these documents as a result of discussions," he said.

ARMENIA IS BEING INVOLVED DEEPER IN A BIG GAME, ARF REPRESENTATIVE SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Sep 1, 2009

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Representative of the ARF Bureau
Hrant Margarian considered as inadmissible the two initiated protocols
on the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and
Turkey and the development of bilateral relations.

In his opinion, Armenia is being involved deeper in a big game, with
no guarantees that in two months Turkish parliament will approve the
agreement signed. Or else, according to him, another secret agreement
exists, by which the Karabakh problem shall also be solved within
two or six months. "I think it is rather naive to expect this state
to subordinate Azerbaijan’s interests to relations with Armenia,"
H. Margarian said in an interview with Radio Liberty.

In his words, the document contains the conditions that Turkey laid
down in the past. "It is regrettable that our president allows himself
to sign a document, for which he has no right. No authorities have
the right to make the Genocide problem a subject for bargaining and
to issue statements at the expense of generations," the ARF Bureau
representative stated.

He noted that the ARF has prepared an action plan and in the next two
months it will do its best to inform the society about the agreement’s
essence and the concealed issues.

WORLD BANK PLANS TO ACCELERATE ALLOCATION OF LOANS TO ARMENIA TO HELP BOOST SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES

ARKA
Sep 1, 2009

YEREVAN, September 1, /ARKA/. Head of World Bank (WB) Yerevan Office,
Aristomene Varoudais, told a Monday news conference that the WB plans
to accelerate allocation of loans to Armenia to help it boost small
and medium-sized businesses. He said the global financial and economic
crisis is forcing all of us to seek non-standard solutions.

He reminded that the World Bank Board of Directors had approved in
February the US$25 million Lifeline Roads Improvement Project for
Armenia, aimed to upgrade selected sections of the lifeline road
network and create temporary employment in road construction; then
it approved a $50 million Access to Finance for Small and Medium
Enterprises (AFSME) loan program, designed to help the Armenian
Government to strengthen access to finance for SME borrowers and
improve the resilience of Armenia’s private and financial sectors in
the face of the impacts of the global financial crisis.

In late July the World Bank approved a US$30 million Irrigation
Rehabilitation Emergency Project (IREP) for Armenia aimed to improve
water use efficiency. It was followed by approval of a $25 million
Armenia Second Education Quality and Relevance Project designed to
help enhance and facilitate learning in general education and improve
the readiness of children who are entering primary education.

According to=2 0World Bank Yerevan Office head, the Development Policy
Operation loan for Armenia in the amount of US$60 million was very
important. It was aimed to help the government to mitigate the impact
of the global economic crisis and meet its social spending targets.

On June 12 the World Bank Board of Directors approved a new Country
Partnership Strategy (CPS) with Armenia, which provides the framework
guiding for the World Bank’s assistance to Armenia for 2009-2012.

This Strategy, prepared at a time when Armenia was rocked by the global
economic crisis, is intended to assist it to resume growth and reduce
the impacts of the crisis on the poor. It also aims to help Armenia
lay the foundation for a more competitive economy–a key requirement
for diversified and sustainable growth. Within the frameworks of this
new strategy the World Bank will provide Armenia with $545 million in
loans, twice as much as it extended in 2004-2008. Some $150 million
of the sum will be extended at IDA privileged terms, the rest of
$395 will be provided at the International Bank of Reconstruction
and Development terms for countries with medium GDP.

Besides, the International Financial Corporation, a member of World
Bank Group, will extend an additional loan of $120-160 million to
private Armenian companies.

44.5% OF CONSTRUCTION PAID FOR BY POPULATION IN ARMENIA IN JAN-JUL

ARKA
Sep 1, 2009

YEREVAN, September 1. /ARKA/. In January-July 44.5% of the overall
volume of construction works were paid for by the population in
Armenia.

The RA National Statistical Service reported that the volume of
the construction paid for by population totaled 79.2 billion drams
in the reporting period, including about 75 billion drams for
shell-and-core-works.

Most part of the construction works – 39.3% (70bn drams) – were paid
for by organizations, an 18.2% decline as compared with the level of
January-July 2008.

Total volume of capital construction paid for from various sources
amounted to 177.9 billion drams.

According to the statistical information, a 55.5% recession was
recorded in construction field in the period as compared to the level
of January-July last year. Volume of construction paid for by the
population reduced by 71.3% as compared with the same period of last
year. ($1=374.89drams).

EXPERT: ARMENIAN DIPLOMACY SHOULD NOT LOSE VIGILANCE

ARKA
Sep 1, 2009

YEREVAN, September 1. /ARKA/. Armenian diplomacy should not lose its
vigilance, Director of Oriental Studies Institute of Armenian Academy
of Sciences Ruben Safrastyan told journalists Tuesday, in commenting
the joint statement of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
and the foreign ministries of Armenia and Turkey about establishing
diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey.

"There is no doubt that the protocols about establishing diplomatic
relations between Armenia and Turkey and developing bilateral relations
is a landmark achievement of our diplomacy. Yet, out diplomats should
not relax and should work even better," Safrastyan said.

Armenia and Turkey agreed to start internal political consultations
about two preliminary protocols signed during the Swiss mediated
negotiations – the protocol about establishing diplomatic relations
between the two countries and the protocol about developing bilateral
relations.

Safrastyan appreciated the clear and quite tough policy implemented
by Armenia recently.

According to Safrastyan, the categorical statement of Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan that he would not leave for Turkey if "Turkey
does not take certain steps" played positive role in the process.

As to Turkey’s interest in the signing of the documents, the main
reason for it was Turkey’s geopolitical ambitions and its wish to
join 0Athe EU, Safrastyan said.

No diplomatic relations exist between Armenia and Turkey, and the
Armenian-Turkish border has been closed since 1993 initiated by
official Ankara.

The first warming of the relations occurred on September 6 2008
when Turkish President Abdullah Gul arrived in Yerevan for the first
time on the invitation of the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan for
watching together the football match between the nationals of Armenia
and Turkey in 2010 championship qualifying games. During this visit,
the two countries’ presidents discussed possible normalization of
the bilateral relations.

EXPERT: ARMENIAN AND TURKISH AUTHORITIES SEE TRANSPARENCY REQUIRED IN NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS

ARKA
Sep 1, 2009

YEREVAN, September 1. /ARKA/. Armenian and Turkish authorities
understand that the normalization of the relations should be
transparent, head of analytical center for globalization and regional
cooperation Stepan Grigoryan said.

Even the best document cannot be implemented if the society does not
agree to it, Grigoryan said in Novosti international press center
Tuesday.

Monday evening the foreign ministries of Armenia and Turkey and
the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs made a statement that an
agreement was reached to start internal political consultations about
two protocols – the protocol about establishing diplomatic relations
between the two countries and the protocol about developing bilateral
relations. The consultations are expected to be completed within six
weeks; the protocols will be submitted for parliament approval then.

The countries take these six weeks to neutralize serious concerns in
the societies of the two countries, Grigoryan said.

No diplomatic relations exist between Armenia and Turkey, and the
Armenian-Turkish border has been closed since 1993 initiated by
official Ankara.

The reason for complicated relations between the countries is
particularly Turkey’s pro-Azerbaijani stance on the Karabakh conflict
and acute response to the process of international acknowledgement
of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empir e in 1915.

The first warming of the relations occurred on September 6 2008
when Turkish President Abdullah Gul arrived in Yerevan for the first
time on the invitation of the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan for
watching together the football match between the nationals of Armenia
and Turkey in 2010 championship qualifying games. After the match the
Turkish leader invited his Armenian counterpart to watch the return
match between the two nationals on October 14 2009.

AZERBAIJAN CANNOT BECOME AN OBSTACLE TO RAPPROCHEMENT OF ARMENIA AND TURKEY, ARMENIAN POLITICAL EXPERT THINKS

ArmInfo
2009-09-01 15:21:00

ArmInfo. Azerbaijan cannot become an obstacle to rapprochement of
Armenia and Turkey, Armenian political expert Stepan Grigoryan said at
today’s press-conference. He also added normalizing of relations to
Armenia is beneficial for Turkey as without it Turkey cannot become
a member of the European Union and play a certain part in the South
Caucasus.

‘For every country, including Turkey, the problems of the economical
and national security are more important that ethnic rapprochement
with this or that country’, – Grigoryan said and added that recent
statement of the Turkish President regarding the North Cyprus was a
great blow at the positions of Azerbaijan, as he said that only the
people of North Cyprus should resolve the North Cyprus conflict. ‘This
defeat lags only behind the defeat of Azerbaijan in the Karabakh war’,
– he said.