Month: November 2009

IN HARVARD EXPLICATING TURKS, ARMENIANS AND PAIN

Hurriyet
Nov 18 2009
Turkey

The Boston – Tsai Auditorium located in Cambridge, Massachusetts is
a Harvard University campus. I was handed a flyer while entering a
hall for a panel* entitled "Armenian-Turkish Reconciliation" held on
Monday evening.

What an interesting heading, it had.

"Harvard University is losing prestige by serving the mass-murderer
Turkey." The headline from the magazine USA Armenian Life criticized
the university administration due to the panel it organized. Two
points were important. Both were interesting. Both reminded me of
nationalist remarks that have been made in our country. Both were
the products of a similar way of thought.

Dr. Pamela Steiner, senior fellow at the Harvard Humanitarian
Initiative, has exerted tremendous efforts for about a year in order to
bring this panel to the fore. She is, at the same time, granddaughter
of Henry Morgenthau, U.S. ambassador to the Ottoman State in 1915.

"Ambassador Morgenthau must have turned over in his grave," people
have said in criticism of Steiner. I smile, and remember:

"Even Cemal Pasha’s bones must have been aching in the grave," we
often hear from nationalist circles in Turkey if the state adopts
a different attitude against the official line of politics. Another
criticism is also voiced in the editorial. "How could you equate the
pain Armenians suffered at the hands of the Ottomans with the pain
of others? How could you make such comparison?"

We hear a similar question in Turkey, too. "How could you forget the
pain we felt over our diplomats assassinated by ASALA?" No, I don’t
forget any of them. Who can forget anyway?

In the panel, I also talked about my grandfather Cemal Pasha and
about how I felt when I took the bad news that my dear, young,
journalist friend Bahadır Demir had been killed by an old Armenian
man in January 1973 in Los Angeles. I mentioned the tragedy of Turks
and Muslims after they were forcefully removed from the Balkans and
the Caucasus in the 19th and early 20th centuries, in addition to
the pain of Turks and Kurds living in Anatolia in the following years.

"Pain is incomparable!" I stressed. "It is wrong to compare pain. When
you do this your hearts turn off," I said. That’s why I talked about
the slain Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink and how he managed
to conquer our hearts slowly.

Besides, I said it is vital to open borders for a Turkish-Armenian
normalization process, but we cannot do this without opening our
hearts and resorting to our consciences. Dear Hrant once said:

"Let’s learn how to respect our pains first."

And I added, "Let’s learn our pains. Let’s have respect for our pains
and let’s share them."

This is not a comparison of all sorts of pains experienced in the
past. This creates enmity and hatred throughout the pages of history.

I said the biggest mistake while seeking peace is to give into sorrow
and the past.

I added that we need free discussions. With that, I mean, through
cultural dialogues, Turks and Armenians will get closer. For this
reason, focusing over genocide discussions wouldn’t help. That would
even put free talks into a deadlock and only fanatics and nationalists
on both sides would be happy.

Dear Hrant had said:

"Understanding comes first, not denial or acknowledgment…"

He also knew that this is possible through democracy and freedoms,
because he very well knew that painful pages of history could only
be learned in a free discussion environment. Yes, that’s the way it is.

As I answered questions and gave examples from my own life, I said how
we Turks have been denied the shameful pages of history, how seriously
we are kept in the dark. I noticed Taner Akcam, a Turkish academic
who studies the Armenian question, in the first row while delivering
my speech. When I had asked him what he wanted from Istanbul before
I hit the road, he sent me a one-word e-mail:

"Simit…" (Turkish bagel)

So, I told this too in the panel. Dink had unlocked our hearts to the
Armenian conflict by his speeches, articles and the terrible price
he paid with his life. And dear Akcam has begun to set our minds
free through his books and articles since the early 1990s. Don’t
forget this.

There is something called confrontation with history. Getting
over nationalism is something similar. Without trying it, neither
communities nor people can become mature. If we really want peace
and calm, let’s not be afraid of history. It will not come and get
us! I will continue with Harvard-related articles for a few more days.

* The panel was organized by Armenian-Turkish Reconciliation;
The Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, The Weatherhead Center for
International Affairs; The University Committee on Human Rights
Studies; The Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, The Kennedy School
of Government.

– Mr. Hasan Cemal is a columnist for the daily Milliyet in which this
piece appeared Wednesday. It was translated into English by the Daily
News staff.

GUL IS PROMOTED FROM A POLITICIAN TO A STATESMAN

Hurriyet
Nov 18 2009
Turkey

When Gul’s candidacy for the presidency was announced I had no doubts
about him filling the seat. To tell the truth, the public in general
had no doubt about it. Those who opposed his candidacy only opposed
it because his wife wears a headscarf. But within a short period of
time he and his wife were able to fill the seat at Cankaya.

Gul did neither spend any effort on showing that the headscarf was a
political symbol nor did he spend effort on making everybody accept
it. On the contrary, especially in the beginning he always was careful
that Hayrunnisa stays a step behind him.

It is not easy to adapt to this attitude. He did not blow a gasket
as a president of a party that received 47 percent of the votes. Even
if he got angry he never expressed it.

He always used a gentle manner.

We never heard him increase the tone of his voice.

He never pushed away the opposition that criticized in a brisk
way and which is said to be the notary public of the Presidential
Palace. On the contrary he never cut the dialogue with the opposition
and appreciated their criticism.

Just as much as the prime minister was impulsive and brisk, Gul was
that much patient and gentle. He established dialogues but did not
cast away anyone.

He gave politics a direction and was the one to tidy up

The president’s most important contribution was to play an extremely
active role in domestic and international matters. When summing up
his deeds we face a very interesting scene.

– He was very active in international politics. But he never got
ahead of the prime minister and the foreign minister. He always
supported them. Just like it was the case in the al-Bashir case,
he clearly exhibited the difference in mode and thus prevented it
from becoming an issue.

– He was the one who wanted the Kurdish Initiative to start as soon
as possible and pressured the government constantly alerting that
it’s getting late. You’ll remember how he sent the first sign saying,
"We are facing a historical opportunity… good things will happen." He
was careful not to bypass DTP members while doing this. He put harmony
between state institutions first.

– He was also the one to start the Armenian Initiative. By joining the
football match in Yerevan he took the first step. He established an
extremely modest dialogue with Sarkisyan and provided for relations
today.

– He also played an important role during steps taken in the Alevi
issue. His visit to Tunceli and the Cemevi (place of worship for the
Alevi) was an extremely relaxing scene.

– In his relations with the military he was patient. He was very
understanding of their brisk reactions during the first months. He
did not get angry or upset. He ignored even those who did not show
up at the reception or did not shake hands with Hayrunnisa because
she is wearing a headscarf. He must have won their trust in the end
with his attitude at the National Security Council. So much so that
commanders showed up at the opening of the Parliament.

– His support through his extremely active behavior, visits and
speeches in external relations and especially the European Union did
not pass unnoticed.

– He also knew how to reach out to the public. Even if the public
does not accept his worldview, he opened up Cankaya for the public.

Being the first to congratulate Orhan Pamuk, stressing
multiculturalism, and proving that he is the president for all people,
was very important.

He was a politician and became a statesman and thus secured his
second term

When Abdullah Gul moved to Cankaya he was a politician.

Just like every politician he put his party first. He was criticized a
lot. Made mistakes but never gave up his courtesy and gentle behavior.

The Gul at Cankaya is progressively becoming a statesman.

With this attitude he secures his candidacy for presidency in 2012.

Nobody knows when the prime minister would want to move in at Cankaya.

But what’s known is that Gul will continue with his life in the
presidential palace.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EARLY RESOLUTION OF KARABAKHI CONFLICT IN CE INTERESTS: ZBOGAR

news.am
Nov 19 2009
Armenia

Early settlement of frozen conflicts, in particular Karabakh conflict
is in general interest, including the Council of Europe, Slovenian
Foreign Minister Samuel Zbogar said Nov. 18 after Slovenia assumed
Presidency of the Committee of Ministers.

Zbogar underlined that though CoE is not involved in Karabakh peace
process, while OSCE Minsk Group is, the Council still can do much
to accelerate establishment of confidence between the two countries,
as well as contribute strengthening of interregional cooperation in
South Caucasus. First of all Azerbaijan and Armenia should seek ways
to resolve the conflict.

Commenting on "Eastern partnership" program, Zbogar stated that it is
aimed at creation of close cooperation atmosphere between EU member
states. "We expect reforms and development from the countries. We wish
to set on foot the reforms, development and progress in these states.

The means mentioned above might indirectly assist the Karabakh conflict
resolution," the official concluded.

COURT SEEKS HELP TO LINK MURDERS IN TURKEY TO ‘DEEP STATE’

EuropeNews
Nov 19 2009
Denmark

MALATYA — Judges and prosecutors in the trial regarding the murder of
three Christians in this southeastern city in Turkey on Friday (Nov.
13) renewed their request for help from the Istanbul High Criminal
Court as reports mounted linking the slayings to top gendarmerie
officials.

The Malatya court judges overseeing hearings on the murders of Turkish
Christians Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel and German Christian Tilmann
Geske requested that the Istanbul criminal court establish whether
the case was linked to the controversial cabal of military, political
and other influential figures, Ergenekon, which has allegedly been
trying to overthrow the government by upsetting Turkey’s peace.

For the last two and a half years prosecuting lawyers have established
the case that Emre Gunaydin, Salih Gurler, Cuma Ozdemir, Hamit Ceker
and Abuzer Yildirim, who were caught at the murder scene on April
18, 2007, were not acting independently but were incited by Turkey’s
"deep state," an expression of which is Ergenekon. Seven months ago the
Malatya court requested from prosecutors on the Ergenekon case at the
Istanbul high court to examine whether the two cases were connected.

They have not received a reply yet.

The court and various mainstream media have received informant letters
with specific names linking the murders to top gendarmerie officials.

Last month a Turkish newspaper received a list of payments the
gendarmerie made to informants to physically follow and collect
information on Christians in Malatya. Phone trees also show calls
made from the murderers to two alleged "middle-men," Huseyin Yelki
and Bulent Varol Aral, gendarmerie officials and other nationalist
figures in Malatya.

"We are expecting the Istanbul prosecutor to make a careful
investigation and give us a response and attest to the connections
the court has found," said prosecuting attorney Erdal Dogan on Friday
during a press briefing. "The actions of these men who are on trial
were not independent, and from the beginning we believed they were
organized by Ergenekon. Our theories have become more concrete, and
we are expecting the Istanbul prosecutor to investigate these closely,
establish the connections and give us a response."

Lawyers said that informant letters, testimonies and other evidence
have only confirmed their original suspicions. The most striking of
these is that the local gendarmerie forces were following activities
of Christians in Malatya in the months leading up to the murders and
afterwards yet did not stop the young men from stabbing and slashing
the three Christians to death.

"If you have been watching a small, tiny group so closely," said lawyer
Orhan Kemal Cengiz, "how could it be possible that you disregard
this murder? This is a legitimate question which requires ordinary
intelligence."

Last month the head of Istanbul police intelligence, Ramazan Akyurek,
was demoted amid allegations that he had neglected to investigate
three Christian murder cases between 2006 and 2007. When Turkish
news reporters asked Dogan whether prosecutors would make a request
to investigate whether Akyurek played a greater part in the murders,
he said that it was not out of the question.

The five young suspects were apprehended after Zirve Publishing Co.

workers went to the publishing house to find out why the three
Christian men were not answering their phones. Finding the door of
the office locked and getting no answer, they called police. In a
report prepared by Akyurek’s department, his staff claimed that the
murderers were apprehended thanks to phone tapping – which attorney
Dogan said is a lie.

"According to a report, they said that they had been listening to the
murderers’ phones and following them, and that that’s how they found
and arrested them," said Dogan. "You know this is a lie. The five
men were arrested haphazardly. We know that. We also know that the
gendarmerie was in fact listening to their conversations, but there’s
something interesting here: On the one hand they are listening to the
criminals’ phones, but on the other they couldn’t thwart the crime."

Prosecuting lawyers said that this makes both Akyurek’s department
and the gendarmerie guilty of being accomplices to the crime, and
that they should be tried along with the five young men.

"They should stand trial for not thwarting a crime and failing to
perform their duties," said Dogan. "They [gendarmerie and the police
intelligence security] should be tried under Article 8 of the penal
code as accomplices because they are connected. This is not a question
of removing someone from his position. They should stand trial with
the men who are now on trial."

Frustration The lawyers expressed frustration at being able to see
the bigger picture yet not having enough evidence to proceed, as well
as with having to wait on the Istanbul prosecutor for more evidence.

"It is crystal clear," said attorney Cengiz. "There is a much bigger
agenda and much more complex connections. We convinced everyone,
but we cannot do this beyond reasonable doubt; we can’t prove it. We
are blocked, actually."

Cengiz explained that as lawyers for the victims’ families, they are
not in a position to collect evidence.

"We are heavily dependent on what the prosecutor is doing, and
unfortunately they are not able to do much," he said.

Cengiz said that although the case was complicated and the Malatya
judges resisted their arguments at the outset of the hearings,
now they agree with the prosecuting lawyers that there is a broader
network behind the murders.

"Now they are very clear – they know what happened and what kind
of connections there are, etcetera, but they are fighting against
a dragon," said Cengiz. "So they desperately sent this request to
the prosecutor in Istanbul, hoping that it will be the Istanbul
prosecutor who will create these links rather than them. It should
be vice versa because they have all these details, but they are not
ready for this confrontation."

Cengiz explained that while the Malatya court has a better
understanding of the case than the Istanbul prosecutors, the advantage
of the Istanbul High Criminal Court is that it has the backing of the
Justice Ministry and is better positioned to take on the powers that
may be behind this and other murders.

"They can’t take the responsibility because this is just a tiny court
in the remote part of Turkey, so how can they confront the reality?"

he said.

The next hearing is set for Dec. 25, and prosecutors expect that by
then the 13th Istanbul High Criminal Court will have sent an answer
about connections of the murders to Ergenekon. They are also expecting
the prosecuting judge to demand all five of the young men be charged
with "three times life imprisonment," plus additional years for
organizing the crime.

"In our estimation, until now in a bizarre way the accused are acting
like they have been given assurances that they will be forgiven and
will get off the hook," Dogan commented on the comfortable demeanor
of the five men in court and their denial that others were behind the
murders. "In the last months we see a continuation of the attempts
to wreak havoc and chaos and overthrow the government. So we think
whoever is giving confidence to these guys is affecting them. It is
obvious to us that there is a group actively doing this. That means
they are still trying to create chaos."

Last week Ergenekon prosecutors found a hit-list consisting of 10
prominent representatives of minority groups as well as subscribers
to Armenian weekly newspaper Agos, whose editor-in-chief was murdered
three months before the Christians in Malatya. Cengiz explained that
Ergenekon members are obsessed with purging Turkey of non-Muslim
elements and non-Turkish minorities, which they see as a threat to
the state.

"They were trying to create chaos in Turkey, and of course they were
trying to send a clear message to members of non-Muslim groups that
they are not wanted in Turkey," said Cengiz of the way the three
Christians in Malatya were murdered. "They did it in a horrendous,
barbaric way. This was also part of the message. Everything was
planned but not by them, by other people. They are just puppets."

Further Evidence of Cabal This week Turkish news magazine Yeni
Aktuel published a five-page article with pictures chronicling
the "anti-terrorist" activities of a counter-guerilla team leader
identified only by his initials, K.T.

In the article, K.T. described how for years he and his team pursued
and killed members of the outlawed Kurdish Worker’s Party (PKK).

Anti-guerilla activities in Turkey are paramilitary efforts managed
by the "deep state."

In K.T.’s account, he claimed that during his time in Malatya he met
with members of an ultra-nationalist group who talked about murdering
Hrant Dink, editor of Agos. Also during that time, members of the
group spoke about how those who distributed Bibles in Malatya had to be
"punished."

One of the members of this group was a high school teacher called "O."

The teacher said that he arranged to be out of town before the Malatya
murders, because police were following him and he wanted to make sure
that they could not connect him to the Malatya murders.

VLADIMIR SOCOR: "IT IS NECESSARY TO CONDUCT PROCESSES OF NAGORNO KARABAKH SOLUTION AND TURKISH-ARMENIAN NORMALIZATION NOT IN PARALLEL, BUT IN PROPER DIRECTION" – EXPERT OPINION

APA
Nov 19 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Victoria Dementyeva – APA. "It is necessary to conduct processes
of Nagorno Karabakh solution and Turkish-Armenian normalization not in
parallel, but in proper direction", American analyst Vladimir Socor
(Jamestown Foundation) told APA. "The processes of Nagorno Karabakh
solution and Turkish-Armenian normalization are reviewed as parallel
processes, but parallel processes can develop with different rapids.

For example, Turkish-Armenian borders can be opened right tomorrow, but
solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict and withdrawal of Armenian troops
can take years. Therefore it is necessary to conduct the processes not
in parallel, but in proper direction. The negotiations over both issues
should be developed and the processes will coincide in one point, the
borders will be opened and troops will be withdrawn at the same time".

The analyst said Turkish-Armenian normalization was an initiative
if the United States. "President Barack Obama carelessly promised to
recognize "Armenian genocide" during his election campaign, but the
president didn’t keep his promise, he couldn’t. And Turkish-Armenian
relations were some compensation for unredeemed promise".

Vladimir Socor said ratification of the protocols depended on some
facts, including political processes inside Turkey: "Washington is
rushing in this issue. Regarding Turkey, I consider that they will
delay it until April to gain maximum dividends from the United States".

Answering the APA’s question "Do you have prognosis on the term of
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict and can it take place in
2010 during the presidency of Kazakhstan in OSCE", the analyst said
Kazakhstan shared position of Azerbaijan on this issue. "But unlikely
the presidency of this country will have some effectiveness from this
point of view. Kazakhstan has few opportunity of influence on OSCE.

Some countries have doubts of the Kazakhstan’s presidency in the
organization. Therefore effectiveness of the Kazakhstan’s presidency
was non-effective at the very beginning. The OSCE is an organization
of 56 member countries and every member has a right of veto. I think
there will not be a progress in the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict in this sphere in 2010. The progress can be only within the
OSCE Minsk Group".

ANTI-ARMENIAN PROPAGANDA CONTRADICTS OSCE NORMS

news.am
Nov 19 2009
Armenia

RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan met with the Director of the
OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)
Janez Lenarcic in Yerevan. The issues on Armenia-ODIHR cooperation,
particularly intensification of the contacts, concerning electoral
process and monitoring missions was discussed, Foreign Ministry press
service informed NEWS.am.

The officials also discussed the matters on democratic reforms in
Armenia. Nalbandyan touched upon anti-Armenian and hostile agitation
of Azerbaijan. The Foreign Minister stated that these actions obviously
contradict OSCE norms.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HRAIR KARAPETYAN: VAZGEN SARGSYAN WAS AWARE OF TER-PETROSYAN’S DANGER

news.am
Nov 19 2009
Armenia

Below is an interview with Hrair Karapetyan, the Chairman of
the Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal
Affairs, RA Parliament, and member of the Executive Council, Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (Dashnakstutyun) ARF(D).

NEWS.am: Mr. Karapetyan, what is your comment on the speech delivered
by Armenia’s first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan at the meeting of
active members of the Armenian National Congress (ANC)?

H. Karapetyan: Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s speech was inconsistent, and he
himself was inconsistent during his presidency. His speech is evidence
he has not changed. For example, his speech did not make it clear what
is the ANC’s position on the Armenian-Turkish relations. Now they say
that no concessions are possible on the Armenian Genocide issue now
they deny the Hay Dat (Armenian Cause). I have the impression that
Ter-Petrosyan has no idea of Hay Dat and of whether it has anything
in common with the issue of the Armenian Genocide.

Nonetheless, from Ter-Petrosyan’s latest speech I draw the conclusion
that he has remained committed to the foreign-policy strategy he was
advocating when President. Ter-Petrosyan continues denying Hay-Dat ,
whereas the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) issue is the first of Hay Dat’s
demands. It was no coincidence that, when President, Ter-Petrosyan
was pursuing a defeatist policy – leaving Nagorno-Karabakh as part
of Azerbaijan. His article entitled "War or Peace" is evidence thereof.

When President, Ter-Petrosyan was pursuing a disguised defeatist
policy, whereas he is openly advocating his ideas now, calling the
struggle waged by the Hay Dat supporting forces "a hysteric struggle."

All the statements are evidence of lack of political seriousness. A
political force whose only aim is to change power cannot be called
Opposition.

NEWS.am: What can you say about the fact that, despite his
severe criticism of President Serzh Sargsyan, in his recent speech
Ter-Petrosyan tried, as it were, to screen and justify the incumbent
President by laying the responsibility for the present situation on
his predecessor Robert Kocharyan?

H. Karapetyan: I consider Ter-Petrosyan’s speech nothing but a play
on words. I think that neither the people nor political figures,
including President Serzh Sargsyan, should take his words seriously –
he is a person disregarding national interests and ideals, an ambitious
person seeking to regain power. One of the most outstanding political
figures of the Third Republic, Vazgen Sargsyan, played a great role
in Ter-Petrosyan’s removal from power, as he was well aware of the
threat that one posed to Armenia.

NEWS.am: Many experts think that, by addressing Serzh Saregsyan,
Ter-Petrosyan was "extending a cooperating hand" to the authorities
on the threshold of parliamentary elections…

H. Karapetyan: The experts may be right. In this context the following
question should be put to the ruling majority: is their policy really
in line with the ideas of Levon Ter-Petrosyan and the ANC? If so,
the ARF is right – the incumbent authorities made a U-turn in their
policy. It means that the fundamental principles of the national
security concept have been revised, which is not publicized.

NEWS.am: What is the possible result of the ferment within the ANC?

The matter particularly concerns the criticism voiced by Zhirair
Sefilyan, the leader of the Miatsum (Unity) movement, which is part
of the ANC.

H. Karapetyan: I think the recent processes may split the ANC,
as Ter-Petrosyan’s policy is "after the heart" of the ANC members
representing the Armenian National Movement (ANM). Many of the
political forces forming the ANC accuse Ter-Petrosyan of being
inactive. They believe that the ANC’s passivity against the ARF’s
vigorous activities is affecting the ANC’s rating. In this context,
I think Ter-Petrosyan’s speech was aimed at encouraging his supporters
and assure them that the ANC will come to power without fail – if
not by elections, then by cooperating with the authorities.

NEWS.am: Mr. Karapetyan, what is the reason for the second president’s
prompt response to the first?

H. Karapetyan: An accused person is usually in a hurry to respond. On
the other hand, if a guiltless person tries to justify himself,
such one becomes half guilty.

US CONGRESSMEN SUPPORT AZERBAIJAN

news.az
Nov 19 2009
Azerbaijan

US Congressmen support decision of US Senate appropriations committee .

US congressional Azerbaijan caucus members Solomon Ortiz, Bill
Schuster, Robert Vexler, Virginia Foxx have sent a letter to the
Subcommittees for Foreign Operations of the US House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations with respect to the Department of State
appropriations bill for 2010 fiscal year

The letter supported the Senate Appropriations Committee`s decision
concerning the paragraphs on US`s aid to Azerbaijan and development
of US-Azerbaijan relations on the eve of discussions at the Senate
on the foreign operations and Department of State appropriations bill.

The letter stressed Azerbaijan`s important role in global war on
terrorism including military operations in Afghanistan.

The authors of the letter backed the decision not to add any new terms
to the authority granted by the Senate Appropriations Committee to the
US President with respect to the section 907 of the Freedom Support
Act. It said adoption of new paragraphs concerning the section 907
would harm US-Azerbaijan relationship and US`s interests in the region.

The letter supported the fact that the Appropriations Committee did
not included any aid to Nagorno-Karabakh into the department of state
appropriations bill for 2010 FY.

On July 9, unlike the US House of Representatives, the Senate
Appropriations Committee did not include any amendments to the
appropriations bill regarding section 907 and aid to Nagorno-Karabakh

The letter was sent to Chairman of US Senate Subcommittee for foreign
operations Patrick Leahy and ranking member Judd Greg as well as
Chair of the House Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee
Nita Lowey and ranking minority member Kay Granger.

GERMAN POLICE MAKE ARRESTS IN SOCCER CORRUPTION PROBE .

Wall Street Journal
Nov 19 2009

FRANKFURT — German authorities and police elsewhere have arrested
an undisclosed number of people suspected of fixing matches in major
European soccer leagues.

The arrests, in Germany and abroad, came as part of an investigation
into match-fixing supported by UEFA, according to a statement by the
prosecutor’s office in Bochum.

The probe has been under way since the beginning of the year and has
targeted an international gang suspected of wide-ranging match-fixing.

The gang is suspected of bribing players, coaches, referees and
officials in "high-ranking European leagues" to manipulate games in
order to make money on betting, the statement said Thursday.

It said raids were conducted in Germany and Europe on Thursday and
that a large number of arrests were made. No other details were given.

A news conference is scheduled for Friday in Bochum.

UEFA said it was aware of Thursday’s action, adding that it had been
"working closely with German authorities through its betting fraud
detection system for monitoring irregular betting patterns. "While the
investigation is ongoing UEFA does not wish to comment on a particular
case," it said.

The Berlin newspaper Morgenpost reported that games in the Turkish
top division were suspected of being manipulated and that the probe
by Bochum investigators targeted 100 people. The newspaper said five
people were arrested Thursday.

Quoting Berlin security sources, the newspaper said the gang apparently
operated from Germany and that its boss apparently lived in Berlin.

Spiegel TV reported that some of the suspected members of the gang
apparently also were convicted in the German match-fixing scandal
in 2005.

German referee Robert Hoyzer was convicted of fraud and sentenced to
29 months in prison after admitting he had manipulated games mostly
in German lower divisions on behalf of three Croatian brothers,
who made millions by betting on the games.

Ante Sapina was convicted of fraud and sentenced to 35 months in
prison for fixing or attempting to fix 23 games by paying Mr. Hoyzer
to rig matches Mr. Sapina and his brothers bet on. Mr. Ante Sapina’s
brothers Milan and Filip were given suspended sentences.

UEFA said two months ago that it was investigating 40 cases of
suspected match-fixing in the Champions League and UEFA Cup, mostly
involving eastern European clubs. The matches under investigation
were early qualifying games that took place over the last four seasons.

UEFA has beefed up its early warning system to protect against illegal
betting and match-fixing and president Michel Platini has described
those issues as the greatest problem facing European football.

The detection system monitors all top two divisions across Europe and
domestic cup games. A Macedonian club, FK Pobeda, has been banned from
European competitions for eight years and club president Aleksandar
Zabrcanec and then-team captain Nikolce Zdraveski have received
lifetime bans.

The two allegedly ensured the team lost a Champions League qualifying
round match against Armenian club Pyunik in July 2004. They deny
the charges.

UEFA also reportedly has informed Russian officials that it suspects
several domestic league games to have been manipulated this season.

Russian daily newspaper Vremya Novostei last month cited a letter it
said UEFA sent to the Russian Football Union in September alleging
suspicious betting patterns on six matches.

The clubs involved allegedly include Krylya Sovietov, Terek Grozny,
Spartak Nalchik, Tom Tomsk and Amkar Perm from the Premier League,
and four clubs from the first division.

REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ARMENIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT ABOUT THE ARP PM

Aysor
Nov 19 2009
Armenia

"While changing the places of the items the sum is not being changed",
– the board member of the Armenian National Movement (HHSh) Aram
Manukyan said today answering the question asked by the Aysor.am
reporter inquiring how he will appreciate the fact of Tigran Sargsyan
entering into the rows of the Republican Party.

Referring to the resignation of the Labor and Social Affairs Minister
Gevorg Petrosian who is a member of "Prosperous Armenia Party" (BHK),
A. Manukian said that the resignation will not bring any change in
the authorities.

As for the ARP or the BHK parties, A. Manukian expressed only his
regret saying that: "It is disgusting that the matured 40 or 80 years
old people enter the party by force. They enter "BHK" just for getting
2 coins. They advertise themselves by all the TV channels and spoil
the students. I feel pain for this."