Month: November 2009

ARMENIAN-HUNGARIAN AGREEMENTS SIGNED

News.am
Nov 9 2009
Armenia

On November 9, 2009, RA President Serzh Sargsyan paid the first visit
to Hungary in the history of independent Armenia.

The RA presidential press office reported that the official ceremony
was followed by the Armenian and Hungarian President’s talks, which,
in turn, were followed by an enlarged meeting.

Hungarian President László Sólyom pointed out that Hungary views
Armenia as an important partner and is ready to develop bilateral
cooperation in all fields.

The Armenian and Hungarian leaders stressed that, despite the progress
in bilateral relations, the bilateral economic and trade ties do not
fulfill the true potential. The two leaders expressed the confidence
that the documents signed during the Armenian President’s visit,
as well as the Armenian-Hungarian business forum in Budapest, will
contribute to the development of bilateral relations. The sides
also pointed out the importance of bilateral cooperation within
international organizations and the European Neighborhood Policy.

The Armenian President informed his Hungarian counterpart of the
current stage of the Armenia-Turkey normalization process and of
the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. "We are willing to resolve the
problems, without any preconditions and in a peaceful way, and
establish relations with our neighbors, using the potential for
stable and peaceful development of the region. I am sure that it
is only through cooperation that long-lasting peace, stability and
development can be established in the region," Sargsyan said.

President László Sólyom welcomed the progress in the Armenia-Turkey
normalization process. The sides also exchanged views on regional
security problems.

President Serzh Sargsyan invited his Hungarian counterpart to visit
Armenia.

The sides signed a number of agreements on economic cooperation.

DAFUR & ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: PM ERDOGAN "A MUSLIM CAN NEVER COMMIT GENOCIDE."

EuropeNews
n/node/27361
Nov 9 2009
Denmark

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan: No dhimmi can judge a Muslim.

The Turks still refuse to come to terms with their history of genocide
of the Armenian people. Successive Turkish governments were responsible
for the state murder of over 2 million Armenians and 300 000 Greeks.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan: "It’s not possible for
a Muslim to commit genocide," he said. "That’s why we are comfortable
[with the visit of al-Bashir]."

Turkish PM,Tayyip Erdogan’s, statement is eerily reminiscent of
what OIC (Organization of the Islamic Conference) secretary general
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu stated to the Tundra Tabloids last year in
Helskini about Islamic anti-Semitism:

OIC sec-gen Ihsanoglu

"..you cannot speak about any Muslim, good or bad, as anti-Semitic,
this is a theory, this is not the case."

This is the exact same kind of denial as Recep Tayyip Erdog(an’s,
concerning the Armenian genocide by successive Turkish governments,
which shows an Islamic supremacist frame of mind. What is most likely,
is that these two Turks are exhibiting the same anger and frustration
over the fact that non-Muslims (read = Dhimmis) are holding Muslims
accountable for their actions, and that, for a Muslim, is something
that cannot be allowed under any circumstance. That, more than anything
else, including racism and genocide, is what bothers these two Muslim
leaders the most. KGS

Sudanese President Bashir’s visit to Turkey in limbo

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has pushed back his planned
visit to Turkey, Turkish aviation officials said on Sunday, adding
that the controversial leader canceled his Sunday flight without
any explanation.

It was not clear whether al-Bashir will come to Turkey on Monday
or Tuesday for a summit of Islamic nations, the officials added,
according to a report by the Dog(an news agency.

The statement came hours after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdog(an
defended al-Bashir’s visit by saying, "A Muslim can never commit
genocide."

"Those world leaders who criticize us, have they ever visited Darfur?

Their information is solely based on what the rapporteurs are
reporting. These kinds of moves will not contribute to world peace,"
Erdog(an said Sunday in an address to party members.

"It’s not possible for a Muslim to commit genocide," he said. "That’s
why we are comfortable [with the visit of al-Bashir].

ONE SWINE FLUE DIAGNOSIS CONFIRMED IN ARMENIA

news.am
Nov 9 2009
Armenia

Preliminary test results have confirmed one swine flue diagnosis in
Armenia. An Iranian woman was diagnosed with the disease, a source
at the RA Ministry of Health told NEWS.am.

We remind our readers that Liana Torosyan, Senior Specialist of the
Epidemiological Department, RA Ministry of Health, reported earlier
that the woman had been cured and left the hospital.

The tests of two patients — Armenian citizens who have just arrived
from Moscow -have been sent to London.

Our sources at the RA Ministry of Health reported that the fourth
patient, a German citizen, came to hospital to have a test and asked
for it to be sent to examination. Later he left Armenia.

SERZH SARGSYAN: HUNGARIAN JUSTICE SHOWED FAIR APPROACH TO ARMENIAN OFFICER’S MURDER

news.am
Nov 9 2009
Armenia

At his meeting with Hungarian President László Sólyom Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan thanked him for an unambiguous and fair
approach to the investigation of the Gurgen Margaryan murder case
displayed by the Hungarian judicial power.

We would remind our readers that, on February 19, 2004, the Armenian
officer, Lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan, who attended training courses
under the Partnership for Peace program, was axed by the Azeri officer
Ramil Safarov, who attended the same training courses. Gurgen Margaryan
was asleep when the murderer burst into his room.

On April 16, 2006, the court sentenced Safarov to life imprisonment
without possibility of appeal until 2036. The judge, Andras Vaskuti,
cited as reasons for the sentence the brutality of the crime and the
fact that Safarov showed no remorse.

As regards the Azerbaijani authorities, they, including President
Ilham Aliyev, tried to get Safarov extradited, but the Hungarian
authorities do not yield to pressure.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TEL-AVIV WILL NEVER RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: EXPERT

news.am
Nov 9 2009
Armenia

Feasible friendship and partnership between Iran and Turkey, despite
recent statements and mutual complements by Tehran and Ankara is
impossible due to geopolitical, confessional and historical obstacles,
Iranian studies expert Karine Gevorgyan told NEWS.am.

Nonetheless, all these causes do not hinder the effective years’
cooperation between the countries. "Certainly Iran and Ankara harbor
the grudge against each other to be on the safe side, but overall
it does not hinder their mutual relations," she outlined. Speaking
of energetic cooperation and involvement of the states in various
energy projects, Gevorgyan said collaboration effectiveness of
the countries depends dramatically on the third actors, like U.S.,
Europe and Russia. Speaking of the recent statement by International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Mohamed ElBaradei on possibility of
Iranian low-enriched uranium transit to Turkey, Gevorgyan emphasized,
"I think the statement will remain as a cherished wish, as before
buying uranium from Iran Turkey has to coordinate its actions with
organizations it is involved in, as well as with political partners.

Turkey can surely buy uranium disregarding other countries and
organizations, however in this case it will be an outlaw which is
not in Ankara’s interests.

Referring to Turkish-Russian cooperation within the South Stream
project, the expert noted that despite the occasional problems between
the states, economic and energetic cooperation between Russia and
Turkey can be labeled as efficient. Asked whether the creation of
Islamic axis represented by Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq in the
light of thaw of relations in contrast to Turkish-Israeli relations
freezing, she replied, "Frankly, I do not see prospects in creation
of Islamic axis, as the religion is not a uniting, but separating
factor between these countries. They can cooperate solely on social
and political areas."

Touching upon Genocide possible recognition by Israel in contrast to
chilled Turkish-Israeli relations, the expert outlined Tel-Aviv will
not do so owing to certain historical reasons.

ARMENIA WILL NEVER AGREE TO TURKEY’S CO-CHAIRMANSHIP IN OSCE MG

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.11.2009 14:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Various statements by Turkish and Azeri MPs are
conditioned by unhealthy imagination and sometimes stupidity, a
spokesman for the ruling Republican Party of Armenia said.

"Armenia never agree to Turkey’s co-chairmanship in OSCE MG. As to
return of territories to Azerbaijan, it’s out of the question. Talks
are focused on the status of Nagorno Karabakh," Eduard Sharmazanov
told PanARMENIAN.Net.

He also advised Turkish and Azeri politicians to comment on statements
by their leaders.

According to Day.az news portal, head of the Turkish delegation to
OSCE PA Alaattin Buyukkaya said that "Armenia agreed to withdraw
troops from seized Azerbaijani territories."

ARMENIA WELCOMES WINTER TOURISM LOVERS

Aysor
Nov 9 2009
Armenia

"Armenia has two winter tourism centers: Tsaghkadzor and Jermuk,
so we are waiting for winter season. Besides in north Armenia,
in Gyumri, ski winter tourism is developing attracting attention,"
said head of the Tourism and Territorial Development of the Ministry
of Economy of Armenia, Mekhak Apresyan.

A Winter Festival will be held in Jermuk, organized with assistance
of Kanachastan organization, points out Mr. Apresyan. Winter tourism
increases in demand despite the crisis: number of tourists increased
by 5,8% (however, this is less than last year’s index, when 20-25%
growth was registered. There are registered 422 807 tourists who
traveled to Armenia over this year’s January-September.

Mekhak Apresyan pointed that most tourists are from Russia, U.S.,
Iran, and CIS-countries, of this 60% are representatives of Armenian
world communities. "Scandinavian and Latin American countries now have
increased interest in Armenia. Two tourist groups came from Turkey."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKEY WON’T BE ALLOWED INTO REGIONAL CONFLICTS RESOLUTION PROCESSES

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.11.2009 14:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s direct engagement in resolution of regional
conflicts is ruled out, said Lernik Aleksanyan, member of the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia.

"As to opening of the Armenian-Turkish border, it’s the demand of
the international community," he said.

For his part, leader of People’s Party Tigran Karapetyan said that
"opening the border, Turkey will get access to the whole region and
consequently interfere into the ongoing processes."

SITUATION ON CIS SECURITIES MARKET TO BE DISCUSSED IN ARMENIA

news.am
Nov 9 2009
Armenia

The Council of the Heads of CIS Securities Market Regulatory Bodies
is to hold its 10th meeting in Tsakhkadzor, Armenia, on November 10-11.

The press service of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) told NEWS.am
that the Council, which has been headed by CBA Chairman Artur Javadyan
since last year, will discuss the situation on the CIS securities
market, implementation of its previous decisions, as well as issues of
defusing the crisis and exchanging secret information on investors’
protection. The Council will listen to a comparative analysis of the
CIS members’ laws on taxation mechanisms and settlement systems on
the securities’ market. The meeting will also discuss the economic
situation in the CIS.

The Council was formed in 2003. The Council members are Armenia,
Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Belarus
and Azerbaijan.

JUSTICE MINISTRY REQUESTS DISBARMENT OF CONTROVERSIAL JURISTS

Today’s Zaman
Nov 9 2009
Turkey

The Justice Ministry requested the disbarring of two top Turkish
jurists on Monday — controversial Sincan 1st High Criminal Court
Chief Justice Osman Kacmaz and Judges and Prosecutors Association
(YARSAV) President Omer Faruk Eminagaoglu — upon the conclusion of
its investigation into a series of questionable rulings that stretch
back to 2008.

The Justice Ministry’s move comes upon the heels of a May ruling
in which Kacmaz said President Abdullah Gul should stand trial in a
decade-old fraud case despite constitutional constraints on the trial
of a president for anything other than high treason. Justice Minister
Sadullah Ergin emphasized yesterday that the investigations into
Kacmaz and request for his removal were not a new issue and should
not be seen as a reaction to the ruling over the president, saying:
"This is an investigation that began in 2008. Our [Justice Ministry]
Inspection Board and General Directorate of Penal Affairs completed
their work and sent their reports to the relevant chief prosecutor’s
office. From this point on, the process will be taken up by the
independent judiciary. We’ll all be following the developments
together." The final decision on Kacmaz’s status rests with the
Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK).

Responding to reports that the Justice Ministry wanted him disbarred,
Kacmaz told the Anatolia news agency yesterday that his lawyer was
following the case. "Due to the demands of my occupation, I can’t
say too much," he said. His attorney, Baykal Dogan, also spoke
with Anatolia yesterday, saying a disciplinary report prepared by
the Justice Ministry and sent to the HSYK included one request for
Kacmaz’s disbarment, two requests for his reassignment and four
requests for judicial investigation.

The Justice Ministry also requested the removal of Eminagaoglu, the
head of YARSAV. When prosecutor Eminagaoglu, known for his staunch
opposition to the ongoing investigation into Ergenekon, a criminal
network charged with plotting to topple the government, had his case
at the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on the wiretapping of
criminal suspects rejected, he filed an appeal at Kacmaz’s court —
and won, with Kacmaz overturning the prosecutor’s office decision.

Eminagaoglu’s case rests with the Supreme Court of Appeals for now,
and if it rules for his disbarment, this decision must be approved
by the HSYK.

YARSAV, which has around 1,250 members, is known for its controversial
statements. On various occasions Eminagaoglu has voiced disapproval
of the detentions and arrests of suspected members of Ergenekon. The
Justice Ministry had announced in April that there were four
investigations ongoing into Eminagaoglu, two of which were
administrative in nature on charges of lacking impartiality and a
failure to observe professional ethics. The other two were judicial
investigations that were launched because he made a statement as a
representative of an NGO in a public institution and because he had
been making continuous comments about judicial matters, including
the ongoing Ergenekon investigation.

Kacmaz’s long history of questionable rulings Kacmaz is known for
a number of controversial decisions, previously overruling the
dismissal of a case over a campaign to apologize for the killings
of Anatolian Armenians in 1915. He also overruled a decision by
the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on the wiretapping of
criminal suspects. The Justice Ministry announced in August that
Kacmaz was under investigation as part of the probe into Ergenekon,
noting that the ministry had decided to inspect rulings issued by
Kacmaz on Sept. 29, 2008 — long before his controversial decision
involving the president.

In the case concerning President Gul, known popularly as the "lost
trillion case," the administration of the now-defunct Welfare Party
(RP) was accused of embezzling TL 1 trillion (equivalent to TL 1
million today) by forging documents in 1997. Gul, who was the RP’s
deputy chairman for foreign relations at the time, did not face trial
because he had been re-elected as a deputy. After Gul was elected
president, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the
charges against Gul, citing the Constitution, under which presidents
can only stand trial for treason. The Sincan 1st High Criminal Court,
however, overruled the decision of the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s
Office, claiming there was a loophole in the Constitution and that
it was not clear that presidents are immune from prosecution for
crimes committed before taking office. With this ruling and other,
low-profile cases, the Sincan court has been noted in the media for
its poor track record and procedural accuracy ranging from improper
filing to technical mistakes and overstepped jurisdiction.