Month: April 2010

ERDOGAN’S MEETING WITH SIRINOGLU A PR MOVE, EXPERT SAYS

news.am
March 31 2010
Armenia

The fact whether U.S. President Obama will use the word "genocide"
during his speech depends on the arrangement reached in the course of
the Sargsyan-Obama meeting in Washington, Turkish studies expert Artak
Shakaryan told journalists on Wednesday. He deems the Presidents are
likely to discuss Obama’s April 24 speech and the vote on a Genocide
Resolution in the U.S. Congress.

According to the expert, in Washington, Serzh Sargsyan will try
to play a withdrawal card. "It is the only chance for Armenia and
we must take it," he added. Shakaryan thinks that, after achieving
certain arrangements with Obama, RA President will make a statement
on Armenia’s freezing negotiations or withdrawing from the process.

Commenting on Turkish Premier Recep Erdogan’s recent meeting with
the Istanbul-based Armenian community leader Bedros Sirinoglu, the
expert called it a "PR move". He said that Erdogan’s statement about
deportation of illegal Armenian immigrants was severely criticized
both in and outside Turkey. Thus, he needed to improve his image.

"Sirinoglu is one of Premier’s friends and he was invited to show
that Ankara is holding a dialogue with the local Armenian community,"
Shakaryan said.

Artak Shakaryan also added that Sirinoglu is not the leader of the
Istanbul Armenian community, as the Patriarch has been considered
leader since 1400s.

ARMENIAN-BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN ARMENIA

Aysor
March 31 2010
Armenia

Representatives of the Armenian-British Union presented Wednesday
initiative of establishing of Armenian-British Chamber of Commerce
(ABCC), which key objective is to contribute to strengthening of
relations between the two nations in sphere of education, culture,
economy, financial integration and civil communications.

ABU’c chairman Hike Harutyunian said: "We pay a great attention to
involvement of Britain’s businessmen into Armenian economy and further
investments in various industries of the country."

He also pointed out that the same chamber will be established in
the UK.

When asked by Aysor’s correspondent why it is necessary to establish
a single body of ABCC when there is the European Chamber of Commerce
in Armenia, Hike Harutyunian said that there is a number of such
bodies in Armenia, including chambers of commerce of the EU, US,
etc., while the British business has a large potential and resources,
never used in Armenia before.

"We’ve held consultations with businesses, and British Embassy, and
this is not a simple decision to establish the ABCC: there is a demand
of it here in Armenia. More than 30 British and joint businesses are
acting in the country," he said.

IMPLEMENTING SECURITY MEASURES IN PROVINCE OF TAVUSH

Aysor
March 31 2010
Armenia

In Tavush province of Armenia are being carried activities, aimed at
strengthening of security of civil population, as recently number of
ceasefire violations by Azerbaijani side has increased, province’s
governor Armen Gularian told journalists at today’s press conference.

According to him, the defense activities are implemented in several
villages, including Chinari, Aygepat, Barekamavan, Koti, and other
villages in adjoining to border territories of Armenia. In addition,
some other activities are being carried to provide security for
Armenian farmers during the agricultural works’ season.

Armen Gularian said that incidents of ceasefire violations by
Azerbaijani side increased, causing the situation when civil
population of villages is getting under fire, Aysor’s correspondent
reports. Governor also said that Armenian side discussed with OSCE
mission possibilities to reach an agreement with Azerbaijan on
providing a security for civil population.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ICRC DELEGATION IN AZERBAIJAN RESPONDS ACCUSATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER

APA
March 31 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku. Kamala Guliyeva – APA. Delegation of the International Committee
of the Red Cross in Azerbaijan announced its action principles,
ICRC Delegation told APA.

"The ICRC would like to bring to the attention of the general public
that erroneous reporting can have a negative impact both on the
detainees and on their families’ members. The ICRC always prefers to
deliver and discuss private information related to detained people
only with their family members or relevant authority representatives
from both sides and not subject those deprived of freedom to
public scrutiny. In accordance with its mandate based on the Geneva
Conventions, the ICRC visits persons detained in relation to conflict
situations worldwide and has a long experience in this field. Since
1992, the ICRC has been visiting people who are detained in connection
with the Nagorny Karabakh conflict. The aims and procedures of
these visits are strictly humanitarian. By registering detainees
and repeating visits the ICRC assesses their detention conditions
and treatment until their release. Delegates talk to detainees in
private, as well as visit premises and discuss their findings with
the detaining authorities in a confidential manner. The ICRC makes
the necessary recommendations when needed", said the ICRC Delegation.

ICRC delegation said they offered detainees the opportunity to write
messages, known as "Red Cross Messages" (RCM) to their families.

"Designed exclusively for exchanging personal greetings and family
news, these messages provide vital moral support for prisoners and
their families as this is often the only means for them to keep in
touch. It should be noted that RCMs are subject to censorship and can
be returned to a detainee or his/her family, if the content of a RCM
goes beyond strictly family news. The ICRC can not force a detained
person to write or receive an RCM if it is not so wished".

When the relevant authorities decide to release a detained person, the
ICRC, if requested, supports authorities in the practical arrangements
necessary to repatriate or transfer such a person, said the ICRC
Delegation. "The ICRC is not involved in the process of negotiations
on possible transfer or repatriation of persons detained in relation
to a conflict. However, before agreeing to assist in repatriation or
transfer, the ICRC always ensures by means of a private interview with
the detained person concerned that he or she wishes to be sent home.

Since 1992, the ICRC has helped repatriate or transfer persons in
connection with the Nagorny Karabakh conflict, and the organization
will support any similar operation in the future should the need
arise".

During the meeting with Pascal Wagner, the head of ICRC for Eastern
Europe and Central Asia, Elmira Suleymanova, Commissioner for Human
Rights (Ombudsperson) of the Republic of Azerbaijan said that despite
long time has passed since soldiers of Azerbaijani Armed Forces
Rafig Rahman oglu Hasanov (October 8, 2008), Anar Khanbaba Hajiyev
(May 10, 2009) and civilian Eldar Haydar Tagiev (December 28, 2009)
were taken captives, they are still in the Armenian captivity.

The Commissioner also appealed the Baku office of the ICRC on the
basis of complaints of parents and relatives of the POWs. She said
sometimes local representation of ICRC censors, exerts pressure on
parents with regard to correspondence of captives and hostages from
Azerbaijan and added that it was a violation of rights.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA PRESIDENT TO LEAVE FOR U.S.

news.am
March 31 2010
Armenia

April 12, RA President Serzh Sargsyan will leave for U.S. at the
invitation of U.S. President Brack Obama to participate in the Global
Nuclear Security Summit to be held in Washington, D.C., April 12-13,
the RA Presidential Press Secretary Armen Arzumanyan informed NEWS.am.

A letter addressed to Serzh Sargsyan, says that, taking into account
Armenia’s commitment to the objectives of fighting against nuclear
security and struggle against terrorism, the Armenian leader has been
invited to participate in the Global Nuclear Security Summit to be held
at Walter E. Washington Convention Center, April 12-13. The goals of
the Nuclear Security Summit are to come to a common understanding
of the threat posed by nuclear terrorism, to agree to effective
measures to secure nuclear material, and to prevent nuclear smuggling
and terrorism.

As people responsible for nuclear materials, the world leaders must
assume responsibility for reducing their availability where possible
and to apply the highest standards of safe storage of the nuclear
waste, the U.S. leader’s letter says.

6 ARMENIAN SOLDIERS CAPTURED BY AZERBAIJAN

Aysor
March 31 2010
Armenia

Up to the moment six Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijani
side, Senior Officer of Unit 9 of the Operative Department of
the General Staff of Armed Forces of Armenia Samvel Asatrian told
journalists at today’s press conference, followed the OSCE scheduled
observation at border close to Berkaber village of Ijevan region of
Tavush province of Armenia.

He also said of the Armenian family, which had passed
Armenia-Azerbaijan border in direction of Nakhchivan and was captured
by Azerbaijani side.

Referring to captives from Azerbaijan, Samvel Asatrian said of two
soldiers of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, and a civilian. Besides,
Armenian side is cooperating with international organisations to
hand to the Azerbaijani side bodies of their soldiers, who were
killed late March 2 after attempt to commit sabotage in territory
of Armenia. The case is being investigating by Armenian officials,
added Samvel Asatrian.

ARMENIA ENTERS STABILIZATION AND RECONSTRUCTION STAGE

news.am
March 31 2010
Armenia

"We have entered a stage of stabilization and reconstruction, and
our task is to restore our pre-crisis potential as soon as possible
and reconstruct the economy," RA Minister of Finance Tigran Davtyan
told reporters on March 31.

"That is, we want to return to the pre-crisis situation not only
politically; we want to carry out certain structural changes. So
whether we have or have not overcome the crisis – it is a somewhat
rhetorical question. It depends on what we mean by this," Davtyan said.

As to when the "stabilization and reconstruction" stage is over,
the Minister said: "I think it is a matter of 12-18 months, from
today. If the current rate is maintained, it will happen before the
end of next year. We can also speak of general recovery. In some
cases it will be quicker, in others slower."

UNIQUE NEURO-ARTERIAL SURGERY CENTRE OPENED IN YEREVAN

news.am
March 31 2010
Armenia

March 31, a center of neuro-arterial surgery opened at Yerevan State
Medical University (YSMU). RA President Serzh Sargsyan, state officials
and high-ranking guests attended the ceremony of a unique center in
the region.

"The center provides unique opportunity to diagnose all disturbances in
cerebral arteries and cerebral vessels, reducing the risk of stroke,"
YSMU head Gohar Kyalyan said adding that the center is donored by
benefactor Nazar Nazaryan.

The center will operate in a separate radiological building supplied
with up-to-date equipment, and its experts got training in the best
world clinics, Kyalyan noted.

"One of the best computed tomography units (CT) in the world was
delivered to Armenia," center physician Harutyun Muradyan told
NEWS.am-Innovations. According to him, it will enable avoiding use
of invasive methods while examining the coronary vessels.

"During the coronary angiography the research with probe is carried
out, whereas this device enables doing it by intravenous injection,"
Muradyan said noting that the unit makes possible examination and
get precise information on the state of coronary vessels.

It will also help to fully examine the heart and conduct all types
of checkups with a 64-layer magnetic field, Muradyan emphasized.

TURKEY’S POLITICAL TWISTS AND TURNS

Progress Online
March 31 2010
UK

As the forces of liberalism and openness vie with competing currents
of nationalism and mild Islamism, where will the intricate history
of Turkey lead next?

Seeking to understand what is happening in Turkey is to enter a
seemingly impenetrable labyrinth. You must seek to see the wood
for the trees in an environment of smoke and mirrors. Take recent
events: A raid on a café in the eastern province of Erzincan in
the seemingly neverending search for conspirators associated with the
ruling Justice and Development Party, the AKP, or with the army as part
of the Engenekon Case; the announcement that women who have fertility
treatment abroad, which is illegal in Turkey, face a three year prison
sentence; the statement by a leading minister that homosexuals suffer
from an illness and should be treated for a medical condition. What
exactly was behind the seizure of an army lorry containing grenades
by the police being taken to the capital Ankara? Prime minister
Erdogan’s proposal that the thousands of Armenians working in Turkey
without permits should be deported back to Armenia announced after the
American House of Representatives vote appears to escalate the whole
Armenian situation. These are just some of the panorama of events that
must be interpreted in order to comprehend what is happening in Turkey.

Some sort of understanding might be achieved by establishing who
and what the central figure in all of this, prime minister Erdogan,
actually is. Is he seeking to achieve some form of Islamacist
dictatorship or is he a concerned democrat? I suspect the answer lies
somewhere in the murky middle between the two seemingly competing
ideologies. His roots were in the vast suburbs of Istanbul and the
macho politics associated with these districts. This produces a
politician who is pragmatic but also confrontational. He can be seen
to have an emotional affinity to leaders of other Muslim countries
that runs contrary to an acceptable foreign policy. An example of
this is a white washing of the Sudanese Government over Darfur. He
has not been immune from the old fashioned Turkish attitudes to the
operation of power structures within the Turkish state which still
traps Turkey into authoritarian illiberal behaviour and prevents
it becoming open minded about its very real shortcomings. With all
this there is now within the AKP itself a movement to question the
traditional Turkish nationalist attitudes to issues such as what
happened to the Armenians in 1915. Are there are indications that the
Erdogan and the AKP are evolving into a liberal Muslim conservative
party committed to EU entry?

In the middle of this political turmoil Europe’s new enlargement
commissioner has arrived to be greeted with the headline "New Man In
EU, Same Old Message." He welcomes Turkey’s policy of "zero problems
with neighbours" and Erdogan’s pivotal role in the affairs of the
region. Turkey has just shown the door to the IMF, a reflection of
how well it has weathered the current economic storm in comparison
with other major economies. The AKP are about to privatise the
country’s energy companies, indicating a movement along the road
towards Islamic capitalism.

However, his government’s major challenge is to loosen the hand of
the military not only on the judiciary but the whole cultural and
social life of the country. The criticism of Erdogan is not that he
is seeking to make constitutional changes in order to achieve this,
but that he has waited so long to present measures preventing the
army from interfering in Turkey’s fragile democracy. The opposition
CHP are concerned that some aspects of the constitutional changes now
being proposed have elements of the authoritarian structures they
seek to replace. Significantly, Abdullah Gul, Turkey’s president,
is discussing with the opposition a compromise on crucial changes
to Turkey’s judicial structure that do not include the army. As Gul
talks to CHP leader Baykal am I being optimistic in saying that a
military coup is unlikely?

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RF AMBASSADOR REFUTES PRESS REPORTS

news.am
March 31 2010
Armenia

RA Ambassador to Armenia Vyacheslav Kovalenko refuted the press reports
on the deportation of ethnic Caucasians from Russia immediately after
the terrorist acts in the Moscow Underground.

Press reports on alleged appeals for expelling ethnic Caucasians
appeared after the terrorist acts. At his meeting with journalists,
Ambassador Kovalenko commented on the information.

"Do not believe the press. The perpetrators of the terrorist act
are monsters. But the natives of the North and South Caucasus have
nothing in common with them. They are inhuman monsters, and there is
no room for them on this earth," Kovalenko said.

"One million of Armenians or Georgians live is Russia, let them live,
work and prosper. These unbreakable ties have always been between
the Russian and Caucasian peoples, and no terrorist will be able to
break it," the Russian Ambassador said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress