ASBAREZ Online [05-23-2006]

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05/23/2006
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Armenia Forging Closer Links with Europe And NATO 2) United Labor Party Joins Armenian Coalition 3) Turkish And Greek Fighter Jets Collide in Mid-air 1) Armenia Forging Closer Links with Europe And NATO YEREVAN (Combined Sources)--Armenia is stepping up its efforts to forge closer links with European and Euro-Atlantic structures, President Robert Kocharian told the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) special representative to the South Caucasus and Central Asia, Robert Simmons. In a meeting with Simmons, Kocharian said he has set up an inter-agency commission charged with coordinating his administration's efforts at European integration. "Our objective is to not only keep the planned work on track but to move forward at a bit higher tempo and implement joint programs in full," he said. Kocharian referred to Armenia's involvement in the European Union's European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) program, which entitles it to a privileged relationship with the club, and the implementation of its Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO. Prime Minister Andranik Markarian said during a separate meeting with Simmons on Monday that closer ties with NATO are "one of the important components of Armenia's multi-layered security system." Yerevan therefore stands for an "expansion of the political dialogue" with the US-led alliance, he added. Simmons praised this policy as he wrapped up his two-day visit to the Armenian capital. "Armenia wants to build a stronger partnership with NATO," he told a news conference. "We are happy with the level of our relationship." The IPAP, which was launched last December, aims to bring Armenia closer to NATO by envisaging, among other things, a reform of its military that would boost its interoperability with the armed forces of NATO member states. Simmons approved of the pace at which Armenia is implementing the IPAP program and noted that significant progress has been made, particularly in the defense sphere and consolidation of democracy in Armenia. Yerevan undertook a project to develop and publicize a "defense doctrine" and a broader "national security strategy" in the coming years. A separate inter-ministerial commission headed by Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian is already working on both documents. Another stated aim of the IPAP is a democratization of Armenia's political system, the strengthening of its judiciary system, and a fight against corruption. Statements released by Kocharian's and Markarian's offices, quoted Simmons as stressing the need for "strengthening democracy." Kocharian and other Armenian leaders have repeatedly stated that the IPAP is not a prelude to an Armenian bid to join the alliance. "NATO is not forcing Armenia to join the alliance or cut ties with other organizations or states," Simmons said. He said that NATO appreciates Armenia's involvement in peacekeeping missions and hopes to boost the cooperation in this sphere in future. During his meetings, Simmons also discussed Armenian-Turkish relations with the Armenian officials. Simmons said that being a NATO member country, Turkey has approved of Armenia's IPAP with NATO. He said he hoped that cooperation within the frameworks of the IPAP will promote improved relations between the two countries. Simmons also commented on the Karabagh conflict, saying that NATO is not directly involved in the process of the conflict regulation, but hopes that the negotiating sides will reach mutually acceptable agreement. 2) United Labor Party Joins Armenian Coalition YEREVAN (RFE/RL)The United Labor Party (MAK) joined Armenia's governing coalition on Monday, replacing the Orinats Yerkir party whose leader, parliament speaker Artur Baghdasarian, formally tendered his resignation to fellow legislators. The United Labor Party (MAK) was given the post of culture minister and three other senior government positions in return for lending support to the cabinet of Prime Minister Andranik Markarian. Under the power-sharing deal, MAK will also name the new chairman of the Armenian parliament committee on defense and security. The party was offered to join the coalition despite having the smallest faction in Parliament, which holds only six of out its 131 seats. Though not formally affiliated with the MAK, Armenia's new culture minister, Hasmik Poghosian, is known to have close links with its leader Gurgen Arsenian. Poghosian led a non-governmental organization promoting cultural ties with the outside world before her appointment, which was endorsed by Kocharian. Three other MAK nominees were appointed to the posts of deputy minister of labor and social affairs and deputy governor of the northern Shirak and Lori regions. All three jobs were previously held by Orinats Yerkir members. 3) Turkish And Greek Fighter Jets Collide in Mid-air ANKARA (AFP)--Greek and Turkish F-16 fighter jets collided in mid-air over the eastern Aegean Sea, an area where the two NATO allies often engage in mock dog fights amid disputes over their airspace control, both sides said. Turkey announced that the Greek pilot died while the Turkish pilot ejected and was rescued by a Panama-registered cargo ship before being repatriated by a Turkish army helicopter. The two sides gave different accounts of the accident which occurred some 35 miles (55 kilometers) south of the Greek island of Rhodes, with the Turkish army saying that the collision took place in international airspace and the Greek army charging that the planes were in airspace overseen by Athens. But officials from the two countries rushed to underline that they would not let the incident affect bilateral ties which have improved significantly in recent year. The Turkish army said the two jets had collided when Greek warplanes attempted to intercept Turkish jets on "routine training flights" in international air space. The Greek armed forces, however, said the collision took place in the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR)--the flight zone overseen by the Athens airport control tower. They said in a statement that a Turkish RF-4 and two F-16s entered the Athens FIR "without laying down flight plans" and heading towards the island of Crete, "violating the rules of aerial navigation." A formation of two Greek F-16s then took off to "investigate the planes and assure the security of international traffic," it said. During a "reconnaissance maneuver" a Greek F-16 and a Turkish F-16 collided at an altitude of 27,000 feet (8,230 meters) and the planes crashed, the statement said. But Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul denied the Greek charges. "The incident took place in international airspace. Furthermore our flight was a scheduled flight. It had been conveyed in advance to NATO," he told reporters in Ankara, the Anatolia news agency reported. Turkey says its planes flying over the Aegean hand over flight plans to NATO prior to take-off and have posted their electronic in-flight identification since October 2001. It says Greece does not reciprocate such measures. Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis and her Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul spoke by telephone and expressed regret over the incident, saying it should not affect relations, the two foreign ministries said. "In their talks, the two ministers were unanimous on shedding light on the incident and not allowing it to affect bilateral ties," the Turkish statement said. Despite a significant thaw in ties in recent years, Turkey and Greece remain at odds over territorial rights in the Aegean, accusing each other of violations. Athens has long complained of frequent violations of its air space by Turkish aircraft. Turkey, however, says its planes fly in international air space. Greece claims a 10-mile air space limit around its coastline but Turkey only recognizes six miles, arguing that under international rules Greece's airspace should be the same as its territorial waters. Turkey is under European Union pressure to resolve territorial disputes with Greece, a bloc member. In 1996, the two neighbors nearly went to war over an uninhabited rocky islet in the Aegean, but the United States stepped in and defused the tension. After decades of animosity, ties notably improved after 1999 when deadly earthquakes in the two countries triggered an unprecedented outpouring of solidarity between their people. Diplomats from both countries have engaged in closed-door talks since January 2002 to try to resolve their disputes but no concrete result has been publicly announced so far. But the two neighbors disagree even about the extent of the dispute. While Greece claims the only issue to be dealt with is that of continental shelf rights, Turkey says there is a plethora of problems ranging from the boundaries of territorial waters to the status of islands whose sovereignty remains unclear. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. 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