Author: admin

Hurriyet, Turkey
Sept 6 2008

TURKISH PREMIER INTERVIEWED ON RELATIONS WITH EU, ARMENIA, RUSSIA

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan replied to journalists’ questions
on his way back from his one-day visit to Damascus. He strongly
criticized CHP [Republican People’s Party] leader Deniz Baykal for
opposing President Gul’s visit to Yerevan, which he described as an
initiative to obstruct a plot. He said: "The uneasiness the left-wing
faction feels because of the absence of a leader has reached a peak
level." Prime Minister Erdogan replied to the questions that were put
to him by 10 journalists as follows:

Relations with EU: The Routine will not be disrupted

[Question] You found an opportunity to hold private talks with
President Nicholas Sarkozy. Can you comment on what you discussed?

[Erdogan] Yes, we discussed Turkey’s negotiations with the EU. The
talks are continuing in a satisfactory way. It seems that the routine
in the process will be maintained. We said that a problem must not
arise in the EU process. He responded by saying "we will take the
necessary steps." He viewed President Abdullah Gul’s visit to Armenia
as a very positive development.

[Question] Would it not have been better if the prime minister visited
Yerevan?

[Erdogan] That would be a wrong assessment. First of all, President
Gul’s visit is not linked with political relations. The president of
Armenia invited the president of Turkey to watch a football
match. President Gul’s response to the invitation would affect
Turkey’s reputation in the world. Had he not decided to go to Armenia,
he would have been accused of not even attending a sports
activity. However, his decision obstructed such a plot. Why is the
matter not assessed in that way? The Caucasus Cooperation Pact should
also be considered. We have firmly established four of its
legs. Armenia is the next country. My foreign minister will discuss
the matter with his Armenian counterpart during the football match or
when the game ends. President Gul will also discuss it with President
Sarkisyan.

[Question] Can you comment on CHP leader Deniz Baykal’s statement that
President Gul "should also place a wreath at the [Armenian] genocide
monument?

[Erdogan] President Gul does not need advice from Deniz Baykal on
where he should place a wreath. I do not welcome such a statement
against the president of my country.

[Question] According to the outcome of a public opinion poll by the
Metropolis Research Company, only 4 per cent of the people trust Deniz
Baykal.

[Erdogan] The popularity of the leaders and the popularity of the
political parties differ in Turkey at the present time. The questions
on the confidence the people have in the leaders brought up one digit
figures. The votes of the leaders and those of the political parties
differ in Turkey. The left-wing faction has its own votes. The results
of the opinion polls in that faction and the outcome of our surveys
show that the absence of a leader in the left wing has reached a peak
level.

[Question] Are your votes higher than the votes of your party?

[Erdogan] According to a recent survey, my party’s votes are higher.

Football match in Armenia: Ambitious game

[Question] What is the result you expect from the national football
match in Armenia?

[Erdogan] Ambition will affect the technical capabilities of the
players. I expect the Turkish team to win under normal conditions. The
charisma we had in the European championship must not be harmed.

[Question] The under-21 years old national team lost its game. There
was disgusting cheering…

[Erdogan] Coach Fatih Terim called me. Preparations were made [in
Armenia] to welcome the team. We have established that serious
preparations have been made to welcome President Gul.

[Question] Turkey was unsuccessful in the Olympic Games. Do you have a
plan on the matter?

[Erdogan] I have discussed the problem with the ministers and the head
of the General Directorate of Youth and Sports. I will also discuss it
with the minister of national education and the head of the High
Education Council. Training must start from primary or secondary
schools. In fact, we have to establish universities for that
purpose. Some of the universities must move ahead in various
fields. The Istanbul Technical University was very successful in
basketball for some time in the past. The new rector of the university
informed me a few days ago that they decided to have their team move
up to the first league again. We might transfer foreign coaches for
the teams. We will study the matter.

Relations with Russia: Strategic neighbour

[Question] Can you comment on the crisis between Turkey and Russia and
the problem in the Caucasus?

[Erdogan] The Caucasus Cooperation Pact is important. The United
States is our ally. But, Russia is our strategic neighbour. We buy
two-thirds of the energy we need from Russia. That country is Turkey’s
partner number one in trade. It is the number one country in
tourism. No one must expect us to ignore all that. Our allies must
adopt an understanding approach. We have not deviated even by a single
millimetre from the Montreux Agreement. Neither the United States nor
NATO has created a problem. The ships, tonnages, and dates are
completely in accordance with the agreements. Various countries have
called for changes in the Montreux Agreement. However, we are not in
favour of that. The commander of our naval forces held talks with his
Russian counterpart on one of our ships. Similar meetings might
contribute to peace in the Black Sea region. The EU officially
supported the Caucasus Cooperation Platform today. Turkey is a
regional country. It solves its own problems. Our problems must not
make others uneasy.

[Question] The diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East are yielding
positive results. Can you comment on the EU reaction?

[Erdogan] We have taken resolute steps for many years. Trust is very
important. The sides concerned trust us very much. Many initiatives
were made in Israel in connection with the kidnapped
soldiers. However, a result has not been achieved yet. They expect us
to help them. Of course, we have not assumed a role on the
matter. Egypt will feel uneasy if we consider the situation and assume
a role. We can take action if Israel officially asks us to help. The
Gulf Cooperation Council refrained from concluding an agreement with a
foreign country until now. It has concluded an agreement with us for
the first time. That is very important. Positive developments area
taking place in the political, military, and economic fields. In fact,
the leader of one of the Gulf States has said, "We are satisfied with
all your contractors, except one." These are positive
developments. Turkey’s businessmen will have larger shares in the
future.

We will maintain our political work under the existing conditions

[Question] Reports say that the reasoned decision of the
Constitutional Court on the closure case against the AKP [Justice and
Development Party] will limit the sphere of politics. Can you comment?

[Erdogan] We will respect the decision of the Constitutional
Court. That is the only alternative we have. We will maintain our
political work under the existing conditions. However, I disagree with
the assessments that are made by the opposition parties. Neither I nor
my colleagues agree with the effort that is made to describe the AKP
as the focal point of anti-secular activities. The AKP is the
strongest political party in Turkey. Our people will respond to us in
a most favourable way in the elections that will be held in
2009. Legality in democracies depends on the people. The decisions are
made by the people. It is not up to the CHP to make decisions on
legality. The CHP was not even able to secure the support of the 20
per cent of the electorate for its legality during the elections on 22
July 2007. In fact, it should thank the Democratic Left Party for the
support it received. The legality of the AKP was supported by the 47
per cent of electorate. The outcome of the elections in 2009 will be
the most appropriate reaction to the controversy.

[Question] Do you expect votes from the political parties that are not
as fortunate as you are in Diyarbakir? Do you expect votes from their
supporters?

[Erdogan] There is no reason to prevent them from voting for us. My
party’s situation in southeastern Turkey is very favourable. We will
disclose our candidates in areas which do not support the AKP earlier.

[translated from Turkish]

Mathaba.Net, UK
Sept 6 2008

Abkhazian President: `Russia curbed a major war`

Posted: 2008/09/06
From: Mathaba

RussiaToday.com – Abkhazian President Sergey Bagapsh has credited
Russia’s military operation in South Ossetia with curbing a major war
in the Caucasus. He also hit out at claims that Georgia had defended
Tskhinval against attack from the Russian army, describing them as
pure cynicism. To watch a media briefing with Sergey Bagapsh in full,
please follow the link

Speaking at a media briefing in Moscow on Saturday, Bagapsh said:
`Georgia says Abkhazians are bad, Armenians are bad, South Ossetians,
Azerbaijanis, Russians ` everybody is bad. One cannot have a row with
everyone. I think you should look for the roots of the conflict inside
Georgia. That`s what has led to the events we’re now discussing.’

Sergey Bagapsh added Georgia’s aggression against South Ossetia had
been `pure genocide’.

`Without a doubt, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili is a
political corpse,’ he said. `A man who has as much blood on his hands
as he does cannot lead a state and hold talks. Neither me, nor Mr
Kokoity, president of South Ossetia, will ever stand close to Mr
Saakashvili. He is a small tyrant who has been brought up by the U.S.’

The Abkhazian President also announced his country would like to join
the Commonwealth of Independent States: `If the CIS member states
consider it possible, we will join this organization.’

Meanwhile, it was confirmed that the agreement on friendship and
cooperation between Russia and Abkhazia is ready, and will shortly be
signed in Moscow.

Bagapsh also said that Abkhazia would like to become an offshore
country.

20

Kerkorian sanctioned over sale
SEC: He misled market on GM stake

BY JUSTIN HYDE – FREE PRESS WASHINGTON STAFF – September 4, 2008
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sanctioned
billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian on Wednesday over his sale of
General Motors Corp. stock in 2006, saying he misled the stock market
about his attempts to unwind his stake.

As part of a settlement with the SEC, Kerkorian’s firm, Tracinda,
vowed to not violate SEC rules in the future. It also admitted no
wrongdoing.

The settlement pulls back the curtain on some of the moves the
reclusive Kerkorian made with his GM stake, which eventually grew to
9.9% of the company’s shares.

Kerkorian and adviser Jerry York used the position to press GM for
some kind of broad alliance with Renault-Nissan, an idea that GM
Chairman Rick Wagoner and GM’s board eventually rejected.

According to the SEC, an unnamed adviser to Kerkorian told him in
February 2005 that investing in GM was a "no-brainer." Tracinda began
buying shares, ending up with 56 million by October 2005 — setting up
a power clash at the top of GM with Wagoner, who favored his
turnaround plans over the more radical moves proffered by Kerkorian
and York.

After several months of talks, GM rejected the proposed Nissan-Renault
alliance a year later, and Kerkorian decided to winnow his stake. The
SEC said that Kerkorian decided to sell 28 million GM shares on
Nov. 20, 2006, but sold just 14 million shares for $462 million after
rejecting a price for all 28 million as too low.

While Kerkorian still wanted to sell his shares, Tracinda said in an
SEC filing that, based on business conditions, it could still "acquire
or dispose of additional shares."

By the end of the month, Kerkorian had unloaded the rest of his GM
stake. Word of the sale drove down GM’s share price 4.6% on the day
Tracinda filed with the SEC. GM’s shares now trade at less than half
the price they did when Kerkorian sold out.

The SEC said that in addition to not revealing its attempt to sell 28
million shares at once, Tracinda’s statement misled the market
"because there was only a remote possibility that it would purchase
any GM stock at that time."

Kerkorian, who holds a 6.4% stake in Ford Motor Co., also filed
several documents with the SEC on Wednesday, outlining his agreements
with York, adviser Alex Yemenidjian and a California law firm. Each is
entitled to 2% of any gains Kerkorian makes from his Ford shares.

In May, Kerkorian said through Tracinda that he did not want to buy or
control Ford at the time, although he might propose business
strategies andhas explored a possible capital infusion.

Contact JUSTIN HYDE at 202-906-8204 or [email protected]
.dll/article?AID=3D/20080904/BUSINESS02/mailto:jhy [email protected]

PanARMENIAN.Net

Aznavour won’t attend Armenia-Turkey soccer game over illness
06.09.2008 13:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Renowned singer Charles Aznavour said he was glad to
know that Turkish President Abdullah Gul finally decided to pay a
visit to Armenia.

`I would be happy to be in Armenia on such an important day but
unfortunately I have some health problems. Dear Mr President, I wish
you success in your mission for the glory of the Armenian people. I am
hopeful that a meeting with Turkish President will be an advance in
bilateral relations,’ Aznavour said in his message.

Gul will be in Yerevan on Sept. 6 to attend a World Cup qualifying
soccer game between the Armenian and Turkish national teams.

Ankara broke diplomatic relations and closed the border with Armenia
in 1993 over the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

TURKEY SHOULD OPEN BORDER FOR CHANGING HOSTILE ATTITUDE TO ARMENIA,
KIRO MANOYAN SAYS

Y EREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. As Kiro Manoyan, a Responsible
Person for ARFD Bureau Political Issues and the Armenian Cause (Hay
Dat) Office, evaluated, unless the respective steps are undertaken by
Turkey after Abdullah Gul’s visit, the Armenian-Turkish "non-existing"
relations will be delivered a bigger blow. As he stated at the
September 4 press conference, Turkey should open the border,
Gyumri-Kars railway to change the hostile attitude towards Armenia.

At the same time he said that the opening of the border can have bad
conseqences for Armenia. In particular, Turkish goods in huge amounts
will be imported to Armenia, which first of all will deliver a strong
blow to country’s economy. "We should not forget, either that by
opening the border the dangers will increase in the respect of national
security. However, it does not mean that the border should not be
opened. We should be just ready for the regime of an open border," K.
Manoyan emphasized.

ANC-PAC endorses Congressman Costa of California

armradio.am
06.09.2008 11:52

The Armenian National Committee – Political Action Committee (ANC-PAC)
has endorsed Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA). Costa represents
California’s 20th Congressional District, which is nestled in
California’s San Joaquin Valley and includes all of Kings County, part
of Fresno and Kern Counties. The Congressman, who serves as a member of
the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has been a staunch supporter of
his Armenian American constituents since his election to the U.S. House
of Representatives in 2005.

"Our community in the 20th Congressional District is proud to be
represented in Washington, DC by Jim Costa," remarked ANC-PAC supporter
Hilda Santikian. "The Congressman is a man of his word and a true
friend, in every sense of the word. The fact that Congressman Costa
scored an A+ in the Armenian National Committee of America’s annual
Report Card says it all for thousands of Armenian American voters in
his district," she added.

As a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Costa has
led the charge to ensure that America be represented in Armenia by an
ambassador who does not deny the Armenian Genocide. In a May 8, 2008
letter to Ambassador designate Marie Yovanovitch, Costa shared that "it
is, by any reasonable standard, established history that between 1915
and 1923 the Ottoman Empire systematically killed an estimated 1.5
million Armenians and drove hundreds of thousands of others into exile
from their ancestral homeland." The Congressman has also been
aggressively in support of legislative efforts to end Turkey’s blockade
of Armenia and to encourage freedom for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Prior to his election to the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman
Costa enjoyed a nearly quarter century career as a member of the
California State Legislature. He is the grandson of Portuguese
immigrants and has had a lifelong long history of friendship with
Armenian Americans in California’s Central Valley. The Congressman has
a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from California State
University, Fresno.

In the current 110th Congress, Costa serves as a member of two
influential subcommittees of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; the
subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia and the subcommittee on
Europe. On these subcommittees and on the House floor, Costa has
energetically worked to counteract the anti-Armenian agenda being
advanced by the multimillion dollar lobbyists employed by Turkey and
Azerbaijan on Capitol Hill.

Armenia vs Turkey tonight

armradio.am
06.09.2008 14:41

A great football event is expected in Yerevan tonight. The national
teams of Armenia and Turkey will meet in their first-ever match within
the framework of eth FIFA 2010 World Cup. The match is the first in the
qualification round, therefore it’s very important for Armenia. Head
coach of the Armenian national team Jan Poulsen told a press conference
in Yerevan that our team is in a better condition psychologically.

`The Turkish team ranks 10th in the FIFA rating list, while we are the
98th. It’s not surprising that the Turkish team is considered to be the
favorite. At the same time the Turkish team is under pressure, since
everyone expects only victory from them,’ Poulsen said. The Danish
specialist expressed hoe that the Armenian footballers will get to the
field without unnecessary nervousness and will demonstrate their full
capacities. `We know how to play with strong teams,’ he said, recalling
the matches against Poland and Portugal.

`We are well prepared for the match with the Turkish team. For us this
is simply a football match against a strong team and nothing else. We
have had to play with stronger teams,’ defender of the Armenian team
Karen Dokhoyan said. According to forwards Robert Arzumanyan and Edgar
Manucharyan, this match is another professional trial. `We have played
with strong teams. This is a sports task, which we should solve in the
field. This is sport, and we want to succeed, politics is a different
thing,’ Robert Arzumanyan said.

Turkey’s head coach Fatih Terim wishes the Armenia-Turkey match to
become a bridge between the two countries. He said football can become
a good opportunity for contacts between the two states.

President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia and President Abdullah Gul of
Turkey will attend the match tonight. President Abdullah Gül will
become the first Turkish president ever to set foot in Armenia today.
Serzh Sargsyan and Abdullah Gul will met for an hour at RA President’s
Office and dine before proceeding to Yerevan’s Hrazdan Stadium to watch
a World Cup qualifying game between the two countries’ national teams.
The Turkish delegation will leave Yerevan as soon as the match ends.

Turkey’s Gul makes landmark Armenia visit
Reuters,
Guardian/UK
Saturday September 6 2008
By Paul de Bendern

YEREVAN, Sept 6 (Reuters) – Turkish President Abdullah Gul flew into
neighbouring Armenia on Saturday to attend a soccer match he said could
help end almost a century of mutual hostility and aid security in the
broader Caucasus region.
Attack helicopters escorted Gul’s jet on its arrival, and police and
demonstrators lined the traffic-free streets as his motorcade sped
through downtown Yerevan.
Gul is the first Turkish leader to visit Armenia. Ankara and Yerevan
have no diplomatic ties but a relationship haunted by the question of
whether ethnic Armenians killed by Ottoman Turks during World War One
were victims of systematic genocide.
Gul was invited to attend Saturday’s match at the Hrazdan stadium by
his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarksyan, who called for closer ties in
a region rocked last month by Russia’s war with Georgia. The brief
conflict raised fears for the security of energy supplies from the
Caspian Sea to western Europe.
Departing Ankara, Gul said he hoped the first match between the two
national sides would aid a "rapprochement".
"This match is important beyond being the first match between the
Turkish and Armenian national teams," Gul told a news conference. "It
has a significance that will present important opportunities."
"I hope today’s match will contribute to removing barriers to the
rapprochement of two peoples with a common history, and contribute to
regional peace and stability."
Turkey has never opened an embassy in Armenia and in 1993 Ankara closed
their land border in a show of solidarity with Azerbaijan, a
Turkic-speaking ally which was fighting Armenian-backed separatists
over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
But Russia’s decision last month to send its forces into Georgia, an
ex-Soviet state which borders both Armenia and Turkey, has convinced
many that it is time for Ankara and Yerevan to put their differences
aside.
SOCCER SYMBOLISM
"We saw a month ago how unresolved issues in the Caucasus threaten
peace in the region," Gul said. "Making this trip at such a time makes
it especially important."
Talking to reporters on the plane, Gul praised Sarksyan’s "brave"
decision to invite him to the game, and said he hoped it would create a
climate for future dialogue.
In Yerevan, streets around the stadium and the presidential office were
closed to traffic. The nationalist Dashnaktsutyun party said it would
protest against the visit, demanding Turkey recognise the World War One
killings as genocide.
Activists lining the streets held banners that read: "1915 – Never
Again", and "We Demand Justice".
Armenia says 1.5 million Armenians died at the hands of Ottoman Turks.
Armenians accuse Turkey of genocide, but Ankara says Turks and
Armenians alike were killed in partisan warfare.
If they can move beyond the soccer symbolism to re-establish normal
relations, it could have huge significance for Turkey’s role as a
regional power, for energy flows from the Caspian Sea and for Western
influence in the South Caucasus.
Landlocked Armenia, a Soviet republic until 1991, could also derive
enormous benefits from the opening of the frontier with its large
neighbour and the restoration of a key rail link.
Western-backed pipelines shipping oil and gas from the Caspian Sea to
Turkey’s Mediterranean coast bypass Armenia and bend north instead to
go through Georgia.
With that route looking vulnerable after the Russian intervention,
Armenia could be an attractive alternative route.
For a blog, click on:
h-armenian-soccer-diplomacy/

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Sept 5 2008

CSTO leaders to discuss military and political situation in region

05.09.2008, 02.59

MOSCOW, September 5 (Itar-Tass) – The presidents of the Collective
Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) ` Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan ` will gather in Moscow
for a meeting of the CSTO supreme political body ` the Collective
Security Council (CSC).

The summit will examine `questions of improving further the
Organisation’s operation in ensuring security in the CSTO zone of
responsibility’, Itar-Tass learnt from a staff member of the Russian
president’s office.

`The summit plans to discuss trends for the development of the
military and political situation, including in the light of the events
in South Ossetia as well as measures to head off emerging threats to
collective security and results of implementing the decisions of the
Minsk (20060 and Dushanbe (2007) session of the Council,’ the Kremlin
source noted.

He stated, `It is planned to sign an impressive package of
documents’. `A Declaration, containing appraisals and approaches to
the most urgent world and regional problems, including the situation
in the Caucasus, will be of pivotal importance,’ the source explained.

`It is planned to approve a Plan for collective actions by the CSTO
states to implement the UN Global Counterterrorist Strategy for
2008-2012 and a Programme for Joint Actions on setting up a system of
information security of the CSTO states in the context of the policy
for boosting functional possibilities of the Organisation to respond
to new challenges and threats,’ the source said.

According to the Kremlin source, `it is also planned to take a CSC
decision `on additional measures to boost anti-drug operations within
the CSTO”.

The presidents `will also discuss progress in fulfilling the Plan for
coalition military construction, adjust the 2001 decision of the CSTO
Council on the Collective Rapid Deployment Force for the Central Asian
Collective Security Region and will approve a Provision on order of
drafting, funding and implementing targeted interstate CSTO
programmes’.

Apart from the above, the sides `will examine some organisational,
financial and economic questions on the operation of the CSTO
Secretariat’.

The Kremlin source noted that the presidency at all authorised CSTO
bodies would go from Kyrgyzstan to Armenia at this session.

The Collective Security Treaty (CST) was signed in Tashkent on May 15,
1992. The heads of the Treaty’s member states decided on May 14, 2002
to transform the CST into a full-fledged international organisation `
Collective Security Treaty Organisation.

Sessions of the Collective Security Council are called once a
year. The last meeting was held on October 6, 2007 in Dushanbe where
the heads of state signed a package of documents on peacekeeping
activities of the Organisation. The same meeting approved a protocol
on a mechanism of rendering military and technical aid to CSTO member
states in case of an emerging threat of aggression or a committed act
of aggression.

ARMENPRESS

TURKISH FOOTBALL TEAM ARRIVES IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS: Turkish national football team
headed by chief coach Fatih Terim arrived today in Yerevan. After a
short rest the football players will leave for `Hrazdan’ stadium where
they will train. At 19.00 p.m. a joint press conference of chief
coaches of Armenian and Turkish teams will take place in the stadium.
Around 50 sports reporters arrived also from Turkey. Sports
reporter of Hurriyet A. Ismayil said that Armenia-Turkey football game
will be difficult and interesting. Turkish football players have
prepared for the game seriously.