Author: Andres-Papazian

Moj News Agency, Iran
May 4, 2011 Wednesday

Iran, Armenia Defense Officials Held Meeting

Mozaffariniya visited Armenia’s Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian on Tuesday.

The Armenian defense ministry issued a short statement on the meeting
without much elaboration on the details of the discussions.

A call from Ohanian to strengthen Iran-Armenia defense ties was echoed
last year when he visited Tehran and met with Iranian officials,
including Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi.

“Establishing a secure environment is possible only through the
development and reinvigoration of all-out ties among regional
countries, especially through direct defensive and security
relations,” Vahidi said during the meeting.

At the time, Ohanian highlighted the significance of bilateral
cooperation for promoting regional security, saying that the crises in
the region can only be solved through constructive bilateral and
multilateral cooperation, and stressed Armenia’s resolve to increase
mutual cooperation with Iran.

From: A. Papazian

The Prague Post, Czech Rep.
May 4, 2011

Freedom of press under attack in Turkey

Country has more journalists in prison than Iran, China
By Alison Bethel McKenzie and Steven M. Ellis

In a study released last month, the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) representative on freedom of the
media, Dunja MijatoviÄ , reported that 57 journalists are currently in
prison in Turkey, mostly on the basis of the country’s anti-terrorism
laws. With 11 more Turkish journalists also facing charges, the total
number could soon double the records of Iran and China, each of which
reportedly held 34 journalists in prison in December 2010. Indeed,
MijatoviÄ estimated that another 700-1,000 proceedings against
journalists remain ongoing in Turkey.

Such a situation is intolerable anywhere, but particularly in a
democracy seeking European Union membership that recognizes freedom of
expression as a fundamental right. Turkey’s behavior thus calls into
question not only its desire but also its ability to commit to the
values underlying the EU.

Journalists linked to Kurdish or Marxist organizations have regularly
been targeted under Turkey’s anti-terrorism laws, and the OSCE study
found they have faced some of the harshest punishments. One Kurdish
journalist was sentenced to 166 years in prison. Others currently face
– wait for it – 3,000-year sentences if convicted.

The relative lack of scrutiny of Turkey’s treatment of journalists by
many in the West has changed, however, owing to the recent waves of
arrests in the so-called “Ergenekon” case. Numerous military officers
and academics have been implicated in that case, which involves an
alleged plot by secular ultra-nationalists to overthrow the Turkish
government. The probe has now turned increasingly toward journalists.

One of those accused of participating in the plot is the daily
newspaper Milliyet’s investigative reporter Nedim Sener, whose work
includes a book about links between security forces and the 2007
murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. The International
Press Institute (IPI) named Sener a world press freedom hero in 2010.
Incarcerated following his arrest last month, he reportedly stands
accused of belonging to an armed terrorist organization seeking to
overthrow the government.

Another journalist under fire is Ahmet Sik, who already faced
prosecution for co-writing a book criticizing the government’s
crackdown on the Ergenekon plot. Sik was said to be working on a book
about the alleged influence of an Islamic group within Turkey’s police
force, which authorities last month ordered confiscated before it
could be printed.

A common thread in all of the cases targeting journalists is that the
alleged facts are shrouded in secrecy, and the authorities have
declined to release any evidence of crimes or criminal organizations.
Worse still, they have declined even to inform those brought before
courts – sometimes in secret – or their attorneys of the charges they
face.

Indeed, journalists caught in this Kafkaesque affair can expect to
spend years behind bars before being allowed to respond to accusations
against them. A climate of fear escalates with each raid and arrest.

Meanwhile, Turkish authorities affirm the country’s commitment to
press freedom, even as they impugn the motives of those who exercise
it. Given that so many journalists have been jailed, and that all of
them have been critical of the government, it is difficult to avoid
the conclusion that journalists are being targeted because of their
work.

Such concern has been voiced not only by press-freedom groups such as
IPI and journalists, like the Freedom for Journalists Platform (an
umbrella group representing Turkish local and national media
organizations), but also by respected international institutions. The
United States’ Mission to the OSCE and the European Commission have
joined MijatoviÄ in calling on Turkey’s authorities to stop their
intimidation of the media immediately, and to uphold basic OSCE media
freedom commitments. The United Nations Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights has called on Turkey to guarantee
freedom of opinion and expression.
Even Turkey’s president, Abdullah GÃ l, recently called for
“prosecutors and courts to be more diligent in pursuing their
responsibilities, and to act in a way that does not harm the honor and
rights of the people.”

Turkey plays a pivotal, bridge-building role between East and West,
and the country has been praised for demonstrating that democracy can
co-exist with Islam. But the arrests of so many journalists are
eroding this image.

The right of journalists to cover sensitive topics, including national
security, is fundamental. Those who do not engage in criminal activity
should not face arrest, imprisonment or any other form of harassment
or intimidation for doing their job. Those accused of criminal
activity must be given due process and a fair trial. Evidence must be
provided, and the accused must be presented with the charges they face
and the opportunity to defend themselves.

Far from being defamatory subversives, journalists who investigate and
criticize their government’s actions demonstrate true patriotism,
because no democracy can survive without the open and independent
assessment of public policies that journalists provide. If Turkey, a
major regional power with an ancient cultural heritage, truly wishes
to be welcomed into Europe, to take its rightful place on the world
stage, and, indeed, to remain a democracy, its leaders must not hold
freedom of the press in contempt.

– Alison Bethel McKenzie is director of the International Press
Institute (IPI). Steven M. Ellis is IPI Press Freedom Adviser.
Copyright 2011 Project Syndicate

From: A. Papazian

Satellite News
Vol. 34 No. 18
May 4, 2011 Wednesday

U.S. Ex-Im Bank, Obama Come Under Fire for Azerbaijan Satellite Financing Deal

By Jeffrey Hill

[Satellite News 04-28-11] The U.S. Export-Import Bank has voted to
approve BNP Parabis’ application to finance Azerbaijan’s Ministry of
Communications and Information Technologies purchase of the
Azerspace/Africasat- 1A satellite from Orbital Sciences, the U.S.
Ex-Im Bank announced April 27.

During a period of 26 months, Orbital Sciences will fit the satellite
with 36 Ku- and C-band transponders to deliver communications services
for Azerbaijan as well as Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East and
Africa. The Ex-Im loan is being guaranteed by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of
Finance.

The decision to approve the financing deal came under fire from the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and members of U.S.
Congress due to the fact that, just weeks ago, the Azerbaijan military
threatened to shoot down a civilian airliner. In a statement, ANCA
blasted both the U.S. Ex-Im Bank and the Obama Administration for
authorizing financial support for what it believes will strengthen
Azerbaijan’s military capabilities to initiate threats and acts of
aggression against both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

“We are troubled that the Export-Import Bank chose to move forward
with this ill-advised deal,” ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian
said in the statement. “The Obama Administration’s business-as-usual
approach undermines America’s long-term interests in stability in this
region. We should not, in any way, use American resources to reward
warmongering or add to the capabilities of a dictator who is openly
threatening to use every asset at his disposal to renew his country’s
aggression.”

Since February, ANCA has issued a series of statements and held
meetings with senior officials of the Ex-Im Bank and the U.S. State
Department to voice its opposition to the deal. Work on Azerbaijan’s
first satellite began in May 2010, when the nation’s Ministry of
Communications and Information Technologies selected Orbital Sciences
to build the spacecraft and serve as prime contractor.

All major subcontract partners for Azerspace/Africasat-1a are in
place. Orbital Sciences selected Spanish space development company GMV
to provide the satellite’s ground system in December. Other
Azerspace/Africasat-1 contracts include a long-term lease agreement
with Measat for use of a Malaysian orbital slot to support the new
satellite and a services deal with Arianespace to launch the
communications satellite on an Ariane 5 rocket.

The Azerbaijan government has long asserted that it would use the
satellite to start developing its space industry. “The Ministry of
Communications and Information Technologies and Orbital plan to
establish long and fruitful connections that will strengthen
Azerbaijan specialists’ technical abilities,” Azerbaijan Ambassador to
the United States Donald Lu said in a statement issued in December.

ANCA said that one of its main concerns is that the satellite deal
lacks transparency. “The Bank’s written assurance to us, in the form
of a letter from its President Fred P. Hochberg, that the satellite
‘lacks military capabilities’ and that it has taken ‘appropriate
safeguards’ to keep this satellite out of the hands of ‘military
entities,’ falls short of the level of transparency that should be
required of a highly sensitive deal of this nature.

We continue to call upon the [Obama] Administration to fully disclose
this contract, and to publicly reveal the terms of any and all
obligations entered into by either the U.S. or Azerbaijani governments
regarding this transaction,” said Hamparian.

From: A. Papazian

States News Service
May 4, 2011 Wednesday

SOUTH CAUCASUS MUST DO MORE TO FIGHT CORRUPTION:

NEW REPORTS SHOW ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN AND GEORGIA NEED GREATER
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORTS

BERLIN

The following information was released by Transparency International:

Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia have made little progress in the past
year adopting or implementing anti-corruption measures, according to
the latest assessment reports released today by Transparency
International, which calls on the governments of these countries to
introduce greater transparency and accountability in all areas of
government.

The reports, which were compiled by TI chapters in each country, focus
on reforms in the judiciary and in the public sector and they assess
whether each country is complying with international anti-corruption
conventions and implementing recommendations made by the Group of
States against Corruption (GRECO), the Council of Europe body that
monitors anti-corruption efforts.

Now in their second edition, the TI reports show that there has been
some improvement in Georgia with the introduction of an electronic
procurement system but neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan has successfully
implemented anti-corruption reforms. However, in Azerbaijan, which has
seen significant street protests, in early 2011 there was a new wave
of legislation.

“These new reports show that not enough is being done. Countries in
the region should move quickly to strengthen anti-corruption policies
and good governance. They should take note that citizens are no longer
willing to be passive spectators; they are increasingly showing that
they are tired of mismanagement and corruption,” said Jana
Mittermaier, Head of TI’s Liaison Office to the European Union.

Each European Neighbourhood Policy: monitoring anti-corruption report
evaluates whether the countries are delivering on commitments made in
their 2006 Action Plans signed as part of the European Union’s
European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The policy is designed to
strengthen a shared commitment to common values, including good
governance and sustainable practices guaranteeing the rule of law,
between the European Union and its neighbouring countries by land and
sea.

The TI reports are issued ahead of the European Commission’s Action
Plan annual reviews for the three countries, slated for 10 May, as
well as a long-awaited statement about the status of the ENP Review.
They offer a solid, indicator-based framework for benchmarking
progress in the ENP area related to anti-corruption policies and
practices. TI’s approach, which is more detailed and critical than the
Commission’s own review mechanism, highlights the importance of
independent input in the long-term move towards greater transparency
and accountability in government.

Key findings and recommendations of the reports include:

Armenia : The report notes only little change in Armenia throughout
2010, particularly in the areas concerning judicial reform and civil
service administration, which are seen to lack independence and
transparency and in the case of the civil service administration is
highly politicised. Some progress has been made regarding the
implementation of some of GRECO recommendations, in particular, the
adoption of guidelines for the detection of corruption offences, the
abolition of parliamentary immunity and a way to handle complaints
about breaches of ethical rules within the public administration.
However, in all three areas implementation remains the main challenge.
On a positive note a Law on Procurement entered into effect on January
1, 2011.

Azerbaijan : The justice sector suffers from weak enforcement, lack of
transparency and limited independence as the executive branch exerts
strong control over judicial appointments. The civil service has made
some progress regarding recruitment of young professionals and has
increased the ethics and integrity training but lack of managerial
skills continues to weaken the public sector. The government
introduced a new financial intelligence unit, a requirement of GRECO,
and in early 2011 it introduced a series of anti-bribery laws in the
penal code aimed at quelling dissent and regaining citizen trust.

Georgia : Insufficient independence of the judiciary and the civil
service is a key factor weakening Georgia’s good governance potential.
Especially in the civil service, high politicisation remains a major
stumbling block, although some progress in technical areas looks
promising, such as the recent adoption of an electronic procurement
system. The report recommends that for Georgia to continue making
progress in its fight against corruption it must improve transparency
and impartiality in both its laws and the enforcement of those laws.

###

Transparency International is the global civil society organisation
leading the fight against corruption.

Note to editors: The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) was developed
in 2004 and now covers 16 countries that surround the EU, 12 of which
have Action Plans in place. The current review of the ENP is expected
to introduce performance-based benchmarking criteria. (Russia is not
part of the ENP; it has a strategic partnership with the EU).

The 2009 assessment reports on Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia
released in May 2010 can be accessed here. Interviews can be arranged
in Armenian, Azerbaijani, English, Georgian, German and Russian.

From: A. Papazian

Interfax, Russia
May 4 2011

Armenia open to compromise over Karabakh – President Sargsian

YEREVAN. May 4

Azerbaijan is employing tactics to protract the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said Armenian President Serzh Sargsian.

“Azerbaijan has chosen as its strategy the policy of protracting the
conflict resolution and, essentially, is waiting for the right moment
to launch a new military escapade,” Sargsian told a press conference
held jointly with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite in Yerevan
on Wednesday.

Azerbaijan continues to escalate the situation by making “statements
that match no civilized criteria,” Sargsian said.

He also welcomed efforts by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and
the Russian president aimed at resolving the Karabakh conflict.

“We are ready and consider it necessary to search for compromises.
However, the resolution requires the same desire on the part of
Azerbaijan,” Sargsian said.

Grybauskaite said that no country will support a military resolution
of the Karabakh conflict.

kk eb

From: A. Papazian

Interfax, Russia
May 4 2011

Armenia wants normalization of relations with Turkey without
preconditions – President Sargsyan

YEREVAN. May 4

Armenia wants normalization of its relations with Turkey without
preconditions, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said at a joint press
conference with Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey in Bern on
Tuesday.

“Our desire is to establish relations with Turkey without
preconditions. However, high-ranking Turkish officials are
unfortunately doing all they can so that Armenia loses this desire.
Instead of making practical steps toward ratifying the
Armenian-Turkish protocols that have been signed, Turkey is continuing
its nearsighted policy aimed at splitting Armenia and the Armenian
diaspora,” Yerevan-based media cited Sargsyan as saying.

The longer Turkey continues these efforts, the lower Armenia’s
confidence in the normalization process will be, he said.

“I am perplexed to see that Turkey does not realize the fact that the
Armenian diaspora, which came into being as a result of the genocide,
is an inseparable part of Armenia,” Sargsyan said.

The recognition of the Armenian genocide by any country is not an
obstacle to the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, he said.

“The recognition of the Armenian genocide by Switzerland did not
prevent this country from playing a mediating role in normalizing
relations between Armenia and Turkey. This example of Switzerland
should be instructive for other countries as well,” Sargsyan said.

The Armenian president is visiting Switzerland to attend the 25th
international book and press fair in Geneva.

va eb

From: A. Papazian

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
May 5 2011

The `freakish’ nature of the statue

by ETYEN MAHÃ?UPYAN

Turkey’s conservative religious people usually can’t fight the
irresistible attraction of symbolism when looking at the West. When
assessing the West, they try to locate the points that separate it
from `us’ and then turn those distinctions into symbols.

Almost always, these distinctions are made over qualities that we
believe `we’ posses and the West does not (at least not yet). It is
for this reason that the dominant theme in the religious segment of
society’s outlook on the West is `morals.’ On the other hand it is
difficult to understand thoroughly what exactly morals means in the
West. Understanding the other side helps you to be more understanding
of it and it minimizes the differences between you two. But as a
result of this, you don’t deliver the political message that you
initially set out to make. For this reason, conservative religious
people are not really interested in understanding the West. They want
the cultural difference between themselves and the other side to be
clearly visible so that they can use it for political purposes.

These types of observations about Turks have created the impression
and expectation that Westerners can look at developments more
objectively than we can. However, the recent debate in European
countries regarding Turkey shows that this impression is not correct
at all. That is because this debate does not rely on the facts but on
the symbolization of differences that people believe exist between the
West and Turkey. In short, the West is starting to act more Eastern.
Modernity had implied the Westernization of the East. But to the
contrary, a culture of instrumentalizing and making the other
superficial has started to emerge.

There are several examples of this. But the most enlightening one is
the debate about the `freak’ statue. As is known, sculptor Mehmet
Aksoy had started building a statue in Kars a few years ago called the
`Monument to Humanity’ that was meant to symbolize the friendship
between Turkey and Armenia or the friendship between Turks and
Armenians in line with the decision of the municipal council. But
because the place where the statue was being built was an
archeological site, the local Monuments Council asked the sculptor to
stop building the statue. After the municipal elections, the new
municipal administration showed opposition to the statue as well and
started discussing its demolition. When speaking about the issue Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an said the statue was a `freak’ and the
media started covering several topics, from the Justice and
Development Party’s (AK Party) understanding of aesthetics to its
anti-democratic character.

The issue is very popular in Europe because this very symbolic
situation was used to inflame political opinion against the AK Party.
One of the arguments is that a democratically made decision is being
disregarded. OK, but isn’t the decision of the new municipal council
as equally democratic as the former one? But more importantly can a
local decision be made a topic that concerns everyone in Turkey and
that is politically binding for everyone? Can such a decision be
called democratic? It’s important to understand that this monument is
related to the Armenian issue, and whether we like it or not there is
a central policy regarding the issue. Moreover, almost everyone in
Turkey has a positive or negative feeling about this issue. It is for
this reason that the erection of such a statue requires a debate that
involves everyone in society. But the decision to build the statue in
Kars was an anti-democratic decision that did not take this need into
consideration.

The second topic is the name of the statue. Calling a statue a
monument to `humanity’ is indicative of an arrogant and inconsiderate
attitude. Now that the statue is going to be demolished, certain
people may find pleasure in saying, `The AK Party is destroying the
monument to humanity,’ but a more democratic process is required to
give that name to the statue. In short, aside from the statue itself,
the way in which it was built and the meanings that have been ascribed
to it are really what makes it a `freak.’

These sentences may surprise those in Armenia. But if you can resist
the symbolic attraction of the `freak’ debate, then the situation can
be seen clearly: It is inappropriate to try to `fix’ the Armenian
issue or to earn points on it by building a statue. Turkey does not
deserve this kind of a monument just yet because the issue has not
been debated or digested enough, nor has Turkey faced its past where
this matter is concerned.

Someone who works for a foreign radio station asked me about whether
the demolition of the statue would cause relations between Turkey and
Armenia to deteriorate. In return I asked him: Had the construction of
the statue made relations between Turkey and Armenia better?

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
May 5 2011

Iran may join anti-Armenian project of Ankara and Baku

May 05, 2011 | 19:33

Opening of new Kars-Igdir-Nakhchivan railway, continuation of
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project will enable to further strengthen relations
between Turkey and Azerbaijan.

The railway estimated at $750 million will connect Nakhchivan with
Azerbaijan and Turkey, 1news.az reported referring to Turkish media.
Besides, Iran may join the project in the future.

The railway constructed bypassing Armenia is aimed at its isolation.

From: A. Papazian

news.am, Armenia
May 5 2011

Former Armenian president’s family against newspaper

May 05, 2011 | 18:10

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s court had to make judgment on Thursday regarding
the lawsuit filed by son and wife of former Armenia’s President Robert
Kocharyan against Zhamanak newspaper.

The judge Araik Melkumyan said he will review the case. The next court
hearing is scheduled for May 20. Neither plaintiffs nor defendants
were present at today’s hearing.

As Armenian News – NEWS.am reported earlier, family of former Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan has filed a lawsuit against the founder of
Zhamanak newspaper LLC `Skizb Media Kentron’ accusing the newspaper of
staining their good name.

Kocharyan’s family demands compensation totaling AMD 6 million ($16,120).

From: A. Papazian

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
May 5 2011

Case against plot to kill Patriarch Bartholomew merged with Ergenekon

05 May 2011, Thursday / MUSTAFA TURAN, Ä°STANBUL

A case filed on a plot to assassinate the Ä°stanbul-based leader of the
world’s Orthodox Christians has been merged with the ongoing case into
Ergenekon, a suspected criminal network charged with plotting to
overthrow the Turkish government.

The merger decision came on Thursday during a hearing of the trial
into the plot to kill Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew. The trial
is being heard at the Ä°stanbul 9th High Criminal Court. The only
suspect in the case, İsmet Reçber, who was released last December
pending trial, was not in attendance. During the hearing prosecutor
Selim Berna Atay requested the merger of the case with Ergenekon,
which is being heard at the Ä°stanbul 13th High Criminal Court, on the
grounds that there are legal and evidentiary links between the two
cases.

The court accepted the request and the two cases have been merged.
Reçber, a carpenter, was facing up to 15 years in prison. The man was
arrested after an anonymous letter was sent to authorities claiming
that Ergenekon suspect Gürbüz �apan had planned the assassination and
chose Reçber to carry out the killings. The indictment in the case
notes that through physical and technical investigations police found
that Reçber travelled to İstanbul from the eastern province of Kars.

The plot to kill Bartholomew is thought to be part of the Cage
Operation Action Plan, a subversive plot allegedly devised by military
officers that sought to undermine the government through the
assassination of non-Muslims and other acts of terror. The Cage plan
was allegedly drawn up at the order of Ergenekon. Cage plan documents
specifically call the killings of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant
Dink, Catholic priest Father Andrea Santoro and three Christians in
Malatya an `operation.’

An anti-democratic group within the Naval Forces Command behind the
Cage plan had intended to foment chaos in society with those killings,
but complained that the plan had failed when large segments of society
protested the killings in mass demonstrations.

The plan was published in the Taraf daily on Nov. 19, 2009. According
to this plan, non-Muslims would be assassinated, the blame would be
placed on the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) supporters, and
external pressures on the AK Party would be augmented by showing that
Turkey had become an intolerant country drifting to Shariah under the
AK Party.

During an interview in 2009, Bartholomew said that `dark forces
planned to use minorities to overthrow the government’, as revealed in
the investigation into Ergenekon.

Based in Ä°stanbul, the spiritual leader of the world’s approximately
300 million Orthodox Christians was referring to the revelations of
the Cage plan. `When the Cage plan was revealed, we thought the raid
could be part of that plan,’ he said. `At the time we thought that
they were just trying to scare us.’ Patriarch Bartholomew said he is
grateful to the security forces, which uncovered the `dark plans.’ `It
is a very satisfactory development that the police and prosecutors
have been revealing those dark plans so those responsible can be
captured and tried.’

Bartholomew’s name is also on the Sledgehammer coup plot’s `to be
assassinated’ list. The plot, which was allegedly prepared by a
pro-junta group nested within the armed forces, was revealed by Taraf
in early 2010. Non-Muslims such as Armenian Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan
and former Vatican representative George Marovic were also on the
Sledgehammer death list.

Sledgehammer is a suspected coup plot devised in 2003 at a military
gathering. According to the plan, the military was to systematically
foment chaos in society through violent acts, among which were planned
bomb attacks on the Fatih and Beyazıt mosques in İstanbul. The plot
allegedly sought to undermine the government and lay the groundwork
for a military takeover.

One of the plans, titled Tırpan (Scythe), was on killing academics who
opposed the planned coup. Prominent Armenians would be murdered under
the Orak (Grass Hook) plan, right-wing figures under the Yumruk (Fist)
plan, left-wing figures under the Kürek (Spade) plan, liberals under
the Testere (Saw) plan, religious figures under the Döküm (Breakdown)
plan, civil society representatives under the Urgan (Rope) plan and
minority leaders would be killed under the Sakal (Beard) plan.

From: A. Papazian