Author: Andres-Papazian

ANOTHER OBSTACLE PREVENTS PROGRESS IN HRANT DINK CASE

BIAnet.org

Jan 26 2011
Turkey

The Trabzon Chief Prosecution revoked the decision of the Rize High
Criminal Court to launch an investigation about Trabzon Chief of Police
ReÅ~_at Altay initiated to determine who was actually responsible
for the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink.

Trabzon – Rize – BÄ°A News Center26 January 2011, Wednesday In the
scope of the Hrant Dink trial in Trabzon, the Public Chief Prosecution
of Trabzon reversed the decision of the Rize High Criminal Court
(cities on the eastern Black Sea coast) to launch a new investigation
about ReÅ~_at Altay, the then Provincial Chief of the Trabzon Police.

The court in Rize decided to investigate Altay because of alleged
negligence prior to the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Dink
in 2007. The Trabzon court quashed the decision though because of
“procedural” deficiencies.

The Chief Prosecution announced to have accepted the appeal related
to the decision against a prosecution. However, according to the law,
the court would have to follow certain procedures in order to launch
an investigation at the Rize High Criminal Court or another court as
long as the decision for lack of jurisdiction has not been revoked,
it was declared.

A trial against the suspects at the Rize court can only be opened if
the Rize High Criminal Court fully annulled the decision for lack
of jurisdiction. Should the court insist on the decision though,
the ongoing discrepancies would have to be resolved otherwise.

Difficulties for launch of investigation The Trabzon Public
Chief Prosecution had launched an investigation about the Trabzon
Provincial Chief of Police in relation to the murder of journalist
Dink, General Publications Director of the Armenian Agos newspaper at
the time. As a result of the investigation, the Trabzon court decided
to drop procedures.

The joint attorneys of the Dink family appealed against the decision
at the Rize High Criminal Court. However, the appeal was dismissed
and the decision was finalized.

Besides, a trial was opened against officials of the Trabzon
Gendarmerie Command at the Trabzon 2nd Magistrate Criminal Court and
another case was launched against Colonel Ali Oz, the then Provincial
Gendarmerie Commander, on charges of neglect of duty.

The Dink family lawyers sent another petition to the Rize High
Criminal Court since that was the closest high criminal court to
Trabzon. In the petition, the lawyers alleged that the facts had not
been sufficiently investigated for the decision of the Trabzon Public
Prosecution to drop procedures against the officials of the Trabzon
Police Directorate and the Provincial Gendarmerie Command.

The petition demanded to revoke the decision against the prosecution.

Thereupon, the Trabzon Public Prosecutor announced that there were
no new facts or evidence to be added. Since the investigation on the
same matter would not be repeated, it was decided that there was no
reason for a prosecution.

Rize court requested investigation Upon the latest appeal by the
Dink family lawyers filed to the Rize High Criminal Court against
the decision of lack of jurisdiction, it was decreed that facts and
evidence might exist that would justify the opening of a public case.

In the decision it was decreed to apply for the detailed statements of
ReÅ~_at Altay and Levent Yarımel, who was mentioned in the statement
of witness Emin Arslan, and for the detailed statement of Arslan that
was included in the appeal and the attachments.

In the meantime, the Parliamentarian Commission on Human Rights had
communicated the commission’s disagreement with the decision of the
Trabzon Prosecutor to drop procedures. It was announced that the
investigation would have to be broadened and a decision was to be
given according to the results to be obtained. It was decided to
accept the appeal against the decision to drop procedures made by
the Trabzon Public Prosecution. (BO/EO)

From: A. Papazian

TURKISH PM SAYS THEY DID ALL REQUIRED TO SOLVE HRANT DINK’S CASE

news.am
Jan 26 2011
Armenia

Journalist of Turkey-based Bugun newspaper Adem Yavuz Arslan gave
Turkish PM his book meeting him at Ankara airport.

Arslan’s “There’s this Armenian: The Codes of the Dink Operation”
sheds light on murder of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink who
was killed in Istanbul by Turkish ultranationalist.

“I held a full investigation into a case. My book features events
which happened in Ankara, Istanbul, Trabzon. I showed what happened
before the crime, how Turkey was getting ready for the murder,”
journalist told Premier Recep Tayiip Erdogan.

In his turn Turkish PM stressed that people who committed the crime
are known, but it is unclear who stands behind it, Turkish Hurriyet
newspaper writes.

Speaking of the Dink’s murder, journalist noted this case, as well
as other crimes against Christians, were committed because of certain
psychological atmosphere in the country.

Erdogan replied stressing murderer was arrested within 36 hours. “Case
belongs to the court. The trial continues for 4 years. The assassin
has recently been transferred to juvenile court. We did all that was
required of us. The rest is court’s business,” Erdogan concluded.

From: A. Papazian

KARABAKH DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS AZERBAIJAN SPREADS MISINFORMATION

news.am
Jan 26 2011
Armenia

Defense Ministry of Nagorno-Karabakh dismissed allegations on Wednesday
that Azerbaijani officer was killed in a ceasefire violation.

“Forward units of Karabakh defense army respect the ceasefire regime.

Azerbaijan is just spreading regular misinformation,” Senor Hasratyan,
spokesperson for the ministry, told Armenian News-NEWS.am. According
to him, Azerbaijani side itself is violating ceasefire regime.

“Fourteen cases of ceasefire violation were registered yesterday and
during night,” he added.

Press service of Azerbaijani defense ministry said officer Jamin
Mamedov was killed yesterday in a ceasefire violation by the Armenian
side. The incident allegedly occurred in Aghdam region.

From: A. Papazian

GUL SAYS GENOCIDE WAS NOT PART OF TURKEY’S HISTORY

WorldBulletin.net
Jan 26 2011
Turkey

Gul said, “if we concentrate on the history, no one in Europe cannot
look at each other’s face.”

Wednesday, 26 January 2011 11:44 Turkish President Abdullah Gul said
that genocide had never been a part of Turkey’s history, adding,
“if we concentrate on the history, no one in Europe cannot look at
each other’s face. What we have to do is to create a better future
together.”

President Gul addressed the plenary session of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of PACE after Turkey has taken over
chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers. He also replied questions
of members of the PACE.

“Turkey has made a series of reforms to raise democratic and legal
standards. There are still many things to do. Turkey is aware of its
deficiencies and continue making reforms with a great determination,”
he said.

President Gul said that general election would take place in Turkey
this summer, adding that preparation of a new constitution would be
high on the country’s agenda after the election.

Asked about restoration of places of worship belonged to the minorities
in Turkey, President Gul said, “we are obliged to respect people’s
religious beliefs. Freedom of religion is one of the most important
parts of the fundamentals rights and freedoms. Anyone should be able
to perform their religious duties freely in Turkey.

Restoration of old mosques and churches have already begun with the
support of the government. For instance, the historical Armenian
church in eastern Turkey has been restored.”

Replying to a question about “illegal” migration, President Gul said,
“Turkey has taken all necessary measures and set up cooperation ties
with international organizations to prevent illegal migration on its
territories. I believe that we need to further develop cooperation
in combat against illegal migration instead of accusing each other.”

Referring to Turkey-Israel relations, President Gul said, “Turkey’s
role as a mediator in the Middle East aims at ensuring stability,
tranquillity and cooperation in the region. Our country has rooted
relations with all countries in a vast geography. As a result, we have
the capacity to contribute to solution of problems in our region. Both
Israeli government and Palestinians requested our assistance in
the past. Latest situation in Turkey-Israel relations emerged as a
preference of Israel. As for the ongoing Gazan blockade, the Council
of Europe, the United Nations and the other human rights organizations
said that such a collective punishment was not legal. As you know,
an aid flotilla carrying people from 47 countries was subject to
an attack by Israeli forces in the international waters. It is not
Turkey, but Israel which is responsible for the recent situation in
Turkey-Israel relations.”

Asked about the Armenian allegations on the incidents of 1915,
President Gul said, “genocide has never been a part of our history. We
called on Armenia to establish a joint commission to carry out a
detailed research. We are also ready to open our military and civil
archives. Saddening things happened during the World War 1. The
Ottoman Empire had to relocate some of its citizens after they uprise
against the state. Genocide means intentional killing of people from a
certain faith or race. In those days, Armenian citizens were acting as
ambassadors, members of the higher courts in the Ottoman Empire. All
Armenian churches were open then. It is unacceptable to define those
bitter events as genocide. If we concentrate on the history, no one
in Europe cannot look at each other’s face. What we have to do is to
create a better future together.”

“Turkey has made a significant progress in its zero-problem policy for
the neighboring countries. Turkey has the political will to normalize
its relations with Armenia. But, 20 percent of Azerbaijiani territory
has been under occupation of Armenia. Armenia has to withdraw from
Azerbaijani territory,” he said.

President Gul also complained about the European Union’s visa
proceedings for Turkish citizens. “The Union should review and change
its visa policy,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

G. MINASYAN: “THOUGH HAVING MINIMAL CHANCES, WAR PROBABILITY ISN’T ZERO”

Panorama
Jan 26 2011
Armenia

“The more we are ready to the war, the few chances we have to start
it,” Republican deputy Gagik Minasyan said in a news conference. He
said Armenia is doing steps connected with the implementation of our
domestic resources and international duties to make the ceasefire
treaty final act of peace.

The deputy said that particularly the recent agreements with strategic
partners in the frames of CSTO make Armenia to feel confident towards
the future: “But we shouldn’t say that war is impossible, yet it can
start at any moment, though having minimal chances it may rise,” G.

Minasyan said.

Referring to the ceasefire regime violation cases, Republican deputy
said that Armenian side must always be ready to give response to
the rival.

From: A. Papazian

RUSSIAN RECTOR URGES MEETING FOR AZERBAIJANI, RUSSIAN, ARMENIAN RECTORS

news.az
Jan 26 2011
Azerbaijan

Yefim Pivovar returned from Baku where he attended the opening of
the Russian information and cultural center.

On 25 January a group of Azerbaijani journalists receiving the second
higher education at the Moscow State Linguistic University on the state
line, held a meeting with rector of the Russian State Humanitarian,
professor, correspondent-member of the Russian Academy of Science,
head of the Society of Friendship with Azerbaijan Yefim Pivovar.

Yefim Pivovar returned from Baku where he attended the opening of
the Russian information and cultural center.

According to the rector of the Russian State Humanitarian University,
in Baku he also held a working meeting of the Russian-Azerbaijani
steering committee of the upcoming Baku Russian-Azerbaijani
humanitarian forum, which is to open in the Azerbaijani capital in
autumn of this year.

“Along with other things we also discussed possible series of events
with the head of the Society of Azerbaijani-Russian Friendship Maksud
Ibrahimbeyov. It was decided to date them to the anniversary of
Nicholay Baibakov, famous Azerbaijani, scientist, Soviet state figure,
who would turn 100 on March 6. He headed the Society of Friendship
with Azerbaijan in the last years of his life”, the rector said.

Pivovar also praised the level of bilateral relations of Azerbaijan
and Russia, calling them unprecedented in terms of CIS scales.

“The most important is that there are reserves for the further growth
and strengthening of ties between the two countries”, he added.

Speaking about the Azerbaijani diaspora in Russia, the rector noted
that this is the biggest national diaspora in Russia. He also said his
university has the Azerbaijani Language Training Center for students,
where not only language but also Azerbaijani economy, Caspian region,
culture and so on are taught.

Pivovar also spoke of the Karabakh conflict wishing his soonest
peaceful settlement.

“I would like to note that Russia is doing everything possible to make
this moment closer. In this issue we should not forget the refugees
who suffered from the conflict.

I decided to make necessary contribution to the dialogue of the
parties and offered to hold a meeting of the representatives of
the Society of Russian-Azerbaijani friendship with the Society of
Russian-Armenian friendship. I also offered to hold a meeting of
rectors of humanitarian universities of the three countries. We need
to search new formats of communication to attain positive results”.

From: A. Papazian

THREAT OF WAR ALWAYS HANGS OVER KARABAKH CONFLICT, FORMER MP SAYS

news.am
Jan 26 2011
Armenia

Karabakh peace process lacks progress. The mediators are simply
making every effort to maintain the process as its goes, former MP
of NKR National Assembly, chief editor of Analitikon monthly Gegham
Baghdasaryan told a press conference on Wednesday.

“It is not a mere chance that EU High Representative for the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby stressed the significance of maintaining the
ceasefire regime at his recent meeting with the Azeri leader in Baku,”
he said.

“I do not expect any critical changes in the negotiation process. The
efforts would be a step up for the parties to strengthen the ceasefire
as there is a serious concern that Azerbaijan will choose a war as
a solution to the conflict,” Baghdasaryan said.

According to him, the threat of war always hangs over the conflict,
but at the moment there is a small likelihood of large-scale military
actions.

“Neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan can resume hostilities, without
permission of external forces,” he noted.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am reported previously, on January 24, EU
High Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby stressed
the necessity of maintaining the ceasefire between the conflicting
parties at the meeting with Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev.

From: A. Papazian

AN OPEN DOOR IN TURKEY WITH NO ONE KNOCKING

Hurriyet
Jan 26 2011
Turkey

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry is open to all Turkish citizens to serve as
public employees, including minority groups, a high-ranking ministry
official says. Many members of minority groups, however, don’t apply
for it, the diplomat says. Minority representatives, on the other hand,
say there has been discrimination since the country’s establishment

No one can claim that there is prejudice against minorities in the
Foreign Ministry, says Deputy Undersecretary Naci Koru. DAILY NEWS
photo, Selahattin SONMEZ

The Foreign Ministry says its doors are open to Turkey’s recognized
minorities, but with zero representation in the ministry, community
leaders are decrying the situation and calling on the government to
prove itself by implementing a quota system.

“Everybody can take the exam and serve in the ministry as long
as he or she is a citizen of the Turkish Republic. There is no
discrimination against them,” Naci Koru, deputy undersecretary of the
Foreign Ministry, told the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review late
last week.

“But none of them applied for the last exams,” he said. “If only they
had applied.”

Asked if there were anyone from minority groups serving in the
ministry, Koru said there were none. “However, it does not mean there
will not be any civil servants from minorities in the future. The
doors are open to them. We don’t have any prejudices.”

In Turkey, only Armenians, Greek Orthodox and Jews are officially
recognized as minorities due to a designation that stems from the
1923 Lausanne Treaty.

No one can claim that there is prejudice against minorities in
the ministry, Koru said. “There could be claims if someone from a
minority group had made an application and couldn’t pass the exam,
but they have never taken it.”

No citizens from the official minorities have assumed critical
positions in the Turkish state in the past, although Leo Suren Halepli
became the first Turkish-Armenian to succeed in the state exams for the
Secretariat General of the European Union in 2009. Halepli, however,
has not assumed work with the secretariat because another applicant
opened a lawsuit related to the exam for an unrelated reason.

“There were many non-Muslims serving the state as ambassadors,
even as ministers, during Ottoman times. However, this attitude has
sharply changed since the formation of the Turkish Republic. This
discrimination has been so imprinted into our veins – nobody is tempted
to work in state institutions,” Rober KoptaÅ~_, chief editor of the
Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos, told Hurriyet Daily News & Economic
Review on Tuesday.

Turkish citizens of Armenian descent think that the doors of state
institutions are effectively closed to them, so they tended to enter
other professions, KoptaÅ~_ said.

“Many become academics because they don’t have a vision of being
a civil servant. An Armenian never thinks that he or she could be
a governor or an ambassador. First of all, their families don’t
direct them to become a public employee,” KoptaÅ~_ said, adding that
he would not study subjects to prepare for a civil service career
because governments can change their strategies.

“If the state is sincere about now opening its doors to us, it should
develop a different strategy,” he said, adding that the strategy
should include quotas for non-Muslims. “It is not enough to say our
doors are open, since there is a big lack of confidence in the state.

Nobody would entrust his career to an indefinite future.”

If the Foreign Ministry wanted to make use of the cultures and
languages of its non-Muslim citizens, then the ministry should
establish such quotas, KoptaÅ~_ said. If not, nobody will apply for
the exams, he added.

“There is no legal obstacle for minorities to be a civil servant.

Turkish citizens of Jewish descent are able to be professors in the
academic world. However, there has been a Turkification process and
Jews and Armenians were not able to assume critical positions in the
state,” Ivo Molinas, chief editor of Jewish daily Å~^alom, told the
Daily News.

There has been a psychological barrier for both the communities and
state – especially for organizations such as the Foreign Ministry or
the military, he said.

Ara Kocunyan, chief editor of the Armenian daily Jamanak, also said
quotas should be established to better represent minority groups
in Parliament, noting that some people from non-Muslim groups had
taken up positions in local administrations in the municipalities of
Å~^iÅ~_li and Bakırköy in Istanbul.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJAN “ALARMIST SHEPHERD”, EXPERT SAYS

news.am
Jan 25 2011
Armenia

When a shepherd too often gives an “alarm call,” villagers start
to disbelieve him, Alexander Iskandaryan, Director of the Caucasus
Institute, said, commenting on official Baku`s rowing militant
rhetoric.

“No one actually wants a war in Nagorno-Karabakh, as it does not meet
anyone`s interests,” Iskandaryan said. He pointed out large-scale
energy projects being developed in the region, and anyone is unlikely
to unleash hostilities.

Speaking of the OSCE Minsk Group`s role in the Nagorno-Karabakh
peace process, Iskandaryan pointed out that its task is supporting
the negotiation process and internationalizing the conflict by means
of France, Russia and the United States rather than resolving the
conflict itself or reconciling the conflicting parties. “The OSCE Minsk
Group is kind of channel between the conflicting parties. In any case,
its efforts have produced results, as the negotiations are going on,”
Iskandaryan said.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT GUL WARNS OF RISING RACISM, DISCRIMINATION IN EUROPE

Today’s Zaman
Jan 26 2011
Turkey

Turkish President Abdullah Gul spoke before deputies from the 47
nations represented at PACE on Tuesday as Turkey took over the
presidency of the European body.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul has warned about the growing pessimism
in Europe that he said was reshaping the continent’s political life on
the back of increasing manifestations of intolerance and discrimination
in many European societies.

“Let us not forget that popular support for explicit anti-Semitism
was only 5 percent in the late 1920s. With the snowball effect, this
poisonous minority paved the way for the Holocaust in the late 1930s.

History does repeat itself if we do not draw lessons from our past
mistakes,” he said to deputies from the 47 nations represented in
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

“Over the past few years, our member states have been affected by
weakening social ties. Radicalization and increasing gaps between
different religious, ethnic and cultural communities started to harm
the social fabric of our nations,” President Gul remarked, adding: “We
must retain confidence in the ability of our democratic institutions
to promote human rights, tolerance, dialogue and social cohesion. We
need to develop a democratic framework for living together.”

In an address delivered yesterday in Strasbourg during the winter
session of PACE, the largest and most important European watchdog
overseeing human rights, rule of law and democracy on the continent,
Gul said the Council of Europe has done and continues to do much to
promote peaceful coexistence and mutual respect between peoples of
different origin, culture and faith living in Europe. “The Council
of Europe has the duty to address and counter these new challenges,”
he added.

PACE President Mevlut CavuÅ~_oglu, a Turkish deputy from the district
of Alanya, introduced the Turkish president and said, “It is an
honor and a pleasure to welcome you in this chamber, particularly at
a moment when your country is chairing the Committee of Ministers of
the Council of Europe.” Praising Gul as one of the strongest supporters
and defenders of PACE and the values it stands for, CavuÅ~_oglu said,
“As a Turkish politician, you have invested a lot of effort into
promoting democratic reforms in Turkey.”

He went on to say progress on democratic reforms is clearly visible.

“The positive result of the recent referendum on constitutional
changes as well as the high turnout show how strongly the Turkish
people are attached to their democratic rights and freedoms and to a
future in Europe. I am sure that with your strong political support,
democratic reforms in Turkey will move ahead smoothly, to the benefit
of Turkish citizens,” the PACE president remarked.

President Gul cited racism and xenophobia as representing major causes
of concern in connection with the current economic crisis. “Roma
and travelers, Muslims or Jews, and, more generally, those who are
different, experience hostility and social exclusion in many of
our societies,” he said, criticizing governments’ tough lines on
immigration. “There is a rise in electoral support for political
parties that portray immigration as the main cause of insecurity,
unemployment, crime, poverty and social problems,” he warned, calling
them “pathologies” that are weakening Europe and decimating its soft
power in the world. “We should work hard to defeat these problems
to reassert Europe on the global scene,” the Turkish president told
the deputies.

Recalling terror attacks in New York, Madrid, Ä°stanbul and London,
Gul argued that European Muslims have perhaps been more affected than
others by these trends. He said Muslims in Europe are very diverse
not only in their geographical origins and cultural heritage, but
also in their ways of interpreting and practicing their faith. “It is
a misperception to view these diverse communities as a unitary one
defined by religion. This is fundamentally at odds with ‘European
values’,” he noted.

President Gul emphasized that the perpetrators of these crimes have
nothing to do with Islam. “One should also bear in mind that those
terrorist organizations are attacking many Muslim targets, too. They
do not have achievable political objectives, but rather pursue their
archaic and illicit utopian ideas,” he stated. The Turkish president
made the point that Islam, like all other religions, teaches tolerance
and respect for human beings of all faiths. “It is the abuse of faith
for political purposes that leads to intolerance and exclusion,”
he added.

Gul also responded to questions raised by deputies from the 47
nations in PACE. He said there is a “silent revolution” going on
in Turkey in terms of further democratization, admitting, however,
that there are still shortcomings. “We have confidence in ourselves
in overcoming those shortcomings,” he added. He dismissed a question
raised by one deputy regarding lowering the 10 percent threshold in
national elections, saying it is simply not possible to amend election
laws in an election year. “Everyone agrees in Turkey, including the
government and the opposition, that we need a new constitution. The
threshold could be taken in that context after the elections,” he said,
adding that there is no barrier for independent candidates.

Responding to a question on the restoration of churches in Turkey, Gul
said the Turkish state does not make a distinction between churches,
synagogues or mosques, and they are trying to restore all historic
buildings. He said he believes everyone should be able to freely
practice their own religion, including atheists. “We are removing
all obstacles before that. Some of these problems may be relevant
for the Muslim majority as well,” he pointed out.

The Turkish president gave assurances that his country is doing
everything it can to prevent illegal migration to Europe. He warned,
however, that Turkey cannot be a place where all illegal immigrants
are dumped and left to be taken care of by without any help from
other countries. “We need close cooperation,” he said. When a German
deputy raised the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) trial issue, Gul
said it is up to the independent court to determine whether terror or
violence is involved. He also informed deputies that defense given
in a mother tongue other than Turkish in the courts is allowed and
currently in practice.

As for minorities, Gul said that if any group is not happy with the
decision of the domestic courts, they can always take a case to the
European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). He squarely placed the blame
for deteriorating relations with Israel on the Jewish state, saying
Turkey did all it could to help Israel to reconcile its differences
with its neighbors in the past. “The collective punishment of the
Gazan people is not acceptable as confirmed by international bodies.

Many international human rights organizations have tried to help the
Gazans. Turkey did that, too. People from 47 nations participated
in that aid convoy, but Israel attacked them in open waters,”
he explained.

Gul also dismissed the genocide question raised by Armenian deputy
Naira Zohrabyan, saying the Turkish government does not believe
the term can be applied to the incidents during World War I. He
called for the establishment a historical commission to investigate
World War I killings during which Armenians, Turks and many others
perished and asked for all archives to be opened up. Recalling that
he was the first Turkish president to visit Armenia, Gul said Turkey
wants to normalize relations with its neighbor, but the occupation of
Azerbaijani lands must cease. “As long as there are problems in this
area, there will be a wall between Europe and Asia. If we solve these,
the Caucasus would be a great gateway for prosperity,” he noted.

From: A. Papazian