Author: Antonian Lara

AZG Armenian Daily #025, 10/02/2007

Probable Consequences of Political Agiotage

A LETTER BY FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA VARDAN OSKANIAN IN CONNECTION WITH
THE AGIOTAGE ABOUT THE KARS-AKHALKALAK-TBILISI-BAKU RAILROAD

Yesterday "Azg" received the following message of Vardan Oskanian, the
Foreign Minister of Armenia.

"I’ve been following our press for the last two days, and I’d like to
respond to those expressions which have appeared regarding my statement that
the Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku railroad can’t result in Armenia’s
isolation and can’t cause additional injury to Armenia’s economy.

I have great respect toward the members of our press corps and I know that
they are neither inattentive nor naïve, and that they cannot not see the
most obvious realities. Nevertheless, those defeatist attitudes which
appeared in our press and in various public statements, truly surprised me.

I understand that there are `objective’ reasons for these expressions. A
difficult election campaign awaits us, and each grouping is attempting to
acquire a piece of the pie, by exploiting various issues at all appropriate
and inappropriate opportunities, often, in my opinion, coming up against our
own national interests. In this context, I understand the motivation, but I
can’t justify it. Because we’re talking about elections, efforts are made to
plant such attitudes in the broadest possible electoral field. This is what
I think is dangerous and this is exactly what our adversaries desire.

In criticizing my assessment that even when this rail line becomes
operational, Armenia will not face any new problems, my critics do not
present any evidence. Let’s evaluate the situation together. What additional
problems could the Kars-Akhalkalak line create?

The reality is that if we take into consideration the economic conditions
which exist today and which have existed for the last 15 years, then it’s
obvious that this new railroad can’t be additionally damaging to Armenia’s
economy. If the existing Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi rail line were operating, and
this new railroad came to supplant it, or to run in parallel to it, then
yes, we could say that this new railroad would have adverse affects on
Armenia’s economy. However, that’s clearly not the case.

This criticism would also have been acceptable if the Armenian-Turkish
border were closed because of Armenia, or the Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi railroad
did not work, because of Armenia, or if Armenia insisted on preconditions to
normalizing relations with Turkey.

However, that’s clearly not the case, either. Today, the border is closed
because of Turkey and because the Armenian side refuses to comply with
Turkey’s demands. All those who insist that the gas pipeline or the oil
pipeline or the railroad could have gone thru Armenia, should have known
full well that that would have been possible only by relinquishing our
rights regarding certain issues which constitute our national interest and a
national value. That is the price we would have had to pay; yet we haven’t.

That is the political situation, and it is not possible to ignore that truth
and to irresponsibly insist that in this political atmosphere, things could
have been otherwise.

Those experts and organizations which have assessed this rail project have
said and continue to say that it is not economically sound and at the same
time, politically, it endangers regional cooperation. The decisions by the
US, the EU and other countries not to provide government assistance to this
project reflect these assessments.

We, too, consider this project to be, above all, a political project, aimed,
yet again, at bringing additional pressure to bear on Armenia and attempting
to secure certain concessions. In this context, this project can create
further complications in an already complex region.

The experience of these past years should have been sufficient for our
adversaries to understand that it is not possible to use such steps and such
language with Armenia, particularly regarding the Nagorno Karabakh issue.
There are matters which are non-negotiable values for us. We have repeated
frequently, and today, too, I will disappoint Azerbaijan and those who
support it by saying: Karabakh is not a tradeable commodity for Armenians.
>From this perspective, Karabakh was not negotiable during the Baku-Ceyhan
discussions, nor during the Baku-Akhalkalak-Kars discussions, and will not
be negotiable at any time in the future.

Our approach is different. We believe that as regional cooperation deepens
and includes all the countries of the region, then existing regional
tensions will weaken, it will fuel greater reciprocal trust, and strengthen
linkages. All this, taken together will create an environment so different
from today’s that the many complex political issues facing us will find a
resolution. This is not just a policy, but the guideline for the work that
we do every day.

What concerns me is not the political exploitation so much as its
consequence – the defeatism being sown in our people. What we have today is
not Armenia’s isolation. What we have is two neighboring countries who are
willfully attempting to isolate Armenia. And, in spite of such efforts, we
have an Armenia that is active – in some cases even more than those same
neighbors – in every international organization from EU, to Council of
Europe, the CIS, NATO, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and other
international organizations. Where is the isolation? It’s time to put an end
to this willful self-deception.

Don’t judge Armenia by what Turkey and Azerbaijan do. Judge Armenia by what
we do, by our own resources and opportunities.

We are faced with many foreign and domestic challenges, and we all know well
where they come from. To overcome them, it is essential that we consider
issues sensibly, assess the situation and the opportunities accurately,
demonstrate firm will, confidence and unity.

Vartan Oskanian, 09 February 2007"

TURKISH NATIONALISTS THREATEN ARMENIAN PATRIARCH OF KONSTANTINOPOL AND WRITER ORHAN PAMUK

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Feb 07 2007

ANKARA, FEBRUARY 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Words of praising
addressed to Ogyun Samast accused of murdering editor-in-chief of
Istanbul’s Agos newspaper Hrant Dink were published in the "forum"
column of Internet site of Trapison’s Nor Pelitlispor football club.

The Turkish nationalists "gave" the title of "national hero" to the
criminal. They not only express readiness "to become Samasts" and "to
sacrifice their lives for the sake of the homeland," but also threaten
Nobel prize-winner, leading Turkish intellectual Orhan Pamuk, Agos’
editor Etienne Mahchupian and Armenian Patriarch of Konstantinopol
Mesrop Archbishop Mutafian.

The Milliyet Turkish newspaper draws readers’ attention to the fact
that the country’s authorities has not started an interrogation yet
in connection with this terrible fact.

UNDP AND THE ARMENIAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER SIGN AN AGREEMENT

ArmRadio.am
08.02.2007 17:55

Today, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Human
Rights Defender’s Office (HRDO) of Armenia signed an agreement that
marked the start of a new joint project in support of human rights
protection and promotion in Armenia.

Importantly, public awareness-raising is the one of the main components
of the project: a series of TV programmes, where the Ombudsman will
raise and discuss major human rights issues for the country, will be
produced and broadcasted on national television.

In addition, the capacity of the HRD office to annually report back to
the public on their activities will be enhanced, which will contribute
to the human rights promotion and protection in the country.

The Head of UN and UNDP in Armenia Ms. Consuelo Vidal noted in
her speech: "We are proud to continue our collaboration with the
Ombudsman’s office, with the support of the Swedish Agency for
International Development (Sida). We strongly believe in UN values and
human rights are the basis of the whole UN programme in Armenia. With
this project we will strive to ensure that public awareness of human
rights is increased and appropriate capacity is created for human
rights education, protection and promotion in Armenia."

Mr. Armen Harutyunyan, Human Rights Defender of the Republic of
Armenia stated: "This project will greatly contribute to the awareness
raising campaign regularly carried out by our institution throughout
the country. Due to TV-shows, envisaged in this project, the Human
Rights Defender will have an opportunity to provide transparency
as well as be accountable to the public at large on the activities
carried out by the Institution.

"I express my gratitude to the organisers and have the strong belief
that such activities can increase the level of legal awareness among
the population and create a culture of promotion of human rights." –
mentioned Mr. Harutyunyan.

Since the origins of the United Nations, promoting respect for, and
observance of, human rights everywhere in the world has been one of
the major tasks of the Organization. UNDP Armenia office has lent
great support to the promotion of human rights in Armenia.

The project will last from February 2007 to December 2008. The project
will be implemented in very close coordination with the project of
the Raoul Wallenburg Institute, which is enhancing the institutional
capacity of the Human Rights Defender’s Office.

PM: EAST-WEST RAILWAY LINK SIGNIFICANT STEP

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Feb 8 2007

A key agreement on the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku (KTB) railway project was
signed yesterday at a ceremony with the participation of the Turkish
premier, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev.

The project aims to provide continuous, safe and fast cargo and
passenger transportation between Asia and Europe.

Erdogan, at a press conference before his visit to Tbilisi,
characterized the project as a "significant step."

He stressed that the KTB railway project would yield new
opportunities. "I will also have bilateral meetings with Georgian
President Mikhail Saakashvili and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
during my stay. We will especially discuss recent developments in
the Southern Caucasus," he stated.

Erdogan added that he believed his visit would boost relations with
regional countries.

Erdogan will hold talks with Saakashvili and Aliyev and also attend
the inauguration of the Tbilisi International Airport, which was
constructed by Turkish-Austrian consortium Tepe-Akfen-Vie (TAV).

The KTB project aims to join the railroad networks of Georgia,
Azerbaijan and Turkey to further strengthen cooperation between these
three countries. Many analysts have described the project as important
as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline project.

The project aims at providing continuous, safe and fast cargo and
passenger transportation between Asia and Europe through connecting
the railways of the People’s Republic of China and Kazakhstan in the
east, through Turkey’s Marmaray (Commuter Rail Mass Transit System)
to the European railway system in the west.

Professor Suha Bolukbasi, who works on Caucasus and Central Asian
politics at Middle East Technical University (METU), told The New
Anatolian on Monday that Turkey has good relations among Azerbaijan
and Georgia, stressing that this project will help to strengthen and
deepen cooperation among these countries. He described the project
as a constructive step in Turkey’s regional interest.

"The project aims to unhook post-Soviet countries from the Russian
Federation’s impact. It also helps the European Union and the U.S. to
establish effective relations with post-Soviet countries," he said.

Bolukbasi stressed that the European Union attaches importance to the
initiative, saying, "Through the project, Turkey’s position with the
EU will be strengthened along with Caucasus relations. Turkey will
play a more influential role in its region."

The framework agreement for this wide regional cooperation project
will be signed tomorrow in Tbilisi, Georgia, with the participation
of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan.

A total of 76 kilometers of the project will be built in Turkey. The
project’s infrastructure will be constructed as a double-track railway
line, while the superstructure will be realized as a single-track line.

The Turkish part of the project will cost an estimated YTL 380 million,
with YTL 40 million appropriated in the state budget for this year. In
1998 Turkish State Railways (TCDD) carried out a tender for the
project, but later cancelled it.

Azerbaijan will lend $200 million to Georgia to finance construction
of its portion of the railway linking Azerbaijan with Turkey, under
an agreement signed in Tbilisi last month.

Georgia will have to repay the loan with 1 percent annual interest
within 25 years. Georgian officials said last week that they plan
to use the revenues from the Baku-Akhalkalaki-Kars railway to cover
the loan. The construction of the KTB project is expected to begin
in June and finish in two years.

Armenian opposition Armenia, which has diplomatic problems with both
Turkey and Azerbaijan, has criticized the move. Armenian presidential
spokesperson Viktor Sogomonian branded the project as politically
motivated.

"Armenia has been always guided by the economic effectiveness of
projects," he said at a news conference last month, adding that
Yerevan will continue to oppose construction of the railway and will
use negotiations at different levels as a lever of influence.

TURKEY URGED TO TACKLE PKK PROBLEM THROUGH DIALOGUE WITH IRAQI KURDS

Southeast European Times, MD
Feb 8 2007

The best way to deal with separatist Kurdish rebels staging attacks
on Turkish territory from bases in northern Iraq would involve
dialogue with the Kurdish regional government, rather than military
intervention, a top US diplomat said on Wednesday (February 7th).

"I think there are serious risks if Turkey moves in, and I hope that
we’re able to work with Turkey so this choice can be avoided," the
AP quoted US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried as saying in
an interview broadcast on CNN-Turk.

The fight against militants from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK),
who use northern Iraq’s Kurdish region as a launch pad for attacks
on Turkish territory, topped the agenda of Turkish Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul’s talks with US officials in Washington this week.

Outlawed in Turkey, the PKK is considered a terrorist organisation
by both the United States and the EU.

Gul, who began his six-day visit to the United States on Monday,
called for greater US co-operation.

"We have conveyed to US officials that they are late in taking action
in northern Iraq, and the Turkish people want to see an action," Gul
said in a statement late Tuesday. "US officials are aware of this," he
added hours after his meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Last August, Washington appointed retired General Joseph Ralston,
a former NATO supreme allied commander, as the co-ordinator of US
efforts to deal with the PKK.

"In terms of the PKK, I think that everybody is in agreement that we
want to try to resolve this issue," State Department spokesman Sean
McCormack told reporters during a briefing Tuesday. "General Ralston
is working to decrease those tensions on both sides of the border."

Another key issue on Gul’s agenda was a non-binding US congressional
resolution, likely to be discussed in March, that condemns the
killings of up to 1.5 million Armenians in the waning days of the
Ottoman empire as genocide. Such resolutions have no direct bearing
on policy and no legal impact. Nevertheless, the minister warned,
the bill could seriously affect ties.

"I believe that Turkish-American relations should not be taken hostage
by this issue," Gul said. [But] "I see this as a real threat to our
relationship."

The White House has opposed similar legislation in the past. On
Wednesday, McCormack said the administration understands the
sensitivities in Turkey, in communities in the United States and in
other parts of the world, and has conveyed Ankara’s concerns.

Other issues Gul and Rice discussed on Tuesday included Lebanon,
Iran, the Middle East, Turkish-EU relations and Kosovo. On Monday,
the Turkish foreign minister met with Vice President Dick Cheney,
Defence Secretary Robert Gates and the president’s National Security
Adviser, Stephen Hadley.

PETERSON BOAT COMING BACK: COUNTY MUST STORE EVIDENCE FOR YEARS OF APPEAL PROCESS
Garth Stapley

The Modesto Bee – California – KRTBN
Published: Feb 07, 2007

Scott Peterson’s fishing boat soon should be moved to Modesto from
where his double-murder trial took place in San Mateo County.

But don’t expect media cameras to capture the moment.

"For security reasons, we are not releasing any dates that may be
involved in that transfer," said John Goold, Stanislaus County chief
deputy district attorney.

Camera crews scrambled for images of the boat when it was used as
evidence in Peterson’s blockbuster trial, which took place throughout
much of 2004.

Proceedings were in Redwood City because of pervasive publicity in
and around Modesto.

Authorities said the fertilizer salesman dumped his pregnant wife’s
body into San Francisco Bay from the 14-foot Gamefisher just before
Christmas 2002. The remains of mother and son were recovered near
Peterson’s boating route four months later, and he arrived on death
row in March 2005.

Prosecutors must store the boat during Peterson’s appeals, Stanislaus
County Superior Court Judge Marie Silveira ruled in December. Death
sentence appeals typically require a couple of decades or longer.

Prosecutors initially objected to the move, not so much because
storing a boat and trailer poses a hassle. They were worried that
the judge had granted San Mateo County’s request to unload the boat
without giving Peterson’s defense team a chance to weigh in.

Silveira recently reaffirmed the decision that it will return to
Stanislaus County.

"We are now satisfied that the courts have complied with the notice
requirements of the law regarding transferring this evidence,"
Goold said.

"Our goal from the outset was to protect the record of the conviction,
and we believe that has been done."

The law sometimes allows photographs of evidence for use in
appeals. But Los Angeles defense attorney Mark Geragos previously
objected to that method.

On national television Saturday, Geragos said he is certain his client
eventually will prevail.

"I don’t have any doubt that the verdict in that case will be reversed
on a number of grounds," Geragos said on CNN’s "Larry King Live."

Geragos did not elaborate. He appeared on the cable talk show to
discuss a new book exploring aspects of justice for which Geragos
had written an essay about the Armenian genocide in Turkey.

Bee staff writer Garth Stapley can be reached at 578-2390 or
[email protected].

NAGORNO-KARABAKH SETTLEMENT REQUIRES NECESSARY PUBLIC ATMOSPHERE

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Feb 7 2007

YEREVAN, February 7. /ARKA/. The settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict requires the formation of a necessary public atmosphere Head
of the Foreign Relations Commission, RA Parliament, Armen Rustamyan
stated at a meeting with a delegation of the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly led by Chairman Horan Lenmarker.

The Public Relations Department, RA Parliament, reports that
Rustamyan pointed out an important role of international structures
and parliamentary organizations in settling the conflict. He said that
it is not only the contents of the proposed solutions, but also the
formation of a necessary public atmosphere, namely, how the authorities
are preparing the countries’ public for compromises, that is important.

Rustamyan also stressed that the EU policy envisages open borders
and societies, free trade. Therefore, the conflicts can be settled
on condition of cooperation, particularly parliamentary and economic
cooperation.

In his turn, Lenmarker pointed out the necessity of intensifying the
dialogue between countries, stressing the importance of parliamentary
diplomacy and development of interparliamentary elections.

WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL CLUB OF YEREVAN TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO ORRAN

Noyan Tapan
Feb 07 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Members of Women’s International
Club functioning in Yerevan led by club chairwoman visited Orran
charity NGO’s office on February 7. The club unites wives of heads of
international organizations functioning in Armenia. As Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed by organization’s Spokesperson Susanna
Manukian, the visit’s goal was to find out on the spot what assistance
the club can provide to the organization’s beneficiaries. "If we want
to live in a moral world, all of us are responsible for children who
have appeared in streets," club’s chairwoman said. Orran’s founder
Armine Hovannisian presented organization’s activities and daily life,
as well as problems and troubles of beneficiary children and their
families to club members. Orran founded in 2000 by Raffi and Armine
Hovannisians during its activity has provided charity and humanitarian
aid to more than 1500 families and children caring for their food,
clothes, psychological assistance, education. Currently 75 children
and 50 old people are involved in Orran’s programs.

Ottawa Citizen
February 3, 2007 Saturday
Final Edition

Turkey: Officer suspended after posing with Dink suspect

Four police officers have been suspended from duty after posing in
front of a Turkish flag with the suspected murderer of an ethnic
Armenian journalist. Another four security police have been
transferred to other duties after film of the incident was shown on
Turkish television. It shows officials, some in uniform, arm-in-arm
with Ogun Samast, who has confessed to the murder of Hrant Dink, the
editor of Agos, a bilingual Armenian-Turkish newspaper. Mr. Dink, 52,
was hated by ultra-nationalists for his writings about the mass
killing of Armenians on Ottoman soil during the First World War.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Serbia rejects UN plan on Kosovo
03.02.2007 13:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ There’s been a predictably mixed reaction to a
proposal that puts Kosovo on a path to independence from Serbia. UN
special envoy Martti Ahtisaari unveiled a plan that avoids the word
‘independent’, but implies eventual sovereignty. Applauded by Kosovo,
the idea is flatly rejected by Serbia.

European Commision President Jose Manuel Barroso declared his support
for the plan and urged the two parties to use it as a basis for
constructive talks. Ahtisaari said his suggestions aim to address
what he calls the "dire economic situation" in the province. Kosovan
Prime Minister Agim Ceku welcomed steps that would give Pristina
access to international bodies and allow it its own flag and anthem.

But while Serbian President Boris Tadic agrees on what the plan
implies, he is categorically opposed to it: "It opens the possibility
for Kosovo’s independence. Serbia, and I as its President will never
accept that."

Ahtisaari said Belgrade and Pristina had one more chance to agree but
that he was "not terribly optimistic" that would happen in his
lifetime, reports EuroNews.