Author: Antonian Lara

WAHRHEIT DURCH GERICHTSBESCHLUß?; DIE SCHWEIZ IN DER KLEMME: AN DEN TURKEN ZEIGT SICH DAS DILEMMA DER ANTIRASSISTISCHEN STAATSRASON
Jurg Altwegg
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
8. September 2005
GENF, 7. September
Seit Jahren sind die Beziehungen zwischen der Schweiz und der Turkei
schlecht. In der Schweiz laufen Untersuchungen der Staatsanwaltschaft
gegen den Prasidenten der Turkischen Historischen Gesellschaft, Yusuf
Halacoglu, wie gegen den Vorsitzenden der turkischen Arbeiterpartei,
Dogu Perincek: Beiden wird vorgeworfen, den Genozid an den Armeniern
zu leugnen. Verargert uber die Schweiz ist die Turkei auch Orhan
Pamuks wegen, der sich kaum zwei Monate nach der Verleihung des
Friedenspreises vor einem Gericht verantworten muß. Ihm droht eine
Gefangnisstrafe, weil er in einem Interview im Magazin des Zurcher
“Tages-Anzeigers” erklart hatte, in der Turkei seien 30 000 Kurden
und eine Million Armenier ermordet worden.
Pikant wird die Lage dadurch, daß in beiden Landern versucht wird,
offizielle Versionen der historischen “Wahrheit” mit der Gewalt
von Gerichtsbeschlussen durchzusetzen. Mit welchem Recht, darf
man sich in der Turkei fragen, erregt man sich in der Schweiz
uber das Verfahren gegen Pamuk, wenn man selbst spiegelverkehrte
Äußerungen zum Anlaß fur analoge Verfahren nimmt? Die Schweiz tut
sich schwer mit ihrem Antirassismusgesetz und ganz besonders mit
einem Artikel, der das Leugnen von “Volkermord und anderen Verbrechen
gegen die Menschlichkeit” unter Strafe stellt. Konnen oder mussen
die Strafverfahren die demokratischen Debatten und historische
Untersuchungen ersetzen?
Das Gesetz entstand zu Beginn der neunziger Jahre im Zug neuer
antisemitischer Äußerungen. Der jetzige Innenminister Christoph
Blocher wurde damals des Antisemitismus, sein journalistischer
Gegenspieler Frank A. Meyer noch kurzlich des Rassismus gegen den
Islam bezichtigt. Seit Jahren muß sich der Publizist Frank Lubke vor
wechselnden Gerichten fur einen offenen Brief verantworten, in dem er
Attentate “als Beispiel fur die islamistisch-arabisch-palastinensischen
Wahnsinnsschlachtereien gegen die judisch-israelische Zivilbevolkerung”
bezeichnete. Ob das Gesetz wirklich zum Schutz der Minderheiten
beitragt, erscheint ungewiß. Die vielen Affaren vergiften jedenfalls
das Klima.
Die Spannungen mit der Turkei dauern seit Jahren an. Staatsbesuche
wurden verschoben – und nachgeholt. Im Juni kam eine Delegation der
Außenpolitischen Kommission des turkischen Parlaments in die Schweiz.
Man konne von der Bevolkerung nicht erwarten, daß sie die Großvater
zu Kriminellen erklare, teilte man den Schweizern mit.
Ministerprasident Erdogan habe eine Historikerkommission eingesetzt,
welche ganz nach dem Beispiel von Jean-Francois Bergiers “Unabhangiger
Expertenkommission Schweiz Zweiter Weltkrieg” die Volkermord-Vorwurfe
abklaren werde. Die Große Kammer des Schweizer Parlaments hat – wie
Frankreich, wie der Europarat – die Massaker, deren Opfer die Armenier
waren, per Abstimmung vor zwei Jahren zum Genozid erklart. Es gibt
auch entsprechende Gerichtsurteile: In juristischer Hinsicht scheinen
die Falle Halacoglu und Perincek klar, die Äußerungen beider erfullen
offenkundig den Strafbestand.
Schweizer Politiker verweisen auf die Gewaltentrennung.
Nun wird auch das fragwurdige Gesetz wieder diskutiert. Die
“Auschwitz-Lugner”, schreibt der Historiker Georg Kreis in der
Zeitschrift “Tachles”, bestreiten nicht nur die Tatsache der sechs
Millionen Toten: “Sie werfen den Opfern und ihren Nachkommen auch vor,
mit der Fabrikation dieser ,Legende’ politischen und pekuniaren Gewinn
erzielen zu wollen.” Das sei Antisemitismus. Kreis erkennt an, “daß man
antirassistische Normen nicht als Schutz einzig fur Juden ernst nehmen
darf”, ein solches “Privileg” wurde auch von den Juden abgelehnt:
“Es gibt aber in den europaischen Gesellschaften aus Rucksicht auf die
historische Schuld die Neigung, gegenuber antijudischer Diffamierung
besonders sensibel zu sein. Die muslimische Minderheit etwa, der
gegenuber Europa nicht in dieser Weise schuldig geworden ist, kommt
nicht in gleichem Maß in den Genuß einer solchen Sensibilitat.”
Das Gesetz, mit dem sich die Schweiz ein gutes Gewissen verschaffen
wollte, hat Ungeister geweckt, die sie nicht mehr los wird. “Die
Leugnung des Genozids an den Armeniern ist wohl nicht ein taugliches
Objekt, um die Gleichbehandlung einzufordern und durchzuexerzieren”,
befindet der Historiker Kreis. Mit dieser Formulierung ist er nun
selbst unter Beschuß geraten. Denn zumindest vor dem Gesetz mußten
auch alle Genozide gleich sein.
–Boundary_(ID_XIl7b5ykPJHeB03ee4qE/w)–

TURKISH-EU RELATIONS: A WAR OF NERVES?
Cem Oguz
The New Anatolian, Turkey
Aug 8 2005
Last December, the European Council announced that Turkey had
fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria and the EU would open
accession negotiations with Turkey on Oct. 3 this year. However, in
the same statement that gave Turkey the green light, it was clearly
underlined that the negotiations were to be an “open-ended process,
the outcome of which can’t be guaranteed beforehand.” Paradoxically,
it had to be ensured that Turkey would be fully “anchored in European
structures through the strongest possible bond,” even if it fails
“to assume in full all the obligations of membership.”
Given that these two prerequisites were accepted at the time by
the Turkish government, there’s indeed substantial irony in hearing
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s, as well as Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul’s, recent statements such as the “EU shouldn’t toy
with Turkey” or “Turkey would walk away from the EU for good,”
if there were attempts to water down its membership. Apparently,
similar to that prevailing sentiment among EU circles, there’s also
confusion in the higher echelons of the Justice and Development (AK)
Party government. I’m willing to assume that such statements are
either tactical maneuvers or, as characterized by political analysts
close to the government, must be part of sincere warnings rather
than empty threats. Yet it seems that, so far, they’re destined to
remain vain efforts. What I find more important is Erdogan’s remark of
“Turkey has nothing more to give.”
Readers will probably remember that a short while ago I wrote that none
of the so-called concessions on the issues relevant to EU accession
had created a notable outcry in Turkey. But I warned, as many other
people possessed of common sense did, that the honeymoon seemed to
be over and popular disappointment in Turkey was rapidly growing. At
present anger has reached such a level that almost the entire country
is engulfed by anti-EU feelings, although some domestic, as well as
foreign, circles are choosing to ignore it. Last week, I visited some
remote villages in the Taurus mountains and astonishingly witnessed
that even among the villagers living there the current stage of
relations with the EU unleashes powerful emotions. The question then
should be: What’s changed so quickly?
The answer is very simple: First of all, Turks, by and large, have
lost their hope, and secondly the repercussions of radical changes on
sensitive issues have eventually started to affect their daily lives.
The recent rise in attacks by the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party
(PKK), for instance, is linked by a considerable number of ordinary
Turks to the biased attitude, as well as support, of EU circles.
Suffice to say that the EU right now is associated with the notion
of instability. Apparently, it’s the US administration that has
realized how acute the danger is. Washington, facing rising criticism
from the Turkish establishment about PKK hideouts in northern Iraq,
recently announced that it will help the Turkish government to combat
the PKK on European soil. Isn’t it a paradox to mention Europe,
while the Turkish fingers were pointing at Iraq? Washington can
indeed be accused of willing to deflect attention from itself. But
it’s not that simple. The US authorities are fully aware that
the surge of nationalism in Turkey, as well as reactions towards
the broadly-defined West, the EU in particular, must be balanced,
before it turns out to be detrimental to the interests of each party
concerned. It shouldn’t be allowed to reach a level that would result
in an ultimate breakaway. In that regard, they seem to be supported by
some prudent EU members. Measures recently applied by Germany against
the PKK, for instance, are a precise example of that phenomenon.
Some EU members, in turn, once again appear to be in denial about
the depth of rising discontent as well as reaction in Turkey.
Irreversible concessions on Cyprus, the Armenian allegations, and
minority issues are the three main subjects that have been the cause
of agonizing debates between Brussels and Ankara. They’re adding to
popular indignation in Turkey. Obviously, however, they’ll be used
increasingly by ardent Turkey-skeptics in Europe to block its full
membership. French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, for instance,
sarcastically claims that he’s in favor of Turkey’s membership process,
as long as Ankara “has a calm and peaceful relationship with the whole
of Europe” and “as quickly as possible commits itself to the road of
recognizing [Greek] Cyprus.” Are we talking about the same southern
Cyprus that’s solely responsible for the current deadlock subsequent
to Kofi Annan’s efforts for a peaceful resolution on the island?
In the meantime, Turkish people have run out of patience and are
becoming more disgusted with each passing day. They’re tired of
endless conditions and aren’t willing to make more concessions
without concrete results. Inevitably, this leads to political
extremism in Turkey and the radicalization of Turkish politics.
Nationalist sentiments are running high. In such a milieu, Erdogan,
who’s based his party’s as well as the government’s entire vision
on the ideal of Turkey’s full membership, can’t simply say “enough”
and turn his back on EU prospects. People would then question why
sacrifices were made or concessions were given. At this point,
it’s Erdogan himself who’s believed to be playing to the gallery.
Consequently, it seems that there might be a war of nerves between
the Erdogan government and Turkey-skeptics in Europe, each trying to
leave responsibility for failure in the hands of the other side. This
stubborn war will probably continue until one side finally just gives
up. Whether this becomes a long-term disagreement and doors will be
closed to each other forever, is right now in the hands of visionary,
honest, and sincere circles in the EU itself.

TURKISH OFFICERS IN RETIREMENT SHOULD INTERPRET “GENOCIDE” TERM
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6. ARMINFO. About 300 Turkish officers in retirement
intend to take active part at “Armenia in period of Ottoman empire
downfall” forthcoming conference in Istanbul, as Turkish “Zaman”
informs, Head of Turkish retired officers Union, divisional general
in retirement Rza Kyuchugogly stated.
Kyuchugogly noted that he has sent a proper letter to conference
organizers and informed on their wish to take active part at both
the conference and the discussions. In his words, officers are
tuned resolutely enough and certainly will participate there. Both
Kyuchugogly and Union members prove their certainty with the importance
of the forthcoming conference in the interests of Turkey’s future. “If
this action are being organized under a slogan that the Armenian
issue will be given democratic explanation, we consider necessary our
participation there. If they use “Genocide” word, in fact groundlessly
blaming Turkey in its fulfillment, we at least will demand to interpret
“Genocide” term”, he stated.

HUNGARIAN ORGANIST WINS COMPETITION IN RUSSIA
Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
September 5, 2005
Moscow, September 5 (MTI) – A Hungarian organist won the fourth
Mikael Tariverdiev International Organ Competition in Kaliningrad,
Russia this weekend.
Out of 19 participants, the 25 year-old Istvan Matyas won the first
prize and the accompanying USD 5,000 award.
Tariverdiev (1931-1996) was born in an Armenian family in Tbilisi and
became popular in the 1960 for revolutionarising Soviet film music.
He wrote his compositions for organ in the mid-1980s, inspired by
global problems such as the nuclear catastrophe in Chernobyl.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KARABAKH INTRODUCES CURRENCY
Pan Armenian News
03.09.2005, “PanARMENIAN Network” analytical department
The NKR dram will be considered a means of payment in Armenia too.
During the opening ceremony of “The history of Armenian dram”
exhibition held in Stepanakert, the chairman of the Central Bank
of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan confirmed that in the nearest future
the national currency of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic will be put into
circulation. According to Tigran Sargsyan, Karabakh dram will probably
be considered as a means of payment in Armenia too.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Initially the introduction of Karabakh dram was
aimed at the propaganda of Karabakh state system. Banknotes produced
by unrecognized countries are greatly valued by numismatists all over
the world. Money is an attribute of sovereignty. NKR is an established
country and the existence of own currency will become another symbol of
sovereignty. However it is fairly obvious that in terms of economy the
issue of Karabakh dram does not have special importance. The economy
of Karabakh is fully integrated to the economy of Armenia and the
introduction of Karabakh dram is not aimed at making any economical
changes. This is why it looks like the unexpected announcement of
Tigran Sargsyan simply means that Karabakh dram will serve as some
sort of a substitute to Armenian dram. Being equated to “AMD” “NKD”
will only replace “AMD” in the operations in the home market. It
should be noted that by its design the Karabakh dram is very much
alike Armenian dram.
The decision on the issue of Karabakh currency was made last year. The
banknotes were printed last winter but have not been officially
put into circulation. However, 2 and 10 dram Karabakh coins can be
bought on numismatic auctions through internet shops. For example
the “eBay” internet shop sells 2 dram coins for 0.99 pounds. Thus,
for the government of Nagorno-Karabakh the introduction of NKD is not
only a way to propagandize national state system but also an income
source for the state budget.
Azerbaijan’s reaction to the issue of Karabakh currency was very
painful and was about to provoke diplomatic scandal. Official Baku
applied with protest to the US Department of State and the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of Austria. (The banknotes were printed by the
American “Education Coin Company” and “Austrian State Printing Works”)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan demanded to pass all the
printed banknotes to the Embassy of Azerbaijan. The US Department of
State promised to support in fulfilling the demand. However, it is
known that NKD banknotes are already at the disposal of the Central
Bank of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and not the special services of
Azerbaijan.
>>From unrecognized countries the Prednestrovian Moldavian Republic
is still the only one that has issued its own currency. (Abkhazia
and Osetia use Russian roubles). Tiraspol recently celebrated the
10th anniversary of their currency which is by the way called rouble
and is printed in Poland. At present there are 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100,
200 and 500 rouble banknotes and change coins in the circulation. The
exchange rate is 8 roubles for 1 US dollar. The Prednestrovian case
shows that the currency of an unrecognized country can be established
and Karabakh will soon prove that once again.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE VISITED ODESSA
Pan Armenian News
05.09.2005 07:43
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On invitation of Mayor of Odessa E. Gurvits Armenian
Ambassador to Ukraine Armen Khachatrian paid a call to Odessa August
1-4, RA MFA press center reported. Within the framework of the
festivities A.
Khachatrian met with governor of the Odessa region V. Tsushko and
Mayor of Odessa E. Gurvits. The interlocutors discussed a wide range
of issues referring to the development of the Armenian-Ukrainian
relations. In part, they noted the vital importance of the
Ilichevsk-Poti ferry line. During the visit Armen Khachatrian also
met with the representatives of the local Armenian community.

ILHAM ALIYEV IS READY TO GUARANTEE “KARABAKH ARMENIAN COMMUNITY’S SECURITY”
DeFacto, Armenia
Sept 5 2005
During the interview for Hurriyet newspaper (Turkey) Azeri President
Ilham Aliyev said Baku was ready to guarantee “Karabakh Armenian
community’s security”.
“I told Kocharyan we were ready to guarantee Karabakh Armenian
community’s security. I stressed Baku would not allow the community
to face any danger”, stated Aliyev.
In his words, “Azerbaijan is very strong, and Armenia will not manage
to withstand its onslaught”. “However, we do not want a war, as a
lot of people will die. I believe we’ll recover our lands sooner or
later. Let no one doubt it”, said Aliyev.
Commenting on the outcomes of the Kazan meeting with RA President
Robert Kocharyan Ilham Aliyev said there had been no results so far.
“The Armenians are waiting for us to grant independence to them.
However, it is impossible. The maintenance of Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity is of primary importance for us”, noted Azeri President.
He stated after the Kazan meeting he had felt some easing in
Kocharyan’s stand; however, it was not enough for the conflict’s
settlement, Freedom Radio Station reports.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Dutch squeeze past plucky Armenia
CNN International
Sept 3 2005
Saturday, September 3, 2005 Posted: 2049 GMT (0449 HKT)
Van Nistelrooy celebrates the goal that boosted hopes of automatic
qualificationLONDON, England — Ruud van Nistelrooy spared Dutch
blushes with a second half goal to see off minnows Armenia on Saturday
to stay top of the tough European Group One of World Cup qualfying.
Van Nistelrooy chested down Hedwiges Maduro’s pass from the right in
the 64th minute and hit the target into the right corner.
Romania’s 2-0 win over the Czech Republic also boosted Dutch hopes
of automatic qualification.
The Netherlands have 25 points from nine matches, three ahead of
Romania who have played two games more. The Czechs have 21 from
nine matches.
Juventus striker Adrian Mutu, who scored twice against Andorra last
month, netted Romania’s first in the 26th minute from Razvan Rat’s
cross.
The former Chelsea striker, sacked by the Premier League champions
after failing a drugs test, added a second 20 minutes into the
second half.
Jan Koller hit the post for the visitors after the break, but the
Czechs were well beaten.
Earlier, the Netherlands made heavy weather of winning in Yerevan
after dominating the first half.
Phillip Cocu almost opened the scoring in the 10th minute when he
stole the ball from a defender. His shot from just inside the box
shaved the right post.
Armenia goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky made several saves to keep his
goal untouched in the first half.
He fisted away a van Nistelrooy shot, reached Cocu’s header off
Nistelrooy’s cross from the left, and stopped Nistelrooy’s drive from
20 meters.
“I’m satisfied with the result, but not with the way we played,”
said Dutch coach Marco van Basten. “Armenia played well in defense
and we could not find free space ahead.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Author may be jailed for speaking of Kurd deaths
by Suna Erdem in Istanbul
The Times (London)
September 3, 2005, Saturday
The award-winning author Orhan Pamuk has been charged with insulting
Turkey’s national character with comments about the killing of
Armenians and Kurds.
The Istanbul court’s move will fuel opposition to Turkey’s entry to
the European Union. The author could be jailed for three years.
Denis MacShane, the former Europe Minister, plans to attend the trial
and is urging other European politicians and writers to do so. He said:
“For people like me who want to make a case for Turkey’s European
aspirations this is like a big slap in the face. It is a denial
of important European values.” Mr MacShane added that Mr Pamuk was
generally seen as Turkey’s greatest living writer and was “a great
advertisement for modern Turkey”.
In an interview with a Swiss newspaper in February, Mr Pamuk said:
“Thirty thousand Kurds and one million Armenians were killed in these
lands and nobody but me dares to talk about it.” He was referring
to the conflict between the Turkish Army and Kurdish separatists and
the slaughter of Armenians -which Turkey denies was genocide.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR PRESIDENT: BEHAVIOR OF BAKU AUTHORITIES MORE AND MORE POSTPONE DAY OF KARABAKH CONFLICT’S RESOLUTION
STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 2. ARMINFO. Baku authorities try to conceal
the successes of Nagorny Karabakh in construction of a legal and
democratic state from Azerbaijani people by all means possible, not
allowing their citizens to visit NKR and communicate with Karabakh
people. It is not accidental, however, such behavior has no prospects,
a it is even more postpones the day of full and mutually advantageous
resolution of the conflict. NKR Presiden Arkady Ghouakssyan made such
an address on the occasion of the 14th Anniversary of NKR Independence.
According to ARMINFO’s special correspondent to Stepanakert, in his
address NKR President said that such acts by the Azerbaijani leadership
as well as its unwillingness to negotiate with the Karabakh conflict
cast a serious doubt on the prospects of the conflict’s settlement
by civil methods on the basis of reasonable compromises. That is why
the fact of the unsettled conflict remains a factor threatening with
new destabilization in the region, Arkady Ghoukassyan thinks. He
once more assured all those present that NKR leadership adheres
exclusively to the peace settlement of the conflict. “At the same
time our people must be sure that no one will be able to deprive us
from the independence gained by means of irreplaceable losses. The
All National NKR Defense Army is able to give a proper counteraction
to all those who will dare to encroach upon our Motherland. We have
all the necessary means and possibilities for it,” NKR President says.