Author: Badalian Vardan

RENCONTRE ARMéNO-TURQUE

25-07-2011

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire la traduction des extraits d’un article en anglais
des journaux arméniens Armenialiberty et PanArmenian.net parue sur
le site de la Fédération Euro-Arménienne pour la Justice et la
Démocratie le 20 juillet 2011.

FEAJD

20 juillet 2011

***

Traduction G̩rard Merdjanian РCommentaires du site de la F̩d̩ration
Euro-Arménienne :

Il est facile de promettre une ouverture prochaine de la frontière
surtout lorsqu’on ne donne pas de date et que de plus, on évite de
préciser que celui-ci est corrélé a la résolution du conflit
du Karabakh. La communauté arménienne se souvient encore qu’a
l’inauguration en octobre dernier de l’église Sainte Croix d’Akhtamar,
la Turquie a refusé d’ouvrir la frontière de Kars même pour un
week-end. En Turquie, il y a ce que l’on dit publiquement voire
officiellement et ce que l’on fait en pratique.

Il est également notoire que la diplomatie ottomane est très
bien rodée. Elle est capable de faire miroiter et faire avaler aux
étrangers, et notamment aux Occidentaux, a peu tout ce qu’elle veut.

Aussi les dirigeants turcs n’hésitent pas a apposer leur signature au
bas de traités politiques surtout s’ils ne comptent pas le respecter,
en y ajoutant des conditions après coup.

Ainsi, tout le monde a en mémoire la signature en grande pompe
du Traité sur les Protocoles de normalisation des relations
arméno-turques, en Octobre 2009.

Tout le monde se souvient également, du moins dans l’Union
européenne, de la signature par Ankara en Juillet 2005 de l’extension
de l’accord d’union douanière liant la Turquie a l’UE aux dix pays
membres de l’Union entrés dans l’UE en mai 2004, dont la République
de Chypre, et ce pour pourvoir ouvrir les négociations d’adhésion
en octobre de la même année. La Grande-Bretagne et l’Espagne
avaient hâte de voir rentrer la Turquie dans le concert européen,
il n’est pas nécessaire de se demander pourquoi …. Le lundi 21 mars
2005, le premier ministre turc, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, avait promis
a Bruxelles que la Turquie respecterait les engagements attendus
d’elle par les Européens avant l’ouverture prévue le 3 octobre de
ses négociations d’adhésion. “Les pas qui doivent être faits d’ici
la le seront assurément”, avait déclaré M. Erdogan a l’issue d’un
dîner de travail avec le premier ministre grec, Costas Caramanlis,
a la veille du sommet européen de Bruxelles.

Aussi quand le même Recep Tayyip Erdogan déclare qu’il va geler les
relations avec l’UE, si l’on n’exhausse pas ses vÅ”ux, tout le monde
trouve cela normal. L’aveuglement a des limites, même a Bruxelles.

* Brève *

Le 19 Juillet, le ministre des Affaires étrangères arménien,
Edouard Nalbandian, a recu le sénateur-maire de Lyon, Gérard Collomb.

Le ministre a mis l’accent sur le développement des relations
franco-arméniennes, notamment sur les réalisations considérables de
la coopération décentralisée dans la politique, économie, culture
et éducation. Les interlocuteurs ont également souligné l’importance
de la communauté arménienne dans la coopération interétatique.

Gérard Collomb a souligné la contribution de la communauté
arménienne dans le développement de la France et de la ville gérée
par lui.

Au cours de la réunion, Edouard Nalbandian a abordé les travaux
préparatoires de l’Assemblée générale des villes francophones
qui se tiendra a Erevan a l’automne 2011.

Le maire de Lyon a également rencontré le président Serge
Sarkissian.

“Je suis heureux de voir que la coopération permanente entre Erevan
et Lyon favorise les liens d’amitié entre les peuples des deux
pays”, a déclaré le président, exprimant l’espoir de renforcer la
collaboration grâce a de nouvelles initiatives et de programmes.

Le président Sarkissian a également remercié le maire de Lyon, et
des membres du Conseil municipal pour leur préoccupation envers les
Arméniens et la question arménienne. “Notre peuple est reconnaissant
envers ceux qui partagent notre douleur et reconnaissent le génocide
arménien, et qui de plus luttent contre la politique de négation,”
a déclaré le chef de l’Etat.

Rappelons que Lyon et Erevan sont jumelés depuis 1992.

***

* Rencontre arméno-turque *

La frontière avec l’Arménie pourra éventuellement se rouvrir pour
le trafic transfrontalier, selon ministre des Affaires étrangères
turc, Ahmet Davutoglu.

“Le ministre turc des Affaires étrangères est sÔr que la frontière
sera rouverte, tôt ou tard, afin que nous puissions nous rendre
en Turquie et visiter des sites historiques,” a déclaré Arthur
Ghazarian, le patron de l’Union des fabricants et entrepreneurs
d’Arménie, au quotidien Hurriyet après une rencontre avec Ahmet
Davutoglu a Ankara.

Un groupe de cinq personnes d’ONG arméniennes, venu visiter la Turquie
a l’invitation de la Fondation TEPAV – Les Politiques Economiques de
la Turquie -, a rencontré Davutoglu et le Sous-secrétaire d’Etat aux
Affaires étrangères, Feridun Sinirlioglu, pour discuter du processus
de normalisation turco-arménien, actuellement dans l’impasse.

“Nous avons demandé au ministre quand le processus allait redémarrer.

Malheureusement, aucune date exacte n’a été donnée, mais j’ai
recu l’assurance que la partie turque mettra en Å”uvre des mesures
nécessaires a cette fin,” a déclaré Mikael Hovannissian de la
Fondation Eurasia Partnership.

La délégation a indiqué au ministre que la société arménienne,
tout comme la communauté internationale, attendait cette ouverture.

“Les relations turco-arméniennes sont comme un train qui commence
a bouger. Il n’y a pas de marche arrière, pas plus que nous pouvons
arrêter le train en marche, nous ne pouvons qu’aller de l’avant,” a
déclaré Aghavni Karakhanian, directrice de l’Institut de la Société
civile et du Développement Régional. Et Ghazarian d’ajouter :
“Nous avons dit que la balle est dans le camp de la Turquie.”

Richard Guiragossian du Centre d’Etudes Régionales a indiqué qu’il a
d’abord été impressionné par ‘le temps accordé’ par le ministère
et par le fait que le ministre lui-même était ‘très avenant.’ “J’ai
été impressionné par la qualité de Davutoglu et ses échanges
francs et ouverts avec nous,” a-t-il souligné.

Le génocide arménien de 1915 a également été abordé lors de
la réunion. La délégation a indiqué qu’il y avait une prise
de conscience beaucoup plus présente en Turquie depuis quelques
années. Guiragossian a déclaré a Davutoglu que “la frontière
mentale est déja ouverte entre les deux pays voisins, bien que la
fronti̬re est toujours ̩tanche Рsentiment partag̩ par le ministre
des Affaires étrangères.”

Les Arméniens ont déclaré qu’ils avaient été impressionnés
par les discussions franches et ouvertes au sein du ministère ;
rapporte le quotidien Hurriyet.

*

* Turquie *

“Ankara gèlera ses relations avec l’Union européenne si la
République de Chypre assume la présidence de cette organisation,
avant que le problème de l’ile ne soit résolu. Nous considérons
qu’il est honteux de s’asseoir a la table des négociations avec eux
(les Chypriotes grecs) aux Nations-Unies. Nous n’allons pas négocier
avec un pays que nous ne reconnaissons pas,” a déclaré le Premier
ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan avant sa visite mardi après-midi
dans la partie turque de l’île (RTCN), pour marquer l’anniversaire
de l’armée turque.

*

La secrétaire d’Etat des Etats-Unis, Hillari Clinton, qui se trouvait
a Istanbul pour participer a la réunion du groupe de contact avec
la Libye, a rencontré les dirigeants de l’opposition du Parti
Républicain du Peuple et du Parti Paix et Démocratie Kurde.

Au cours de la réunion, Mme Clinton a abordé les relations
arméno-turques. Les représentants du CHP ont été surtout choqués
par la question de la Secrétaire d’Etat, portant sur leur opposition
a ratifier les Protocoles arméno-turcs.

“Les autorités turques m’ont dit que la question de ratification des
protocoles arméno-turcs n’a pas été débattue au Parlement parce
que le CHP est contre,” a-t-elle déclaré.

En réponse, le chef du Parti, Kemal Kılıcdaroglu a exprimé sa
surprise en disant que les autorités ont la majorité au Parlement
et peut faire passer les Protocoles au moment qu’elles veulent.

L’opposition a également noté que les dirigeants ne divulguent
aucune information sur les protocoles et sur le conflit du Karabakh,
et que par conséquent l’opposition suit les développements qu’a
travers les médias.

*

* Lettre a Ban Ki-Moon *

Le 18 Juillet, le représentant permanent de l’Arménie a l’ONU, Karen
Nazarian, a adressé une lettre au Secrétaire général, Ban Ki-moon.

Il attire l’attention du Secrétaire général sur les violations
incessantes du régime de cessez-le par les forces armées
azerbaïdjanaises sur la ligne de contact, et que “de telles actions
provocatrices sont en contradiction avec les négociations en cours
dans le cadre du Groupe de Minsk de l’OSCE, les déclarations des
chefs des pays coprésidents, les Statuts de l’ONU et l’Acte final
d’Helsinki.”

Karen Nazarian exprime sa préoccupation devant le fait que les
dirigeants azerbaïdjanais répandent une propagande anti-arménienne,
et que c’est devenu un élément permanant de la politique étrangère
de l’Azerbaïdjan. Les dernières preuves en date sont les discours
du président azerbaïdjanais lors de la parade militaire du 26 Juin
2011, et du Congrès mondial des Azerbaïdjanais. Et d’indiquer que
de telles actions sont des violations évidentes des engagements
internationaux de ce pays.

“L’Arménie s’est engagée a poursuivre les négociations sur le
règlement du conflit du Karabakh dans le cadre du Groupe de Minsk de
l’OSCE, qui est un moyen efficace et le seul format légitime pour
la médiation. Il est temps pour l’Azerbaïdjan de comprendre qu’il
doit cesser d’entraver l’activité des médiateurs et se concentrer
sur le processus de négociation au lieu de diffuser des informations
sans fondement et offensives.”

*

* De la participation de la RHK aux négociations *

Andrei Areshev, expert a l’Institut d’Etudes Politiques et Sociales de
la mer Noire et de la Caspienne, a apporté son commentaire sur l’état
actuel des négociations pour le règlement du conflit du Karabakh.

“Des négociations directes entre l’Azerbaïdjan et le Haut-Karabagh
auraient été plus logique ; en cédant sa place a la table de
négociation au Karabakh, l’Arménie resterait garant de la sécurité
de la RHK. Cependant il est difficile de dire si cette option est
viable dans les circonstances actuelles. Non seulement Erevan et
Stepanakert, mais aussi les parties qui désirent éviter la perte
de l’équilibre actuel des forces, tiennent a la préservation de
l’état actuel des choses,” a-t-il souligné.

L’expert caractérise la garantie de la sécurité de la RHK comme
étant un élément important du règlement du conflit, en particulier
dans la situation internationale actuelle, où même le statut d’un
membre de l’ONU ne peut pas le sauver de bombardements.

**

Extrait de la Radio Publique d’Arménie et de PanArmenian.net

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : FEAJD

The Armenian Mirror-Spectator
755 Mount Auburn St.
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel: (617) 924-4420
Fax: (617) 924-2887
Web:
E-mail: [email protected]
************************************************************************
1. Soprano Papian Dazzles At Armenian Night At Pops
2. Children of Armenia Fund Summer Soirée In Manhattan
3. Pattie’s Book Asks:Who Are the Armenians?
4. Commentary: The Kurdish Fait Accompli in Turkey
************************************************************************
1. Soprano Papian Dazzles At Armenian Night At Pops

By Nancy Kalajian
Special to the Mirror-Spectator

BOSTON – The 60th annual Armenian Night at the Pops featured world-renowned
soprano Hasmik Papian, who did not disappoint.

The Friends of Armenian Culture Society, Inc. (FACS) is the sponsor of this
annual event, one of the most anticipated Armenian cultural events in the
Greater Boston community. This year, more than 450 tickets were purchased
through FACS; during program intermissions, guests were seen greeting each
other with warm embraces and sharing their thoughts on the unique program.

Held in the majestic ambiance of Boston’s Symphony Hall, this year’s
programming was eclectic. `Triple Crown,’ the first part of the program,
centered on horses and included the premiere of Randy Newman’s Selections
from Seabiscuit. Actress Paula Plum narrated a film on horseracing and
`horses’ mystical relationship with man.’ Though occasionally she seemed to
be drowned out by the music, she nonetheless did an admirable job in a
challenging role.

After a long intermission, conductor Keith Lockhart welcomed the Armenian
community with an Armenian greeting and expressed admiration for FACS’
ongoing support and commitment to this annual event, now in its 60th year.
`This is one of my favorite nights at the Pops,’ shared Lockhart. Most
of
the audience – including many non-Armenians – stood up solemnly as the
Boston Pops Orchestra performed the Hayr Mer (the Lord’s Prayer).

As in previous FACS events, the Armenian talent held the audience
spellbound.

Lockhart introduced Papian, a `distinguished classical artist’ and later
admiringly remarked, `It’s an honor to work with someone of her
international stature.’ In a glittery blue gown, the soprano had great range
without a microphone and showed poise and solid voice in performing a
variety of pieces.

The mystical Aria-Vocalise by Babadjanian was followed by the well-known
Kilikia by Yeranian- Yekmalian. Catalani’s Ebben? Ne andro lontana, from
`La Wally’ was a dramatically expressed piece that drew huge applause and
contrasted with Puccini’s O mio bambino caro, which she sang in a
delicate, sensitive manner. Drinking Song, an upbeat and eclectic work by
talented young composer John Sarkissian, premiered that evening to favorable
review. Listeners gave him a big hand when Lockhart acknowledged him in the
audience.

During the evening, Lockhart also acknowledged Ara Arakelian of FACS, the
20th anniversary of the independence of Armenia and the passing of Dr. Keran
Chobanian, a FACS founder and supporter. `The Armenian Community, the BSO
and Pops lost a great friend,’ expressed Lockhart.

The final part of the program had an unexpected variation with bluegrass
pieces performed by the talented Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. Skaggs
explained the personal significance in the touching pieces he and his fellow
musicians performed with great skill. The audience seemed energized by the
grand songwriting, immense talent and fantastic acoustics during this set.

A new twist this year was that the post-concert reception was held at the
nearby Colonnade Hotel, instead of a hall in the Symphony building. Though
a
bit challenging to access by foot because of a heavy rainfall, most of those
who purchased a ticket attended the reception and seemed happy to meet
fellow patrons and supporters and even meet the evenings’ stars, Papian and
Sarkissian.

During the elegant champagne and desert reception, Arakelian, president of
FACS, welcomed the guests and encouraged the participation of the younger
generation in future cultural events. `Armenians and Armenian culture have
many undiscovered gems and presenting our heritage adds its own unique color
to the cultural mosaic of this world,’ Arakelian reflected.

Special recognition was given to Chobanian for his decades-long strategic
work with FACS. Appreciation was given to FACS supporters, organizers and
volunteers including Raffi Yeghiayan, Karen Ucuz, Jessica Manguikian and
Robert and Sandra Aghababian.

Eating a delicate sweet, Haig Babaian of Brighton felt the reception was a
good place `to chill out after the concert and meet people.’ Countless
conversations at the reception revolved around the evening’s diverse
content.

Sarkissian discussed the creative process in composing Drinking Song. `I
worked on it 10 years ago and recently finished it precisely for this
occasion,’ he said. Joan Sadyan of Connecticut shared with her friends,
`I
thoroughly liked Hasmik.’

Estrellita Karsh of Boston was just as impressed with Papian and felt, `the
spirit on and off the stage was infectious. Papian caught the mood. Each
rendition was perfectly done in a way the composer would have wanted it.’
Indeed, FACS supporters look forward to future memorable events.

************************************************************************
2. Children of Armenia Fund Summer Soirée In Manhattan

By Aram Arkun
Mirror-Spectator Staff

NEW YORK – The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) held a fundraiser on the
evening of June 22 at New York City’s Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking
District. Armenian-American actress and comedienne Andrea Martin, artist and
designer Michael Aram and fashion boutique chain founder Khajak Keledjian
served as hosts to a crowd of some 230 people.

The event was aimed at attracting a younger crowd than COAF’s annual
banquet, and it seems to have succeeded. Despite the early evening
thunderstorms, the hotel room and surrounding terrace were packed by
fashionably-dressed guests enjoying the view, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
More than $20,000 was raised, permitting COAF to build a wing on one of the
schools it is renovating in the large village of Miasnikian.

The formal portion of the event was fairly brief. Martin, a steadfast
supporter of COAF, pointed out the importance of the organization’s work.
She spoke both at the start and the end of the event with humor and charm.
She said that five years ago when she was first approached to serve as the
entertainment for a COAF event, she asked for money, a car, a dress and
`this and that,’ but when she became familiar with the work that COAF did,
she no longer could ask for any payment. She said that once any audience
member would go to Armenia and see for himself the impact of the
extraordinary work being done on people’s lives, `You will sell your house
and give it to COAF.’

Aram said that the poverty levels he saw in Armenia after the fall of the
Soviet Union were extreme. Students had to go to schools with no heat,
crumbling walls and holes in the floors. Aram continued, `Living conditions
and study conditions were among the worst I have ever seen in my life, and
I
have lived in India for 20 years of my life.’ One COAF Board member was
visiting a school in Armenia, and some students passed out from hunger at
that time. Aram asked for the help of those present to improve this tragic
situation.

Businessman Dr. Garo Armen, who founded COAF in 2000, introduced two short
videos. One was prepared by children in Armenia who had received the
necessary equipment and training through a COAF grant funded by the Paul
Newman Fund. They showed how buildings and the environment affecting their
lives had changed in a two-minute video. The video ended with the children
all saying thank you to their COAF donors.

The second was an unfinished draft begun some eight days ago, showing what
COAF does in a broader sense through animation. It was the work of a young
group of Armenian college students from Boston.

Armen provided the audience with basic information about COAF, recommending
that they visit their website for more details ().
Approximately 30 people work in the Armenia offices. Everything is directly
done by COAF in Armenia to avoid corruption. Armen said that in the 11
villages in which COAF works, there are some 25,000 people, of which some
6,000 are school-age children. Economic conditions are worsening there; thus
more than 10 percent of the population cannot afford the most basic things.
Though the schools are free, books, equipment and personal items such as
clothing and meals are not, therefore poor families sometimes cannot afford
to send their children. It takes approximately $350 per year per child to
provide what is necessary. Approximately 500 of the 6,000 children depend on
COAF for these necessities.

Keledjian said that COAF staff members are paid their salaries through board
members, so that all donations go directly to the children in Armenia. He
gave the example of his own birthday present to his brother Haro, who was in
the room. He went with Haro to Armenia, which allowed them to see the
difficulties Armenians there are facing. However, despite all their talk and
plans, they did not do much until Keledjian joined COAF. Keledjian pointed
out to the audience that Larry Feinberg, the biggest donor to COAF, was not
even Armenian, and that made him feel even more motivated to participate. So
Keledjian donated the presents from his 38th birthday to COAF. He urged
those present, lucky to be living in New York, to help Armenians in the
Republic of Armenia who are living without the same opportunities.

************************************************************************
3. Pattie’s Book Asks:Who Are the Armenians?

By Nancy Kalajian
Special to the Mirror-Spectator

Dr. Susan Pattie, author of the newly-released paperback, Who are the
Armenians?, has produced a contemporary, colorful and informative guide and
accompanying CD to introduce Armenian history and culture. When she recently
spoke about the book to a full house at NASSR in Belmont, Mass., nearly 50
copies of the book were sold that evening alone.

Aimed at children aged 5-12, the format and design of the book easily
engages readers of all ages; there are 16 sections or mini chapters, and
each section makes good use of background color, font color changes,
captions and highlighted words, to share and distinguish related
information.

Information is usually presented within a few paragraphs on each page, or
occasionally on lists, for example, on traditional Armenian instruments or
letters of the Armenian alphabet.

The readability level and font size might be a bit challenging for an early
elementary age student, though the spacing between lines of print is
generous, which can make it easier for younger readers to access.

For those youngsters who may have difficulty reading it on their own, an
older sibling or adult could easily read it to a child who could follow
along looking at the attractive visual information. Indeed, the wonderful
family photographs, illustrations, friendly and simple captions and wealth
of information will likely capture the interest of readers of all levels.

Many of the sections include an `activity,’ whereupon the reader can reflect
on a personal connection and then think of that connection outside the box,
for example in a global context. In the diaspora, for instance, the reader
is asked to trace their roots, where they have lived and changes that have
taken place there. Then it asks the reader to discover `famous’ Armenians
living in their country or perhaps other diasporan countries. In religion,
the activity focuses on the Jashagestzouk prayer said before a meal; not
only are the words there in transliteration but can be heard by a group of
people, perhaps a family, in the accompanying CD.

In one of the last chapters, Armenian Children around the World, you can
meet children of Armenian descent who live throughout the diaspora, like
Anush and Felipe in Buenes Aires, Sarine and Garen in Boston (both attend
the Armenian Sisters’ Academy), Dzovinar and Chouchane in Paris, Noemi in
London, Mikel in Beirut and Eduard, Monika and brothers Vilen and Hakob in
Yerevan. Living in the diaspora, many of the featured students seem to
attend Armenian, parochial or private schools and it would have been
interesting to also include an example of a student who attends a public
school in the US and goes to Sunday School and Armenian School on weekends,
as I did. But the main focus here is on children in the diaspora and how,
through learning the Armenian language and culture, or connecting with their
friends, families and especially grandparents, students can learn and keep
their unique heritage alive and be proud of who they are and where they have
come from. Through their words, photographs and games shared, we learn of
their passions and commonality with peers around the world, an effective
approach to multicultural understanding.

The Armenian language section describes its connection to the Indo-European
language family. You can open the book to the section and use the CD to
learn how to say in Armenian the numbers 1-10, the recited alphabet as well
as an alphabet song, and most importantly, how to say and respond in both
Eastern and Western Armenian to, `Hello. How are you?’

Reading this book took me down memory lane, especially when I read about
yadess and the custom of breaking a chicken bone; decades ago, this game
was as common an occurrence around our Sunday lunches with our grandparents
as was the bulghur pilaf I always looked forward to. Here, the game of
yadess was explained along with nardi (tavloo/backgammon), ashik (jan
) and Havgitakhagh (cracking colored eggs during Easter).

The section titled Food Customs is one of my favorites; a recipe for
Anooshaboor, sweet soup, is included, as well as a description of reading
coffee cup grinds. The layout of Dance includes a photo of immigrant
families dancing at a picnic in the 1930s in Pennsylvania, contrasting with
a contemporary picture of women doing an Armenian line dance in Paris.
There’s even a pocket guide with the CD that describes step by step how to
do the Tamzara line or circle dance, that `originated in the Gagharkounik
region near Lake Sevan in Armenian.’ Tamzara music is even included in the
CD.

At her talk at NASSR, the audience seemed genuinely interested in the
subject matter discussed in the presentation, thanking the author for her
careful research and well-written book. When the author discussed writing a
second children’s book on a similar theme in the future, she was receptive
to audience members’ feedback and some ideas she might consider in the next
go-around.

In summary, this book is a grand discovery and can meet the needs of diverse
audiences of all ages, whether you are `new’ to Armenian culture, need
to be
refreshed on the somewhat familiar, or simply love to learn and want to
experience Who are the Armenians? answered in an uncomplicated,
informative and enlightening manner. Who are the Armenians? was published
by the Armenian Institute in London and is being sold and distributed in the
US through NASSR.

Pattie is the director of the American Institute in London and has a PhD in
cultural anthropology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Her
previous book, Faith in History: Armenians Rebuilding Community, was
published in 1997.

************************************************************************
4. Commentary: The Kurdish Fait Accompli in Turkey

By Edmond Y. Azadian

Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan is considered a political wizard who
can play any dirty trick and come out on top. These credentials have more
takers in the West than anywhere else in the world.

Emboldened by his bravura, the prime minister has developed such a degree of
confidence that he believes he can dupe or mesmerize theWest through his
democratic reforms while keeping the genie of democracy in the bottle. But
since the June parliamentary elections in Turkey – where his AK party won a
majority – the prime minister is suffering the predicament of the sorcerer’s
apprentice, because the genie is already out of the bottle and he is between
a rock and a hard place. He cannot undo the reforms, which will certainly
offend the West, and he cannot control ethnic minorities and those in
opposition, which have broken the chains of repression. The prime minister
and his ruling Islamist party will be facing further challenges as they
undertake the promised amendments in the Constitution. Beginning with
President Abdullah Gul, and all the way down to the military brass, the
powers-that-be are opposed to the proposed changes in the constitution.
Already, many highly-ranked members of the military are in jail or in the
process of ongoing investigations of the Ergenekon conspiracy, creating a
very volatile situation in the country.

But events are moving faster than Mr. Erdogan and his ruling party can act.
To begin with, the opposition parties boycotted the oath-taking ceremony in
the parliament, because some of their elected party members had been jailed
under different charges. Erdogan used his negotiating tactics – coupled with
some threats – to convince Kilicdaroglu’s Republican party to return to
fold. Similarly other parties followed suit, except the Kurdish party, which
had a surprise in store.

The Kurds were already complaining that Turkey is too vast a country to be
ruled by one prime minister, and on July 14 the Kurdish party called Popular
Collective Convention (with the Kurdish acronym DTK), declared Kurdish
autonomy in Diarbekir.

This declaration came on the heels of a major bloody confrontation between
the army special units and PKK militants, claiming 13 victims from the army
and seven victims from the

Kurdish ranks. Seven other soldiers were also wounded. The prime minister,
who was flying to Istanbul diverted his flight to Ankara, and after
consulting with army, police and interior ministry chiefs, he flew to
Diarbekir to fire his threats to the restive Kurds.

The Kurdish convention lasted for six hours and was attended by co-chairs
Ahmed Turk and Aysel Tugluk. Following the declaration of Kurdish autonomy,
the latter further commented on the move by adding: `The basic Kurdish
problem can be resolved only when Kurds are given recognition as a distinct
ethnic group and enjoy the same rights exercised by the Turks in the
country. There are no other people in the world whose rights are trampled
more than the rights of 40 million Kurds=85We are declaring autonomy on behalf
of the Kurdish people based on the principle of sharing a common homeland.
We are pleading the Turkish people to be in peace with us.’ He further
clarified that `the declaration of autonomy does not mean to undermine the
Turkish state. This is not a state apparatus. The autonomy will be exercised
by accepting Turkey as a common homeland and by remaining faithful to the
unity of all nations in Turkey.’

Then he appealed to his fellow Kurds to consider themselves as citizens of
the `popular autonomous Kurdistan.’

Currently, the Kurds are populating most of historic Armenia. Now that the
Kurds are planning their future homeland in historic Armenian territories,
what does that mean for the site of the Armenian case in history? We should
have built a bridge with the Kurds a long time ago. Maybe it’s not too late,
yet.

This will shake the foundations of the Turkish state as has been feared for
a long time. Erdogan faced the challenge head on, first castigating the
perpetrators of violence by saying, `No one should expect concessions from
us by committing such acts. I feel sorry for the loss of 13 soldiers, but I
speak very frankly that no one should expect tolerance and understanding [if
they are committing] these acts of terror. These people have only one
option: giving up their arms. The military operations will continue as long
as militants have not given up their arms.’

He was equally categorical in answering the Kurdish declarations of
autonomy: `There is no Kurdish problem in this country. There is only a PKK
problem.’

This bold Kurdish initiative does not have only domestic ramifications for
Turkey.

The issue should rather be analyzed on the broader chessboard of the Middle
East politics. For a long time, Turkish leaders, especially Erdogan himself,
were fighting tooth and nail to preserve the territorial integrity of Iraq,
because the partition of that country would inexorably lead to the creation
of an independent Kurdistan, fanning the aspirations of the 15 million Kurds
in Turkey. Although Iraq’s territorial integrity was preserved, in part by
having a ceremonial president of Kurdish heritage (Jelal Talebani), in fact
the country was partitioned because Israel was seeking a firm foothold in
that country.

Israel armed and trained the Kurdish army, contributed to its administration
and stability and pacified the region. Much of Erdogan’s anger and
frustration against Israel is derived from their conflicting interests in
Iraqi Kurdistan.

Now Kurdish aspirations of autonomy – and eventual independence – have
spilled over into Turkey.

But today, there is an irony in the political developments of the Kurdish
issue. For the declaration of Kurdish autonomy, Turkish leaders are blaming
Iran, which is reacting to the Turkish initiatives to topple Syria’s
President Beshar Assad, Iran’s only ally in the region. If the accusations
prove to be true, whatever Israel began, its Moslem enemies are bringing to
its culmination.

Turkey had hardly mended its fences with Syria, by eliminating the visa
regime with great fanfare, it soon turned its back to its newly-won ally and
began plotting against Syria at the urging of the West.

Hosting Syria’s `government in exile’ on its territory constituted the straw
that broke the camel’s back.

Additionally Turkey threatened to invade northern Syria, under the pretext
of `protecting’ the refugees. Therefore it is not inconceivable that Syria
and Iran may react in a manner to destabilize Turkey by inciting the Kurds.

Erdogan was caught by surprise, believing that his Kurdish initiative had
gone far enough to tame their aspirations. Now that the genie is out, the
world is watching Erdogan’s wizardry, to see if he can put back the genie in
the bottle. Meanwhile the Kurds have created a fait accompli and will not
retreat unless they face a bloodbath in traditional Turkish style.

ANS TV, Azerbaijan
July 22 2011

Baku urges US pressure on Armenia to change status quo in Karabakh

[translated from Azeri]

[Presenter] The Baku government has reacted to US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton’s demand made during her latest visit to Turkey that
Turkish-Armenian relations be restored and the borders be opened.

[Ali Hasanov, captioned as director of the public and political
department at the Presidential Administration] There should be a
demand for the restoration of all relations. Why should it be only the
Turkish-Armenian border that should be opened and not the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border as well? There is only one reason, only
one obstacle to opening the border – Armenia should withdraw from
occupied lands, withdraw its troops from there and should adopt a
constructive position in the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh
problem. Therefore, we believe that esteemed US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton is aware of these problems and takes them into
account, and the pressure on Turkey will be considered not only as
pressure on Turkey but also as serious pressure on Armenia to change
the status quo. This will finally result in the opening of borders and
other communication lines both in the South Caucasus and between
Turkey and Armenia and in establishing an atmosphere of peace and
accord in the region.

ARMENIE
`Armforest’ : Des milliards de drams sont nécessaires pour réhabiliter
les forêts en Arménie

Le programme national de réhabilitation des forêts en Arménie prévoit
la réadaptation annuelle de 5 mille hectares de forêts et exige 2 à 3
milliards de drams (environ 5,5 à 8 millions de dollars) a dit le
Forestier en chef d’Armforest CJSC Ruben Petrosyan.

` Pendant les travaux de réadaptation depuis cinq ans 30 mille
hectares ont été réhabilités, environ 3 mille hectares de forêts ont
repris dont environ 150 hectares rien qu’en 2010 ‘ a-t-il dit au
centre de presse international `Novosti’ pendant le pont vidéo
Erevan-Moscou-Kiev-Astana sur le sujet ` des forêts pour les gens ou
les gens pour des forêts ? “.

Ruben Petrosyan a dit qu’il y a plus de problèmes dans la sphère de la
sylviculture en Arménie que des accomplissements.

` Nous n’avons pas de statistique même officielle de l’envergure de la
forêt. Quelques indicateurs montrent que c’est 11 % du territoire du
pays, d’autres 7 %. Le problème est que cette gestion de la forêt
d’Arménie est divisé entre le Ministère de la Protection de Nature et
le Ministère de l’Agriculture. ` Armforest ‘ est sous la subordination
du dernier. Nous gérons 75 % de la forêt, c’est-à-dire environ 227
mille hectares de forêts ‘ a-t-il dit.

dimanche 24 juillet 2011,
Sté[email protected]

FRONT DU HAUT KARABAGH
L’Azerbaïdjan continue de violer le cessez-le-feu
224 violations au cours de la semaine écoulée

Au cours de la semaine du 16 au 23 juillet, l’Azerbaïdjan a violé à
224 reprises le régime du cessez-le-feu sur les positions du Haut
Karabagh. Les unités azéries ont tiré 718 projectiles de diverses
dimensions en direction des positions arméniennes. Le ministère de la
Défense de la République du Haut Karabagh qui communique ces
informations, affirme que du côté arménien, aucune perte n’est à
déplorer, l’armée arménienne continue à contrôler la situation et
répondre aux provocations azéries afin « de faire taire l’ennemi ».

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 24 juillet 2011,
Krikor [email protected]

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
July 22, 2011 Friday

We hope Armenia will listen to voice of leaders of world superpowers,
President Aliyev

Baku 22 July

We hope that Armenia will listen to these voices and especially of the
leaders of world superpowers saying that status quo is not acceptable,
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a meeting with a
delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

The Head of State pointed out Armenia wants to keep the status quo
forever and does not want to leave the occupied territories.

They are trying in the negotiation process to achieve independence for
Nagorno-Karabakh. But, Nagorno-Karabakh was never historically part of
Armenia, he said.

news.am, Armenia
July 23 2011

Armenia leads in World Team Chess Championship

July 23, 2011 | 17:22

NINGBO. – The Armenian team beat Indian chess players (2.5:1.5) in the
6th round of the World Team Chess Championship 2011 in Ningbo, China.

Levon Aronian won the only victory in the match with Indians and
Sergey Movsisyan, Vladimir Hakobyan and Gabriel Sargsyan ended their
matches in a draw. The Armenian team tops the standings with 10
points.

Chief rivals of Armenians in the championship, Russian and Hungarian
teams, ended their matches in draws and have 8 points each. Match
between Israel and Azerbaijan also ended in a draw, 2:2. The Chinese
defeated the Egyptian team 3.5:0.5.

In 7th tour Armenia will compete with Hungary.

news.am, Armenia
July 23 2011

Turkey again throws dust in the eyes of international community- expert

July 23, 2011 | 00:04

YEREVAN. – The rumors spread in the Turkish mass media on Turkey’s
aspiration to give new impetus to normalization with Armenia and
opening of Turkish Airlines office in Yerevan are PR-action by Turkish
Foreign Ministry, Director of Oriental Studies Institute of Armenian
National Academy of Sciences, expert in Turkic studies Ruben
Safrastyan told Armenia News-NEWS.am.

He advised to consider these statements in the context of Ankara’s
desire to throw dust in the eyes of the international community,
following U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Ankara,
who once again highlighted the need for Armenia-Turkey rapprochement
at her meetings with the Turkish leadership. `First, Turkey is
unlikely to open an office of Turkish Airlines in Armenia or to
establish air links between Van and Yerevan. Even if it happens, such
steps are unlikely to contribute to the global normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations, as Ankara has no real desire to reconcile
relations with Yerevan,’ the expert noted, adding today Turkey has a
greater interest in Iran, Syria and Israel.

According to publications in Turkish media, Turkey is planning to
introduce a new set of confidence-building measures in an effort to
normalize relations with neighboring Armenia. In particular, the
Turkish side decided to send positive signals to the Armenian side.
Turkey plans to open the office of Turkish Airlines in Armenia’s
capital and establish Van-Yerevan air links.

Citizen of Armenia, supposedly Azeri spy, detained on Armenian- Georgian border

July 23, 2011 – 15:51 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On June 23, RA National Security Services detained a
citizen of Armenia, Yerevan resident a 31-year old Karen Mehrabyan
while attempting to cross the Armenian-Georgian border near Bavra, who
is suspected in contact with special services of Azerbaijan.

As the National Security Services’ press office told PanARMENIAN.Net
Mehrabyan has been under Security Services’ observation for a long
time, within which the Services fixed facts of collection, keeping and
transmittance of information to Azerbaijan by Mehrabyan regarding
military potential of Karabakh. In the process of information
collection, Mehrabyan also tried to enroll NKR citizens and military
men from Armenian Defense Ministry.

Armenian National Security Services possesses evidences about
enrolment and use of Mehrabyan by Azeri special services in Turkey.

A suit is filed on the point 1 of the article 299 criminal code of
Armenia (treason), investigation is in progress.

Aronian pushes Armenia’s team forward in China

17:05 – 23.07.11

Armenian chess grand master Levon Aronian beat Indian Pendyala
Harikrishna at the 6th round of the World Chess Team Championship 2011
held in China.

According to the Armenian sports news website, Aronian’s victory was
the first one on Saturday with the rest of the matches still under
way.

Below is the ranking list after the 5th round:

1. Armenia – 8 points
2-3 Russia – 7 points
2-3 Hungary – 7 points
4 Ukraine – 6 points
5-7 China – 5 points
5-7 Azerbaijan – 5 points
5-7 US – 5 points
8. Israel – 5 points
9 India – 3 points
Egypt – 0 points

Tert.am