Author: Badalian Vardan

WHO REMEMBERS NOW THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ARMENIANS?
David Weigel

Reason Online, CA

Aug 28 2007

Jamie Kirchick is making sense about the Anti-Defamation League’s
stonewalling on a Congressional resolution recognizing the Armenian
genocide:

For pragmatic reasons, a sense of the Congress resolution acknowledging
the Armenian genocide may not be such a great idea.

Turkey is an important ally in the Muslim world. Would it really be
worth hurting that relationship over a resolution that, however morally
just, bears no force? A few weeks ago, however, a legislator told me
that if such a resolution really did offend the Turks to the point
that they would hamper American military maneuvers out of Incirlik Air
Base or by fooling around in Kurdistan, then maybe our relationship
with Turkey is not all it’s cracked up to be in the first place.

But at the end of the day, these realpolitik considerations should have
no bearing on a civic organization committed to humanitarian goals,
which is what the ADL claims to be. Yes, it is part of the ADL’s
mission to defend Israel (and, it bears noting, to debunk Holocaust
deniers)–but the ADL is not a mere extension of the Israeli Foreign
Ministry. Pussyfooting on the existence of the Armenian genocide
works against everything for which the ADL claims to stand.

Incredibly ironic, too, as the title of this post is a much-repeated
paraphrase of Hitler’s August 22, 1939 speech. Hitler’s point was that
founders of great empires are remembered for the kingdoms they build
and not the people they slaughter. He was, unsurprisingly, wrong as
all hell, evidenced by the other example he gave: "history sees in
[Genghis Khan] solely the founder of a state." (The Reich didn’t last
long enough for him to witness John Kerry’s Senate testimony or Bill
and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.) How the ADL expects people to remain
concerned about genocide while forgetting or blowing off a fairly
recent genocide, I have no clue.

I’ve got nothing else to add to Kirchick: Either the ADL is an
organization that dogpiles people who minimize genocides or Nazism
or it’s an extension of Ehud Olmert’s press shop.

And yes, I realize I just quoted Hitler to make a point. If Abe Foxman
wants to sue me, the subpoena should be sent to reason’s Washington,
D.C. office between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. any day this week.

ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: BUCHAREST SUPPORTS PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT IN ACCORDANCE WITH UN RESOLUTIONS AND OSCE DECISIONS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug 27 2007

Romania’s Foreign Minister Adrian Cioroianu’s, interview to APA’s
Eastern Europe bureau

– How do you appreciate relations between Azerbaijan and Romania?

– Romania is the second country after Turkey to recognize
Azerbaijan’s independence. We have recently marked the 15th
anniversary of Romania-Azerbaijan diplomatic relations. Bilateral
cooperation between our countries has always developed. High-level
contacts and continuation of political dialogue on different levels
proves it. High-level visits formed the basis for the bilateral
relations. President Ilham Aliyev paid a successful visit to Bucharest
three years ago. 11 agreements improving legal basis of our bilateral
relations were signed during the visit. These documents created firm
basis for the bilateral relations and are of great importance for their
development. President Traian Basescu’s visit to Baku in October, 2006
created conditions for signing new agreements giving impetus to the
expansion of relations. The presidents’ talks proved that we share
the same opinion regarding bilateral, regional and international
problems. The presidents also exchanged views on stimulation of
bilateral cooperation in energy sphere, so that the international
community is paying more attention to the energy security on global
level. The two presidents confirmed that the number of provision
sources and transport communications for ensuring energy security
is very important. President Traian Basescu’s visit to Baku not only
proved Romania-Azerbaijan relations but also gave impulse to bilateral,
especially commercial and economic relations.

Economic agents of the two countries should deal with these
relations. Romanian president, Mr. Traian Basescu’s recent visit
to Baku on occasion of the second summit of GUAM – organization for
democracy and economic development (June 19, 2007) created conditions
for the high-level dialogue with Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev.

The meeting again proved that the bilateral relations are of great
importance and develop. Romania that left behind the transition period
with complications and difficulties is ready to share its experience
with friendly countries. We attach special importance to the bilateral
relations with Azerbaijan and partnership relations on the level of
Black Sea cooperation.

– What stage is the Paneurope project on? What are Romania’s plans
and expectations concerning Constance-Trieste pipeline?

– Romania actively supports PEOP (Pan European Oil Pipeline) that will
sort Europe’s energy import. It is known that Europe has increasing
need for oil and European Union needs securing this strategic
provision. So, PEOP is the appropriate, effective alternative way of
solution that will help increase energy security of Europe. At the
same time, PEOP ensures direct access of the Caspian oil to Western
Europe. This oil pipeline is also important in terms of growing
industry as it offers new contacts to oil companies between the
Caspian resources and oil refineries in Europe. We are pleased that
European commission is getting more active. This simplified signing
the agreement between the direct partners.

The representatives of participant states together with European Energy
Commissioner inked Declaration of Ministers on Constanza-Trieste
oil pipeline project in Zagreb. This is an important step in the
development of the project. It is hoped the procedure of building a
company for the project will end by the end of the year by the support
of European Commission and Secretariat of the European Charter. In this
respect, Azerbaijan can be an important supplier of this pipeline, and
its involvement would ease successful implementation of the project.

– In what fields may Azerbaijan be interesting for Romania except
for energy sphere?

– Romania regards Azerbaijan as a reliable partner to ensure security
and stability in Black sea region. Speaking of Romanian-Azerbaijani
economic relations, the potential proposed by the both of these
markets has not yet been estimated. The level does not satisfy us
despite the fact that trade turnover has risen recently. Romanian
economy develops very fast and may offer Azerbaijan more that
furniture. Azerbaijani econmy is attractive for foreign economic
agents. I belive that Romanian economic operators would look forward
to accessing to other markets.

– What position does Azerbaijan rank in Black sea initiative supported
by South Caucasus and Budapest?

– Black Sea Forum on dialogue and Partnership is a large regional
platform among littoral states. Azerbaijan completes the line of
Black Sea states. Development of democratic values, human rights,
sustainable or market economy is a basis of partnership affecting
various levels of national and regional societies in Black sea region.

– What is Budapest’s position concerning Transnistria conflict and
other frozen conflicts in Post-Soviet states?

– Romania supports the solution of Transnistria conflict within the
framework of Moldova’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Romania
wants the Nagorno Karabakh conflict be solved by means of talks.

Under the principles of international law, Romania supports peaceful
solution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in accordance with the
corresponding UN Resolutions and OSCE decisions. Taking into account
OSCE efforts and Minsk Group’s activity towards the peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict Romania is optimistic that progress
of further important and decisive steps in this field.

– Azerbaijan and Romania are cooperating in military sphere. Does
Bucharest, as NATO Alliance member intent to deepen this cooperation?

– Romania backs the stability, democratic development in Azerbaijan
and its position to integrate into Euro-Atlantic structures.

Azerbaijan is active partner of the Alliance and Romania taking
into account its positive dynamic role in partnership mechanisms,
particularly, its serious insolvent in the operations in Kosovo and
Afghanistan. We appraise Azerbaijan’s successes within the framework
of the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with the Alliance
in 2006. We think successful implementation of IPAP’a goals create a
large ground for deepening of Azerbaijan-NATO relations. We welcome
that Azerbaijan will have more enlarged, new IPAP that will bear more
commitments by the end of 2007. As NATO member, Romania is pleased with
Azerbaijan’s progress in application of military reforms. We approve
the cooperation in military and military-political spheres regulated
with the agreements concluded between Bucharest and Baku in 1999,
2000 and 2006 and hope the bilateral political dialogue in the issues
of common interest such as stability and security in the Black Sea
region will be enlarged. We regard Azerbaijan as a player which has a
strong role in defining of regional security atmosphere. This profile
should be completed with the interest towards domestic development
because this is the very factor which guarantees sustainable and
expected targets of foreign policy. We hope NATO summit in Bucharest
scheduled for April, 2008 will achieve significant progress in the
implementation of the projects and brave initiatives made during
Riga summit, including cooperation within EAPC and relations with
the partners in enlarged Black Sea region.

– Romania shows interest in GUAM. What plans does Bucharest have
regarding this organization?

– Romania’s interest in the developments ongoing in its eastern
neighborhood is a natural case for any member of Euro-Atlantic
community dealing with enlargement of stability, security and welfare
area beyond NATO and EU borders. Stable, democratic and prosperous
enlarged Black Sea region, its close integration into Europe and
Euro-Atlantic structures is Romania’s fundamental strategic interest.

In this context, our country is pursuing an active policy on
regional cooperation in both south-Eastern Europe and Enlarged
Black Sea region. Romania is making regular efforts for making Black
Sea Forum for Dialogue and Partnership institution. The initiative
calls for maintenance of democracy and economic development, energy
security, raising of confidence, strengthening of stability, peace
and security. Moreover, our country is active part of European
Commission’s Black Sea Sinergy Declaration. Romania is planning to
have close cooperation with the Black Sea littoral states as well as
other nearby countries, including Azerbaijan in order to implement
these initiatives. Taking into account strategic importance of
the Black Sea region we are following with great interest the steps
taken by all cooperation mechanisms and structures in this region. In
this context, Romania has welcomed GUAM turning to an international
organization and the member states’ finding ways to reach long-term
solution of the challenges that the region face. As the member of
the European Union and NATO, Romania is not considering ODED-GUAM
membership but as Romanian President Mr. Trian Basescu confirmed in
his speech made in Baku summit of ODED-GUAM summit (June 19, 2007)
Romania welcomes positive steps taken by GUAM states and is interested
in having dynamic political and economic relations in energy security
with these states. Romanian president’s presence in GUAM summits
as guest (April 22, 2005, Chisinau; June 19, 2007, Baku) as well as
Romanian Foreign Minister’s attending the summit of ODED-GUAM in Kyiv
(May 22-23, 2006) show that Romania shows a special approach to the
initiatives of regional cooperation and backs their full development.

– What is your assessment of the prospect of Azerbaijan’s access to
the European Union?

– European Union’s including the South Caucasus countries to the
European Neighborhood Policy is a decision on establishing close
relations with them. Romania did a lot for taking such step and
accelerating implementation of this decision. EU-Azerbaijan action
plan concluded in 2006 is a proof of expanding relations between the
Union and your country. We welcome the decision which is of political
nearing character and gives Azerbaijan chance to join to EU PESC
declaration. Azerbaijan is a member of European Neighborhood Policy.

Azerbaijan is the member of European Neighborhood Policy program
encouraging civil society cross border cooperation through European
Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) Cross Border Cooperation
Sea Basin Program. We should understand the efficiency and character
of new tools and funds and appraise it maximally for the benefit of
the region and our domestic development. Moreover, EU has carried
out approach towards the Black Sea region through initiative of
Black Sea Synergy this year which Romania took an active part in its
preparation. We rely on participation of Azerbaijan in the realization
of new regional cooperation initiatives. We positively assess your
country’s participation in Black Sea cross border cooperation program
under European Neighborhood Policy.

– What is your assessment on prospects of SOCAR’s activity in Romania?

– Romania is interesting in having various ways of ensuring its
energy resources and playing active role in ensuring Europe’s energy
security. As a member of EU, Romania supports the Union’s preparing
only policy in energy sector. Following this, we also want to discuss
finding corresponding form for signing bilateral agreement between
Romania and Azerbaijan on cooperation in energy sector. We welcome
SOCAR’s opening a branch establishment in Romania. This company’s
functioning in Romanian market shows that Romanian-Azerbaijan
relations is in the stage of maturity. We examine it as bilateral
prospects, prism of common Euroatlantic security interests. SOCAR
can enter European market using Romania as a transit gate through its
Bucharest representation. Romania can be a passage for the transition
of Azerbaijan’s resources to Central and Western Europe with its
strategic position. Moreover, SOCAR has experienced companies for
being reliable partners.

Our country has great oil refinery enterprises in European standards,
complicated energy transport infrastructure, great internal
distribution net and these are privileges for the development of
efficient cooperation between SOCAR and Romania. On the other hand,
Azerbaijan’s participation in our market coincides with the interests
of Romania and it increases competition.

– How can Romania and Azerbaijan cooperate in the framework of
Nabucco project?

– Nabucco project will have a great share in ensure of energy security
of Europe. Its efficiency has been recognized in EU level by inclusion
into the list of infrastructural projects which is priority for
Europe in the framework of European Commission’s Action Plan on
European Energy Policy adopted by Council of Europe on March 8-9,
2007. Development of Nabucco project and development of relations with
Caspian countries is priority of Romania. Taking into consideration
the energy resources Azerbaijan is of great importance as a potential
supplier.

As a sign of assessing Azerbaijan’s important role in ensure of
energy security of the region and Europe as well both sides plan
establishing energy partnership and development of the cooperation
within the framework of Nabucco project.

8,115 FIRST-FORMERS ENTERED YEREVAN SCHOOLS AS OF AUGUST 27

Noyan Tapan
Aug 27 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, NOYAN TAPAN. 8.115 first-formers have entered
schools of Yerevan as of August 27, Yerevan’s deputy mayor Komo
Areyan said at the August 27 press conference. According to him, by
the instructions of the city mayor, the issues of uniterrupted water
and power supply of schools will be solved until August 30. The state
motor vehicle inspection of Yerevan will organize a ten-day control
of safe traffic at the school-adjacent areas.

In the words of the deputy mayor, first-formers will be given all
textbooks gratis, while pupils of other forms will be given their
textbooks until the end of the academic year when they will have to
return textbooks.

K. Areyan said that a pilot program on introduction of the senior
school system will be implemented in a number of Yerevan schools this
year. The deputy mayor noted that the introduction of this system
in comprehensive educational institutions will be completed in the
2009-2010 academic year.

He also stated that preparatory work on organizing common examinations
at schools will be done this academic year.

It was mentioned that the educational week will be six-day at
comprehensive educational institutions.

CHILDREN BORN ONLY IN 2001 TO BE FIRST GRADE PUPILS THIS YEAR

Panorama.am
16:32 27/08/2007

Yerevan municipality has issued assignments to respective bodies
to ensure "smooth functioning" of schools and be prepared for the
educational year, Yerevan Deputy Mayor Kamo Areyan told a briefing
today speaking about preparatory days for September.

In his words, Yerevan Water is assigned to ensure uninterrupted water
supply to schools. The Armenian Electric Networks got an assignment
to check and make inventory of energy supply in schools. Other
organizations got orders to improve the areas in the vicinities
of schools.

Kamo Areyan also mentioned that 10 Days of Safe Traffic has been
announced by a road police representative in relation with the new
educational year.

Speaking about first grade students’ school acceptance, the deputy
mayor said that, unlike last year, this year the acceptance to first
grades will be only for children born in 2001.

CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
T +995 32 75 19 03/04
F +995 32 75 19 05
<mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]
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The organizers of SunChild First Regional Environmental Festival are happy
to invite you to cooperation within the framework of festival workshop
program, which will be conducted from October, 6th-10th 2007 in Armenia.

Short Concept: Workshop on Advocacy Coalition Building and Networking

Dilijan, Armenia 7th – 8th October 2007

SunChild Workshop Program: General Objectives

The second part of "SunChild 1st Regional Environmental Festival" will be a
meeting place for environmental key-players, organizations and individuals,
film makers, and artists. With the workshop program the organizers want to
create a platform for cross bordering encounters and the creation of
"environmental thought", through open disputes, training and outreach.

The workshops will be conducted by international and regional environmental
experts. Overall aim of the program is to encourage public participation in
environmental decision-making and cooperation for the solution of the most
acute environmental problems in the region.

The topics of the workshop program will include the presentation of advocacy
campaigns and tools for network building, as well as an ecotourism workshop
and an exhibition of eco-tourism projects.

SunChild Festival’s workshop program will be closed with a panel discussion
which is open for all visitors and participants of the Festival. Experts
from regional and international organizations and NGOs (for example: OSCE,
WWF, CENN, UNDP) as well as representatives of governmental institutions
will belong to the panel. Their discussion will focus on the question how to
improve the joint regional efforts for solving the environmental problems in
South Caucasus.

Workshop on Advocacy Coalition Building and Networking

The organizers of SunChild festival, in their former work, identified a lack
of cooperation among South Caucasus NGOs as well as between them and
international environmental organizations. Due to this fact the gaining and
spreading of information about environmental issues is very much hampered in
the region. Moreover many regional environmental NGOs are lacking the
necessary skills to establish sustainable relations with the corresponding
state structures in their countries.

Result of these shortcomings is that the regional NGOs have still not
succeeded to initiate an effective cross-border environmental movement. Thus
the implementation of SunChild Festival and specially the networking
workshop in the framework of the festival’s program will bring an
opportunity for environmental organizations, professionals and NGOs to
network and cooperate with one another. The networking workshop aims to
offer environmental experts and representatives from various south Caucasian
NGOs an opportunity to exchange their views, gain practical tools, hear
success stories, and become aware of effective advocacy campaigns. Under
supervision of trainers/ activists of well known environmental organizations
in the region and from abroad the participants will be empowered to develop
sustainable concepts for cooperation and future joint projects within the
region.

One of the successful advocacy campaigns which will be introduced to the
participants is the Shikahogh Forest Campaign. In 2005 several Armenian
environmental organizations succeeded in forcing the government to give up
plans to cut Shikahogh forest for a highway project. The campaign was
organized by Armenian forests NGO under its’ President Jeffrey Tufenkian. In
the framework of SunChild Networking workshop Jeffrey Tufenkian will present
the development and launching of the campaign for saving Shikahogh forest.

The workshop will address mainly the following questions:

* Advocacy:

How can individuals/organizations participate in the discussion and
influence decisions about environmental issues in the fields of politics,
legislation and society?

* Coalition Building:

How can individuals/ organizations join and cooperate in order to launch
effective advocacy campaigns for concrete environmental issues and the
protection of social environmental interests?

* Networking:

How can individuals/ organizations build sustainable networks which offer
the possibility, to distribute information quickly with one another and thus
react flexible and cooperative on any arising environmental problem?

Activities:

Presentations, debates, brain storming, group activities.

Expected Results:

* SunChild networking workshop will bring an opportunity for
interested citizens of the whole region to meet and discuss new approaches
and steps to establish a strong environmental network.

* SunChild networking workshop will bring about discussion, design and
later implementation of joint projects.

* SunChild networking workshop will provide the participants and
interested citizens with an opportunity not only to get information, but
also to be involved with some practical experience, such as presenting their
projects and/or working out small projects for their region and getting
direct consultation from experts on the project.

* SunChild networking workshop aims to offer all participants not only
to establish first contact between each other but to make this contacts
sustainable. Thus the Festival organizers will create an electronic database
of all participating parties, such as NGOs, governmental institutions and
individuals. This database, which is planned to be updated regularly, will
be accessible for all interested parties and individuals within the region
as well as abroad. Thus it could be used as a basic tool for regional
environmental networking as launching joint campaigns or finding potential
project partners. As SunChild Festival and the networking workshop in the
festival’s program is being an annual event, this database will increase
through the years as the participation within the festival grows

Aug 25, 2007

Genocide is silent no more

Armenians await an admission

By Bronislaus B. Kush TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
[email protected]

Last March, the government of Turkey hosted a ceremony marking the $1.5
million restoration of a 10th century Armenian church on Akdamar Island, an
event attended by about 3,000 people including high-ranking officials and
the Turkish Armenian Patriarch, Mesrob II.

International political observers viewed the three-year rehabilitation of
the historic church as yet another attempt by the government of Ankara to
reach out to the minority Armenian population.

But at the time, Armenians in Turkey and elsewhere insisted that there could
never be any real goodwill until the government acknowledged that the
massacre of up to 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of Ottoman Turks from
1915 to 1923 was a "genocide."
< apps/adx.dll/link/WT001/largeunitad01/RSS01/700236 25311123204/1003/-/;IDN=3D1701273421;Type=3D3;SL=3 DNEWS>

The issue has made headlines again over the past few days, the result of a
potentially divisive debate within the Anti-Defamation League over whether
the nationally prominent organization itself should recognize the Armenian
killings as genocide and whether the ADL should support a congressional
resolution on the matter.

However, to Clark University scholars who have studied a number of global
atrocities over the years, there is no gray area when it comes to the World
War I era slaughter of the Armenians.

"It’s an absolutely settled matter with academics," said Deborah Dwork,
director of the Strassler Family Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies
at Clark. "It was murder under the cover of a world war. Period. Full stop."

Armenians flourished for about 3,000 years in the land that now makes up
Turkey, but in 1913 the so-called "Young Turks" seized control of the
government and in March of 1915 began rounding up Armenian leaders,
thinkers, writers and professionals.

The governmental effort widened and thousands of Armenians were abducted,
tortured, deported and killed.

Many nations have recognized the genocide but Armenians charge that Turkey
refuses to take responsibility for what happened.

Earlier this month, Andrew H. Tarsy, the league’s regional director, was
fired by national Director Abraham H. Foxman for calling upon the
organization to recognize the killings in Turkey as a genocide and to
support a congressional resolution on the matter.

Mr. Foxman said he and the ADL acknowledged the massacre but feared that
calling the slaughter a genocide might imperil Jews living in Turkey.

He said ADL action might also strain Israeli-Turkey relations. Turkey is one
of the few Muslim nations that have a relatively warm diplomatic
relationship with the Jewish state.

Under mounting pressure from Jewish and Armenian groups, the ADL finally
labeled the killings a "genocide," but stopped short of backing the
resolution, which is co-sponsored by about 220 congressmen, including U.S.
Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester.

In reaction to the change in the ADL’s position, the Turkish Foreign
Ministry yesterday stated its continued opposition to the resolution but
said Turkish Jews have nothing to fear.

"The Jewish community in Turkey is part of our society and its members do
not have to worry," said the ministry in a statement.

Ms. Dwork, the Rose professor of Holocaust History, believes Turkey will
eventually call the killings a genocide but she added that it won’t happen
soon.

"Denial is a bad idea that will always bite you in the end," she said.

According to academics, a genocide is an organized killing of a people for
the express purpose of ending their collective existence. Genocides target
those of a particular race, social class, ethnicity, religion or political
leaning.

Ms. Dwork theorized the Ankara government may be denying that the atrocity
was a genocide because of the issue of restitution. Armenian lands,
possessions and wealth were seized during the purge.

"I don’t really know why Turkey denies this genocide," said Ms. Dwork,
noting there’s been a reluctance in many quarters to also label the
countless deaths in Rwanda and Darfur as genocides. "Only the officials in
Ankara know."

Clark University President John Bassett said Turkey’s denial could kill that
country’s bid to join the European Union.

"Some Europeans believe that Turkey’s part of Asia, and shouldn’t be part of
the European community to begin with," he explained. "The genocide
controversy could open up the door for critics."

He said Turkish national pride may also be an issue. "Some people don’t want
to know about the evils that occurred in the past."

Concerning the firing of Mr. Tarsy, who received an honorary degree from
Clark a few years ago, Mr. Bassett said there may be more to the issue than
the genocide question. He said, for example, that there might have been some
dissatisfaction with Mr. Tarsy’s job performance.

"We just don’t know," Mr. Bassett said. "I think Abe Foxman made a mistake,
however, in not trying to work things out before the issue turned into a
very unpleasant situation."

Source: 50352

AFGHAN MOJAHEADS IN KARABAKH WAR
Henry Aroushanian.

Azat Artsakh Daily
22-08-2007
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

At the beginning of 1990 years, Afghanistan expressed its attitude
about the events taken place in Ngorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan
in the form of warning, directed to the managements of the USSR
and India. The leaders of opposition grouping of islamic party of
Afghanistan Gulbedin Hekmatiar stated about the events taken place
in Azerbaijan and Indian Jamu and Kashmir states. His statement
particularly says."Afghan mojaheads cannot be indifferent to
the vulnerable problems of islamic world. We assured, that afghan
mojaheads will show philanthropic assistance to our brothers". But this
"philanthropic" assistance had a covered army political contents and
after some years on Azerbaijan leaders’ own initiative armour was
moved from Afghanistan to Azerbaijan. Our talk with the candidate
of historical sciences Haik Demoian was about these questions. –
Mr Demoian, when and with what motives afghan mojaheads appeared in
Azerbaijan armed forces? – The appearance of afghan mojaheads in the
territory of Azerbaijan is the following: In 1993, when azeri armed
forces had unluckiness at Karabakh front, official Baku striked a
bargain with the management of Afghanistan for involving in military
operations against Nagorno Karabakh self-defence forces. In July
1993 the Minister of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan Rovshan Javadov
left for the capital of Afghanistan Kabul, who had meetings with the
Prime Minister of Afghanistan, with the leader of "Hezb Islam" afghan
leader G. Hekmatiar for recruiting afghan hires. Afghan mojaheads
arrived in Karabakh, were basically from Hekmatiar’s "Hezb i Islam"
grouping. – For hiding this unprecedented process "Mego Oil" false
party was founded. American officers Richard Secord, Khary Aderkhold
and Harry Best led that party. – It’s obvious, that during the
military operations the azeri side tried to refute the news about
the mojaheads fought against Karabakh. – In 1993 in the direction
of Karabakh batterfields Fizuli and Zangelan the corpses of afghan
mojaheads with national clothes were found out. Though official Baku
tried to refute the presence of afghans in the republic, the origins
pointed out the presence of 1.5-2 thousand afghans. Moreover,
no more than 200-300 mojaheads were in the front at the same
time. Afghans were fighting according to the established list –
they were in the positions one day of a week, and the other days
they had a rest. Afghans lived in separate districts and associated
rarely with azeri soldiers. There were some reasons for that. –
Which are these reasons? First – Azeri soldiers didn’t keep the
rules of shariat.But afghans followed strictly the rituals written in
Ghouran. The second – as also slavonian hires were fighting in azeri
forces, whom afghans called "shuravi", conflicts took place with the
latters, which ended with double-sided losses. The third – military
management of Azerbaijan evaded unnecessary openings. – What steps
did the leaders of military policy of Karabakh and Armenia take at
these life-and-death issue times. – Keeping in view the development of
dangers, the authorities of RA were obliged to apply with letter to the
president of Afghanistan Islamic Republic Burhanud Rabbani and to the
Prime Minister of the country Gulbed Hekmatiar. In return letter the
management of Afghanistan criticized the presence of afghan citizens
in Nagorno Karabakh military operations and performed to solve the
problem peacefully. Rabbani particularly writes."Afghan side realizes
the anxiety of armenian authority. I want to express great regret to
Armenian people that some groupings for their financial aims, strain
public and political stability in Afghanistan, and the relations
between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Participation of some hires, under
the name "mojaheads", cannot worsen the relations between Afghanistan
and Armenia". Well, "operation" was deciphered and, as they say,
the comments in that case are superfluous.

HALACOðLU: REMARKS DISTORTED, STUDY WILL CONTRIBUTE TO PEACE

Today’s Zaman
Aug 22 2007
Turkey

Turkish Historical Society (TTK) President Yusuf Halacoðlu has said
recent remarks made by him that "Kurds are actually Turkmen and that
the Alevi Kurds are actually Armenians" were misinterpreted.

Halacoðlu, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Ankara,
claimed that his words were distorted.

"My remarks were wrongly conveyed to the public," said Halacoðlu, who
added: "I do not speak without evidence. Some may prefer making noisy
arguments, but I do not make statements without conducting studies.

Professors bury their heads in the sand." Touching on the fact that
such studies are also made by foreign scholars, Halacoðlu explained
that it is perfectly normal for him as head of the TTK to conduct
studies on these subjects and disseminate them to the public.

Professor Ali Yaþar Sarýbay, speaking to Today’s Zaman, maintained
that such remarks were not appropriate for a scholar or a historian.

"Even assuming it was a scientific study, what significance does it
have? What we need in this land is peace and tranquility. I don’t
find these remarks meaningful."

Mehmet Menzir Kababaþ, a deputy from the Democratic Society Party
(DTP), argued that the statement was unscientific. "The prime minister
should immediately remove him from office," he said. When asked about
whether he is planning to resign from office, Halacoðlu responded: "I
have not received any reaction in this respect. I will not resign. The
government has not requested me to do so." Halacoðlu added that even
if he was not the president of the TTK, he would continue to conduct
studies on the subject.

He further stressed that his study on Turkish clans — in which he
claims that many Turks became Kurds due to the feudal structure of
Ottoman society in the 16th century — would ultimately contribute
to social peace.

Observing that there is currently competition between Kurds and Turks
in Turkey, he said: "I am not racist. I regard people as individuals.

He who feels himself a member of a particular race is a member of
that race." Halacoðlu also argued that his study provided important
details on the ethnic composition in Turkey and on so-called "converts"
(donme).

Sarýbay said that the claims that Kurds were actually Turks were not
new and that such arguments had made no contribution to social peace.

Alevis, too, harshly reacted to Halacoðlu’s remarks that "Alevi Kurds
are actually Armenians."

Alevi Foundations Federation Chairman Doðan Bermek stressed that some
groups in Turkey have been trying to implement social engineering
projects. "People are trying to label each other with certain
identities," he said. Noting that it is wrong to confuse religious
beliefs with ethnicity, Bermek added: "People may become Armenians
or Muslims as they wish, and this cannot be criticized. Halacoðlu
argues that Kurdish-speaking Alevis are Armenians, but they claim to
have come from Khorasan. Are they lying?"

Yusuf Halacoðlu’s study claims that many Armenians identified
themselves as "Kurdish Alevis" in an attempt to save themselves from
the forced migration of Armenians in 1915.

–Boundary_(ID_ADGGkGiLSg4+vTTixXIjPw)–

LITHUANIA TO OPEN EMBASSY IN ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency
Aug 21 2007
Armenia

YEREVAN, August 21. /ARKA/. Lithuania is expected to approve
Wednesday the decision to open its embassy in Yerevan on October
1, RIA Novosti reports referring to Lithuanian governmental press
office’s information.

Diplomatic ties between the two countries were established on November
21, 1991.

Now Lithuania is represented in Armenia by the honorable consul from
Lithuanian embassy in Russia, and Armenia is represented in Lithuania
through its embassy in Warsaw.

The decision is motivated by Lithuania’s special interest in South
Caucasus, which is considered among Lithuanian foreign policy’s
top-priority focuses.

TURKEY: NEWSPAPER REVIEWS PREMIER’S POLITICAL CAREER

Sabah website,
31 Jul 07

[First part of a report by Baris Erdogan]

His Close Friend Died in Bombing of MTTB

The bomb that exploded at the central offices of the National
Turkish Scholars Union on 21 September 1969 caused Erdogan’s close
friend Mustafa Bilgin to burn to death. This horrific death greatly
saddened Erdogan.

The foundations for the events that took Turkey blindly into the
military coup of 12 September 1980 were laid in the 1970s. The parties
of the centre right and left where ramping up their rhetoric with
each passing day. With Suleyman Demirel’s Justice Party and Bulent
Ecevit’s Republican People’s Party playing to the left and right
poles for that extra handful of votes, violence began rearing its
ugly head in the streets. Hardly a day went by especially in the
latter half of the 1970s that did not see an incident erupt between
leftist organizations and the ultranationalists, and blood spilt. The
existence of a third youth group on the political spectrum within
this climate of political fighting and violence was struggling to
seize power. This organization was the Akincilar [Raiders], which
was working like the MSP’s [National Salvation Party] second youth
wing with the permission of Necmettin Erbakan.

Islamic Youth Figure

During that time the MSP’s Youth Wing and the Raiders, of which Tayyip
Erdogan was a member, did not engage in armed conflict. They were
working on plans to take over the state not through force of arms
but internally through politics. The MSP youth, the majority of whom
came from families who had once voted for the Democrat Party, were
not armed but they pressed on with their political activities in the
streets. They put up posters and held meetings. A number of them died
in the street fighting that they strayed into. During these chaotic
times the figure who emerged prominently from the Islamic Youth was
the son of Democrat Party member Ahmet Erdogan: Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Painful Loss Of One More Friend

The first political body that Erdogan joined was the National
Turkish Scholars Union, when he was still a pupil at an Imam Hatip
school. While under the roof of this organization, which was a
self-appointed fighter of communism, Tayyip Erdogan tasted for the
first time the bitter pill of losing a colleague. Before the military
coup of 12 March a bomb exploded at the Istanbul HQ of the MTTB on
21 September 1969. One of Erdogan’s closest friends Mustafa Bilgin
burned to death in that incident. This horrific death shook up Erdogan
and drowned him in grief. The loss of another friend on 5 July 1980
also demolished Erdogan. Sedat Yenigun, a teacher of literature at
the Zeytinburnu Ihsan Mermerci High School was shot and killed in a
barber’s shop on Fatih-Aksemseddin Road. Several academicians such
as Hamit Bozarslan, a sociologist at the French Social Sciences High
School, attribute the increase in street violence to the besieging
of cities’ environs by rural youth who had failed to integrate into
the cities. Tayyip Erdogan is one of the few leaders on the right of
the political spectrum who grew up in Istanbul and who is familiar
with the cosmopolitan Beyoglu culture. The fact that he grew up in the
Kasimpasa neighbourhood of Beyoglu district, which is where Romanians,
Armenians, Greeks, Jews and Turks all lived together, is said to be
why he gained the ability to look with tolerance at those who were
not in the majority.

Restaurant’s Regular Customer

Even though he never joined in the fun side of Beyoglu he would go to
the Tepebasi Club with his soccer friends. Here he got the chance to
hear the famous singers of the time. Apart from the Tepebasi Club,
which has now been torn down and turned into a parking lot, he also
went to Maksim. He used to like dining at the restaurant there, then
called Haci [Hajji or pilgrim, specifically meaning a restaurant
where alcohol is not served] Salih but now called Haci Abdullah,
After soccer practice he would go there and sample the best that
Turkish cuisine had to offer whenever he got the chance.

Chose A Modern Sect

The political struggle, meetings and demonstrations took up all
of Erdogan’s time. He was known by his friends as Mucahit [Holy
Warrior] Erdogan. He felt the need to tame his spirit in order to
fully deserve the right to be leader and so as not to succumb to
passions. As with the other Islamic youths of the time he felt the
need to knock on the door of a religious sect. At that time there were
two influential Naksibendi congregations that had emerged in Istanbul:
the Ismail Aga and Iskender Pasa sects. The Ismail Aga sect appealed
to its followers to live under the conditions that existed during
the Reign of the Prophet. They did not allow TV into their homes,
the men wore baggy pants and robes while the women wore burqas. It
was considered unacceptable for a man not to have a beard. These
restrictions were not acceptable to the likes of Erdogan, who had
grown up in an urban environment in the Beyoglu district, who had been
educated in the modern educational establishments of the republic and
whose interests ranged from soccer to literature. Erdogan found it
more appropriate to attend the meetings of the Iskender Pasa lodge,
which was relatively more tolerant and modern, and which attracted
many Islamic intellectuals and politicians of the time.

He Would Stand Before The Mirror At Home And Rehearse Being A Leader

It was very important for Tayyip Erdogan to develop oratory skills and
use body language well in order to be able to form the warm relations
he has with the masses today. To this end Erdogan would, in his youth,
stand before a mirror and recite speeches alone. Sports photographer
for the Tercuman newspaper Kemal Adar speaking to journalist Savas Ay
spoke of Erdogan saying, "We could sometimes hear him. He would stand
before the mirror and mimic the leaders." Journalists Rusen Cakir and
Fehmi Calmuk explained one interesting method used by Erdogan in their
book "Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a Tale of Transformation." "Whenever he
left school he would go to the Golden Horn docks, climb to the bridge
of a ship, face out to sea and rehearse his speeches."

His Mother’s Dread

At a time when the streets were compartmentalized and when liberated
neighbourhoods were springing up Erdogan’s parents Ahmet and Tenzile
did not object to their son engaging in politics. Tayyip Erdogan
always told his family that he was not involved in the fighting but
his mother Tenzile would never be able to sleep until her son had
returned home. She would wait on the balcony at night with sadness
in her eyes and worry in her heart. She explained: "We had a balcony
on both sides of the house. Whichever side I was on I would hear
gunfire. I would wait for my Tayyip with my heart in my hands as if
I thought I would hear bad news about him. But, no matter how much
I told him not to go he would not listen. He went ahead fighting for
the cause he believed in."

His Drive And Charisma Rapidly Opened Up The Way Ahead

Tayyip Erdogan continued his political adventure, which had begun at
the MTTB, as one of Istanbul’s most active leaders. On 11 November
1973 he joined the youth wing of Necmettin Erbakan’s MSP. Young people
with Islamic sentiments but who stayed away from guns were joining
this organization at that time. In 1975 he became the chairman of
the MSP’s youth wing in Beyoglu. Within two years thanks to his work,
endless drive and charisma he managed to become the chairman of the
Istanbul Youth Wing. This duty continued until the military coup of
12 September.

He Prevented Division

With his clear and decisive attitude in response to incidents he
rapidly came to the attention of the MSP leadership. In 1976 he used
his influence over the youth to end the squabble within the Raiders
between Radical Islamists and the Moderate Islamists, and secured
his place in the eyes of the party leadership.

Villager Gets Water, Prays For Erdogan

[By Murat Karaman in Kahramanmaras]

The people of the seven-home hamlet of Korelinusagi in Boztoprakli
Village in the Andirin District of Kahramanmaras, who secured water
for their hamlet by telephoning Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in
the middle of the night, are celebrating. Standing at the fountain,
praying and offering thanks to the prime minister, the villagers
said: "We used to bring the water here from the springs my mule. Now
we can turn on the tap at home and get running water. God bless
our prime minister." The villagers said they expected p, Erdogan,
who provided them with water, to come to their hamlet. Mehmet Kose,
who is responsible for water coming to the village, recalled that
after he had notified the problem Prime Minister Erdogan telephoned
him personally at 0130 in the morning: "We spoke for about half an
hour. I also explained the problem over the phone. Immediately after
speaking with me our prime minister called the Kaymakam and issued
instructions. Our village has been without water for centuries. Now
thanks to our prime minister we have water."

AKP Gets 300 Votes

The Kaymakam of Andirin Oktay Cagatay said that Prime Minister
Erdogan called him on the night of 6 March: "He instructed us to
provide the village of Korelinusagi with water. We got water to our
hamlet within 45 days. We are going to get our roads finished as
soon as possible." It was noted that of the 500 people in Boztoprakli
Village who voted, 300 voted for the Justice and Development Party,
79 for the Nationalist Action Party, 34 for the Republican People’s
Party with the remainder going to other parties.

Same Path As Ozal

As Erdogan’s charisma within the MSP and the youth wing grew so
Turgut Ozal ran as the MSP candidate for Izmir in the 1977 elections,
narrowly losing.

Later severing his ties with the MSP, Turgut Ozal founded the centre
right Motherland Party in 1983 at the age of 56. Many personalities
who had spent their youth in Islamist politics in the 1970s joined
the Motherland Party after 12 September along with Ozal. A large
Islamist body that followed Necmettin Erbakan until the end of
the 1990s put aside their Islamist agendas and religious references
under Tayyip Erdogan’s leadership. Tayyip Erdogan founded the Justice
and Development Party, a centre-right conservative democrat party,
in 2001 at the age of 47.