Author: Badalian Vardan

Islamic Republic News Agency IRNA, Iran
May 31 2013

Tehran-Baku ties strategic, with positive future outlook – envoy

Baku, May 31: IRI envoy to Azerbaijan Rep referring to Iran-Azerbaijan
historical ties, shared religious-cultural values, economic factors
like commerce ties, communication networks, and goods and energy
transit, termed bilateral ties as strategic with positive future.
According to IRNA, Iran’s Ambassador Mohsen Paka’in made the comment
here on Friday [31 May] in an interview with Azerbaijan’s Ollaylar
daily, pointing out that yet, the two countries’ relations get
subjected to ups and downs at times, which are managed thanks to the
two countries’ officials’ wise conduct.

He added: “During the past months constructive and trust building
negotiations between the two countries’ presidents and foreign
ministers, as well as the recent visit of the Head of Azerbaijan
Republic National Security Council Ramiz Mahdiev and an Azeri
delegation headed by the Head of Caucasus Muslims Office Sheykh
ol-Islam Pashazadeh have led to new dynamism aimed at boosting
bilateral relations.”

Paka’in said: “I believe the Islamic Republic of Iran and Azerbaijan
Republic have lots of useful potentials for expansion of bilateral
ties, recognition of which can lead to proximity of the two sides and
turn the two countries into strategic partners.”
Iran’s Ambassador to Baku referred to the role and progressing status
of Iran in the world and the region, as well as Azerbaijan Republic’s
wise recognition of this point, noting that the active presence of
Iran in crisis solving in Karabachos is to the benefit of promoting
peace and stability in the region.

He reiterated: “The Islamic Republic of Iran, too, considers
Azerbaijan Republic an important country in the region which is a gate
towards the Caucasus region countries, while in commerce, goods and
energy transit, too, keeping in mind having shared land and sea
boarders, we are interested in strengthening ties with Baku.”

He said that satisfactory relations between Tehran and Baku can lead
to regional stability and balance and play an important role in
preservation of peace and stability inside both countries.

In response to a question on the current level of Iran-Azerbaijan
economic ties, and the unused potentials for further improving them,
Paka’in said: “In economic field the activation of the two countries’
Joint Economic commission has both regulated and expanded the two
countries’ cooperation. In trade field, too, we have cooperation in
goods and energy transit field.”

The IRI ambassador to Baku said that the annual volume of official
trade between the two counties is now over 500 million US dollars,
adding: “If we wish to add the transactions between the two countries’
boarder dwellers, that figure would be doubled to around one billion
dollars, which is of course not satisfactory, and can grow thanks to
the already adopted measures.”

He referred to 30 per cent growth last year in economic transactions
between Iran and Azerbaijan Republic, adding: “Yet, the potential for
these two friendly neighbouring countries’ trade ties is much higher
than that and taking advantage of the existing potentials between the
two countries must still be kept in mind, until Azerbaijan Republic
would become one of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s main trade
partners.

Paka’in said: “We get Azerbaijan’s gas and swap it to Naxcivan. In the
field of goods transit, to, Iran is the safest, closest, and most
economic routs for the entire regional countries, including Azerbaijan
Republic.” The Iranian railways, roads, and sea routs are taken
advantage of in this field. In commerce and energy fields, too, we
have maximum cooperation.”

Pointing out that the deputy heads of the two countries’ customs had a
meeting recently, followed by regular monthly meetings between the
managing directors of the Iranian and Azerbaijani customs
organizations, emphasizing: “The customs and transit difficulties have
decreased and facilities for traffic of goods and passengers have
increased and these moves have positively affected our bilateral
trade, although there is still a way to be paved before achieving the
satisfactory status.”

Asked bout the moves made for expansion of bilateral cultural ties and
the future plans for the purpose, the Iranian ambassador said:
“Keeping in mind the numerous cultural commonalties between the two
countries, the culture weeks of Iran and Azerbaijan Republic have been
held in Tehran and Baku and the two countries’ artists have close
relations with each other, particularly in cinema, theatre, miniature,
painting, and calligraphy fields, and Azerbaijan Culture Week is
therefore, scheduled to be held in Tehran this week.”

Paka’in said: “In order to strengthen the two nations’ relations, we
unilaterally lifted the visa regime for Azeri citizens and this led to
greater relations between the two nations and boosting tourism both
for those who are interested in visiting Iran and for those who want
to go to our country pilgrimage or medical purposes.”

He added: “The two countries’ leaders are in favour of expanding
friendly ties and their will must be implemented in other levels. Of
course, the media, as an influential means on public opinion and on
politicians, can play a decisive role in this respect.”
The Azeri daily reporter asked what role Iran can play in solving the
Karabachos crisis, keeping in mind Tehran’s often repeated proposals
for meddling in the dispute.

Paka’in emphasized that the Karabachos dispute is a 20 year crisis and
the Azerbaijan and Armenia republics have chosen the Minsk Group
mechanism for the purpose, not yielding to any other solution.

He added: “I believe the Minsk Group is not neutral in this dispute
and that is the reason why the efforts made aimed at solving the
Karabachos dispute have thus far been unsuccessful.”

The Iranian envoy said: “The policy of Minsk Group is elongating this
dispute and sometimes it has even stated that solving the matter is in
need of another two decades, which is neither to the benefit of
Azerbaijan Republic, nor to the benefit of regional security. I
believe, the regional countries must get involved in this issue,
because the regional countries have strong incentives for solving this
crisis.”

He said that entry of the Islamic Cooperation Organization to the
matter, too, can be useful, adding: “Iran, as the rotating head of the
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and an active member of the OIC is ready
for meddling and is also ready for offering assistance aimed at
putting an end to the engagements and return to the original status,
in which respecting the boarder lines and ending the engagements would
be in mind. The Karabachos region has created a lingeringarmed
engagement and enmity zone near our boarders and it is quite natural
for us to be worried about the existence of tension in this region and
to offer assistance, if we can.”
In response to a question on Iran and Azerbaijan cooperation in the
international scene, the Iranian ambassador said: “Fortunately, there
are fruitful relations and cooperation between the two countries,
particularly at the UN, the OIC, the ECO, and the NAM.
“I believe Azerbaijan Republic would maintain its strategic status in
the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, because the
Iranian government favours the advancement and development of
Azerbaijan and the two countries’ relations can grow without being
influenced by the other countries, to secure the long term interests
of both sides.”

In response to Ollaylar daily’s question on the effect of the sanction
on the Iranian economy, he said: “The main reason for imposing the
sanctions against Iran is a few countries’ opposition against the
peaceful nuclear programme of Iran.

“The Iranian nuclear programme is pursued with peaceful incentives and
aimed at economic development of the country. The International Atomic
Energy Agency has conducted the most and strongest series of
inspections in its entire history, including over 100 unannounced
inspections and over 4,000 person/day inspections in Iran.”

Paka’in added: “The agency has often announced that there is no reason
for believing that even one gram of radioactive material to prove that
Iran has deviated towards manufacturing atomic bombs. Of course, our
enemies have tried to aggrandize the sanctions’ issue and to tell lies
about their exclusive relation with our nuclear programme, while the
sanctions started as of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, when no
nuclear issue existed. The sanctions are nothing new and they have
existed as of the victory of the revolution, but our system has
throughout the past 33 years kept on progressing constantly.”

Paka’in added: “We are a nuclear power today, enjoy very high military
power, have launched satellites to outer space, are the top medically
advanced country in the region, and enjoy very high and unique
scientific growth rate, and all these achievements have been gained in
the course of the imposed sanctions against us. These sanctions are in
fact an undeclared war against a nation, but by grace of God the
enemies will be defeated by the Iranian nation in this war, as well.”

He said that the emerged difficulties due to the sanctions are quite
natural, arguing: “This cannot be denied, but due to the economic
potentials, particularly in energy field in our country, and the
Iranian nation’s will to defend their Islamic Revolution, the holy
Islam, and their own national interests, we have resisted and managed
the sanctions, having regular relations with every country in the
world. Therefore, the western imposed sanctions would not urge the
Islamic Republic of Iran to abandon its objectives and ideals.”

Russia hails Armenia’s efforts for Customs Union integration – FM

June 1, 2013 – 18:42 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Russia hails Armenia’s efforts for integration into
the Customs Union, the country’s Prime Minister said.

As Dmitry Medvedev stated during a Minsk-hosted meeting with his
Armenian counterpart Tigran Sargsyan, a suitable format for
cooperation with Armenia in the Customs Union format must be found.

As the Armenian Premier added in this context, a Customs Union
integration memorandum was discussed with Eurasian Economic Commission
chief Victor Hristenko.

He also briefed Medvedev on the results of negotiations with the head
of Rosatom Sergey Kiriyenko, noting that agreement was reached over
financing of a new energy block for an NPP, RIA Novosti reported.

Armenian senior military officials attend Defense Ministry meeting

17:06 – 01.06.13

Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan and the chief of the Armed Forces’
General Headquarters, Colonel-General Yuri Khachaturov, participated
Saturday in a ministry meeting devoted to the ongoing activities in
the sector.

Mr. Khachaturov and other officials delivered reports on arms supply
and modernization issues and the personnel training in military units,
reports the Ministry’s press office. Measures for enhancing the
equipment purchase procedures in the military, preventing acts of
sabotage by the enemy and promoting awareness raising were also
discussed at the meeting.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Assyrian Organization Awards Australian MPs

Posted GMT 6-1-2013 1:57:32

Awards were presented by the Assyrian Universal Alliance to two
Australian leaders who moved a motion on May 1 and 8, 2013 at the
legislative Council and the legislative Assembly of NSW State
Parliament, recognising the Assyrian, Armenian and Greek genocide
perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against the Christians of Anatolia
during WWI.

The ceremony took place on 30 May, 2013 at the NSW Parliament House
during a special reception organized by the chairman of Assyria
Parliamentary Friendship Group, Mr. Andrew Rohan, MP, State Member for
Smithfield. The event was attended by many members of both upper and
lower houses of the NSW Parliament along with representatives from the
Assyrian, Armenian, Greek and Jewish organizations, and many prominent
people.

Several speeches were delivered during the event including Mr. Andrew
Rohan, MP, followed by both deputies of the Assyria Parliamentary
Friendship Group; Mr. Guy Zingari, MP, Shadow Minister for Citizenship
and Communities and the Hon. David Clarke, MLC, Parliamentary
Secretary for Justice. A moving speech was delivered by the Hon.
Gladys Berejiklian, MP, Minister for Transport, followed by Rev. the
Hon. Fred Nile, MLC, and the Hon. Marie Ficcara, MLC, Parliamentary
Secretary to the Premier.

The Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) was represented by Mr. Hermiz
Shahen, AUA’s Deputy Secretary General, together with Mr. David M.
David, Regional Secretary of AUA in Australia, Mr. Ninos Aaron,
chairman of Young Assyrians of AUA, Mrs. Suzy David, AUA advisor, and
Mr. George Dadisho, an Assyrian youth.

“The 1st and 8th of May, 2013 will mark very important days in the
Assyrian calendar in Australia and abroad, it is an extraordinary
moment in the history of the Assyrian nation, who have been struggling
for years to gain the international recognition of the genocide
perpetrated against them by the Ottoman government. This recognition
will act as a powerful counter to those, especially in present-day
Turkey, who still ignore or deny outright the genocides of the Ottoman
Christian minorities. Assyrians in Iraq, Syria and Turkey are
continuously paying the price as a consequence of the denial of their
genocide. Our people are being systematically driven out from our
ancestral lands in Iraq and Syria. Assyrians have been subject to
gross violations of their rights. Murder, rape, assault, and forced
conversions to Islam have become commonplace as armed death squads
attempt to force Assyrians out of their habitats,” Mr. Hermiz Shahen
said in his speech.

Mr. Shahen continued, “The Three nations that suffered this horrific
genocide will always remember with pride and honour the Australian and
New Zealand’s heroes who were eyewitnesses to the genocides. Anzacs
had rescued survivors of the massacres and deportations across the
Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1918, making the Armenian, Assyrian
and Greek genocides a part of the Australian story. This great justice
that we are celebrating today would not have been possible without the
courageous stand again of two great leaders who moved this motion in
both houses, mainly, Rev. the Hon. Fred Nile, MLC and the Hon. Barry
O’Farrell, Premier of New South Wales, and of course together with the
contribution and support of all the esteemed parties in this
parliament.”

In his final remarks, Mr. Shahen thanked the Parliament members who
were the driving force behind this success, the Hon. Gladys
Berejiklian, MP, The Hon. Amanda Fazio, MLC, Dr. John Kaye, MLC, Mr.
John Robertson, MP, Mr. Guy Zangari, MP, Mr. Andrew Rohan, MP, and
many others who stood with the Armenian national Committee, the
Assyrian Universal Alliance and the Hellenic Council of NSW.

Along with other AUA activists, Mr. Shahen presented two awards to
Rev. the Hon. Fred Nile, MLC and the Hon. Barry O’Farrell, Premier of
New South Wales, who moved this historical motion in both houses.

The reception concluded with other speeches delivered by
representatives of the Armenian national Committee, the Australian
Hellenic Educators, Mr Wilson Younan of the SBS Radio and Mr. Emmanuel
Sada of the Assyrian Democratic Movement (ADM).

Assyrian Universal Alliance

`Prince Charles was Impressed with the Performances of Armenian Musicians’

June 1 2013

Says the person who has been the musical director of different events
of the British royal family Conductor Christopher Warren-Green, who
has been the musical director of different events and celebrations of
the British royal family over the last 30 years, is again in Yerevan
at the invitation of the State Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia. The
international press, in recent years, referring to the celebrations of
Queen of England’s 80th, the Prince of Wales’ 60th anniversaries, and
the wedding ceremony of Prince William in 2011, made a special note
about classy and high-quality music played under the leadership of the
conductor. In a conversation with us, Christopher Warren-Green said
that the British are lucky because the royal family members,
particularly, His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Wales, prefer
classic arts and are endowed with high musical taste.

Yesterday `Aravot’ attended the concert of the Philharmonic Orchestra
conducted by Christopher Warren-Green. By the interpretation of the
conductor, the performances of Tchaikovsky’s 5th symphony and Brahms’
Violin Concerto (solo Anush Nikoghosyan) were received with bravoes.

Talking to us, the conductor noted that his visit to Yerevan was a
lucky coincidence with the visit of the Prince to Armenia, but
expressed regret that Prince Charles was unable to attend the
rehearsal of the Philharmonic due to his tight schedule.

As on May 29, the Prince and the conductor were both among the
audience at the National Opera House we inquired whether there was
time to exchange ideas about the concert. `During the evening the
Prince, who is endowed with a fine musical taste, was fascinated by
high artistic performances of Armenian musicians, and expressed
satisfaction on the occasion of his visit to Armenia, as well,’ said
Christopher Warren-Green. We should note that the concert was attended
by the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia led by Sergei Smbatyan, Choir
of Hovhannes Chekijyan, opera singers Barsegh Tumanyan and Gevorg
Hakobyan, cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan, ballet artists Suzanna Pirumyan,
Mary Hovhannisyan, Sevak Avetisyan and Armen Gasparyan.

Referring to the concert of the Philharmonic Orchestra our
interlocutor spoke with admiration about the art of violinist Anush
Nikoghosian, saying that `The violinist has an exceptional talent and,
most importantly, she runs a very active creative life. From the
conversation with her, I learned that this year she has already played
in Germany, Georgia, and she is getting ready for her solo concert in
Germany, as well as for chamber music festivals in the Netherlands and
Germany. One more important factor: not only Armenian but also foreign
composers compose specially for her. During the intermissions, I
noticed that the violinist has the work of a German contemporary
composer Peter Dote, who is a prominent name in the West. Maybe I
announce ahead of time, but I have a great desire to invite Anush
Nikoghosyan and Edward Topchyan to North Carolina for collaborating
with the local symphonic orchestra, where I am the artistic director’.
Our interlocutor also added that she was impressed by the violinist’s
interpretation of Brahms’ Concerto noting that the work is completely
a philosophy, and it seems to be a symphony written for the violin.

Speaking of the regular cooperation with the Philharmonic Christopher
Warren-Green said, `My collaboration with your orchestra is going
easily. You have demanding audience, which is good.’ To my question
whether he covers the works of Armenian composers in his programs the
conductor replied, `Many times I have offered my audience
Khachaturian’s music, but there is an unwritten law that if you are
leading, for example, an American orchestra, you must first of all
play the works of their authors. Recently I am attracted by Tigran
Mansuryan’s music and I have a desire to learn more about his art and
later include it in my repertoires. ‘

SAMVEL DANIELYAN
Read more at:
© 1998 – 2013 Aravot – News from Armenia

ARMENIE
L’Arménie a reçu 248 tonnes de marchandises d’aide humanitaire en Janvier

En janvier 2013 l’Arménie a reçu 248,2 tonnes des marchandises d’une
valeur de plus de 700 000 millions de drams, soit 1,7 millions de
dollars en tant qu’aide humanitaire, selon le Service national de la
statistique.

Les dispositifs et appareils représentaient 21,8% du matériel reçu,
les textiles 14,7%, les voitures et les mécanismes 14,3%, les produits
chimiques 13,5% ; les métaux de base 12,2%.

L’aide humanitaire est principalement assuré par les Etats-Unis,
l’Iran, l’Allemagne, la France, l’Italie et la Russie.

dimanche 2 juin 2013,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

SERZH SARGSYAN HOSTED KUWAITI NA SPEAKER-LED DELEGATION

14:30, 1 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, ARMENPRESS: The President of the Republic of Armenia
Serzh Sargsyan hosted today the delegation headed by the Speaker of
the National Assembly of the State of Kuwait Ali Fahd Al-Rashid. As
Armenpress was reported by the Department for Public Relations and
Mass Media of the Armenian President’s Staff, Serzh Sargsyan welcomed
the guests and emphasized that the interparliamentary ties and the
cooperation between Armenia and Kuwait come from the friendly relations
between the two countries.

Concerning his visit to Kuwait in 2009 and the achieved agreements,
the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan stated that
the agreements are successfully brought to life: embassies are already
functioning in the two countries and in 2013 the second session of
the intergovernmental commission will be held in Kuwait, during which
the current issues and the prospects of the cooperation development
in different fields will be discussed.

The President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and the
Speaker of the National Assembly of the State of Kuwait Ali Fahd
AlRashid touched upon the regional issues and challenges as well.

AZERBAIJANI MFA RESPONDED TO FACT OF RECOGNIZING NKR INDEPENDENCE BY US STATE OF LOUISIANA

13:20, 1 June, 2013

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, ARMENPRESS: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Azerbaijan responded to the adoption of the resolution on the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic’s independence by the US State of Louisiana. As
reported by Armenpress, quoting the Azerbaijani Haqqin.az, the
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan
Elman Abdullayev called the adoption of the resolution on the NKR
independence by the US State of Louisiana a provocation and stated
that the legislative body of a separate state does not have the right
to mediate in the country’s foreign policy.

On May 31 the Louisiana Senate passed a resolution recognizing the
independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. “The Senate of the
Legislature of Louisiana hereby encourages and supports the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic’s continuing efforts to develop as a free and
independent nation in order to guarantee its citizens those rights
inherent in a free and independent society,” – reads the Resolution.

By the Resolution the Senate also urged the president and the Congress
of the United States of America to support the self-determination
and democratic independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and its
constructive involvement with the international community’s efforts
to reach a just and lasting solution to security issues in that
strategically important region.

The copies of the Resolution will be transmitted to the president
of the United States, the secretary of the United States Senate,
the clerk of the United States House of Representatives and to each
member of the Louisiana delegation to the United States Congress.

Louisiana is the forth state of the United States to recognize the
independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The State of Maine
adopted the resolution on recognition of the NKR independence on April
10 2013. On May 17 2012 the House of Representatives of the US State
of Rhode Island as well adopted the resolution on recognition of the
NKR independence. And on August 6 2012 the House of Representatives
of the US State of Massachusetts adopted such a resolution.

260 NOUVEAUX PASSEPORTS ARMENIENS OBTENUS PAR LES ARMENIENS DE SYRIE AU COURS DU 1ER TRIMESTRE

Au cours du premier trimestre 2013 le gouvernement armenien a accorde
260 titres de nationalite (passeport) armenienne aux Armeniens de
Syrie, avec la gratuite des versements des taxes et impôts. Lors
de la reunion gouvernementale du 29 mai l’Etat armenien a accorde
16,9 millions de drams au ministère des Affaires etrangères en
compensation des dettes fiscales impayees. Selon le ministère des
Affaires etrangères, des passeports armeniens sont delivres par les
consulats et ambassades d’Armenie en Syrie, mais egalement dans les
pays voisins tels que le Liban ou les Emirats Arabes Unis.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 1er juin 2013, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

A CENTURY OF MISTAKES FOLLOWED BY A DECADE OF CHANGE

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
May 31 2013

MARKAR ESAYAN
[email protected]

Turkey has been changing radically in recent years. The dynamic for
this change has been created by two large groups, the devout Muslim
base and Kurds.

Serious mistakes and wrong choices made during the years of the
formation of the republic wound up condemning Turkey to nearly a
century in a straightjacket. Yes, a new country was formed, but upon
an ideology that rejected the very people of the nation. I am not
someone who views the republic years as categorically negative. But
the essential character of something often determines direction and
choice. And I can say with ease that the Kemalist republic had a
malevolent character. We still see now that mistakes made in that
era are slowing us down.

Where the minorities are concerned, for example …

The final stage of the Ottoman era was an unmitigated disaster for
everyone in the empire. As a matter of fact, the end of the 19th
century and first half of the 20th century were like a living hell for
minorities. And the same sort of dark periods that were experienced
in Turkey during these times happened all over the world. When the
new Republic of Turkey was formed, the Armenians, Greeks, Arameans,
Jewish people, and other non-Muslims who had managed to survive all
dreamed of a new beginning. And they were right to get caught up in
this dream. Because after all, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and his men all
asserted that they were forming a modern, secular and democratic new
country, and received the praise of the world in doing so. And while
they maintained this about the new country, it really didn’t turn
out that way in practice.

Peace with PUK

First, peace was made with the bloody-handed members of the Committee
of Union and Progress (CUP) in 1914 and 1915, with the bureaucracy of
the state being turned over to their hands. At this point, everyone
had to be a Turk, and embrace the identity given to them by the state.

And then the feelings of guilt from 1915 were transformed into hatred
for Armenians and other minorities. No more large massacres could
be carried out, but the minorities could be brought to their knees
economically-speaking, with constant harassment from the state. The
population was on its way to becoming more homogenous, as assimilating
Kurds and Muslims was easy business anyway.

While Mustafa Kemal Ataturk asserted that he was forming a people’s
republic, the real truth was that he was forming a republic that
belonged to a privileged minority. Minorities were fleeing abroad
due to economic harassment and incidents like those that took place
in Thrace in 1934. How interesting it was then that the Lausanne
Treaty, seen as the sacred forming text of the republic, was being so
regularly violated by the Turkish state itself. And in the meantime,
a new state religion was created, one that only appeared to be Muslim,
but which had been purged of spirituality and was quite secular
and used the Sunni belief system as the center. It was actually a
new religion. Yes, the Kemalists had created this religion and to
spread it, they formed the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Homilies
designated by the state were read in all the mosques of the country,
with religion being used as a tool to promote the state’s ideology. The
goal here was to see Muslims no longer as a “threat,” but to instead
“civilize” them and assimilate their masses.

As for the West, for as long as Turkey stayed within the parameters
of the West club, it didn’t matter what sorts of violations of human
right were being carried out.

The Muslims had pulled back. But it appeared that the Kurds were
going to be a big problem. There were so many of them, and they
were generally quite religious. In fact, some of the most important
religious figures that were preventing this new state-created
religion from taking root throughout the region were Kurds like
Said Nursi. It appeared the Kurds were both racially and religiously
speaking resisting assimilation. In the 1924 Sheikh Said rebellion,
the 1930 Agrı rebellion and the 1937-1938 Dersim “uprising,” the
state rained down great tyranny on the people, later trying to sell
these incidents as serious uprisings that needed to be quelled. What
was really going on though was a serious resistance to the founding
principles of the regime, as well as to societal engineering. And,
as occurred in Dersim, state violence led to more protests, and more
protests led to thousands of deaths.

There is a general sort of hypocrisy that exists in Turkey. The
above-described stories were always treated as though they had occurred
in different eras and different countries. Ataturk was kept separate
from any nasty business, with mistakes that he made only thrown into
the public arena after his death. As it was told, everything was just
fine until 1938, but Ataturk’s immoral successors ruined everything
that had been going so well. In fact, everything that went wrong
was blamed on İsmet İnönu, while Ataturk was kept clean. And
when really pressed, those holding to this argument point to the
“conditions of the era.” Some even claim, “With the Jewish Holocaust
going on in Europe, what took place in Turkey could even be seen as
democracy.” As though the entire world was populated solely by Nazis
at the time, or that there were no examples of democratic countries.

No one can claim that Kemalism was not able to create a society, or
that Kemalist social engineering was a complete failure. And what’s
more, this was not only true for those city-dwellers getting by because
of the state. Everyone, from those able to build homes on free state
plots of land to those richer folks able to impound minority goods,
got their share of benefits from Kemalism. As for the Alevis, despite
their experience from the Dersim massacre, they were scared off by
radical Islamism, tying themselves completely in response to this
to the Kemalist state, and its party, the CHP. The reasoning here
seemed to be that while the Kemalists might brush shoulders with
violence every now and then — as seen in Dersim –this was nothing
compared to Sharia, which held the potential (thought the Alevis) to
completely eliminate them. The state did not hang back from keeping
this fear alive either, using countless provocations to achieve this
aim. By turning Turks, Kurds, Alevis, Muslims, Armenians, secularists,
leftists and so on against one another, Kemalism was easily able to
construct a guardian authority over the people of the country.

The Kemalist guardian authority’s advantage

On the cusp of the millenium, Turkey experienced an open-ended
post-modern coup. During the coup of 1960, Prime Minister Adnan
Menderes had been hung, with clashes between rightists and leftists
leading to the deaths of thousands of youths. It was always the
Kemalist guardian authority that emerged in an advantageous position
from these incidents.

So who was to change the order of things?

The great social power forces left far from the center and the
ruling seats were the Muslims and the Kurds. There was nothing else
left. The number of minorities in Turkey had shrunk to one thousandth
of their previous numbers and had turned inwards in reaction to the
events of the past. The Alevis were paralyzed as a result of the
false “Sunni” danger, and their own splintering. In the meantime,
let us add that area citizens did in fact voluntarily support the
state-rooted provocations — like in Madımak, an attack in which
Alevis were targeted and killed. After all, our goal here is not to
aestheticize history. There is still a widespread antipathy towards
Alevis throughout Turkey, and this is a factor which has always worked
out very well for the deep state and its business.

In the wake of the Feb. 28, 1997 post modern coup, a respectful
uprising against Necmettin Erbakan took place in the ranks of the
reformist cadres of the overturned Welfare Party (RP), after which the
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) was formed. The founders of
this new party, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Abdullah Gul and Bulent Arınc
carried out a serious set of self-criticisms, in light of lessons
learned from the 1997 coup process. What was emerging was an Anatolian
Muslim voter threshold more at peace with the West, taking more of a
leadership role in democracy, and open to change as well as to reform.

Millions of people kept at arm’s length from power throughout the
history of the republic thus far suddenly had a voice, without having
to turn to violence, and without losing their patience. In its first
election, the AK Party took power on Nov. 3, 2002, picking up huge
levels of support from Kurds as well as secular democrats. A silent
revolution had thus begun in Turkey. The revolution that had begun was
one to rely not on violence and upheaval, but on democratic methods
and parliamentary representation. Of course, it was also a period
that would require some time and patience.

Now the AK Party is headed into its fourth election. And the prime
minister has taken a great risk, starting an historical initiative
involving the greatest weapons possessed by the guardian authority,
the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Kurdish problem. In
the meantime now, this same ruling party is engaging in a number
of imposed-from-above projects like the chopping down of trees
in Taksim’s Gezi Park to make way for a shopping center and other
similarly bad projects. In addition, new changes in regulations like
the Court of Auditors Law are very discomforting. But it does appear
that in general, the weighty role played by Muslims and Kurds under
the mantle of the AK Party will continue to make its mark on Turkey,
as the country is carried into the future. What this means is that
the revolution is set to continue. Let me say here that the guarantee
for this mission lies in the desire and the energy of the threshold
of voters who support this revolution and the fact that the AK Party
is aware it needs to fulfill these things.

The biggest risk for the AK Party will be when it is unable to
reflect the energy of its voter base in its own politics. At the
same time, it is important that the Republican People’s Party (CHP)
and the secular factions not be scared off. One significant example
of this is the new alcohol regulations passed by Parliament. I am
not someone who believes that this new law threatens a modern life
style. Aside from a couple of objections I hold, I do think this is
a law quite similar to those found in other countries, much like
laws concerning the sales of cigarettes. At the same time though,
given the tremendous levels of polarization in Turkey, it probably
would have been wiser to postpone this law’s passage.

Turkey looks set for exciting times until 2020. And I do believe that
in another decade or so, we will see a different state along with
the emergence of an opposition with a different sort of flavor. We
will just have to keep on living and see this all unfold.