Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

EUROPEAN UNION READY TO PROMOTE ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS’ ESTABLISHMENT

De Facto
08.09.08

YEREVAN, 08.09.08. DE FACTO. On September 7 RA FM Edvard Nalbandian
received European Union’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus
Peter Semneby. According to the RA MFA Press Office, on Peter Semneby’s
request Armenian FM presented the results of Turkish President’s visit
to Yerevan. Edvard Nalbandian said Armenian party was resolute about
the settlement of relations with Turkey to establish trust, stability,
security and cooperation in the region.

In his turn, Peter Semneby, highly estimating Armenia’s initiative
on establishment of relations with Turkey, noted that the European
Union was ready to render any assistance to settle relations between
the two neighboring countries.

Minister Nalbandian and Ambassador Semneby also discussed the
development of situation in the region as well as issues referring
to Karabakh conflict settlement process.
From: Baghdasarian

Hürriyet, Turkey
Sept 8 2008

Sarkozy welcomes Gul’s courageous, historic visit to Armenia

French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Saturday welcomed Turkish
counterpart Abdullah Gul’s visit to neighboring Armenia as "courageous
and historic".

"While the region is in the midst of a serious crisis, (his visit) is
a courageous and historic gesture for Turkish-Armenian relations,"
Sarkozy, who currently holds the European Unions rotating presidency,
said in a statement.

"It allows hope for progress soon in establishing normal relations
between Turkey and Armenia," he added.

Gul made his landmark visit to Turkey’s eastern neighbor — the first
by a Turkish head of state to the ex-Soviet nation — for the first of
two World Cup qualifiers between the two national teams.

Sarkozy paid "tribute to the political courage of President Gul and
President (Serzh) Sargsyan" and said he was hoping that reaching out
will allow both countries to show the world that "reconciliation is
possible through openness, dialogue and the respect of others."
From: Baghdasarian

, Turkey
Sept 7 2008

Turkish, Armenian FMs agree to meet again at UN meeting

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, who also visited Yerevan with
Gul, held a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian.

Sunday, 07 September 2008 10:48

Turkish President Abdullah Gul returned from Armenia to Turkey late on
Saturday.

He watched a 2010 World Cup qualifying game between the national
soccer teams of Turkey and Armenia, and also held a meeting with
Armenian President Serzh Sargsian.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, who also visited Yerevan with
Gul, held a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian.

Babacan-Nalbandian meeting was positive and productive; the target of
the both parties was to provide full normalization in relations. They
also discussed situation in Caucasus, recent developments in Georgia
and Upper Karabagh issue.

Babacan and Nalbandian agreed that the two countries would meet again
during general assembly meeting of UN which will take place in New
York.

After completing his meeting, Babacan returned to Turkey.

AA
From: Baghdasarian

UEFA.com
Turkey wrap up a triumph for Terim
Sunday 7 September 2008
by Türker Tozar from Istanbul

Fatih Terim received a late 55th birthday gift from his players on
Saturday as Turkey won 2-0 in their opening FIFA World Cup qualifier
against Armenia, explaining: "My players gave me a watch but that win
was the real present for me."

Satisfying outcome
The UEFA EURO 2008=99 semi-finalists kicked off Group 5 with a
morale-boosting win in Yerevan, with Tuncay Sanlý and Þemih Sentürk
scoring to give coach Terim a nice bonus gift following his 55th
birthday celebrations on Thursday. "We carried on from where we left
off at the EURO," he said. "It was my birthday on 4 September and my
players gave me a watch but that win was the real present for me. We
had eight clear scoring chances and did not give Armenia one
opportunity."

Combative opponents
Terim had done his homework before the game, saying: "I watched six
Armenia matches on video. I always take our opponents seriously. We
guessed ten of their starting XI correctly. We analysed them a lot and
it was an enjoyable win in the end." He added: "We’re happy to have
won against a side who never surrender easily. Opening games in
qualifying campaigns are always hard and it is not easy to start a new
challenge following the EURO."
From: Baghdasarian

Agence France Presse
September 7, 2008 Sunday 1:35 AM GMT

Turkey, Armenia vow to end traditional enmity after Gul’s visit

by Nicolas Cheviron
YEREVAN, Sept 7 2008

Armenia and Turkey pledged to overcome decades of enmity over the
massacre of Armenians by Ottoman forces after Turkish President
Abdullah Gul’s pathbreaking visit to Yerevan for a football match.

Gul, the first Turkish president to visit Armenia, Saturday held talks
with counterpart Serzh Sarkisian after which the two agreed there was
the "political will" to improve ties frozen for decades over the
1915-1917 massacres by Turkish troops.

The visit was hailed by French and EU President Nicolas Sarkozy as
"courageous and historic."

"I believe that my visit was fruitful and that it promises hope for
the future," Gul said after returning to Ankara, adding that he had a
constructive and sincere" meeting with Sarkisian.

He said he had won Yerevan’s support for a new regional grouping in
the Caucasus following last month’s conflict between Georgia and
Russia.

"I was happy to see that we were unanimous with the Armenian side on
the need for mutual dialogue to remove barriers to improving bilateral
ties.

"I underlined that there is no problem that dialogue cannot solve …"

But in a sign of the uphill task ahead, Gul’s arrival at Yerevan’s
Hrazdan stadium was greeted by loud boos and hisses by Armenian fans.

Amid tight security, Gul took his seat behind a special bullet-proof
area. The far stronger Turkish side ended up winning the match 2-0.

Sarkisian declared there was a "political will to decide the questions
between our countries, so that these problems are not passed on to the
next generation."

He also said he had been asked by Gul to attend a return football
fixture in Turkey on October 14, but did not say whether or not he had
accepted.

The two countries — which have no diplomatic relations — have waged
a diplomatic battle over Yerevan’s efforts to have the 1915-1917
massacre of hundreds of thousands of Armenians recognised as genocide.

Several hundred angry protestors lined the route of Gul’s motorcade,
holding aloft the Armenian flag and nationalist emblems.

At the start of the match about 80 young protesters gathered at a
monument to victims of the killings in central Yerevan, laying flowers
and lighting torches.

"We want to draw (Gul’s) attention to this monument, so he knows it is
not standing empty and that people have gathered here to show that the
young generation remembers everything," said organiser Airapet
Babaian.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their people were killed between
1915 and 1917 in orchestrated massacres during World War I as the
Ottoman Empire fell apart — a claim supported by several other
countries.

Turkey rejects the genocide label and argues that 300,000-500,000
Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife when
Armenians took up arms for independence in eastern Anatolia and sided
with invading Russian troops.

Turkey’s footballers were supported by only about 200 forlorn
followers in a seating area that could have held 10 times more and was
ringed by Armenian police.

Some fans were prepared to embrace the conciliatory message the
Turkish and Armenian leaders were trying to put across.

"I’m not interested in football at all," said Ahmet Turkana, a Turkish
activist from a pro-democracy group called Young Civilians over for
the game, saying the game evoked nationalist passions.

"But today it’s different. Football is here to unite, not to divide."

Sevak Sahakian, a Yerevan hotel worker, said: "Everyone knows about it
and people are happy because they hope better ties with Turkey will
improve daily life. But people aren’t enthusiastic because they don’t
trust the Turks."

Turkey has refused to establish diplomatic ties with Armenia since the
former Soviet republic gained independence in 1991.
From: Baghdasarian

PanARMENIAN.Net

Etienne Mahcupyan: rapprochement is not reconciliation
05.09.2008 16:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ While international diplomacy welcomes the visit of
Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Yerevan on September 6, comments by
observers are more political than sporting.

Rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey is far from reconciliation,
according to Agos editor-in-chief Etienne Mahcupyan.

`A certain period of stability is needed. It is also a question of
domestic politics on both sides of the border, which prevents frank
dialogue on the subject,’ he said, independent French journalist Jean
Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net, reminding that still in 2004 Gul used to
say that Turkey will never recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Now Gul says, `The match will be an opportunity to overcome barriers
and prepare a new ground to bring the two people together."

Mr Eckian also informed that the initiative to normalize relations was
also welcomed by renowned singer Charles Aznavour
From: Baghdasarian

, Turkey
Sept 5 2008

Azeri FM: Armenia decision "Turkey’s domestic matter"

Regarding Caucasus Platform proposed by Turkey, Azeri FM Mammadyarov
said that "we welcome this initiatve positively."

Friday, 05 September 2008 08:00

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, described Turkish
President Abdullah Gul’s upcoming visit to Yerevan to watch a soccer
game between Turkey and Armenia as "Turkey’s domestic matter".

Speaking to reporters in Baku, Mammadyarov stressed that "it is out of
question for Azerbaijan to interfere in this matter."

Answering questions on the "Caucasus Security and Stability Platform"
proposed by Turkey, Mammadyarov said that "we welcome this initiatve
positively."

AA
From: Baghdasarian

TOWARDS A BREAK. GEORGIA RESORTS TO EXTREME DIPLOMATIC MEASURES
by Mikhail Vignanskiy in Tbilisi and by Ivan Solovyev

Vremya Novostey
Sept 1 2008
Russia

The severance of diplomatic relations between Georgia and Russia is
the next step towards the disintegration of the once close friendly
ties that united the peoples of the former USSR. This week Georgia
will embark on the fulfilment of the parliamentarians’ 28 August
decree in which it is proposed that the executive break off relations
with Russia as an "occupying" country. There is already a precedent
for the absence of diplomatic relations between post-Soviet states –
after the bloody conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh Azerbaijan and Armenia
never did exchange embassies. However, the severance of previously
established diplomatic relations between two former Soviet republics
is happening for the first time.

Georgian Ambassador to Russia Erosi Kitsmarishvili was recalled to
Tbilisi for consultations back in 10 July, almost a month before the
start of hostilities in South Ossetia. As the Georgian Foreign Ministry
explained to Vremya Novostey, a charge d’affaires and one other
diplomat are currently working at the Georgian Embassy in Moscow. The
other staffers, of whom there were 12, have already been recalled to
the homeland. A note on the severance of diplomatic relations has not
yet been handed to Georgian Ambassador to Russia Vyacheslav Kovalenko –
it cannot be ruled out that this will be done today [ 1 September].

Previously Georgian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Tkeshelashvili had
claimed that two diplomats would remain in Moscow. At the same time
Georgian Minister of State for Reintegration Temuri Yakobashvili
said that it would be possible not to break off relations but to
"reduce them to a minimum." But later Tbilisi decided to resort to
extreme measures. "We regret this step on the part of the Georgian
side. It will not benefit our bilateral relations," Andrey Nesterenko,
official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated. He noted
that Russia considers it important to maintain diplomatic channels
for contacts with Georgia: "Without this channel of communication,
we will experience difficulties in conveying our views to each other."

There will not be a complete cessation of contacts as yet – while
severing diplomatic relations, Georgia will retain a consulate in
Moscow to serve the interests of its citizens and compatriots. At
the Georgian Foreign MinistryVremya Novostey was told that the
consul and two vice consuls will continue to work in the Russian
capital. Georgia will demand that the Russian side reduce the number
of its staffers similarly. In this context Vladimir Chizhov, Russia’s
permanent representative to the EU, observed that Tbilisi has chosen
an "unusual version" of restricting diplomatic ties with Moscow,
since Georgia is retaining consular functions, which are actually
part of diplomatic functions.

Aleksandr Savinov, press attache at the Russian Embassy in Georgia,
told Vremya Novostey yesterday: "At the moment we are operating as
before. Georgia’s statements about severance have not been confirmed
by the corresponding note as of now." The Russian Embassy building
in Georgia is located on the street named for a hero of the Georgian
uprising against Soviet power in the 1920s, Kakutsa Cholokashvili. In
recent days pickets of people who are unhappy with Moscow’s policy
have gathered there every day. At the moment Georgian journalists
are on duty there, hoping not to miss the moment when the diplomats
start packing their bags.

At the Georgian Foreign Ministry Vremya Novostey was told that they
are conducting talks with a number of countries that could represent
Tbilisi’s interests in Moscow after the closure of the Georgian
Embassy in Russia: "For instance, there is no Japanese Embassy in
Georgia, but Japan’s interests are represented in our country by that
country’s embassy in Armenia. And Kuwait’s interests in Georgia are
represented by the Kuwaiti Embassy in Romania." The Foreign Ministry
did not clarify precisely which countries Georgia is talking with in
the "Russian salient," but there have been leaks to the press that
it could be Ukraine.

In Washington, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino stated that
the United States is "not surprised" at George’s decision to sever
diplomatic relations with Russia. Meanwhile Germany expressed regret
at this decision by Georgia.

>>From 8 September Georgia is changing the rules for issuing visas
to Russian citizens. Previously Russian citizens could obtain
Georgian visas on crossing the Georgian border – for a 90-day stay
in the country you had to pay approximately $30. From next Monday
visas will no longer be issued at the border, nor will there be any
tourist visas. From now on Georgia will receive only those Russian
citizens who are travelling in order to meet with family members,
for humanitarian purposes, or on an official or business visit. As
Vremya Novostey was told at the Georgian diplomatic department,
citizens of Russia may apply to the consulate in Moscow for a visa,
bringing the original invitation.

Moscow abandoned the visa-free regime back in 2000, suspecting Georgia
of conniving with the sending of gunmen into Chechnya. In 2006, after
the detention of four Russian officers in Tbilisi on suspicion of
espionage, Russia temporarily tightened the entry rules. Later there
were certain relaxations, but the issuing of the most in-demand visas,
tourist visas, was not resumed.

Political expert Zurab Abashidze, who held the post of Georgian
ambassador to Russia in 2000-2004, in an interview for Vremya Novostey,
explained Tbilisi’s decision to sever diplomatic relations with Moscow
in terms of the "extremely high degree of tension in relations." He
speculated that restoring diplomatic relations after a while "will be
difficult, but possible." For example, when there were no diplomatic
relations between the USSR and Israel, Israel’s interests in Moscow
were partially represented by the Netherlands, but later "everything
was sorted out."

Our interlocutor commented that "one can speak of several hundred
thousand people originally from Georgia who now live in Russia, but
the majority of them took Russian citizenship after Russia introduced
the visa regime." "Until now I have travelled easily to visit Mom in
Tbilisi and obtained a visa at the border," Moscow businessman Mikhail
K., who was born and raised in Tbilisi but has Russian citizenship,
told Vremya Novostey. "My friends from Georgia envied me, they could
not travel to Moscow so easily. Now there will be much more of a
headache from all this bureaucracy."

Along with the severance of diplomatic relations, Georgia stated that
it deems the basic agreement on the Georgian-Abkhazian settlement
signed in Moscow 14 May 1994 to have lost its force. It was on the
basis of this document that Russian peacekeeping forces were sent
into the conflict zone under CIS auspices. Tbilisi will henceforth be
guided by the Georgian Parliament’s decrees "On Peacekeeping Forces
Stationed in Georgian Territory" of 18 July 2006 (at that time it was
proposed that the executive declare the "blue berets" to be outside
the law, but that decision was not put into practice) and "On the
Occupation of Georgian Territories by the Russian Federation" of 28
August 2008. In this context the Georgian Government stated that it
remains true to the six-point agreement reached in August through
the mediation of French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
From: Baghdasarian

ACCORDING TO GAGIK HARUTYUNYAN THE PRECEDENT OF SOUTH OSSETIA IS GRIEVOUS, BUT IT MAY FURTHER SETTELING THE KARABAKH CONFLICT
Arman Gasparyan

"Noravank" Foundation
04 September 2008

Before Georgian-Russian conflict has begun Russia had already made
a decision to raise the economic relations with South Ossetia
and Abkhazia to the state level. In other words, these economic
relations had already acquired legal character making a ground for
the sovereignty of the two countries to be recognized. The director of
"Noravank" Foundation, political scientist Gagik Harutyunyan mentioned
in his conversation with us that after the early August events the
probability of recognition of the non-recognized republics is quite
high. Such optimism has come to be proved by the announcement made
by the President D. Medvedev and the Foreign Minister S. Lavrov,
as well as the 6 paragraphs of the Medvedev-Sarkozi program.

"It would be naïve to think that the process of recognition will be
of the same character as in case with Kosovo. The western community
doesn’t recognize independence of the two republics, however,
the case with Northern Cyprus (only Turkey has recognized this
republic) will not be reiterated either as in this case Russia will
have associates, although not that strong. It’s possible that the
process of recognition will not have that mass character as in case
of Kosovo, however, Russia will not at least be all alone. After the
latest South-Ossetian and Abkhazian developments we, as a matter of
fact, have a new South Ossetia, a New Abkhazia and a new Russia which
will probably for the first time after the collapse of the Soviet
Union display political will and determination directed to standing
for their national interests".

The political scientist is convinced that raising the status of any
not recognized republic by the international community will be in
favor of Karabakh. However, in case of Karabakh the matter is quite
different, although such precedents legally further the process of
international recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Both in
case of Kosovo and the one of South Ossetia and Abkhazia the legal
grounding of recognition became the will, determination and military
support of power states. The problem of Kosovo was solved by NATO and
the US: here, the United State and Europe held the same opinion on the
case. In case of South Ossetia and Abkhazia they have disagreements
which may result Georgia not to be accepted into NATO.

"Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must partly be given political solution
to, but, at the same time, we have to consider it to be settled from
the standpoint of political settlement and working out of certain
political rules. NKR has de facto joined Armenia; it is a de facto
established political and state element. The strategic climate
around it, as well as th e liberated territories are a favorable
version for us and here, one should take his time. Only "status quo"
is necessary, that’s to say it is necessary to somehow consolidate
what we have. This is the very political task. Our armed forces are
today there, and the problem is settled."

"Nevertheless, West seems to give more preference to the principle
of territorial integrity rather than to the rights of nations
and self-determination. Won’t this hinder the process of conflict
settlement?" While answering to this question the political scientist
accentuated that there were different standards, nevertheless, it
was difficult to determine which of them was peculiar and which –
wasn’t. In case of the very South Ossetia the OSCE Secretary General
stressed up that the solution of such problems was not possible to
imagine without the will of nations. In the west people think that
unless the rights of nations and their self-determination have been
realized, the problems don’t have any political perspectives to be
solved. After all, the United States itself declared its independence,
that’s to say, it is the will of the nation, and from this standpoint
the NKR has already been established. The precedent with South Ossetia
is very sad; however it may favor the solution of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

The political scientist mentioned that we have an Armenian community
in South O ssetia, and it is to be rendered humanitarian aid to it. But
to the question, "What do you think about the position assumed by some
political scientists concerning to Armenia’s freezing its relation
with Russia?" G. Harutyunyan answered that it was unaccepted for him.

"Politics is not a family where people divorce, love or hate each
other.

Politics is coincidence of interests. We have coincidence of interests
with Georgia which we can’t but take into consideration. We have a
numerous Armenian community in Georgia. I will also be mistaken to
say that we should be more active in case of such a little state which
has many interests in this region. The announcement of our political
leadership was quite even-tempered and serious. Such complementary
politics is justified…

–Boundary_(ID_A6uhs5HKYjPWPuxPSyEj7 w)–
From: Baghdasarian

TURKISH PRESIDENT GUL GOES TO THE MATCH
By Ozgucan Cengiz, JTW

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Sept 4 2008
Turkey

The Turkish President, Abdullah Gul is to attend 2010 FIFA World
Cup qualifying group stage match between Armenia and Turkey on
Saturday. The match will take place in Hrazdan Stadium, Yerevan.

According to the spokesman of the Armenian president, Samvel Farmanyan,
Gul’s counterpart Serge Sarkisian has extended an invitation to
Ankara. It is expected that the two head of state will attend the
match together.

Mr. Gul will become the first Turkish president to visit the Armenian
capital, Yerevan.

The two countries have no diplomatic ties since 1993 due to the
Nagarno-Karabakh issue, eventhough Turkey was the first state that
recognize Armenia’s independence on December 16, 1991. Armenia’s
so-called genocide allegation that also takes part in international
area at times is the main dispute between two countries.

Turkish National Football Team continues its preparation for the
match in Inonu Stadium, Istanbul. The coach of Turkish National Team,
Fatih Terim declared "We will go out for a match, not for a war"
after a question about political issues on a press conference. He
added "It is not possible to prepare for a game with thinking about
political problems and conflicts in history. We can’t carry the bulk
of history on our shoulders before this match. We footballers think
fast, we practice fast and we like playing fast. But if we handle
the weight of history then we would be slow and it violates our play".
From: Baghdasarian