Author: Boshkezenian Garik

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
March 9 2007

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan: We will not leave Azerbaijan alone

Friday , 09 March 2007

Turkish Prime Minister Recap Tayyip Erdogan interviewed by Azeri news
source APA:

– How do you evaluate the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan?
What about the reality of the ‘one nation, two countries?’

Relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey are growing in all spheres on
the basis of deep-rooted and culture-pushed brotherhood. One of the
architects of these relations, the great leader Heydar Aliyev said
Azerbaijan and Turkey are one nation in two independent states. This
slogan came true. The world feels jealous of Azerbaijan and Turkey’s
sharing both the grief and the happiness.

The two countries are enjoying high-level political, economic,
military, cultural, commercial and other relations. The mutual
confidence and joint activities strengthened and consolidated our
relations and we created a healthy foundation for this cooperation.
We observe that Azerbaijan’s energy wealth, fast developing economy,
effective reforms in democracy and human rights elevate it to its
deserved summit. Implementation of Baku-Tbilissi-Ceyhan and
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum projects shoulder-to-shoulder with Brother
Azerbaijan and Neighbor Georgia will be followed by execution of
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad project. Azerbaijan is very determined
towards this issue.

Turkey have to date favored Azerbaijani people in sad and happy days
and will do its utmost afterwards.

– Armenia continues to occupy 20% of Azerbaijan’s territory.
Stipulating that Armenia should withdraw from Azerbaijan’s lands and
some one million of displaced Azeri people should return to their
native land, Turkey said it would have relations with Armenia after
that. Armenia’s giving up baseless ‘genocide’ and territory claim is
one of the stipulations Turkey made. If Armenia gives up the false
claims, can Turkey close eyes to occupation of Azerbaijan’s lands and
Karabakh conflict?

You know what stance Turkey has taken on Armenia’s aggression against
Nagorno Karabakh and 7 neighboring regions. Within its potential,
Turkey is giving all possible support for Azerbaijan in its fair
fight. Turkey supports termination of the occupation violating the
international laws. We will not leave Azerbaijan alone.

If Armenia gives up its current policy and takes a friendly stance,
it will take a significant step toward the normalization of the
relation. It seems to me, this move will lead to the settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and improve relations between
Azerbaijan and Armenia.

– There are cool relations between Turkey and the European Union? Is
it possible that the attempt to develop all-round relations with the
Turk republics becomes the priority? In this case, how real is it to
create Turk Common Market?

First of all, I would say the relations between Turkey and the
European Union are not alternative or rival to the ties between
Turkey and other Turkic states.

We enjoy historical, ethnic and cultural relations with Turkic
states, and Asian geography has always been one of the priorities in
Turkey’s foreign policy. Turkey was the first to recognize the
independence of Azerbaijan and Turkic states in Central Asia and has
done its best to backed strengthening of their independence,
sovereignty, territorial integrity, political-economic integration
into the international arena, as well as their political, economic
and military infrastructure.

Summit of Heads of Turkish speaking countries is the platform
bringing together the Turkish countries. The last summit held on
November 17, 2006 in Antalya was the indicator of the importance
Turkish speaking countries attach to the solidarity ad mutual
understanding.

Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipelines and
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars-Akhalkalaki railway project are building up
strategic bridge between Central Asia’s Turk Republics, Azerbaijan
and Turkey.

These countries that celebrate the 15th anniversary of their
independence have become the members of international community and
took their merit places in the world. Our cooperation covered all the
levels of our societies within these 15 years. I have no doubt that
all sides show political will to develop the relations on the basis
of respect, equality and common advantage.
APA

Panorama.am

14:44 09/03/2007

ABSOLUTELY NEW FORMAT

A number of deputies of Supreme Council of Armenia and
public-political figures call for not to participate in the
forthcoming parliamentary elections.

Deputies of the Supreme Council, Aram Mayilyan, Vardan Petrosyan, as
well as members of the initiating group of the party `Democratic
Armenia’ Narine Lazarian and Narine Dilbaryan, announced during the
meeting with journalists today.

According to A. Mayilyan, his generation succeeded to register a
victory in the Karabagh problem, but in the cause of the
democratization of Armenia they are defeated. `In 1995 we finally lose
the democratic Armenia. It was occupied by not democratic forces,
which is continuing and deepening up to date’, Mayilyan stated.

Considering the liberation of democratic Armenia as their duty, the
aforementioned figures with several colleagues, have come out with
statements, by which they call for not to take part in the elections.
`Not to boycott, as the boycott means their implementation. But simply
not to take part’, they explained. Karapet Rubinyan, Vahan
Shirkhanyan, Silva Haroutyunyna, Alexander Arzoumanyan has signed to
the statement.

In their words, numerous political forces and public sections will not
take part in the elections for absolutely different motives, and they
now have a task to amalgamate with the forces that do not take part in
the elections.

Source: Panorama.am

RA FM believes the US is sincere in its desire to help normalize
Armenian-Turkish relations

ArmRadio.am
09.03.2007 16:16

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian declared at a press
conference today that he considers `the US is sincere in its desire to
help normalize the Armenian-Turkish relations and reach opening of to
border.’ The Minister said he has discussed the issue of
Armenian-Turkish relations during the meeting with the US Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice.

`The United States has been long aspiring to normalize our relations
with Turkey and has put a target to reach the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border. However, the uncompromising position of
Turkey does not allow attain it,’ said Vartan Oskanian.

The Armenian Foreign Minister said the situation in Iran was not a
separate topic during the meeting with Condoleezza Rice and was
discussed in the regional context.

Law criminalizing Armenian Genocide denial to be presented to Senate
confirmation after elections

ArmRadio.am
09.03.2007 17:45

The law envisaging criminal punishment for denying the Armenian
Genocide will be presented to Senate confirmation after the nationwide
elections in the country. Chairwoman of the European Armenian
Federation Hilda Tchoboyan told Armenpress that the law should be
presented by the Socialists, the authors of the bill, who are
currently engaged in the presidential elections expected in the
country. She noted also that much depends on these elections. `The
European Armenian Federation wants the law to be included in the
Senate agenda, therefore, the works in this direction are under way,’
Hilda Tchoboyan underlined.

Let us remind that on October 13, 2006 adopted a bill envisaging
criminal punishment for denying the Armenian Genocide, which should be
approved by the Senate within a year.

AKI, Italy
March 8 2007

SWITZERLAND: VERDICT EXPECTED FRIDAY IN GENOCIDE TRIAL AGAINST TURK

Lausanne, 8 March (AKI) – The trial of Turkish politician Dogu
Perincek – who made comments in Switzerland denying the 1915 mass
killings of Armenians was genocide – continued in a Lausanne court on
Thursday, with statements from the defence and the prosecution. The
trial, which is due to conclude on Friday, is a test case for Swiss
anti-racism legislation. Prosecutor Eric Cottieri has called for a
six-month jail sentence for 65-year-old Perincek if he is convicted.

On the first day of the trial on Tuesday, Perincek, leader of the
nationalist Turkish Workers’ Party, reiterated remarks he made in a
2005 public speech in Lausanne describing the 1915 mass killings of
Armenians as "an international lie". Perincek told the court what
occurred were "killings on both sides," but that the Ottoman Turks
did not perpetrate genocide against the Armenian people.

The great powers of the day, especially Britain, had fuelled the
genocide theory and such "progaganda" is being used in present times
by the United States against Turkey, Perincek said. In statements
made earlier this week to the Swiss newspaper Le Matin, Perinck said
he had many World War I era documents from various countries that he
would use in court to prove that what happened in Turkey in 1915 was
not genocide.

An estimated 150 supporters of Perincek held a silent protest in
Lausanne on Tuesday to coincide with the start of the trial, the
Swissinfo website reported.

The Turkey daily Hurriyet newspaper reported that a large contingent
of Perincek’s supporters were barred from the courtroom and Turkish
journalists were also denied access to the trial on the grounds that
written accreditation had not been received beforehand.

Under the Swiss penal code any act of denying, belittling or
justifying genocide is a violation of the country’s anti-racism
legislation. Experts say the presiding judge at the district court in
Lausanne will have to negotiate some tricky legal waters. Twelve
Turks prosecuted in Switzerland on similar charges in 2001 were
acquitted. Although the Swiss parliament recognises the World War I
killings of the Armenians as genocide, neither the government nor the
Senate does.

Moreover, the case is set to test the already shaky relations between
Bern and Ankara.

In 2005, Turkey criticised the Swiss authorities’ decision to
investigate Perincek and later cancelled an official trip to Turkey
by then economics minister, Joseph Deiss.

The anti-racism legislation is itself a topic of debate in
Switzerland. Justice minister Christoph Blocher, leader of the
right-wing Swiss Popular Party, opposes the law, arguing it is
incompatible with freedom of expression. In a controversial move,
Blocher met his Turkish counterpart Cemil Cicek in Bern at the
weekend.

Armenians say 1.5 million of their people were killed in a genocide
by Ottoman Turks during World War I, either through systematic
massacres or through starvation. More than a dozen countries, various
international bodies and many Western historians agree that it was
genocide.

Turkey disputes the World War I mass killings of Armenians as
genocide. It acknowledges that many Armenians died, but says the
figure was below one million.

ARMENIAN LEADER, FRENCH MEDIATOR DISCUSS KARABAKH IN YEREVAN

Mediamax news agency
7 Mar 07

Yerevan, 7 March: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan met the French
co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group [for the settlement of the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict], Bernard Fassier, in Yerevan today.

The present stage of the Nagornyy Karabakh peace talks was discussed
at the meeting, presidential spokesman Viktor Soghomonyan told
Mediamax today.

It is expected that the French mediator will leave for Baku later
today to meet the Azerbaijani leadership.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website: 
March 8, 2007

His Holiness Karekin II Visits Holy Church of Nazareth in Calcutta

On February 27, 2007, the Armenian community of Calcutta had an opportunity
they had not enjoyed in more than 40 years – to greet the Catholicos of All
Armenians, receive his blessing and kiss his anointed right hand.  Not since
the visit of Catholicos Vasken I of blessed memory to India in 1963 had the
Pontiff of the Armenian Church been in this historical Armenian community. 
Their numbers have greatly diminished in the last fifty years; nevertheless,
more than 100 Armenians from throughout West Bengal came to the Holy Church
of Nazareth, located on `Armenian Street’ in Kolkata, to participate in the
`Hrashapar’ service, greeting the entrance of the Pontiff into the church.

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
was accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the
Diocese of Australia and New Zealand and Pontifical Legate to the Far East;
His Excellency Ashot Kocharian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the Republic of Armenia to India; Mr. Haik Sookias, Jr., Chairman of the
Armenian Church Committee of Calcutta and Chinsurah; Rev. Fr. Vardan
Navasardian, a member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin currently
serving in Australia; and Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian from the Mother See.  Also
in attendance were the members of the Armenian Church Committee and the
students and administrators of the Armenian College and Philanthropic
Academy.

During the service, His Holiness and the pontifical delegation were welcomed
by Very Rev. Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian, Pastor of the Armenian Community of
India, who invited Abp. Baliozian to offer his remarks and introduce the
Catholicos.  Abp. Baliozian spoke of the significance of the first historic
visit of His Holiness Karekin II to India, and expressed his confidence that
the visit of the Catholicos would infuse new life and vitality into the
community’s national and cultural life, and asked His Holiness to deliver
his message of blessing to the faithful.

The Catholicos of All Armenians offered his prayers of thanksgiving for his
safe arrival in India and expressed his appreciation to the entire community
for the warm welcome he has received.  His Holiness commended the
tradition-rich Armenian community of India for being the `golden bridge’
between India and Armenia for more than five centuries, bringing their great
contribution to the development of mutual appreciation for one another’s
cultural and societal achievements.  The Pontiff also stressed the
importance of this community throughout history in many national spheres,
including their steadfast faith and devotion.  The loyalty of the Armenians
of India to Holy Etchmiadzin, the Armenian Church and to their homeland has
been an example to all diasporan Armenian communities throughout the world
for hundreds of years, noted His Holiness.

His Holiness concluded his message by focusing on the youth of the community
– the more than 80 young boys and girls studying in the Armenian College and
Philanthropic Academy of Calcutta who have come to India from Armenia, Iran
and Iraq.  He stressed that these children are the true treasures of the
Church, each more valuable and worthy than all of the riches and legacy
created by their ancestors on these foreign yet hospitable shores, and he
offered his praise and gratitude to God for the care which is being provided
to them by the community.

At the end of the service, all of the faithful approached His Holiness and
kissed his right hand, receiving a cross from the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin and a blessing from the Catholicos of All Armenians.

The pontifical visit to the Holy Church of Nazareth concluded with a tour of
the grounds, which gave His Holiness the opportunity to personally see the
many historical gravestones which rest in the courtyard of the church, some
dating from 1630.  The original church of Holy Nazareth was built by
Armenians at the beginning of the 17th century.  The current church building
dates from 1724.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER AND U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO HOLDING OF MAY 12 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN CORRESPONDENCE WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 06 2007

WASHINGTON, MARCH 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Regional issues, the present state
of the Armenian-Turkish relations and U.S. mediation initiatives in the
direction of their settlement were discussed at the March 5 meeting of
RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian who is on a working visit to the
U.S., and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. According to the
infotmation submitted to Noyan Tapan by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press
and Information Department, the sides exchanged opinions concerning
recent developments and prospects of the negotiations on the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. Meaning of the Millennium Challenges program
announced by the U.S. government in the affair of implementation of
the program on rural poverty reduction in Armenia was mentioned at
the meeting. V.Oskanian presented preparatory works done till now for
the program implementation. Touching upon the coming parliamentary
elections in Armenia, the interlocutors attached importance to holding
them in correspondence with the international standards.

EVENT DEDICATED TO SUMGAYIT INNOCENT VICTIMS TAKES PLACE IN MINSK

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
March 5 2007

MINSK, MARCH 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On February 28,
employees of RA Embassy in Belarus and a number of representatives
of Belarusian Armenian community led by RA Ambassador Oleg Yesayan
laid flowers to the khachkar (cross-stone) placed in the yard of
Minsk St Alexander Nevski Church, in memory of the innocent victims
of Sumgayit tragedy.

As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, O. Yesayan, in his speech condemning 1988
Sumgayit genocide, at the same time presented his memories of the
events that took place in Khojalu in 1992 and considered immoral the
propaganda of distorting the reality Azerbaijan continues.

"TE DEUM" SERVICE IN DINK’S MEMORY

A1+
[07:29 pm] 05 March, 2007

On March 4 under the blessing of His Holliness Garegin II, the Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, a Te Deum service was held
in the he Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, in memory of Hrant Dink,
editor-in-chief of "Akos" weekly.

Prior to the ceremnony archiibishop Arshak Khachatryan addressed the
presentees with an opening speech. He dwelt on Hrant Dink’s activity
and urged to pray for the rest of Hrant Dink’s soul.

The representatives of the Armenian community of Polis, as well
as the monks of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin were present at
the ceremony.