ANS TV, Azerbaijan
Oct 13 2007
Azeri soldier reportedly killed in Armenian cease-fire violation
An Azerbaijani soldier was killed as Armenian troops fired at the
positions of the Azerbaijani army. Private Farid Mammadov, 20, died
after he was wounded in the head, the Azerbaijani TV station ANS
reported on 14 October.
Mammadov was buried in his native village of Xoruzlu in Azerbaijan’s
Tartar District today, ANS said.
Hayots Ashkharh Daily, Armenia
Oct 12 2007
THE REPUBLICANS WON’T YIELD TO PROVOCATIONS
Head of RPA fraction Karen Karapetyan comments on the fact of the
adoption of Resolution # 106 on the Recognition of Armenian Genocide,
by the US House of Foreign Affairs Committee.
`From the moral point of view the adoption of the Resolution by
the US House of Foreign Affairs Committee is very important for us.
In my view there are chances for the Resolution to be adopted in the
Lower House as well.
As for the future possible developments, I don’t think the Upper
House will exercise his right to certify this resolution and from the
point of view of the distribution of votes, most probably we will
face problems. But even in case the Resolution is adopted by the
Lower House and appears in the Upper House it will be a serious
achievement for us, because thus international community will have
better knowledge about Genocide issue and the number of the
supporters of the recognition will definitely grow all over the
world.’
‘One of the principal argumentations of those who refuse to adopt
the resolution is that it will jeopardize `Armenian-Turkish
conciliation’ process. Moreover that it will lay on the line the
security of the Armenians living in Turkey. Do you think this concern
is justified?’
`Of course certain developments can possibly occur in Turkish
society. But in my view it is much more difficult to regulate
interstate relations in the atmosphere of suspicion and distrust.
After all there are countries that chose that way, particularly in
the person of France and Germany that overcame this psychological
barrier and at present they are in normal relations with Turkey.
Moreover at present, these relations are on a higher level.
After all regular development must lead to it, if not today then
in future. One day this decision will be taken and the international
community and why not Turkey as well is going to recognize the fact
of the Genocide, because Armenian-Turkish relations won’t remain on
this level forever. It comes not only from our interests, but also
that of the superpowers, and Turkey as well, taking into account the
geopolitical problems and the developments in the region.
Of course we can’t overlook the factor of Armenian lobby, which,
after the activity of many years finally managed to record certain
victory in the adoption of the Resolution.’
‘Because at the moment only Dashnaktsutyun and Armenian Pan
National Movement manifest activeness, who do you observe a serious
rival for to candidate – the candidate of RPA partner Dashnaktsutyun
party, or the leader of Armenian Pan National Movement Levon
Ter-Petrosyan?’
‘Regarding the pre-election activeness I must say that we have
passed through a certain path and we have received a rather serious
vote of confidence during the parliamentary elections. In this
respect our team is rather organized and the political powers that
have just started their election campaign need serious organizational
activity, something that we have already done during the
parliamentary elections. From this point of view the activeness of
those political powers is normal and logical. I don’t see anything
strange here.
It is up to the people to decide which candidate has more chances
to win the elections. As for our candidate, I’m not the one to judge.
In my view the advantages of the Republican candidate are visible for
anyone who follows the political events and is familiar to the
pre-election developments.’
LILIT POGHOSYAN
ADOPTION OF THE H.RES.106 IS A BIG VICTORY OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF U.S.
PanARMENIAN.Net
11.10.2007 14:25 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution
by U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs is a big victory of the
Armenian community of U.S.," Armenian Assembly Country Director for
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, Arpi Vartanian told a news conference
in Yerevan.
"This is a wonderful and important day for all Armenians," she noted.
"With a vote of 40 to 7, the Committee passed a similar resolution two
years ago. But at that time Turkey did not spread propaganda in all
directions," Ms. Vartanian said. "There were no letters from former
Secretaries of State and Defense Secretaries. There were statements
by the Department of State and White House Administration. However,
Turkey’s efforts proved counterproductive. Many lawmakers say, " I
am a U.S. Congressman, so why should I act by order of another state?"
"The Armenian lobby met difficulties this time, but millions of
Americans helped us by sending letter in support of the H.Res.106,"
she underscored.
The AAA Country Director assumed the possibility of failure of the
resolution in the full House. "Pressure on the Representatives is too
strong. All kinds of tools are enabled. But Turkey’s blackmail will
yield no fruit. Just remember the Turkish government’s fulmination
against France and other states, which recognized the Armenian
Genocide. But time has passed and Turkey forgot its threats, since they
would have damaged its own interests. We carried out an investigation
in 10 U.S. states which recognized the Armenian Genocide but have
trade relations with Turkey. It turned out that the commodity turnover
increased after recognition. Indeed, it doesn’t mean that Turkey will
settle down and quit lobbying in the Congress. I should mention that
it was the Armenian lobby from whom Turks learned how to work with
Congressmen. But, naturally, they have more opportunities and more
funds," she said.
October 10, with a vote of 27 to 21, the influential panel of
the U.S. House of Representatives took a major step toward ending
U.S. complicity in Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide, adopting
H.Res.106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution introduced on January
30th by Rep. Adam Schiff along with Representative George Radanovich
(R-CA), Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Rep. Brad Sherman
(D-CA) and Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI).
Armenia row threatens US-Turkish ties
By Jonathan Marcus
BBC diplomatic correspondent
2007/10/11
This is not just a story about phantoms from the past.
It speaks powerfully about the changing relationship between two key
allies in a Middle East where the strategic landscape has been
transformed by America’s invasion of Iraq.
The warnings from Turkey could not be clearer. If the full House of
Representatives in Washington votes to back the labelling of the mass
killing of Armenians as genocide, then serious consequences will
follow.
This could mean, for example, denying the US military the ability to
ship crucial supplies through Turkish bases for operations in Iraq.
The fact that President George Bush publicly urged Congress not to
proceed with the issue seems to have had little impact either at home
or abroad. And that this would be a non-binding resolution, implying
no practical shift in US policy, seems to make little difference to
Turkish opinion either.
It is clear the Armenian massacres are a hugely sensitive issue for
Turkey. Debate has raged on this issue, often prompting diplomatic
strains. It has been a factor complicating ties, for example, between
Ankara and Paris.
Complicated relationship
But the strains between the US and Turkey arise from the confluence of
a number of factors.
Things are made worse by the fact that this row is unfolding in a very
different context from that which characterised the generally stable
relationship between Washington and Ankara during the Cold War years.
Then, Turkey anchored the Atlantic Alliance’s southern flank against
attack from the Soviet Union. In many ways the relationship was
simple.
Today, it is much more complex, not least because of the political
transformation that has taken place inside Turkey. The country’s
secular-minded generals now play an important, but less central, role
in day-to-day governance, and a moderate Islamist-rooted party has
taken the democratic path to power.
The initial crunch in US-Turkish ties came in the run-up to the US
invasion of Iraq, when the Turkish parliament refused to allow Turkish
territory to be the staging post for the operation to topple Saddam
Hussein’s regime.
Since then both sides have tried to repair the damage, with the
Americans, for example, applying huge diplomatic pressure to encourage
some of its more reluctant allies to facilitate Turkey’s membership of
the European Union.
The removal of a strong Iraq from the Middle East’s political
chessboard has, though, greatly changed the regional dynamics. It has
served to accentuate Turkish aspirations of becoming a key diplomatic
player.
Feeling partially rebuffed by the Europeans, given the tortuous
process of EU accession, Turkey is seeking new ties and new allies in
the Middle East.
Its overtures have not been hampered by the fact that it still
maintains reasonably close ties with Israel. Indeed that country has
helped Turkey to take on something of a mediating role.
Kurdish factor
But the collapse of strong central authority in Iraq has also provided
another looming problem with Washington.
The last thing that Turkey wants to see is an independent Kurdish
state in northern Iraq which it believes would create wider
instability. But it also wants something done about Kurdish guerrillas
– PKK fighters – who continue to cross over the border to attack
Turkish troops.
In the wake of recent incidents there are now growing fears of a
Turkish military incursion into northern Iraq to neutralise Kurdish
separatist guerrillas who have their camps there.
The pressures on the Turkish authorities to act are growing. The
Turkish army has stepped up its bombardment of targets in northern
Iraq.
Officials in Baghdad and Washington are alarmed. This is a new element
in the Iraqi drama that the Americans want to avoid at all costs.
Source:
FIFA AND UEFA PRESIDENTS TO VISIT ARMENIA
ArmRadio – Public Radio
Oct 10 2007
Armenia
At the invitation of the President of the Football Federation of
Armenia (FFA) Ruben Hayrapetyan, October 15 FIFA President Joseph
Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini will arrive in Armenia on
a two-day visit.
Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Armenian
Football Federation that FIFA and UEFA Presidents will be received
by RA President Robert Kocharyan and Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan.
FFA President Ruben Hayrapetyan, FIFA President Joseph Blatter and
UEFA President Michel Platini will participate in the groundbreaking
ceremony of the sports school adjacent to Acharyan Street. The
Presidents will visit the juvenile football school of Banants FC,
which has been reconstructed under the "Goal I" program of FIFA.
The visit will be concluded by a press conference.
BUSH TO CONGRESS: DROP GENOCIDE TAG
InTheNews.co.uk, UK
Oct 10 2007
George Bush fears Turkey will be offended if the resolution passes
United States senators must not jeopardise American relations with
Turkey over the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Armenians during
the second world war, president George Bush has said.
The Senate foreign affairs committee is to vote on a resolution which
would describe the deaths as "genocide" – a highly controversial term
which Turkish leaders have repeatedly rebutted for nearly a century.
Although non-binding, experts say the resolution could harm relations
between Washington and Ankara because of the strong feelings the
accusations still create.
Adding the comment to the end of a brief speech on foreign intelligence
surveillance legislation, Mr Bush said: "We all deeply regret the
tragic suffering of the Armenian people that began in 1915."
He concluded: "This resolution is not the right response to these
historic mass killings, and its passage would do great harm to our
relations with a key ally in Nato and in the global war on terror."
Commentators say Turkey is an important strategic ally for the US in
the Middle East. Its proximity to Iraq and geographical significance
as a hub for energy roots makes it a vital bridge to the region.
At least 500,000 Armenians are acknowledged to have died during the
first world war and, although some research indicates the deaths were
systematically carried out by the Turkish army, those who make such
accusations still face reprisals.
In January this year the editor of Turkey’s only Armenian newspaper,
53-year-old Hrant Dink, was killed in Istanbul over the issue. His
death was met with mass protests on the city’s streets.
GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT TO CONSIDER ESTABLISHMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY
PanARMENIAN.Net
09.10.2007 16:53 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The chairperson the Georgian parliament, Nino
Burjanadze will open consultations on establishment of constitutional
monarchy in the country.
By initiative of Right Opposition faction, the parliamentarians will
set the date for political debates on Georgia’s state structure,
RIA Novosti reports.
The idea was suggested Sunday by Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia
Ilia II.
Nino Burjanadze supported the idea and said the parliament is ready
to discuss it.
Opposition deputies also showed interest in the proposal. Establishment
of constitutional monarchy is the only wayout for Georgia, they said.
36 ARMENIAN CITIES TO HAVE 13-HOUR WATER SUPPLY A DAY IN LATE 2008
Author: Tonoyan Susanna
Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 8 2007
Armenia
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. By late 2008, 36 Armenian cities,
including Sevan, Dilijan, Ashtarak, Charentsavan, Tsakhkadzor, Aparan
and Gavar will have a 13-hour water supply a day.
The director of Armwatercanal company Patrick Loren said at the
October 8 press conference that Saur company (France) – the manager
of Armwatercanal has assumed this obligation. According to him,
these cities will be provided with 24-hour water supply no earlier
than in 2013.
P. Loren said that water supply improvement work is now underway in
the indicated cities. Particularly, the 2-hour water supply will be
increased to 8-10 hours in Sevan by the end of this year, and two
water treatment stations will be put into operation in Dilijan.
Measures against illegal water connections are being taken in parallel.
In the words of P. Loren, the World Bank provided a 25 million-dollar
credit for improvement of the system, 15 million dollars of which
is considered as an investment, while the remaining sum has been
allocated for administrative expenditures. The Asian Bank intends to
provide another 40 million dollars. The French manager has allocated
only small sums from its own resources: last year, small programs
of 150 million drams (about 44 thousand dollars) were implemented,
and programs of 200 million drams have been implemented this year.
P. Loren noted that in addition to the indicated cities, 286 villages
(where commercal losses make up 80%) are serviced by their company.
According to him, the current tariff of 140 drams is quite low. The
company has already submitted a bid for raising the tariff by 30%
to the RA Public Services Regulatory Commission and the bid has been
rejected. Nevertheless, in his words, the company will insist on
its proposal.
It was pointed out that the payment collection level has increased
and now makes 70% or 200 million drams a month. The company has no
debts but its bills receivable amount to about 10 billion drams.
ISRAELI PRESIDENT PERES RECEIVES TURKISH FM BABACAN
Turkish Press
Oct 8 2007
JERUSALEM – Israeli President Shimon Peres received Turkish Foreign
Minister Ali Babacan in Jerusalem on Sunday.
Babacan is currently in Israel within the scope of his Middle East
tour.
Minister Babacan invited Peres to Turkey on behalf of Turkish President
Abdullah Gul.
Babacan said that he is hoping to find an explanation for the operation
of Israeli warplanes within Syrian airspace on September 6th.
Upon a question about Turkey`s role in Israeli-Syrian peace,
Babacan said that Turkey has a close relationship with Israel and
other regional countries. He noted that dialogue and development of
relations will serve for peace.
When asked what Turkey expects from Israel over Anti Defamation
League`s (ADL) change of stance and its statements regarding Armenian
allegations on 1915 incidents, Babacan said, "Turkey opened its
archives for researchers to reveal the tragedy happened during the
World War I. However, Armenian side has not done the same thing yet."
"Turkey wants this issue to be solved through historians not votes
of parliamentarians. A joint commission shall work on it; and then
we are ready to accept the outcome of its research," Babacan stressed.
Noting that the statements of ADL created a very risky situation,
Babacan warned that these statements and its outcomes may deteriorate
Turkey`s relations with the United States as well as Israel.
On the same question, Peres said that ADL is an independent
institution. He added that Israel supports the view that the issue
should be solved through historians not politicians. He said that
Israel`s views did not change.
Babacan will meet Israeli Parliament Speaker Dalia Itzik and Foreign
Minister Tzipi Livni today.
INSULT TO HISTORY, FREE SPEECH
San Antonio Express-News
October 6, 2007 Saturday
Turkish President Abdullah Gul is taking a wise, if preliminary,
step in seeking to amend Article 301 of the Turkish penal code.
The article, aptly criticized as a hindrance to free speech, makes
it illegal to "insult Turkishness."
Often, that perceived insult comes in the form of mentioning one
of the country’s most sensitive historical moments: the 1915 mass
killing of Armenians by Ottoman forces that many consider the first
systematic genocide in modern times.
Nobel Prize-winning writer Orhan Pamuk, novelist Elif Shafak and
newspaper editor Hrant Dink were all charged or tried under the code
for talking or writing — sometimes fictionally — about the highly
controversial historic episode.
Dink, an Armenian Turk, was shot to death in January outside the
offices of Agos, the bilingual newspaper he ran.
Turkey has been struggling to overcome a sorry record of human rights
abuses as it seeks to gain entry into the European Union.
Although Gul, elected in August, cannot change policy on his own,
his widely reported support for addressing Article 301 is a step in
the right direction for Turkey.