ARMENIA, TUNISIA TO ESTABLISH AIR COMMUNICATION
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
22.10.2009 15:43 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia and Tunisia will establish air
communication. The RA government approved Thursday the agreement
signed by the two countries.
"Establishment of air communication between the two states will
contribute to development of bilateral economic and cultural
relations," said Artem Movsesyan, head of Armenian Civil Aviation
Department at the RA government.
ARMENIAN ENVIRONMENTALISTS PROTEST PROTOCOLS
Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Oct 22 2009
Armenia
Armenian environmentalists held an action of protest against the
Armenian-Turkish protocols in front of the RA Government. Policemen
tried to prevent the action.
The policemen tore the placards apart and demanded that the
participants leave the place. The Parliament member Zaruhi Postanjyan
of the Heritage Party of Armenia designated the policemen’s actions
as a crime. She reported that the action participants planned to march
from the RA Government to the resident of the RA President. Among the
participants was Zhirair Kocharian, a specialist in Armenian studies
at the University of Berlin. He said that after being signed the
Armenian-Turkish protocols are already affecting the international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
According to him, recent conference in Munich attended by Armenian,
Greek and other scholars did not discuss the Armenian Genocide at all,
whereas the issue was a priority at similar conferences before the
protocols were signed.
ERDOGAN SAYS HE WON’T MEET WITH BAYKAL AFTER CAMERA CONTROVERSY
Today’s Zaman
Oct 21 2009
Turkey
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced his decision not to
meet with main opposition leader Deniz Baykal to discuss recent efforts
to settle the country’s Kurdish issue in the wake of a controversy
which began after the latter insisted on having the meeting recorded
by a television crew.
"A tete-a-tete between politicians is not something new; however,
a condition to record such a meeting is unprecedented. This is
an indecent proposal. This is a proposal that ignores all ethnic
principles of politics. There is no meaning in meeting with cameras
to be set up with a Big Brother mindset. I was not supposed to meet
with Baykal to brainwash him. Nor would I bewitch him. I do not have
such talents," Erdogan stated. His remarks came during his Justice
and Development Party’s (AK Party) parliamentary group gathering on
Tuesday. Erdogan sent a one-page letter to the Republican People’s
Party (CHP) leader last week, asking for an appointment to discuss
the government’s efforts with him.
In a six-page letter Baykal sent Erdogan on Monday, he said he
would like to meet with the prime minister this week at the CHP
headquarters at any time of day so long as he was informed a day in
advance. Baykal also added that he would like to have their meeting
recorded by a television crew but that the time and place of their
meeting’s broadcast should be decided upon together.
"Compromise is not a sine qua non for democracy. Baykal has been
a political actor for years. Has he held his meetings up to this
point under cameras? … We have not kept anything secret from our
nation. We may have note takers or advisors during our meeting. I
am giving my response to Baykal. I will not go meet with him," noted
the prime minister.
He also recalled that Parliament would have an open session on the
Kurdish initiative where all parties will have the opportunity to
disclose their stance on planned moves to settle the long-standing
problem.
Touching on the surrender of 34 members of the terrorist Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK) on Monday to Turkish security forces, Erdogan
said: "Is it possible not to be hopeful upon seeing that picture? …
Good things are happening in Turkey. We will continue our fight to
complete the initiative even if we are alone. The tears of mothers
and the blood of martyrs are above all political interests. There are
circles who attempt to prevent us from proceeding on our path. Why
do you not contribute to the peace process?" asked the prime minister.
Erdogan said the mass surrender of PKK terrorists was part of a
"brotherhood project." "We are together in this country and accept
no division under any circumstance. I call on terrorists who are
currently in the mountains and in Europe to return to their country.
Parties who seek to turn such a return into a political show should act
responsibly. Irresponsible statements will not produce any benefits
for the process. Representatives of legal bodies should not speak
in the name of illegal bodies," he remarked, referring to recent
statements by pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) officials
upon the return of PKK members.
The surrender of PKK terrorists is expected to strengthen the hand
of the AK Party government on the planned initiative toward Kurds to
settle their years-long problems. The Turkish government launched an
initiative in late July to solve the Kurdish question. The government
has yet to provide details, but officials have frequently underlined
that the process aims to make every Turkish citizen an equal and free
member of a highly developed democracy.
PM reproaches Azerbaijan over removal of Turkish flags Erdogan
expressed his regret to see the removal of Turkish flags around
monuments in Azerbaijan commemorating Turkish soldiers who died
in battle on Azerbaijani soil. The flags were removed after a
rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia and the signing of two
protocols between the two countries.
"We never take a step that could disturb our Azerbaijani brothers. Let
them be sure about this. For us, the Azerbaijani flag is as sacred
as Azerbaijani soil. Our martyrs resting in Baku are witnesses of
this understanding. Let no one test Turkey’s sincerity. We should
be on alert against provocations. Our Azerbaijani brothers will soon
understand what the removal of Turkish flag in Baku means," he said.
TURKISH PRESIDENT PHONED HIS AZERBAIJANI COUNTERPART TO RELIEVE TENSION IN BILATERAL TIES
Azerbaijan Business Center
Oct 21 2009
Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Today President Abdullah Gul has phoned Ilham
Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan.
The Presidential Administration’s press service reports that in
the course of the conversation the two leaders covered bipartite
relationships, ways of settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno
Garabagh conflict, and Turkish-Armenian links.
Mr. Gul reiterated that without solution of the matter of Garabagh
conflict Turkish-Armenian ties could not be normalized. President
Aliyev, in his turn, thanked him.
After signing of the protocols between the Ministries of Foreign
Affairs of Turkey and Armenia and the insulting of Azerbaijani state
flag before Turkish-Armenian soccer match (unfurling of Azerbaijani
flags at the stadium was banned and the Turkish police simply threw out
Azeri flags into garbage cans) the Azerbaijani-Turkish relationships
incandesced. Azerbaijan is also displeased with Turkey’s position on
the occasion of Azeri gas transit through Turkish territory and made
statements about possible refusal from gas transit through Turkey.
Yesterday Milli Majlis raised the discussion on whole range of
Azerbaijani-Turkish ties. In particular, it was offered to conduct
close sessions on the matter of normalization of Turkish-Armenian
links, further reduction of use of Turkish flags in accordance with
the rules established in the country.
Ali Ahmadov, executive secretary of ruling party Yeni Azerbaijan
Partiyasi (YAP), emphasized that Turkey’s latest actions diminished
belief in its Leaderships’ statements about refusal from normalization
of ties with Armenia before Garabagh conflict settlement. In his
turn, Milli Majlis first vice speaker Ziafet Askerov pointed out that
friendship between Turkey and Azerbaijan was everlasting and steadfast.
ATOMIC POWER PLANT IN ARMENIA POSES THREAT, GEORGIAN MEDIA WRITES
APA
Oct 20 2009
Azerbaijan
Tbilisi. Nizami Mammadzadeh – APA. Georgian media has recently
published articles about the atomic power plant in Metsamor, Armenia,
APA’s Georgia bureau reports. One of these articles was published in
the Akhali Taoba newspaper in Tbilisi. The newspaper writes that the
atomic power plant poses threat to Georgia. Physician Mikhail Kaviladze
writes in the article that accident risk has recently increased in
the atomic power plant. The expert attributes it to the oldness of
the plant.
"In the aftermath of the radiation leak, the entire South Caucasus
may face danger."
The Akhali Taoba newspaper writes that Armenia plans to construct a
new atomic power plant (1200 MW) in 2016.
"The new plant will be more powerful than the old plant by three
times. $4 billion will be invested in the project, Eurasian bank has
assumed the main part of the sum," the newspaper writes.
The European Union demands Armenia to stop the operation of the atomic
power plant. It is noted that the atomic power plant is located in
a mountainous area and in case of an accident there may be lack of
water while cooling the reactors.
VICTORIOUS AT RUGBY
5604.html
18:44:03 – 19/10/2009
The Annual West Bengal Rugby Tournament held at the CC&FC grounds drew
to a close with the distribution of awards and trophies. The Armenian
College Rugby Team had participated in the various categories of the
rugby tournament. They played exceedingly well and made the school
proud. They remained true to the Armenian legacy and returned with
accolades. Our students Armen Makarian and Gegarth Markarian won the
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER in the "GEORGIA D 7’s RUGBY TOURNAMENT’ and the
"U-19 7’s RUGBY TOURNAMENT’ respectively.
PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN RECEIVED UKRAINIAN INDUSTRIAL POLICY MINISTER VLADIMIR NOVITSKI
ARMENPRESS
Oct 19, 2009
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
received October 17 Ukrainian Industrial Policy Minister, co-chair
of the Armenian-Ukrainian trade-economic cooperation commission
Vladimir Novitski.
Presidential press office told Armenpress that Serzh Sargsyan pointed
out the necessity of activating and more coordinating the work of
the inter-governmental commission, noting that it will be a serious
impetus for the development of economic partnership.
The sides agreed that the volume of trade turnover between the two
countries and its decline agreed with the global financial-economic
crisis do not correspond to the real opportunities.
According to them there is great not used potential in economic
relations and the commission must undertake serious steps in that
direction.
The interlocutors mentioned machine-building, aviation, agriculture,
IT as possible spheres of coopearation.
Sunday’s Zaman, Turkey
Oct 18 2009
Turkish, Armenian journalists find similar problems in their
respective news coverage
As the northwestern province of Bursa hosted a historic soccer match
between the national soccer teams of Turkey and Armenia, journalists
from the two countries used the opportunity to exchange ideas on the
coverage of news related to each others’ countries.
Researchers from both sides noted that there are the `same ills’ and
`similar problems’ in the media of the two countries. One problem that
the media in Turkey and Armenia suffer from is that they often follow
the `official’ agenda.
Armenian and Turkish media experts who met at a conference on Oct.
13-14 shared the results of their study `Armenian-Turkish Relations in
the Armenian and Turkish Media,’ completed through cooperation between
the Eurasia Partnership Foundation based in Yerevan and the Global
Political Trends Center (GPOT) based in Ä°stanbul.
The survey of the Turkish press during September and April of 2006,
2007 and 2008 included five dailies — Hürriyet, Sabah, Radikal, Yeni
Å?afak and Zaman. The survey of the Armenian press included three
dailies — Hayots Ashkhar, Aravot and Haykakan Zhamanak — and two
news Web sites — PanARMENIAN.Net and A1plus.am — in the same time
period.
While noting that most Turkish-Armenian stories were published in
April, the period of the `Armenian issue’ for the Turkish media,
journalist and researcher Suren Deheryan said the Turkish newspapers
that were surveyed published about 450 items with the keywords
`Armenia’ and `Armenian’ while the Armenian media outlets that were
surveyed published about 1,570 items with the keywords `Turkey’ and
`Turkish.’
Coverage in the Turkish and Armenian media consisted mostly of news
articles, commentary and analysis. There was a notable absence of
interviews since only 3.6 percent of the news items in the Turkish
media were interviews.
`Their lack can signal two factors: either the media lacks the desire
to tell the other side’s story or the actors in this conflict-laden
issue are not willing to tell their own stories,’ said journalist and
researcher Ferhat Boratav, who studied the Turkish media. `Here, one
has to keep in mind the unwillingness of the politicians to talk
openly and sincerely on an issue that always incites negative
reactions from a considerable part of the public.’
There is a similar tendency in the Armenian media.
`The coverage consisted mostly of news stories, about 79.2 percent;
interviews, 7.6 percent; and commentary and analysis, 6.6 percent,’
Deheryan said.
In the Turkish press, it was the political agenda, by 61 percent,
which prompted news coverage while it was almost the same for the
Armenian press.
`The press follows closely the political or official agenda, at the
origin of most of the stories one finds a political act or
announcement,’ Boratav stated.
In most stories, the main actors and sources are politicians and
officials and the main subjects of the stories covered are of a
political or diplomatic nature, according to the research.
`Human interest stories as well as non-political actors or sources are
noticeably absent,’ Boratav added.
Another similarity between the coverage of the surveyed media outlets
is that the stories are told in a one-sided fashion. In the Turkish
press, Armenian sources and viewpoints reflecting the Armenian side
are under-represented. In the Armenian press, Turkish sources and
viewpoints reflecting the Turkish side are under-represented.
Boratav noted one radical change in the Turkish press after reviewing
the 450 stories.
`The headlines, clichés and expressions that represented a general
anti-Armenian bias in the Turkish media have mostly disappeared from
the mainstream press,’ he said, although these practices survive in
marginal papers as they always target people working for
reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey. In addition, certain
clichés about Armenians are freely used in these publications,’
Boratav said.
Deheryan said there are stereotypes, clichés and a negative tone
toward Turkey in the Armenian media.
Journalists from both sides stressed that one way to overcome biases
is to continue exchange programs for journalists from the two
countries and evaluate the results.
18 October 2009, Sunday
YONCA POYRAZ DOÄ?AN Ä°STANBUL / BURSA
PAN ARMENIAN EXPO 2009 TO TAKE PLACE OCTOBER 23 TO 25 IN YEREVAN
PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2009 17:12 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ PanArmenian Expo 2009 international exhibition
will be held October 23 to 25 at the Sports Complex after. Demirchyan
in Yerevan, Vrezh Sarukhanyan spokesman for the Armenian Chamber of
commerce told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. This this the third time
the Chamber of Commerce of Armenia organizes PanArmenian Expo 2009.
According to him, the it is expected that exhibition will host more
than 100 entrepreneurs from 50 countries. "The exhibition will also
be attended by business representatives from Diaspora, invited to
take part in the event," he said.
The invitations were sent representatives of Armenian Diaspora in
the United States and Europe. As a part of the exhibition a business
forum will be held on October 23, and the official opening is scheduled
for October 24.
JAVIER SOLANA CALLS FOR RAPID RATIFICATION
News.am
10:24 / 10/16/2009
Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and
Security Policy (CFSP), issued a statement following the signing
ceremony in Zurich on Saturday, 10 October, in which he represented the
European Union, and following the meeting between President Gul and
President Sargsyan in Bursa October 14. The statement dated October
15 reads:
"I am delighted that President Gul and President Sargsyan met again
yesterday in Bursa. After Saturday, this was another welcome step
for both countries, for the region and for the European Union. The
normalisation of relations between Armenia and Turkey continues to
have our strong support, and I hope that the protocols signed in
Zurich on Saturday can be rapidly ratified by parliaments in both
countries as foreseen."