Author: Chalian Meline

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Jan 31 2009

Today’s Zaman readers welcome ErdoÄ?an’s exchange with Peres

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an’s reaction to the
passionate defense by Israel President Shimon Peres of the Israeli
military’s attack on Gaza at a World Economic Forum panel discussion
about Gaza was well received by spectators both in Turkey and abroad.

Many hailed ErdoÄ?an’s stand and described as "heroic," yet a
few criticized him as "being less than diplomatic." "I think it is the
first time a Turkish prime minister has reacted in a manner like
that," said Mehmet Ã?olakoÄ?lu in a comment he left at

`I congratulate Mr. ErdoÄ?an,’ he went on to say, adding, `It is
the time to break some obstacles to announce [what is] right.’ John
Ketseas described the speech as `the conscience of the entire world,
not just Turkey.’ Hundreds of readers from the Middle East were more
enthusiastic in their comments about ErdoÄ?an and cheered
him. Recalling his Turkish great-grandparents, Professor Motaz Abouel
Azm said: `I am so proud of ErdoÄ?an. He has changed 100 percent
the view of Turkey in our Arab countries.’ `Turkey [is] once more the
jewel in the crown of the east,’ he added.

Another reader, identifying himself just as Ahmed from Gaza, thanked
ErdoÄ?an for supporting the Palestinian cause and noted, `We do
thank and acknowledge this tremendous position that stands by the
humanitarian principles that the West is claiming.’ `Nicely done,’
wrote Cem Arda, stressing that `it was truly a democratic reaction to
[the] shameless Israeli aggression towards the innocent in the
region.’

Jihad Saleem from Caterham, UK, wrote, `I salute the prime minister of
Turkey and the people of Turkey for standing up against the arrogant
and non-peaceful [men] like Perez.’ He said, `Mr. ErdoÄ?an
showed himself as a very respectable gentleman despite Perez’s raised
voice.’

Some readers were critical of panel moderator David Ignatius, a
columnist with The Washington Post, who cut short ErdoÄ?an’s
answer to Peres. Zeynep Elbasan said, `The moderator’s behavior was
rude,’ considering he was only allowed to speak for 12 minutes, less
than half of Perez. She said nearly every Turkish citizen appreciated
ErdoÄ?an’s action. Another slammed Ignatius, who tried to cut
ErdoÄ?an off by saying, `We need to go to dinner,’ a few
times. `God bless ErdoÄ?an. At least he knew that [the] killing
of innocents is more important than that dinner,’ the commentator
wrote.

Another asked for the recall of the Turkish ambassador from Israel and
the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador from Turkey. He wrote,
`Material action [is] needed to give credence to ErdoÄ?an’s
opposition and anger to [the] Israeli slaughtering [of] Palestinian
children before the eyes ¦ of the whole world.’ Mehmet Ä°zzet
SaÄ?lam from Tel Aviv wrote, `I am proud of our prime minister,
ErdoÄ?an one more time.’

A Pakistani reader by the name of Aijaz noted, `My salute to [the]
prime minister of Turkey. Neither my prime minister nor [the] Arab
League have [had the] courage to [do] the same.’ Doron Efrati, on the
other hand, was very critical of ErdoÄ?an, calling him a
`fundamental extreme Muslim,’ and warned that `Israel will consider
this week [the] recognition [of] the Armenian Holocaust of 1915.’

31 January 2009, Saturday
TODAY’S ZAMAN Ä°STANBUL

To read more comments:
ar.do?load=detay&link=165616&bolum=101

PM CONGRATULATES MANSURYAN ON 70TH ANNIVERSARY

A1+
[09:06 pm] 29 January, 2009

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan sent a letter of congratulations
to Tigran Mansuryan on the occasion of his 70th anniversary. The
letter reads:

"Honorable Tigran Mansuryan,

I express my heartfelt wishes to you on the occasion of your 70th
anniversary. You have served your talent for the enhancement of
Armenian culture for more than a century. You have been able to
create unique works of art in different genres by coming from the
origins of Armenian spiritual song and music that shape the mind of
Armenians and reflect their essence.

On the difficult road of the newly independent Armenia, you have
guided and still guide our people with your soulful music.

You deserve the RA highest-ranking state awards, as well as the love
and respect of the Armenian people.

I congratulate you once more and wish you new achievements."

EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ENDS

National Assembly of RA
Jan 29 2009
Armenia

On December 26, beginning the works of the extraordinary session of
the National Assembly, the MPs adopted by voting the draft on Making
Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law on Social Obligatory Insurance
in Cases Invalidity and the legislative packages on Making Amendments
and Addenda to the RA Law on State Pensions, on Making Amendment to
the RA Law on Licensing, on Making Amendments to the RA Civil Code
and on Local Self Government in Yerevan City.

Then the MPs continued the debate for the second reading, interrupted
the previous day, the package of the bills onMaking Amendments to the
RA Civil Code, on Making Amendment to the RA Code on Administrative
Offences and on Making Amendment to the RA Criminal Code.

Ms. Larisa Alaverdyan, presenting the view of the Heritage faction,
said that they will abstain from the vote on the bill.

Mr. Rafik Petrosyan, member of the ARF faction, presented the view
of the faction. He said that the ARF faction will vote for the draft.

Mr. Gevorg Danielyan, Minister of Justice, in his completing speech
touched upon the questions and proposals of the MPs, certifying that
the draft is not one to restrict the rights of the citizens, but one
to reserve some rights.

For the procedure of the second reading the legislative body debated
the Government’s draft on Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA
Law on Referendum.

Mr. Styopa Safaryan, presenting the view of the Heritage faction,
believes that it is necessary to clarify the procedures and the nature
of the formulations, foreseen by the bill; otherwise the adoption of
the bill will be inadmissible. The heritage faction will vote against
the bill.

The draft packages on the Pan-Armenian Bank, on Making Addenda to the
RA Law on Profit Tax, on Making Addenda to the RA Law on Income Tax,
on Making Addendum to the RA Law on State Duty and on Making Addenda
to the RA Law on Banks and Bank Activities.

Mr. Ara Nranyan, co-author, presented the MPs’ authorized legislative
initiative on Making Amendments to the RA Law on Excise Taxes.

Mr. Alexan Petrosyan, member of the committee, presented the
endorsement of the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs of the
National Assembly.

In his extraordinary speech Mr. Hrayr Karapetyan, Vice President
of the National Assembly also highlighted the adoption of the
bill. According to him the local production, being in a difficult
situation, may be endangered. He talked on social problems, related
to local production, not denying that the importers also contribute
to the state budget. Mr. Karapetyan stressed that the importers
do not create jobs, the social problems are solved by the local
producers. According to the Vice President of the National Assembly
the legislative initiative should be a continuous one

The initiative should be continuous for the local production to
become competitive with imported production. He is convinced that
with similar initiatives it would be possible to regulate the field
and stimulate the local production.

Presenting the view of the Heritage faction, Mr. Armen Martirosyan,
head of the faction also highlighted the protection of the interests
of the local manufacturer.

In his completing speech, Mr. Alexan Petrosyan, member of the Standing
Committee of Economic Affairs of the National Assembly confirmed that
the local production also has a problem, relating to national security.

The drafts on Making Amendments to the RA Law on TV and Radio,
on Making Addenda and Amendments to the RA Law on Fixed Payments,
on Making Addendum to the RA Law on State Duty, on Making Amendments
and Addenda to the RA Law on Obligatory Social Insurance in Cases
Invalidity, the draft packages on Making Amendments and Addenda to
the RA Law on Value Added Tax, on Making Amendments and Addenda to
the RA Criminal Judicial Code, on Making Amendment and Addenda to
the RA Law on State Duty, on Making Amendments and Addenda to the
RA Law on Accountant Accounting and adjacent package of legislative
initiatives,as well as the legislative packages on Making Amendments
to the RA Civil Code,on Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law
on State Pensions and on Making Amendment to the RA on Licensing were
debated for the second reading.

The draft Packages on Local Self-Government in the city of Yerevan
and on Administrative Procedure on Mobile Traffic Breaches, Revealed
by Video and Photography Devices were submitted for the third reading.

The deputies also debated some international agreements.

For the third reading the debates of the drafts were organized,
after adopting the legislative packages on the Pan- Armenian Bank
and on Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Law on Value Added Tax.

At the end of the session the MPs adopted by voting all the debated
bills and ratified the international agreements, exhausting all the
issues of the agenda.

Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan, announcing the end of the session, congratulated
the MPs on the occasion of New Year and Christmas, wishing in 2009
to raise the level of the role of the parliament by joint efforts.

INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPERS NOT NEEDED FOR KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.01.2009 16:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ International peacekeepers are not needed for
resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, major general Arkady
Ter-Tadevosyan (Commandos) told a news conference dedicated to the
Day of Armenian Army.

In discussing the role of international organizations in resolution
of conflicts, maj. gen. Ter-Tadevosyan stated that international
organizations are not capable to observe neutrality.

"Despite the positive image created for international peacekeepers
in Kosovo, their actions were debatable," he remarked.

He also pointed out to the progress fixed in the army
reorganization. "Besides state defense expenses, Armenia receives
military hardware as a CSTO member and also from NATO member states,"
he said.

Commenting on the situation in the units, the major general said that
the soldiers’ parents complain about minor everyday problems.

He also emphasized that the new law on compulsory draft of 18-year-old
young men is a dire necessity conditioned by the decrease of birthrate
in 1990ies.

TURKEY PUSHED INTO INTERNATIONAL ISOLATION

Hurriyet
Jan 27 2009
Turkey

ISTANBUL – Another criticism to Prime Minister Erdogan’s harsh
words toward Israel comes from a former ambassador who argues that
the government’s pro-Hamas stance pushes Turkey into international
isolation and damages the country’s mediation potential

Criticizing Israel and projecting a pro-Hamas stance is pushing
Turkey into isolation in the international arena, Turkey’s former
ambassador to Washington said in an interview with daily Milliyet
published yesterday.

Stating that defending the Palestinian people and defending Hamas
was not the same thing, Logoglu said being closer to Hamas would mean
losing the role of mediator between Hamas and Fatah. "If Turkey was
able to preserve its previous distance to Hamas and El Fetih it would
be better for everyone. But right now Turkey is situated right next
to Hamas and against Israel and Fatah," he noted.

Logoglu said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had failed to keep
a balance in his criticism of Israel and Turkey’s role as mediator in
the Middle East had been damaged, although not destroyed. Furthermore,
Erdogan’s statements led to disappointment within Jewish lobby groups,
he said.

Hamas not political party

"The Jewish lobby is the strongest in the United States and the only
one supporting Turkey. Therefore, the letter of disappointment sent
to Erdogan is of great importance in terms of highlighting the future
of ties," Logoglu said.

When asked about Prime Minister Erdogan’s statement that Hamas was
a democratically elected government, Logoglu said he did not think
Hamas was a political party. "A political party seeks to reach its
goals through political means. Hamas on the other hand is a party
and a terrorist organization," he said.

Commenting on remarks that Turkish foreign policy had taken a new
course under the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, Logoglu said
this was nothing new. "The policy of zero problem with neighbors
(voiced by the prime minister’s adviser Ahmet Davutoglu) is not new
in Turkey. What’s more, all the problems, including the Cyprus issue,
the Aegean problem and the problems with Armenia, remain unsolved,"
he said.

RA NA DELEGATION TO PACE LEAVES FOR STRASBOURG

National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia
Jan 26 2009

The delegation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia
to PACE left for Strasbourg to take part in the works of the PACE
January (26-30) session. On the delegation were Mr Davit Harutyunyan,
head of the delegation, members Mr Avet Adonts, Mr Armen Rustamyan,
Mr Grigor Margaryan, Mr Artsruni Aghajanyan, Ms Naira Zohrabyan and
Mrs Hermine Naghdalyan.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance
Contact: : 818-231-0937
[email protected]

January 26, 2009

FEB. 15 DEADLINE FOR $10,000 PAUL SCREENWRITING PRIZE

The $10,000 Paul Screenwriting Prize, administered by the Armenian
Dramatic Arts Alliance (ADAA), is currently accepting full-length,
unproduced screenplays on Armenian themes. Scripts must be in English
and translations will now be accepted.

The deadline is February 15, 2009.

The playwright need not be Armenian, but the play must focus on
Armenian subject matter. Visit for full
guidelines.

The winner will be announced at a special ADAA reception in Los
Angeles in late summer 2009.

Electronic submissions are encouraged by sending a PDF file to
[email protected].

A synopsis, resume/bio, and a $20 fee (check made out to ADAA) must be
mailed to ADAA/ PAUL SCREENWRITING PRIZE, 20 Concord Lane Cambridge,
MA 02138. You may also send four hard copies of the script to this
address, but email submissions are preferred.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Jan 24 2009

What Can Obama Do For Me?

VIEWPOINT – ZAK ETTAMYMY

This is a question we Moroccans forget to ask our selves, we also
forget to analyze the candidate, scrutinize him and his policies,
demand a clear standing about issues that concern us as a group, a
small group, but a potentially influential one, the Moroccan Diaspora;
with its Muslims, Jews, Educated, Laborers, Students and mothers of a
generation of Moroccan-Americans all have one passion, Morocco and its
well being.

I took my time to support President Obama, I did not write during the
Obama-euphoria after his election, I had to wait and see his
commitment to world peace, ending injustice and above all on being a
friend of Morocco and the Arab world. Why not? My vote counts and I
can be demanding too. I wanted my vote to go to the person who can
serve me best and serve my family and of course who can help my
country of origin, no apology needed here, we are what we are and we
should not separate American politics with our passion for Morocco.
This message is not for those who claim to recreate themselves in this
country and forget their country of origin; not for those who blame
Morocco for their mediocrity or their situation and especially not for
self-hating Moroccans, it is for those who embrace America with its
bad and good and love Morocco for its bad and good. As a Diaspora,
and one of the highest proportion in the world (12% of local total
population) we have an identity crisis, we all vote, in France, Spain,
Italy, Belgium, Holland, Canada and the USA for millions of reasons,
that’s why are not listened to, we are not counted because we are too
spread out , no candidate tries to approach us because we are not
united under one ideology, we are widespread in the political spectrum
of the western world.

Israel was created because the Jews influenced the English Empire and
pushed with the force of its unity Rothschild and Belfort to declare
Palestine a future home for the Jewish people. This is by far the most
successful action of any Diaspora. The Armenian Diaspora is very
similar in its long reach, using its number to face a much bigger
opponent Turkey. We, the Moroccan Diaspora are still in the identity
crisis phase, maturity comes with a real leadership and a big help
from the government of Morocco. Unfortunately, our Diaspora is
ill-represented by personal greed and the old (BBAK KHO SAHBI)
mentality. Some of the so-called leaders of the Moroccans-living in
America are a real disgrace to all of us, they represent us because
they know someone who knows someone who knows someone back home not
because of their achievements in this country where things matter
more. What can Obama do for us with these people heading our
community? Nothing, he would not even recognize our importance and our
potential. But on a personal level, I love the fact that this country
gives us the chance to be what ever we want as a person and to be able
to fall back on that when the group does not exists or is below your
standards, my list of things I want Obama to do for me, as I wait for
a unified list of us:

A complete halt of associating Islam with Terrorism, Islam phobia
should be as taboo and as illegal as Anti-Semitism

A balanced middle east policy and a halt to American Veto’s when it
comes to the killing of children

A recognition of what Morocco has been doing since day 1 for this
nation

A full support of the Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, the least
expected from a friend.

A strong pressure on the Arab leaders to get their act together and
support their population

A real consideration to the Arab street, it is the real mood of the
Arab world not the leaders

And of course, Economy¦

Mr. Obama, these are my wishes and I am entitled to them because I
voted for you

ARMENIAN MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPORT FILES CLAIM AGAINST AZERBAIJAN DUE TO THE INTERFERENCE WITH ARMENIAN AIR

Today.Az
Jan 21 2009
Azerbaijan

"Armenian Ministry of Communication and Transport filed a claim
against Azerbaijan to the International Telecommunication Union", said
Azerbaijani Minister of Communication and Information Technologies
Ali Abbasov.

He said the claim states that the television and radio programs of
Azerbaijan have recently started to interfere with the Armenian air.

"Today Azerbaijan with its neighbors conducts broadcasting in
the framework of protocols of the International Telecommunication
Union. In 2008 the reserve fund of the president allotted funds for
strengthening coverage of frontier areas.

I think this interference comes not from Azerbaijan. It is a result
of the shortcomings in the technical works of Armenia", said Abbasov.

The Minister noted that transmission stations are set in 13 regions
of the country as instructed by the president.

"After completion, interference with Azerbaijani air will stop",
said Abbasov.

UNLEASHING NEW WAR FOR KARABAKH TO FULLY DISCREDIT RUSSIA’S POLICY IN SOUTH CAUCASUS: RUSSIAN EXPERT

ArmInfo
2009-01-20 17:18:00

ArmInfo.Unleashing new war for Karabakh will fully discredit Russia’s
policy in the South Caucasus, Aleksey Yegorov, an expert of the
Russian Strategic Culture Foundation, told ArmInfo.

‘Certain forces interested in weakening of Russia’s influence on the
region keep on developing null scenarios. This time they started
saying allegedly in 2008 Moscow transferred weapons and military
hardware to Yerevan worth 800 million dollars without compensation’,
the expert said. Azerbaijani news agencies provided the list of a
great variety of weapons and military hardware (mostly outdated)
allegedly transferred to Yerevan to surprise uninformed Internet users.

The expert mentioned the statements by Colonel Alexander Drobishevsky,
Acting Head of the Russian Defense Ministry Department for Information
and Press that no weapons were delivered to Armenia and the reports
by Azerbaijani media do not correspond reality. ‘We evaluate such
reports as provocation’, Drobishevsky declared. He also underlined
that Colonel Aleksander Petrunin, who was mentioned as a prior source
of the above reports by the Azerbaijani ANS, is not competent to give
such comments to anyone. For his part, Press Secretary of Armenian
Defense Ministry Seyran Shakhsouvaryan refuted the reports as well.

The expert is sure that such methods to involve oversea forces in the
conflicts they had provoked aim to break Russia’s efforts to maintain
peace in the region’, Yegorov says.