Author: Emil Lazarian

Ãóíäîãàð, Turkmenistan
Gundogar – For Democracy and Human Rights in Turkmenistan
Oct 27 2006
Bermuda Triangle
Leonid Kolosov/Gundogar
Turkmenistan – Turkey – EU: how will their further relations develop?
Events seemingly independent from each other – EU’s refusal to ratify
the interim trade agreement with Turkmenistan and tightening of the
process of Turkey’s possible entry into the European Union,
nevertheless, appear to be closely connected.
And the point is not that in both cases debates are aroused by
antidemocratic policy of authorities of the two countries and
violations of human rights, which in opinion of the European
officials is absolutely not acceptable.
In case with Turkmenistan, according to the resolution of the
International Trade Committee of the European Parliament, the
European Union will approve an interim trade agreement with
Turkmenistan only if `clear, tangible, and sustained progress on the
human rights situation is achieved.’ Before continuing negotiations
Turkmen government has to release all political prisoners, allow the
registration and free functioning of nongovernmental organizations,
and to grant international human rights monitors access to
Turkmenistan to oversee the situation in the country.
Europe already knows enough about dictatorial method of government
embraced by Saparmurat Niyazov and the European officials had enough
opportunities to become acquainted with it personally. `It is the
most repressive country I’ve ever been to, – British conservative,
deputy of the European Parliament Martin Callanan said after
returning from a five-day trip to Turkmenistan. – There are no human
rights at all’.
Therefore, it is not a surprise that a question: `to trade or to not
trade with Turkmenistan?’ – was answered by prevailing common sense
and unwillingness to soil the reputation by cooperating with
dictator, even considering the `countless’ hydrocarbon resources and
interest in deliveries of Turkmen energy to Europe. `I do not say,
that we should buy oil and gas only in the democratic countries –
with such an approach we shall buy nothing at all, – M. Callanan
said. – However signing of the new agreement, should probably be
postponed until improvements with human rights situation in
Turkmenistan begin to show’.
In order to reach EU standards, Turkey also has to undertake a number
of measures in sphere of political and civic freedoms, in particular,
regarding freedom of speech and civil control over the army. Till now
pace of these reforms was considered insufficient. Besides, Till now
Turkey did not get over the stumbling block – an issue of recognition
of genocide of Armenians in 1915 and the Cyprian problem – and this
won’t happen in the near future.
`Turkey may stop it’s movement towards the West, which started 80
years ago with Kemal Ataturk and start implementing Islamic and
nationalist policy instead’, – reports British Financial Times.
In turn, head of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter
Steinmeyer sharply criticized Ankara and has declared that progress
in observance of the human rights `in this country exists only on
paper’.
But if we assume that European countries will open doors of the
European Union for Turkey how in this case they will look at more
than friendly relations between Turkey and Turkmenistan? Which way
the EU’s geopolitical pendulum will swing: will the Europe follow a
course of principle and will not encourage numerous trading and
economic contacts of Turkey with Turkmenistan which for Turkey,
certainly, will be difficult to refuse or will be indulgent to their
`related’ communication?
`One nation – two states’ – this is the principle of mutual relations
which have developed between Turkey and Turkmenistan since the first
days of declaration of independence of the last. During 15 years
which have passed since then, interdependence of the two countries
became even more evident. Turkey, trying to achieve long-term
influence among the independent Turkic states of Transcaucasia and
Central Asia: Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and
Kirghizia – used Turkmenistan as a base for development of this
influence, which promised considerable gain. Huge fuel and energy
resources, low level of development of the infrastructure,
opportunity to find new markets made Turkmenistan attractive to
Turkish businessmen, and the new Turkmen ideology proclaimed by
Saparmurat Niyazov and which made Turkmen hostages of their own
history, conformed to ideas of panturkism in the best way.
Turkmen-Turkish colleges, libraries, cultural centers started
appearing in the country. Ashkhabad got Turkmen-Turkish university,
Turkish hospital, supermarket `Yimpash’, Turkish language newspaper
`Zaman-Turkmenistan’ appeared in print, Turkish TV was broadcasted.
Ottoman style mosques were built with participation of Turkish
builders…
Turkish `brothers’ have introduced into practice kissing Niyazov’s
hands, and for a reason! More than 300 Turkish firms have been
registered in Turkmenistan. Projects, on which they worked, were
estimated in billions of dollars. Thousands of workers have been
delivered from Turkey; there was even talk about resettlement to
Turkmenistan, to `their historical native land’, of two millions
Anatolia Turks to whom `kind’ Turkmenbashi promised the land and the
citizenship.
Large and small Turkish firms account for hundreds of building
contracts, energy and textile branches are practically completely
supervised by Turkish business. Niyazov often invites representatives
of the Turkish side to sessions of the Cabinet to discuss economic
issues.
Niyazov entrusts the most important projects to Turkish companies
`Chalyk Holding’, `Chalyk Energy’, `Norsel’, `GAP Inshaat’,
`Polymex’, `ERKU’: the factory producing polyethylene, polypropylene,
glass-fiber and steel wire reinforced thermoplastic pipes of various
diameter, hoses and pipes for drip irrigation in Rukhabad (cost of
the project is 85 million dollars) – to firm `ERKU’; shopping center
in Ashkhabad (cost of the project is 34 million dollars), olympic
water-sports complex (cost of the project is 25 million dollars),
Turkmen `Disneyland’ (cost of the project is 50 million dollars) – to
firm `GAP Inshaat’; gas turbine power station in Ashkhabad vicinity
(cost of the project is more than 109 million dollars) – to firm
`Chalyk Energy’, hydropark in Ashkhabad (cost of the project is 63
million dollars) – to firms `Polymex’, `GAP Inshaat’, `ERKU’.
All of this is only a top of the construction iceberg. Only this year
volume of capital investments mastered by smaller Turkish
construction firms makes hundreds of millions US dollars.
Turkmenistan with its low standard of life represents a huge market
for selling cheap Turkish products and merchandise. Only during the
first quarter of 2006 delivery of goods from Turkey have increased by
4,6 times in comparison with the same period of the last year.
Turkish businessmen are the most frequent visitors at the tenders of
the Turkmen commodity exchange. They are interested in cotton yarn,
knitted wear and garment, yarn and cotton-spinning waste, gray cloth,
raw silk, cattle skins, diesel fuel, gasoline, black oil,
polypropylene, technical carbon, technical iodine, petroleum coke,
virgin gasoline and other goods.
In May of this year Turkmenistan has prolonged till 2010 the
effectiveness of the contract on deliveries of the electric power to
Turkey. According to Niyazov’s decree the state power supplier
`Turkmen Energo’ of the Ministry of Energy and Industry was entrusted
to complete an additional agreement with the Turkish electric power
trader `TETAS’ to contract on delivery of the electric power from
Turkmenistan to Turkish Republic from 12 May 1999, prolonging
validity of the contract with preservation of volumes of delivered
electric power (300 million kilowatt hour per year) and prices (3,35
US cents for 1 kilowatt hour).
We shouldn’t ignore some not quite legal forms of Turkmen – Turkish
cooperation. First of all, it concerns laundering of huge money
through different projects, which in most cases are carried out in
obviously overestimated prices, which interests first of all the
Turkmen party led by Niyazov, and the Turkish – led by Ahmed Chalyk.
The full control of these two figurants extends not only to economic
and political life of the country. They also control the
traditionally active drug-traffic, connecting the Afghani
manufacturers, through Turkmenistan and Turkey, with the European
consumers.
Therefore the analysts who consider that `Turkmenistan is not so
sensitive to reproaches of the European Union’ and that even in case
of removal of the European business Turkmenistan hardly will lose
much, are rather right. Ashkhabad has an alternative, it has enough
trading partners, and one of the most active ones is Turkey.
But Turkey aspires to join the European Union, the political and
economic organization which considers violations of the human rights
in Turkmenistan as a reason sufficient enough to refuse ratification
of the trade agreement with this country. It would be logical, if one
more condition of Turkey’s entry into EU would be its refusal to
cooperate with regime of the Turkmen dictator, at least, at the state
level.
Certainly, a choice which can be put in front of Turkey by the
European Union: Turkmenistan or Europe – looks at first sight rather
fantastic.
Well, what if?..
0000011000000

TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 27 2006
`Muasir Musavat’ Party Preparing for a Picket in Front of French Embassy

Source: Trend
Author: J. Shakhverdiyev

27.10.2006

The party `Muasir Musavat’ (`Modern Musavat’) is expected to hold a
picket in front of the French Embassy in Baku, at 3 p.m. local time,
on October 31, the press-service of the Party told Trend today.

The main cause of the forthcoming action is to protest against a bill
concerning acknowledging of the so-called imaginary Armenian
`genocide’ recently passed by the Lower Chamber of the French
Parliament. The Party also told that 50 members of the Party are
expected to take part in the forthcoming picket. In this connection,
a corresponding appeal has already been sent to the Baku City
Executive Power.

The opposition party `Muasir Musavat’ was established by an
initiative of Khafiz Hajiyev in 2002. Mr. Hajiyev is the acting
Chairman of the Party.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Regnum, Russia
Oct 27 2006
EU gives a positive assessment of reforms in Armenia
The 7th committee on Armenia-EU cooperation met in Brussels on Oct 25
to discuss the problems concerning the implementation of the New
Neighborhood Policy program in Armenia.
The press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry has told REGNUM
that the Armenian delegation was led by Trade and Economic
Development Minister Karen Tchshmarityan and comprised deputy
ministers of foreign affairs, justice, economy and finance and energy
as well as the head of the Armenian mission to the EU Vigen
Chitechyan.
The Armenian delegates told their EU colleagues about the steps they
had taken and would take in their respective spheres. The EU
representatives gave a positive assessment of the reforms in Armenia
and stressed the importance of the Nov 14 signing of the NNP action
plan.
On Oct 26 Tchshmarityan met with David O’Sullivan, Director General
for Trade of the European Commission. The sides discussed the ways to
create a free trade zone and market economy in Armenia and to enlarge
the country’s trade with the EU member states.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Lragir, Armenia
Oct 27 2006
THE HOLY SEE IS LUCKY

We could lose the Holy See of Echmiadzin in 1988. The former pilot of
the navy Vladimir Poghosyan made this sensational statement on
October 26. He spoke about the Yugoslavian plane which crashed on the
road to Armavir, not far from Echmiadzin. Vladimir Poghosyan said he
had taken part in the investigation of this crash, and the simulation
of the flight showed that if the pilot had carried out the
instructions of the dispatcher, the plane could crash into the Holy
See, which was on the way of the plane. There would be a double
tragedy, says Vladimir Poghosyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Lragir, Armenia
Oct 27 2006
WHO AND HOW MUCH SUGAR PUT TO GEORGIAN-ARMENIAN RELATION?

It is necessary to clarify the nuances, which are essential to
answering the question why six months before the parliamentary
election the Georgian-Armenian border and tensions in Javakheti were
pushed into the political sphere of Armenia. Only after that it will
become clear who put forward this problem. But the problem has
already found its place, and it is clear that everyone is up for
using this problem for their political interest. In this sense, it is
perhaps favorable for most people that they find `fertile land’ in
this political `drought’ to sow and to reap the harvest in Armenia.
And it should be noted that the sowing has started, and rather
actively. For instance, the Republican Party used the
Georgian-Armenian problem to attack the foreign minister of Armenia,
when the young Republican Armen Ashotyan, who is the loyal defender
of the prime minister and apparently also the advocate of the
Republican Party, demanded that Oskanyan clarify the issue of the
Georgian-Armenian border. We should not forget, however, that Victor
Dallakyan, already or for the time being an independent members of
parliament, raised this issue. He is worried that Armenia may lose
territories as a result of the negotiations over the border.
Answering Ashotyan’s question in the parliament, the foreign minister
of Armenia, in fact, did not denythat this danger, but instead
Oskanyan said that the problem is that of exchange, which has been
agreed to. However, the point is that this exchange may not be equal
because it is not logical when say we give 5 sq m of our territory to
the Georgians and they give as much territory to us. Such exchange is
simply meaningless. Consequently, the problem of much or little is
concerned. And in this sense it is important whether we are going to
give much or little. If we are going to give little, what will we
have to do in return and if much, what are the Georgians going to do
in return?
The problem is, however, that in Armenia the question is viewed from
a quite different point of view, that of giving or not giving, which
means that the problem is political. And in order to discern the
vector of its development it is already important to understand who
wanted to introduce the problem to the political sphere where we
already have a dispute over giving or not giving. It is also possible
that the problem is the existing dispute, and this is an effort to
distract attention from it. In other words, when the problem of
another territory occurs, the attention of the public is halved. And
in this case it becomes easier to solve the problem of this
attention. Especially that the public is attracted by a fresh issue
rather. Ostensibly, the Georgian-Armenian border issue was pushed
forward in an effort to distract the attention of the public from the
security area of Karabakh. This is quite possible, considering that
the resumption of the talks over Karabakh was marked by `new ideas’
proposed by the mediators. However, it is also possible that the
reason why the Georgian-Armenian issue occurred is quite different.
At least, the enthusiasm of the political forces of Armenia, who are
eager to become engaged in this `process’, means that the issue is
favorable for everyone, and the impression is that if Victor
Dallakyan had not made this attempt, someone else would have done it.
However, this does not mean, of course, that it makes no difference
who put it forward. Moreover, it is interesting to know when it
started.
The question emerged simultaneously with the `last supper’, which
took place in Yerevan at the Parvana Restaurant, owned by a sugar
importer. And perhaps it is not accidental that Serge Sargsyan, Gela
Bejuashvili, Georgian foreign minister and Vardan Oskanyan had chosen
this restaurant to sweeten the Georgian-Armenian relation. The
details of the supper are not known, but whatever took place after it
allow supposing that they talked about a number of things. Moreover,
there is an attention-grabbing detail. Vardan Oskanyan officially
announced about the supper, perhaps thereby showing that he did not
take part in secret arrangements during this event and only did not
refuse Serge Sargsyan’s invitation. In other words, ostensibly, Serge
Sargsyan and Gela Bejuashvili had certain ideas they wanted to share
with Vardan Oskanyan. Meanwhile, Oskanyan publicly `denied’ this
supper which was followed by the emergence of the Georgian-Armenian
border issue along with the local elections in Javakheti. And it is
notable that as the passions grow in Javakheti, the border issue is
becoming a more burning issue.
Consequently, it is possible that it is put forward to counterbalance
the emerging factor of Javakheti.
HAKOB BADALYAN
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Oct 27 2006
ARMENIA BADLY ‘EXPLOITS’ THE 1915 GENOCIDE FACT: RECTOR OF RAU
“I think that we are badly ‘exploiting’ the fact of Armenian Genocide
in Ottoman Empire in 1915. Maybe we have a task and we are on the way
to achieve it – to press on Turkey with the whole world to
acknowledge the responsibility for the bloody facts in their history.
And only after we made them take over the responsibility for that can
we move forward”, said Armen Darbinyn, Rector of Russian-Armenian
(Slavonic) State University (RAU) at the meeting in the University.
“We want Turks to be better. Out strives for the world’s
acknowledgement of the Genocide resulted in that 22 countries, where
Armenian Diaspora is strong, acknowledge the Genocide”, said the
Rector. “What does asking for excuse mean? Only the strong can do
that. Germans have publicly asked for excuse of Jews for the
Holocaust. And to prove that they ‘purified’ themselves they adopted
a law on criminalizing denial of Jewish Genocide”, he pointed out.
A. Darbinyan added that there is no political party in Germany that
would come up with nationalist slogans. He goes on “There is a party
of the kind in Austria, in France, there are many of such in Russia,
but there is none in Germany. Turks are not ready to beg their pardon
before us. We want to press on them to make them purer, better,
nobler but we won’t succeed in it because they are not ready yet”.
“We are placing Turks in the core of our foreign policy and actions
that in the end lead to making Turks better. Maybe it is an important
task but we have other more important tasks. There is a task before
us – to make ourselves better. This is the goal we must achieve,
otherwise the victims we have had won’t be revenged”, stressed A.
Darbinyan. – MR-
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Agence France Presse — English
October 27, 2006 Friday 4:44 PM GMT
Varujan Vosganian: a liberal economist and target of embarrassing claims
BUCHAREST, Oct 27 2006
Liberal senator Varujan Vosganian, a noted economist nominated as
Romania’s first European commissioner, has become the target of
accusations linking him to the far-right and the Communist-era secret
services.
Friendly and well-read, the balding 48-year-old Vosganian, who
graduated from the Economic Institute and Faculty of Mathematics and
is the author of several volumes on economics and poetry, always
backed Romania’s entry into the European Union.
Vosganian, who hails from the Armenian minority and speaks fluent
English and French, had until now been spared by the press, which
usually thrives on “incendiary” revelations about Romanian
politicians.
But his nomination for the post of European commissioner has
generated a wave of attacks against him, ranging from close ties with
the far-right to collaboration with the Communist-era secret police,
the Securitate.
A Bucharest daily said Friday the senator was a member of Rost, a
movement that promotes “Christian and national values,” much like the
far-right and anti-Semitic Iron Guard did in the 1930s.
But speaking with AFP, Rost president Caludiu Tarziu denied any link
to far-right extremists, saying the organisation favoured “classic
conservatism.”
The media also accused the senator of ties with a scandal-hit
businessman, Sorin Ovidiu Vantu. Vosganian has admitted his small
right-wing party received funds from Vantu in the 1990s but said
there was “nothing illegal,” as all the money was declared to the
state audit court.
On Friday, comments by a former Securitate official were published,
saying Vosganian had been recruited by counter-intelligence while he
worked at a brewery.
“It is absurd to think an accountant who never left Romania before
1990 was recruited by a foreign intelligence service,” the senator
said, adding “I never had any link with the Securitate.”
Several politicians, led by liberal Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu,
defended Vosganian, saying he was the victim of a smear campaign
orchestrated by his political opponents or the secret service.
Calling the allegations “speculations” and “affabulation,” Tariceanu
urged President Traian Basescu to “support this candidature” for the
post of European commissioner.
Vosganian’s nomination had been the subject of tense negotiations
between Tariceanu and Basescu, who have been at odds for months.
Sources close to the two men have said the president only agreed to
the nomination in exchange for Defence Minister Teodor Atanasiu’s
resignation following a row over the issue of Romanian troops in
Iraq.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Democrats expected to win in US Congressional elections

ArmRadio.am
27.10.2006 16:57
`If Democrats win in the upcoming Senate and House elections, then
most probably, Nancy Pelosi, known for her pro-Armenian position ever
since 1986, will be elected Chairman of the Senate of 110th
convocation.’ Press Secretary of the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA) told `Armenpress.’ She added that in case of victory of
the Republicans Denis Hustert, who has been constantly blocking the
vote on the Armenian Genocide, may keep his office.
Chuljian added that preference is not given to the Democrats; the
choice depends on the position of this or that candidate.
Nevertheless, in case of equal conditions preference will be given to
Democrats. ANCA has already declared the names of 16 Senate and 196
House pro-Ammonia candidates, the majority of which are
Democrats. ANCA has also sent questionnaires to over 1000 candidates
to find out their position on the Armenian issues.
The American Armenian community has been urged to vote for those
candidates who have always supported the pro-Armenian resolution of
questions like the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Javakhk issue,
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, reinforcement of US-Armenia
relations, lifting of the blockade of Armenia by Azerbaijan and
Turkey.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

UNKNOWN PEOPLE RUIN FERIGYUGH COLLEGE FURNITURE AND STEAL COMPUTER

ISTANBUL, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Unknown people
entered the Merametchian college of Ferigyugh and, turning everything
upside down, did much harm to the institution. According to Marmara,
making use of the vacations on the occasion of the Bayram holiday,
unknown people, breaking window pane of one of the college rooms,
entered the college. They ruined the furniture and doors, using axes,
and stole a portable computer. The college heads and members of the
district council immediately informed about the case the police which
holds investigation to reveal criminals.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS TO MEET IN MOSCOW ON OCTOBER 30

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Robert Kocharian will
leave on working visit for Moscow on October 30. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the RA President’s Press Office, on the same day the
President of Armenia will have a private conversation in Kremlin with
his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin.
Robert Kocharian will have meetings with RF Government Chairman
Mikhayel Fradkov and Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov as well. The President
of Armenia will participate in the capital of the Russian Federation
in the solemn ceremony of opening of the monument to prominent
composer Aram Khachatrian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress