Author: Emil Lazarian

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
April 13, 2005, Wednesday
Erdogan exige sinceridad en discusion sobre genocidio armenio
Ankara
El primer ministro turco, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, abogo hoy por una
mayor sinceridad en la discusion sobre el reconocimiento del
genocidio cometido contra los armenios en Turquia durante la Primera
Guerra Mundial.

“No podemos tomar en serio a quien ve la historia con prejuicios”,
dijo Erdogan ante diputados de su partido Justicia y Desarrollo (AKP)
en Ankara.

Esta tarde (local) se discutira el genocidio de los armenios en la
Asamblea Nacional (Parlamento). Los comentarios de Erdogan demuestran
que aunque Turquia sigue negando categoricamente las acusaciones,
ahora esta preparada para al menos discutir el asunto.

El 24 de abril se cumple el 90 anirversario del comienzo de la
violencia que, segun los armenios, resulto en la muerte de alrededor
de 1,5 millones de personas. Turquia admite que cientos de miles de
armenios que vivian en lo que era el Imperio Otomano muriero, pero
afirma que la mayoria de estas muertes tuvieron lugar durante una
deportacion masiva de armenios que coincidio con la invasion del
ejercito ruso.

Turquia ha negado siempre las acusaciones de genocidio, y solo
recientemente se ha permitido a los propios turcos poner en duda la
version oficial, incluso aunque siga considerandose antipatriotico
hacerlo.

Asi lo vivio el autor mas famoso del pais, Orhan Pamuk, quien dijo
haber sufrido amenazas de muerte tras decir a una revista suiza que
un millon de armenios fueron asesinados en Turquia. Un vicegobernador
turco ordeno la retirada de las librerias y bibliotecas de todas las
obras de Pamuk.

En la historia de Turquia no existe ningun capitulo “del que nos
avergoncemos, que reprimamos, olvidemos o que tratemos de maquillar”,
aseguro Erdogan. “No tenemos ningun complejo respecto a nuestra
historia”. Ademas, insto a aquellos que van a Turquia “siempre con la
misma cantinela” a “repasar su propia historia y ser sinceros con su
veracidad”. Nadie tiene el poder suficiente para “llenar de mentiras
la historia de Turquia”, afirmo.

Erdogan subrayo ademas que los documentos turcos estan dispuestos
para todos aquellos “que buscan la verdad en la historia”. Hace
tiempo que Erdogan abogo por la creacion de comisiones
internacionales de historiadores. En cuanto esten listos los
resultados de estas comisiones, Turquia esta “dispuesta a tomar las
medidas que alli se digan”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ON BEHALF OF RA PRESIDENT MINISTER OF FINANCE GUARANTEES SECURITY OF
AZERBAIJANI DELEGATION
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The 7th annual meeting of managers of
the Black Sea Bank of Trade and Economic Development (BSBTED) and
Black Sea Business Day will be held in Yerevan on June 5-6. The RA
Minister of Finance and Economy Vardan Khachatrian currently holds the
chairmanship of the bank’s board of managers, which he assumed at the
meeting in Albania in 2004. The BSBTED Secretary General Charalampos
Tsarukhas stated at the April 13 press conference that it is envisaged
to summarize the results of the bank’s 2004 activities and to discuss
future programs at the Yerevan meeting, with special attention being
given to SME and the financial sector, in particular to the issues of
the banking system. In addition to the delegations of the bank’s 11
member states, representatives of a number of international financial
institutions, prominent businessmen and private investors will
participate in Buisiness Day. The advantages and peculiarities of the
Armenian economy will be presented to them in anticipation of future
investments. Ch. Tsarukhas noted that the Black Sea Bank’s first
investment in Armenia was the establishment of a joint financial
service with the Izmirlian Fund – a credit line of 4 mln USD was
opened in 2003 by the service founders to implement direct crediting
of small and medium enterprises (SME). This year, the bank intends to
implement new programs in Armenia. According to Ch. Tsarukhas, the
participation of the Azerbaijani delegation in the SBTED managers
meeting is envisaged. He said that the bank’s activities are aimed at
business development and there must be no problem in terms of
cooperation of the member states. V. Khachatrian stated on behalf of
the Armenian President that the security of Azerbaijan’s delegation
will be guaranteed during their visit to Armenia. The Black Sea Bank
of Trade and Development was founded in 1999 by Albania, Armenia,
Georgia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Turkey,
Russia and Ukraine. At present, its capital makes 1 bln SDR (about 1.4
bln USD). The bank promotes the economic development and regional
cooperation of its member states through financing both state and
private programs. The bank also envisages to sign in Yerevan a
memorandum on mutual understanding with the European Union, the World
Bank and the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkish MPs ask UK parliament to disown Armenian claims
TRT 1 television, Ankara
13 Apr 05
[News presenter] The Turkish Grand National Assembly called on the
British parliament to declare as a propaganda material “The Blue
Book”, on which the so-called Armenian claims are based.
In a letter bearing the signatures of all deputies, Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan and CHP [opposition Republican People’s Party]
leader Deniz Baykal revealed the historical truth with relevant
documents.
[TRT-1 offscreen reporter] [Applause in parliament] Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan and CHP leader Deniz Baykal signed the letter at
the general assembly.
After noting that during World War I, two reports were ordered under
the titles “The German Savagery” and “The Turkish Savagery”, the
letter points out that in 1925 the then British foreign secretary
announced that the report entitled “The German Savagery” was baseless
war propaganda.
The letter, which includes information that refutes the claims found
in the report on the Ottoman Empire and published under the title of
“The Blue Book”, notes that to date the book has not been declared
baseless, despite a confession by its author, Arnold Toynbee, to this
effect.
The letter expressed the view that the destructive and infamous
effects of “The Blue Book” are still continuing in our present day and
playing a role in disseminating malice and hatred against Turkey
through the deception of the international media, statesmen,
intellectuals, opinion-makers, and scholars by the Armenian activists.
The six-page letter makes the following call to members of the British
House of Commons and House of Lords: We, all the members of the
Turkish Grand National Assembly, ask the British parliament and
government to publicly announce that the book called “The Treatment of
the Armenians In the Ottoman Empire” is propaganda material prepared
by the British War Propaganda Bureau during World War I and that the
information in the said book about the Ottoman Armenians’ rebellion
and the measures taken against it by the Ottoman state are baseless
and unreliable.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)

April 14 2005

IRAQ: Twisted Turkey

Adil Al-Baghdadi
The recent events that have taken place following the dubious flag
burning incident have yet again exposed Turkey to more criticism and
scrutiny by the EU.
The one incident that clearly showed how twisted things are in Turkey
is when a group of four members of a recognized NGO were distributing
leaflets calling for an end to anti-human right measures in Turkish
prisons were brutally beaten and were seconds away from being ripped
apart by an angry lynch mob of about 200 people in Trabzon.
Turkish police stood by and watched the mob rule closing in and
beating the right activists and only intervened once they saw that it
might result in killing and mutilation.
After being beaten severely the four were whisked away with great
difficulty, needless to say the police did not arrest any of those
who took part in the lynching and only used a loudhailer to tell the
angry crowd to disperse.
In any country within the EU an incident like this would have led to
serious public debate, inquiry and would have been preceded by
vigorous pursuit of justice and unwavering search for gang leaders
among the mob who incited against the four human right campaigners.
Then again, any police force within EU member states would have made
immediate arrests among those who took part in the lynching and those
who incited, aided and abetted and caused serious physical harm.
Then they would have been brought before the courts to face criminal
charges which might have included disturbing peace and denying
freedom of expression and all other rights associated campaigning
peacefully in public places, among other serious criminal acts.
In short, this incident would have been dealt with in a manner that
completely contrasts with the way Turkish government, judiciary and
police handled this serious crime, whose responsibility lies with
every level of the country which allowed unspeakable human right
abuses for long time.
However, the more outlandish aspect of this incident is those who
were severely beaten and their human and democratic rights violated
ended up answering for crimes committed by their perpetrators and
were charged for instigating a mob rule.
However, the incident is not isolated and the apparent indifference
of the government and judiciary is evident of how Turkey has been
routinely turning a blind eye to gross violations of human rights for
more than 80 years.
This comes against the backdrop of new freedoms and boldness by Kurds
in Turkey to exercise their cultural and political rights.
The celebration of Kurdish New Year Nawroz has sounded the alarm bell
within Turkey’s ultra-nationalistic institution, the powerful
military establishment, whose influence has been eroded by the
government and by numerous EU adaptation packages.
So in order to stifle the natural progression for Kurds to practise
their newly acquired, albeit limited rights, dark forces within
Turkey’s military and intelligence establishment plotted to mar
Kurdish New Year celebrations with an incident that could easily
galvanize all Turkey against Kurds.
Thus, in very suspicious circumstances two young boys in Mersin were
seen across Turkey TV channels running a mock with a Turkish flag and
then tried to set it light.
Upon their arrest the pair, who aged between 12 and 13 years, were
questioned by the police and both said they were approached by a man
who handed them the flag and told them to burn it.
This well planned attempt to stir Turkish public sentiments and
fervour against Kurds was further played out to wider audience
through the usual nationalistic diatribe spewed out by traditionally
anti-Kurds media.
Although the incident was condemned by almost all Kurdish leaders in
Turkey it was nevertheless amazingly manipulated by none more than
the military establishment.
The most powerful institution in Turkey issued a statement and
warning about tampering with national symbols in which it referred to
Kurds as so-called citizens.
Thus, it implicitly paved they way and gave cart-blanche for any
reprisal action on any individual or group who is perceived to be a
Kurds or supporter of Kurdish rights or defender of any rights for
that matter.
The people on that day in Trabzon who turned so viciously on the
human right campaigners were told that the four belonged to the same
group of those who desecrated the Turkish flag.
The guardian of the constitution and the custodian of the well being
of state of Turkey, the Turkish military establishment has in effect
issued a statement encouraging incitement against Kurds.
The environment of fear and hate created by ethnic strife should have
been capitalized upon by the government in order to reign in on
ultra-nationalistic elements within Turkey who are hampering Turkey’s
acceptance to EU.
The inter-ethnic relations have always been precarious in Turkey
especially now as the government is forced to take well over due
steps to recognize Kurdish rights in North Kurdistan and the genocide
of the Armenians.
These incidents have exposed the fragility of Turkish state, which
has been built on absolute dominance of one race over others,
particularly the second largest population the Kurds.
The only way forward is to rebuild the country on strong foundation
of equality between races and to recognize full rights of other
nations within Turkey, and more importantly to embrace human rights
as a cornerstone of the new society.
Perhaps Turkey can take lessons from its southern neighbour Iraq
which although not a candidate for EU has nearly fulfilled all the
criteria required to join the much-prized club membership, while
Turkey is still trying to come to terms with EU’s adaptation and
harmonization packages.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Journal of Turkish weekly
April 14 2005
Ankara Sends Letter to Yerevan
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said in the Turkish national
parliament Wednesday that Turkish prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan had
sent a letter to President Robert Kocharian containing a proposal to
set up a commission that would study the facts of extermination of
ethnic Armenians in 1915.
FM Gul also said Turkey was ready to hold talks with Armenia on the
personalities to work on the commission and the methodology of their
activity. Ankara believes this might help normalize relations between
the two neighboring countries.
JTW with news agenices
14 April 2005

Turkish press
April 13 2005
Turkish Parliament Issues Declaration Against Armenian Claims

ANKARA – Turkish parliament issued on Wednesday a declaration against
the Armenian genocide allegations.
In the declaration, the parliament expressed its belief that it was
for the benefit of Turkey and Armenia to reconcile, end prejudices
and create a climate which would enable the two nations to share a
common future based on tolerance, friendship and cooperation.
Noting that the ruling and main opposition parties of Turkey laid
down a proposal to bring historical realities to daylight, the
declaration said, ”this proposal envisages Turkey and Armenia to
form a common commission comprised of their own historians, search
their national archives without limitations, make public the results
of their searches, and set the working methods of the commission.
The declaration pointed out that Turkish parliament was totally
adopting and supporting this historic proposal, and went on saying,
”but, cooperation of the Armenian government is obligatory to launch
this initiative. Unless Turkey and Armenia look at the history from
the same perspective, they will only leave prejudices, enmity and
revenge to their children and forthcoming generations. What is
reasonable for Turkey and Armenia is to end taboos with a joint
initiative, clarify all sides of what they had experienced, and be
ready to settle old scores with their history. This is the only way
to prevent the past from darkening today and future.”
”If Armenia wants to establish good neighborly relations with Turkey
and enhance its cooperation, it should not hesitate to adopt Turkey’s
proposal to re-assess their common history. Also, the parliament
would like to stress that every good-willed country and statesman
that wants to contribute to world peace and stability, should
consider Turkey’s proposal as positive, leaving aside his/her/its
internal political views. In this context, countries which want
betterment of Turkish-Armenian relations and settlement of peace and
stability in the Caucasus should support this initiative, and refrain
from acts which will harm this initiative,” wrote the declaration.
The declaration noted that countries which made decisions on Armenian
claims at their parliaments had the prior responsibility regarding
this matter, and said that these countries should support Turkish
parliament’s proposal to form a joint history commission if they
wanted improvement of Turkish-Armenian relations.
In its declaration, the parliament condemned the move of the
parliaments to make a decision about this matter for political
purposes.
The declaration of the parliament added that it was impossible for
Turkey to base its history on some one-sided and misleading
assessments.

Agence France Presse
13 avril 2005 mercredi 12:24 PM GMT
Le Parlement turc entame un premier débat sur les massacres d’Arméniens
ANKARA 13 avr 2005
Le Parlement turc a entamé mercredi un débat sur les contre-mesures
que la Turquie compte prendre face à une campagne arménienne pour la
reconnaissance en tant que génocide des massacres d’Arméniens de
1915-17.
Ankara refuse catégoriquement l’emploi du terme de “génocide” pour
qualifier ces tueries commises pendant les dernières années de
l’empire ottoman.
Le débat, le premier du genre sur ce sujet sensible, a été convoqué
par le Parti de la Justice et du Développement (AKP, au pouvoir) et
le principal parti d’opposition, le Parti Républicain du peuple
(CHP). Il doit donner lieu à des discours des députés et l ministre
des Affaires étrangères Abdullah Gul prendra la parole au nom du
gouvernement pour expliquer sa stratégie.
Lundi, lors d’une visite en Norvège, le Premier ministre Recep Tayyip
Erdogan a précisé que la déclaration commune adoptée par les députés
serait envoyée aux Parlements de plusieurs pays.
Certains hommes politiques de l’Union européenne ont appelé la
Turquie à un “travail de mémoire” et affirmé que le sujet serait une
des questions que la Turquie devrait régler avant le début de ses
négociations d’adhésion à l’Union, programmé pour le 3 octobre.
Les massacres et les déportations d’Arméniens ont fait entre 1,2
million et 1,3 million de morts, selon les Arméniens, et jusqu’à
300.000 morts selon les Turcs.
La Turquie reconnaît que des massacres ont été perpétrés et que de
nombreux Arméniens sont morts de fatigue, de maladie ou d’attaques
commises notamment par des bandes kurdes lors de leur déportation.
Mais elle affirme qu’il s’agissait d’une répression dans un empire en
déclin contre une population coupable de collaboration avec l’ennemi
russe dans un contexte de guerre et que des dizaines de milliers de
Turcs ont été tués au même moment par des rebelles nationalistes
arméniens.
Mardi, le président de l’institut turc d’histoire, le professeur
Yusuf Halacoglu, a réfuté la thèse de 1,5 millions d’Arméniens tués
et évoqué la mort de quelque 100.000 Arméniens lors de leur difficile
périple vers la Syrie.
La Turquie, où vivent actuellement 45.000 Arméniens, a reconnu
l’Arménie à son indépendance en 1991, mais sans établir de relations
diplomatiques.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARAM KOCHARIAN RELIEVED OF LORI DEPUTY GOVERNOR’S POST AND APPOINTED
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF RA SOCIAL INSURANCE STATE FUND
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. According to RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian’s decree, Aram Kocharian was relieved of the post
of Deputy Regional Governor of Lori and by another decree was
appointed Deputy Chairman of RA Social Insurance State Fund. According
to RA government’s Information and Public Relations Department, by the
Prime Minister’s decree Samvel Gyulbekian was appointed Deputy
Regional Governor of of Lori.

DEPUTY MINISTER ON SOCIAL ISSUES: “ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOESN’T AFFECT
POVERTY REDUCTION”
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Economic development doesn’t affect
poverty reduction at all and according to this, effective mechanisms
of distribution are necessary. Ashot Yesayan, RA Deputy Minister of
Labor and Social Issues, declared this during the April 11 discussion
on the subject “RA Social Policy in Local Self-Government System”
organized at the office of Seyran Avagian, Adviser to RA President. A
package concerning prior social problems should be worked out and
mechanisms of their solution should be proposed in each region and
community in order to make the RA government’s “Poverty Reduction
Strategic Program” more effective. According to the Deputy Minister,
the goal of social policy is a fair, prosperous and strong
society. And one of the most important components of social policy is
cadre policy. At the same time, A.Yesayan mentioned, no social
officials are prepared in higher schools at present and lack of
specialists is felt in the sphere.

EBRD TO TAKE HALF OF EXPENSES FOR ADVISING ARMENIA’S SMALL AND
MEDIUM-SIZED COMPANIES
YEREVAN, APRIL 13. ARMINFO. EBRD will take 50% of the expenses of to
advise Armenia’s small and medium-sized companies under the BAS
Programme, reports the EBRD Yerevan Office.
The program has been implemented in Armenia since 2003 to encourage
efficiency and competitiveness in the country. The beneficiary
companies in Yerevan will enjoy 50% compensation of their advising
expenses due to EBRD 9,000 EUR grant, in the regions 70%. Advising
will be given in automatized control system introduction, IT, business
plan development, marketing research, business partners quest by
companies chosen by the beneficiaries themselves.