Author: Felekian Ara

NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT IS, IN NO WAY, LINKED TO NATIONAL, ETHNIC OR RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATIONS: DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 3 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend I.Alizade / The Deputy Chairman of the
Azerbaijani Parliament, Valeh Aleskerov, said on 3 October in Baku
at a meeting of the Culture, Education and Science Committee of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)
that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is, in no way, linked to national,
ethnic or religious discriminations. According to him, national,
ethnic and religious discriminations have never been in existence
in Azerbaijan.

" Azerbaijan has always been tolerant towards various nations,
religions and ethnic peoples. It is observed today as well,"
Aleskerov said.

The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus started in
1988 due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Armenia
has occupied 20% of Azerbaijani land including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and its seven surrounding districts. Since 1992, these
territories have been under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time active hostilities ended. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
( Russia, France and USA) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.

According to Aleskerov, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was committed
by separate political groups who come to power and do not want to
give it up. Currently these political forces present obstacles to
the conflict settlement in order to stay in power.

The representative from Armenia, parliamentarian Stephan Safaryan,
also arrived in Baku to attend the meeting.

GEGHAM GHARIBJANYAN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SITTING OF THE CIS COUNCIL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS

ArmRadio – Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 2 2007

October 4 the recurrent sitting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers
will be held in Dushanbe. Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Gegham
Gharibjanyan will participate in the sitting. According to the press
release of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the agenda includes
about 20 questions connected with different direction of multilateral
cooperation within the framework of CIS.

Special attention will be paid to the drafts doctrine on the
organization’s future development and discussion of the main program of
measures for its implementation. Issues of improvement of cooperation
in the field of international migration policy will be discussed.

The Foreign Ministers will discuss a number of important documents
directed at development of collective cooperation in the spheres of
security and fighting criminal.

SUB-COMMISSION FORMED IN TURKISH PARLIAMENT TO INQUIRE DINK AND OKEY MURDERS

ArmRadio – Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 2 2007

The Human Rights Commission of the Parliament decided to form a
sub-commission to work on the assassinations of Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink and Nigerian migrant Festus Okey, who was shot
to death by a policeman while he was under custody at Beyoðlu district
Directorate of Security.

The sub-commission will go to Istanbul and Trabzon, the hometown of
the confessed gunman of Dink, and will make some inquiries careful
not to affect the legal procedure, because the issues are handed
to judiciary bodies and will submit its report to the Parliament
Speaker’s Office. The commission will be able to intervene on both
issues if deemed necessary, reported the Anatolia news agency.

At the commission meeting chaired by ruling Justice and Development
Party (AKP) Mersin deputy Zafer Usluk, the commission discussed how
to proceed. The commission authorized the Parliament Speaker’s office
to be able to take action concerning issues under the commission’s
sphere of duties and determined to form sub-commissions for some
issues on the agenda.

The issues to be reviewed by sub-commissions will be decided in the
next meeting.

–Boundary_(ID_rZTwWHp+VxyqbWUcWS1c7g)–

DINK MURDER TRIAL RESUMED IN ISTANBUL

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.10.2007 16:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish police covered up the killing of the
editor-in-chief of Agos bilingual newspaper, Hrant Dink, by withholding
and destroying evidence, a lawyer for his family claimed as the second
hearing in the murder trial began in Istanbul Monday.

"Evidence and information is being hidden from prosecutors… A lot of
evidence was destroyed and lost," Fethiye Cetin said in an interview
with the Radikal newspaper. Several suspects in the January 19 murder
indicated in their testimonies that "they believed they were acting
on behalf of the state," she said, AFP reports.

The charge sheet says police received intelligence as early as 2006
of a plot to kill Dink organized in the northern city of Trabzon,
home of self-confessed gunman Ogun Samast, 17, and most of his 18
alleged accomplices. Cetin said tape from a security camera outside a
bank near Agos disappeared after being taken by police who, she said,
also tapped telephone conversations between two key suspects before
the murder.

When prosecutors learned this, she said, they were given incomplete
records. "Something is being covered up – maybe certain relationships"
between the suspects and members of the security forces, she said,
adding: "The gunman and his close entourage have been uncovered, but
not the real perpetrators." Cetin said the government acted swiftly
after the murder but its resolve weakened as the investigation
progressed.

"It is not too late," she said. "If the government shows determination,
light can be shed on the murder."

Trial of two policemen, who posed with Ogun Samast against a Turkish
flag, opened in Samsun last week.

The lawyers of Dink’s family claim the policemen patronized the
murderer.

During the July 2 hearing, 4 out of 19 suspects in Dink’s murder
were released.

ArmRadio – Public Radio, Armenia
Sept 29 2007

Armenian Police Centre staff complete training course with support of
OSCE Office
29.09.2007 12:47

Yesterday the teaching staff of the Police Centre for Induction
Training in Yerevan completed a training course, organized by the
OSCE Office.

The three-week course, delivered by two international experts,
focused on the concept of student-centered learning and was designed
to enhance existing didactical and training skills of police trainers
and methods of teaching.

"Student-centred learning is the best way of successfully
transferring knowledge to adults, and I am very happy to see that the
course students, who are all experienced trainers, picked it up so
well. The next step will be to have them develop the new curriculum
with help from our experts," said Carel Hofstra, the
Politico-Military Officer at the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

Peter Wilson, a police training expert from the UK, added: `The
participants acquired a range of new skills and abilities in the
presentation of training material. I am sure they will use these
abilities in their everyday work to further develop police training
in Armenia.’

The course was part of an OSCE-supported Police Assistance Programme,
which also includes strengthening the capacity of the Police Centre
for Induction Training. It followed the complete renovation and
re-equipment of the Centre, done this year with OSCE support.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 29 2007

Next session of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly starts

[ 29 Sep 2007 12:02 ]

The next session of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) has started in
Portoroz city of Slovenia today, OSCE PA Office in Denmark told the
APA.

The session will last till October 2. Vice-speaker of Azerbaijani
Parliament Bahar Muradova and Azerbaijani MP Azay Guliyev represents
Azerbaijan in the meeting.
Azerbaijani representative is expected to address the session
tomorrow. Azerbaijani representative will touch on the solution of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict and Azerbaijan’s integration to Europe.
Regional security, economic cooperation and other issues will be
debated in the session. /APA/

THE DECREE OF THE NKR PRESIDENT

Azat Artsakh Tert, Nagorno Karabakh Republic
Sept 28 2007

On September 27th, the NKR President Bako Sahakian has signed a decree,
according to which the chief of the department of Shushi of the
NKR National Security Service, lieutenant-colonel Vardan Gabrielian
was confered a military title of colonel.(Central Administration of
Information of the NKR President’s Stuff reported).

MESROB II: DIASPORA DEAF TO TURKISH ARMENIANS (2)
Yonca Poyraz Dogan

Turquie Europeenne, EU
Sept 28 2007

"The ‘Armenian genocide resolution’ pending in the US Congress disrupts
both the relations between Turkish people and Armenians in Turkey
and between Turkey and Armenia," said Patriarch Mesrob II (Mutafyan),
the spiritual leader of Turkey’s Armenian Orthodox community.

"We had big problems in the past. I especially find the approach of
the Ýttihat Terakki’s (the Committee of Union and Progress) collective
punishment of Armenians quite wrong. It wasn’t the whole Armenian
community who took up arms against the government, but I believe the
Turkish Republic should not be accused of what happened then. The
diaspora would say that it should be accused as long as there is a
denial of what happened," Mesrob II said.

Armenians claim up to 1.5 million of their kinsmen died in a genocide
campaign by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I, but Ankara
rejects the charge, saying both Armenians and Turks died in civil
strife when the Armenians took up arms for independence in eastern
Anatolia, siding with Russian troops that were invading the crumbling
Ottoman Empire.

There is currently a non-binding "Armenian genocide resolution"
pending at the US Congress. "We are the ones here living with our
Turkish friends everyday. The resolution’s passage would have a
cooling effect on our relations," Mesrob II said, adding that the
diaspora doesn’t care about Turkish Armenians’ sensitivities and that
"it’s a political issue for them."

Turkish Armenians are the biggest Christian community in Turkey with
approximately 70,000 people living in Anatolia. Mesrob II said that
since they lack schools of theology, the number of clerics is only
26 and bringing religious services to the community is tough.

For Monday Talk, Mesrob II told Today’s Zaman that the Armenian
community hasn’t been represented in the Turkish Parliament,
even though some of them have been interested in politics. The
community’s attitude toward the Justice and Development Party (AK
Party) is generally positive, and the main reason behind this is
the "aggressive attitude" of the Republican People’s Party (CHP),
especially regarding the law of foundations.

As the Turkish-Armenian religious leader, Mesrob II has a different
stance from that of some Turkish circles regarding the secularism
debates. "I don’t think that secularism is under threat in Turkey.

Secularism has been so entrenched in the society since the time
of Ataturk that I don’t think anybody will be able to remove it,"
he stated.

We’ve been trying to interview Mesrob II since Today’s Zaman was
founded on Jan. 16, but due to some unfortunate events – such as the
Jan. 19 assassination of Hrant Dink, editor of the Turkish-Armenian
weekly newspaper Agos, we were unable to until now. The Patriarchate
closed its doors to the media then after receiving many threats.

Nevertheless, the patriarch started to open up recently and discuss
the Turkish-Armenian community’s problems more.

For Monday Talk, we had a sincere interview with the patriarch,
ranging from politics to his personal life, beliefs and hobbies.

—–

…

Do you think the investigation into the murder of Hrant Dink has been
conducted thoroughly?

I’d like the real perpetrators behind this crime to be found.

Otherwise justice won’t be served.

Are you worried?

I’m worried about radical nationalist movements. We need to exercise
more tolerance in society. The same applies to relations with Armenia;
we need academics, young people and artists from both sides to visit
each other’s country more.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan has suggested the formation of
a committee of historians from both sides plus other countries to
study the history of the relations, but has not gotten a response
from Armenia.

His suggestion was quite positive. I don’t understand why the Armenian
side did not respond well to such a positive approach to study the
events of 1915.

You said ‘the events of 1915.’ Do you think there was a genocide?

We had big problems in the past; I find in particular the approach of
Ýttihat Terakki’s collective punishment of Armenians quite wrong. It
wasn’t the whole Armenian community who took up arms against the
government, but I believe the Turkish Republic should not be accused of
what happened then. The diaspora would say that it should be accused
as long as there is a denial of what happened

What do you think of the ‘Armenian genocide resolution’ pending in
the US Congress?

It’s quite negative because the Armenian genocide resolution pending
in the US Congress disrupts both the relations between Turkish people
and Armenians in Turkey and between Turkey and Armenia.

How so?

We are the ones here living with our Turkish friends every day. The
resolution’s passage would have a cooling effect on our relations.

Doesn’t the Armenian diaspora in the US think of these sensitivities
that you’ve just talked about?

I don’t think they care about our relations here. It’s a political
issue for them.

Do they have any contact with you?

No, they don’t.

Do you have any contact with them?

No, I don’t. There was a conference about the genocide issue in Dallas
that I was invited to attend and I did go. Armenian-Americans protested
my speech.

Why?

I presume that they see my approach to the whole issue as a denial
of the genocide. They do not understand the sensitivities involved.

Doesn’t your religious identity mean anything to them?

It seems like it doesn’t.

Would you go to such a meeting again?

I would go again.

So you resist protests…?

I say what I believe is right.

What is the worst scenario if the resolution passes?

Anything can happen. We receive threats every day.

Have you been provided enough protection?

Yes, there are quite a few security personnel around me.

What should Turkey be doing regarding the ‘genocide issue’?

Turkey has been changing in that regard. The issue has been discussed
much more. Turkey has been doing what it can do right now.

Should Turkey open the border with Armenia?

I’d like that because the relations of Turkey and Armenia have been
held hostage to the issue of genocide.

What else can be done?

Both sides need to improve relations among their people. They should
look at the future and not be restricted by history so much.

What can the Turkish government do for the Armenians living in Turkey?

First of all we need schools to be able to have clerics. We have
a shortage of clerics. We have to either send people to Armenia or
Jerusalem to study theology. There are no schools here. I suggest a
faculty of theology in one of the universities in Ýstanbul. We also
need a school of philology here to study the Western Armenian language,
which is different from the Eastern Armenian language.

And the issue of foundations?

Yes, our former president vetoed it.

Do you expect the new president to approve it?

I hope he does.

What is the population of the Armenians living in Turkey?

Approximately 70,000 – the biggest Christian community in Turkey,
living in 23 cities in Anatolia. There are only 26 clerics. With
so few clerics it’s very difficult to bring religious services to
the community. Most of the community, especially in Anatolia, lacks
churches and when the clerics visit the community, they have to pray
in homes.

You’ve been working to have a faculty of theology in Ýstanbul, right?

I’ve been working on this issue with the Higher Education Board (YOK),
but it wasn’t possible to move forward until after the elections. I
have to follow up on it.

You visited Gen. Yaþar Buyukanýt recently. Why?

He is the head of the Turkish Army. I mentioned our communities
in Anatolia and our desire to visit those people. Without a doubt
he assured us that the gendarmerie forces would provide protection
during such visits. He was quite open and friendly.

What have been your observations during the election process regarding
the secularist-Islamist debate?

I don’t think that secularism is under threat in Turkey. Secularism
has been so entrenched in the society since the time of Ataturk that
I don’t think anybody will be able to remove it.

Has the issue been discussed in the Armenian community?

Our community has been very secular; they do not mix up religious and
civic life at all. Some erroneous reports indicated that I directed
the community to vote for the AK Party, but our community would not
take directions from me about whom to vote for.

The end

——————————————— ———————————–

[PROFILE]

Wh o is Mesrob II ? Mesrob II became the 84th patriarch of Turkey’s
Armenian Orthodox community in 1998 after Patriarch Karekin II passed
away. Mesrob II studied theology in 1979-1982 at the Hebrew University
of Jerusalem in Israel. He held several positions in Turkey’s churches
including bishop, chairman of the Religious Council, patriarchal
vicar for Ecumenical Affairs, overseer of the Theological Auditorium,
vice-president of the Patriarchal Advisory Council and archbishop. He
is the editor-in-chief of the Shoghagat Theological Review. He has
academically worked on the "Vanakan Vartabed’s Commentary of Davoush
on the Book of Job." He is bilingual in Turkish and English and uses
classical Armenian, Hebrew, French and Italian in his academic studies.

166.html

–Boundary_(ID_MI1rKB5WjC1UAcIbBhadYA)–

ESTABLISHMENT OF RUSSIA’S 2ND MILITARY BASE IN ARMENIA TO PROVE MOSCOW’S BOOSTING AGGRESSOR COUNTRY – AZERBAIJANI FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 27 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / Òrend corr I. Alizaedh / Establishment of Russia’s
second military base in Armenia will again prove Moscow’s boosting the
aggressor country, the First Deputy Speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament,
the Chairman of the permanent parliamentary commission on security
and defence, Ziyafat Askarov, said in Baku on 27 September.

" Russia’s establishment its second military base in Armenia will
still more complicate the tensions in the region," he said.

Russian Defence Ministry’s delegation is visiting Armenia. According
to unofficial reports, Russian delegation will discuss establishment
of Russia’s second military base in Armenia. Russia’s Military Unit
102 is located in Armenia’s Gumri town.

According to Askarov, establishment of the base at the current stage
of negotiations on settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict displays
Russia’s position. "That will cast a shadow on objectiveness and
neutrality of Russia’s mediation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,"
he said.

–Boundary_(ID_5D+AdRSNUqb3kJkY8LXLmA)–

ARMENIA RANKS 39 IN WB DOING BUSINESS 2008

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.09.2007 17:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The World Bank released its annual Doing Business
2008 ranking of the ease of doing business in 178 economies.

A high ranking on the ease of doing business index means the regulatory
environment is conducive to the operation of business. This index
averages the country’s percentile rankings on 10 topics, made up of
a variety of indicators, giving equal weight to each topic.

Georgia, ranking 18, is leading among the CIS member states. The
country intensified protection of investors and passed a new law
on bankruptcy. It also speeded up the issue of permissions for
construction works and simplified registration of property rights.

Armenia is the 39th with establishing a new private credit bureau
and launching a new e-system of data exchange for customs officers.

Macroeconomic policy, infrastructure quality, currency fluctuations
and crime level are not taken into account.