Author: Hakobian Adrine

PROSECUTOR GENERAL RECEIVES RELATIVES OF PROTESTERS IN CONNECTION WITH MURDER

Noyan Tapan
Dec 08 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Relatives of Qyaram Avdalian, a
Yezid by nationality, who was killed in an incident in the village of
Lchashen on November 6, staged a protest in Yerevan’s Baghramian Street
on December 7, during which Gyulizar Avdalian, mother of the killed
person, poured fuel on herself and two grandchildren (aged 16 and 12)
and set fire. They received burns of second and third category and
were taken to hospital. NT was informed by Sona Truzian, spokeswoman
for the RA Prosecutor General that a criminal case was opened on the
fact of self-immolation and an investigation is under way.

According to the same source, some sheep of Q. Avdalian had grazed in
the areas under crops in Lchashen, as a result of which a quarrel broke
out at about 4 pm on November 6 between Q. Avdalian and the owner of
these areas Avetik Margarian, during which the two men hit each other
with fists. Q. Avdalian took to flight and about two hours later he
died from internal bleeding as a result of the lung rupture. A criminal
case was opened on this fact by the prosecutor’s office of Gegharkunik
marz on November 7, 2006. On the same day Avetik Margarian, 50, was
arrested as an accused, and a charge of inflicting bodily injury to
another person, leading to the victim’s death (Article 112 Part 2 Point
14 of the RA Criminal Code) was brought against him. The same source
informed NT that the RA Prosecutor General on December 7 received some
close relatives of Q. Avdalian. By his decision, the examination of
criminal case was transferred from the Gagharkunik prosecutor’s office
to the investigative department of the RA Prosecutor General’s Office.

TROJAN HORSE: ANKARA INFLUENCED DUTCH ELECTION RESULTS

Brussels Journal, Belgium
Dec 8 2006

>From the desk of Paul Belien on Fri, 2006-12-08 15:27

Yesterday evening, the Dutch television program Nova caused
considerable embarrassment in the Netherlands by revealing how the
Turkish government influenced last months’ Dutch general elections.

In an e-mail sent to thousands of ethnic Turks in the Netherlands
the Turkish Ministry of Religious Affairs called on them to vote for
Fatma Koser Kaya, a 38-year old woman whose family emigrated to the
Netherlands when she was six years old. Koser Kaya is a member of the
leftist "social-liberal" Democrats 66 (D66) party. On 22 November,
D66 lost three of its previous six seats in Parliament. Koser Kaya,
however, though only sixth on the list of D66 candidates, was
elected as one of the party’s three parliamentarians thanks to the
34,564 individual votes she got, possibly as a result of the Turkish
government’s interference.

Immigrants are known to overwhelmingly vote for candidates of their
own ethnic group. Since they have often not integrated in the country
where they have settled their loyalties lie with their countries
of origin. This has created a situation where the immigrants in
Western democracies become Trojan horses of foreign nationalism and
religious fanaticism. This phenomenon became apparent in this year’s
local elections in the Netherlands and in neighbouring Belgium. It
tipped the balance in favour of parties that put forward immigrant
candidates. At the same time, however, it worked to the disadvantage
of indigenous candidates on these parties’ lists, causing considerable
resentment among the latter.

In an e-mail, sent from a government address in Ankara, the Turks in
the Netherlands were asked to vote for Koser Kaya. The e-mail was
sent by Ali Alaybeyoglu, the advisor to Mehmet Aydin, the Turkish
minister of Religious Affairs. The first paragraph reads:

"We all realize that no-one can represent Turks better than Turks.

The Turkish community is threatened by assimilation. If we do not
unite and vote for a common candidate our position will only worsen
in future."

The e-mail lists five reasons why Turks should vote for Koser Kaya.

The most important one is the fact that D66 does not recognize the
Turkish genocide of the Armenians in 1915. The four other reasons
have to do with D66’s opposition to the policies of Rita Verdonk,
the Dutch minister of Integration.

The Armenian issue became a topic in the Dutch general elections when
the two leading parties in the country, the Christian-Democrats and
Labour, refused to put forward candidates of Turkish origin who did
not accept the party line that there was a genocide of the Armenians
in 1915. As a reaction Turkish lobby groups initiated a campaign
to urge Dutch voters of Turkish ancestry to boycott any party that
labels the 1915 mass killing of Armenians a genocide.

The e-mail from the Turkish ministry lists the Dutch parties and
points out why, apart from D66, they are not acceptable to Turks. The
Christian-Democrats and Labour are excluded because of their position
on the genocide, the Liberal Party VVD because it "is the party of
Verdonk and Hirsi Ali," the Animal Rights Party because it considers
"animals to be more important than Turks," and the Calvinist Party
because it "is preparing a new crusade."

Today, the Dutch ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted Ankara about
the affair. The Turkish Minister of Religious Affairs said he knows
nothing about an e-mail. Minister Aydin added that if this e-mail
had indeed been sent he strongly condemns it. "We do not interfere in
the internal politics of our friends," he said. Aydin’s collaborator
Alaybeyoglu, the man who allegedly sent the e-mail, said that several
people have access to his e-mail address. According to the Dutch
ministry the matter is still under investigation.

e/1739

BEZHUASHVILI: INITIATIVE ON CONSIDERING FROZEN CONFLICTS AT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN GUAM COUNTRIES HAS NOT RIPENED

Regnum, Russia
Dec 6 2006

GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) countries’ initiative
to discuss issues of frozen conflicts in the GUAM countries’
territories at the 61st session of the UN General Assembly, Georgia’s
Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili announced at a news conference in
Tbilisi on December 6.

According to him, GUAM foreign ministers decided at their meeting
in Brussels to postpone this issue from being introduced to the
UN scheduled for December 7. "The issue is on the agenda of the
61st General Assembly and it will not be taken away from it by next
September, so we shall put in on the agenda as soon as it has ripened
and is completely ready," Bezhuashvili said noting that GUAM’s aim was
not just discussion of the issue, but adoption of effective decisions,
Trend reports.

Initially, consideration of the frozen conflicts issue in the territory
of GUAM (Nagorno Karabakh, Georgian-Abkhaz, Georgian-Ossetian and
Transdnestr conflicts) was scheduled to take place in New York on
December 4, and then it was postponed for December 7. The new point
on prolonged conflicts in the GUAM territory was introduced to the
agenda of the 61st General Assembly in September. 16 countries voted
for putting the issue on the agenda including Latvia, Turkey, Great
Britain and the USA. 15 countries voted against, including Armenia,
Greece and Russia.

MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TO INFORM NEXT OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE ON ESSENCE OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT
Author: E.Huseynov

TREND, Azerbaijan
Dec 6 2006

Elmar Mammadyraov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, stated
during his interview for the local daily Zerkalo that the OSCE
Minsk Group Co-chairs intend to visit Madrid to inform the next
Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, the Spanish Foreign Minister, on
the situation regarding the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. He was commenting on the meeting with
the Minsk Group co-chairs in Brussels.

During the discussions they sounded a proposal on the organization
of a next meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers,
though the format of talks is still to be defined. With respect to
reasons of non-conduct of talks with the Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanian in Brussels, the Minister said that earlier he had
meeting with his Armenian counterpart in Minsk. "The Armenians have
asked for a break in talks to fully comprehend the situation before
deciding the direction in which the talks should continue. As far as
I understood there has been no response and no meeting.

Mammadyarov announced that only a few items now remained to be
discussed to co-ordinate the positions and in this context we
understand the responsibility specified for a negotiator who is
responsible for promoting the talks with the purpose of liberating
the areas and reputation of the refugees. He also commented on the
existence of the two hypotheses in the talks. These are the terms of
referendum on the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh of which Armenia
insists to be 5 years, but we agree a conduct of referendum after
15 years. The second is linked with the return of Lachin District
of Azerbaijan.

Mr. Mammadyarov approached the statement, in a positive manner,
made by the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, who called
the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Ilham Aliyev and Robert
Kocharian, on behalf of the OSCE Minsk Group chairs, to co-ordinate
basic principles of the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

In the current stage of negotiations, it is necessary to achieve
more international community attention. The attention that we have
drawn over the past two years is obvious. For the first time the NATO
Summit in Riga determined exactly the position of the member-states
which should be taken as a basis for the resolution of the conflict
in the South Caucasus and Moldova.

So, all NATO countries support the principles of territorial integrity
and sovereignty of South Caucasus countries and Moldova. It provides
strict boundaries for the resolution of conflicts. Along with NATO
member-countries, the resolution adopted at the Council of Europe,
as well as bilateral documents with the EU, consolidates a new action
plan, he emphasized.

ERDOGAN ABOUT EU: TURKEY’S WITHDRAWAL FROM NEGOTIATION TABLE WILL BE A GREAT MISTAKE

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.12.2006 16:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Prime Minister of Turkey Rajap Tayyip Erdoghan
warned the European Union about interrupting the negotiations on
his country’s accession to the European Union. Erdoghan declared,
" The European Union must not lose its global vision", adding
that, "Turkey’s withdrawal from negotiation table will be a great
mistake. This announcement Turkish Prime Minister made as a response
to the recommendation about partial interruption of negotiations made
by the European Commission.

Earlier today Finland’s Prime Minister Matty Vanhanen, whose country
currently holds EU presidency, declared that the suggestion about
partial interruption of negotiations "provides a good basis for the
solution of the issue", which is included in the agenda of upcoming
meeting of EU Foreign Ministers which will be held on December 11,
2006.

On Vanhanen’s words, during the meeting Foreign Ministers should
adopt a decision on the recommendation of the European Commission. At
the same time M. Vanhanen pointed out that though the situation
at the talks is "difficult", work on Turkey’s accession to EU must
go on. "The train slowed down but the direction remains the same",
said the Prime Minister of Finland, RBK reports.

KARABAKH CONFLICT HOLDS YEREVAN AND BAKU IN STATE OF NEITHER WAR NOR PEACE

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.12.2006 16:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Nagorno Karabakh conflict holds Azerbaijan and
Armenia in a state of neither peace, nor war, says a statement by
US Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs, head of the US
delegation at the OSCE FMs’ meeting Nicholas Burns. "The unsolved
Nagorno Karabakh conflict prevents return of hundreds of thousands
of refugees and forced migrants. That conflict keeps the borders
of Armenia and Azerbaijan closed and increases alienation between
neighboring nations," the US representative believes. "We thank Russia,
France and OSCE MG co-chairs. We have developed a rational approach
along with Azeri and Armenian leaders. It promises to lead to solution
of the conflict via talks. Our organization should now urge the leaders
of the countries to come to an accord," Burns said, reports Trend.

KAZAKHSTAN IS NOT GOING TO CHAIR THE OSCE IN 2009
Arkady Dubnov

Vremya Novostei, December 4, 2006, p. 2
Ferghana.ru, Russia
Dec 4 2006

Two-day session of the OSCE Council of Foreign Ministers opening in
Brussels today is supposed to decide what country to choose for the
chairman in 2009. Diplomatic sources claim, however, that the session
will come up with no decision – because of Kazakhstan, one of the
claimants for the privilege, that all but made it its national idea
in 2003.

The first CIS country in the OSCE to aspire for chairmanship in
the European structure that unites West and East Europe, the United
States, Canada, and post-Soviet Central Asia, Kazakhstan has both
supporters and enemies in the matter. Needless to say, the former
include Astana’s partners in the CIS and some West European countries
– Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands. Enemies of the idea
include the United States and Great Britain that do not think that
Kazakhstan is up to a number of democratic standards, particularly
in the sphere of human rights and readiness to arrange free and fair
elections. Since a consensus is clearly impossible, sources claim
that the decision will be postponed for until 2007.

The OSCE headquarters leans toward making Greece chairman in 2009,
Lithuania in 2010, and Kazakhstan – perhaps – in 2011. The last message
to this effect, not particularly clear, was sent to Kazakhstan during
the CIS summit in Minsk, Belarus, on November 28.

OSCE Chairman and Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Guht visited the
capital of Belarus this day. Senior state officials of the Belarussian
state including President Alexander Lukashenko himself are personae
non grata in the European Union. Officially, De Guht came to Minsk
to attend a meeting between presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
Robert Kocharjan and Ilham Aliyev. The dialogue between Yerevan and
Baku over Nagorno-Karabakh has been under way for years, under the
aegis of the OSCE Minsk Group whose chairmen from Russia, France,
and the United States were also in Minsk that day.

Conversation at de Guht’s meeting with Belarussian Foreign Minister
Sergei Martynov was centered around the agenda of the session opening
in Brussels today. Sources in Vienna claim in the meantime that de
Guht also met with representatives of the Kazakh authorities. First,
de Guht told Astana that President Nursultan Nazarbayev needn’t bother
addressing the Brussels session in person to try and persuade opponents
that Kazakhstan deserved the honor of chairing the OSCE.

Second, he said that Kazakhstan could aspire for the privilege two
years later.

It seems in the meantime that official Astana itself has decided
to call it off. Well-informed and trustworthy sources there say
that Nazarbayev himself was extremely critical of the idea of OSCE
chairmanship at a closed conference the other day. It figures, if
Astana doesn’t want to lose face.

A1+

«SOLUTION» TO THE KARABAKH CONFLICT HAS BEEN FOUND
[07:59 pm] 01 December, 2006

«THE CONFLICT CAN’T BE SETTLED WITHOUT THE
PARTICIPATION OF KARABAKH»

«The meeting has been constructive. The Presidents
have discussed issues which are by now not agreed
upon», said RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan about
the Minsk meeting of Kocharyan and Aliev.

Although the Minister did not speak about progress, he
mentioned, «The negotiations have not reached a dead
end. The Presidents will soon tell the Foreign
Ministers which issues to focus upon».

While the RA authorities kept silent, the Foreign
Minister of Azerbaijan gave an interview immediately
after the Minsk meeting and said that the position of
Azerbaijan has not been changed and they are ready to
give Karabakh the highest degree of sovereignty in
Azerbaijan. After the statement of the Azeri official
the optimism of Vardan Oskanyan was a bit troubling.

Referring to the statement of Elmar Mammadyarov that
there is only one issue left to agree upon, Mr.
Oskanyan said, «The position of the Armenian side has
not changed either. There is only one way to put
together the two contradicting principles – the
territorial integrity and right of self-determination
of nations. As the idea of a referendum has been
mentioned in this document, we think that the people
of Nagorno Karabakh can be given a chance to make
their choice – territorial integrity of Azerbaijan or
their self-determination. This is the only solution
and fortunately the elements of this solution have
been included in the document».

Mr. Oskanyan did not confirm the statement of Ilham
Aliev that the negotiations have entered the final
phase. «If we are in the final phase, then Karabakh
must join the negotiations. It is impossible to settle
the conflict without the participation of Karabakh».
The Foreign Minister claimed that the announcements by
Azerbaijan that a decision has been made to give the
seven liberated territories, do not correspond to
reality.

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Nov 30 2006

Two Poles detained "for their safety" for displaying large cross

Istanbul, 30 November: Police arrested five suspects, 53 African
migrants as well as eight people who attempted to hold illegal
demonstration in Istanbul to protest [against] Pope Benedict XVI’s
visit to Turkey.

According to police sources, five people were taken into custody
because of their suspicious behaviours around the Fener
Greek-Orthodox Patriarchate which was one of the places visited by
the pope.

On the other hand, seven demonstrators chanting slogans and one
person attempting to perform an individual demonstration around the
museum of Haghia Sophia were taken into custody.

Security forces also took two people of Polish origin to the police
station when they appeared in Sultanahmet Square with a big cross and
a statue of the Virgin Mary in their hands.

Police forces declared that the foreigners who said they were waiting
to welcome the Pope were taken to the police station in order to
ensure their own safety as they could face reactions from other
demonstrators around.

Moreover, during the operations conducted around the Virgin Mary
Armenian Church in Kumkapi district, 53 African illegal migrants were
arrested.

The migrants will be deported after procedures at the Aliens
Department.

GRECO ADDRESSES 21 RECOMMENDATIONS TO TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.11.2006 18:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ November 30 the Council of Europe’s Group of States
against Corruption (GRECO) has published today its Joint First
and Second Round Evaluation Report on Turkey, which joined GRECO
in 2004. The report focuses on general anti-corruption policies,
specialization of law enforcement bodies in fighting corruption,
independence of the judiciary, immunity from prosecution for
corruption offences, the deprivation of benefits drawn from corrupt
acts, measures to counter corruption in public administration and
the prevention of legal persons – such as commercial companies –
from being used as shields for corruption.

GRECO addresses 21 recommendations to Turkey. They aim at improving
the implementation of the overall anti-corruption policies. Moreover,
it is recommended to consider reforming the system of administrative
investigation, which may be subject to political influence, and to
reduce the number of categories of public officials who benefit from
immunities. It is also recommended that an Ombudsman institution be
established and that the independence of recent bodies, such as the
Ethics. GRECO will monitor the implementation of the recommendations to
Turkey towards the end of 2007, reports the Communications Directorate
of the Council of Europe.