Author: Hovhannisian John

15:21 19/02/2010 » Region
Sabah: Most dangerous ideas for Turkey

Turkish Sabah issued an inquiry for readers: To you, what are most
dangerous ideas?

Actually, it goes about the political, economic, social and moral
environments in Turkey. The move aims at receiving suggestions from
Turkish citizens to change current Turkey.

The inquiry received quite active response not only from Turkey, but
the Turkish community worldwide.

Herewith you can find some of the suggestions the Turks consider too dangerous.

– To grant national minority status to Kurdish citizens of Turkey, in
accordance with the EU standards.
– Teach Armenian and Greek histories at schools, instead of the
Turkish one. The former tell about the Turkish more.
– Transition to a 200.000 professional army, the expenses made in the
defense sphere be directed to education and healthcare.
– The Constitution shouldn’t include `an article banning amendments
and supplements.’ It’s not a Bible.
– Annul Ataturk’s (Mustafa Kemal) law on defense.

P.S. `The majority of the abovementioned ideas can, in fact change
Turkey, can’t they?’ the initiator of the inquiry Emre Akoz says.

Source: Panorama.am

DAVID FAHRADYAN PRESENTED WITH GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS CERTIFICATE

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.02.2010 17:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yerevan State Linguistic University hosted a meeting
with President of the National Olympic Committee of Armenia Gagik
Tsarukyan Tuesday, February 16.

The meeting was organized to celebrate Guinness World Record of
YSLU gymnastics instructor David Fahradyan, who performed the most
consecutive gymnastic high bar giants (350) in 10 minutes.

David Fahradyan was presented with Guinness World Records certificate,
along with Olympic Champion Hrant Shahinyan’s medal.

"We are proud of the results Armenian sportsman achieved. It’s not
only David’s victory -it belongs to the whole Armenia," Gagik Tsarukyan
said after grating the awards.

AZERBAIJAN ATTACKS KARABAKH DEFENSE ARMY POSITIONS

ArmInfo
2010-02-16 18:12:00

ArmInfo. The NKR Defense Ministry press-service reported that February
15 night and on Feb 16 a number of cases of cease-fire violation by
the Azerbaijani party were registered in a number of sections of the
NKR and Azeri armed forces contact line.

In particular, the NKR Defense Army positions in directions of
populated areas Jraberd, Seysulan, Horadiz, Talish, etc. were attacked
from micro-caliber arms and sniper rifles. After the relevant measures
taken by NKR Defense Army servicemen on alert combat duty the rival
stopped the fire.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Feb 13 2010

Hackers post Dink killer’s photo on Agos Web site

The Web site of bilingual Armenian weekly Agos, whose former
editor-in-chief Hrant Dink was shot dead by a teenager in 2007, has
been hacked by an ultranationalist group that posted Dink’s suspected
hit man’s photo on the page.

Visitors to agos.com.tr yesterday were greeted with a photo of Ogün
Samast, showing him with a Turkish flag in the background. The photo
was taken after Samast was caught in Samsun, two days after killing
Dink on Jan. 19, 2007, and drew the ire of many as it showed members
of the security forces posing for pictures with Samast.

The hackers also left a note on the screen threatening the daily with
more deaths if they do not change their editorial policy to what the
group wants. `You either love [this country] or leave it or you die as
[the] traitor Dink did. If you don’t correct your discourse and
articles to the direction we want, new Ogün Samasts and Hrant Dinks
will appear,’ the note read.

Speaking to the private NTV/MSNBC news station, Sarkis Güreh, an Agos
reporter, said they would take legal action on the issue. Calling the
attack upsetting, Güreh said, however, that they are not afraid.

An investigation of the Dink assassination revealed that a group of
ultranationalists was behind the murder, and police arrested the
suspected gunman, Samast, and an associate, Yasin Hayal, a few days
after Dink’s murder. Strong evidence suggested that some members of
the group had ties with the police department in Trabzon, the hometown
of the plotters. Some gendarmes later confirmed that they had been
tipped off about the plot to kill Dink before the murder was
committed. Dink family lawyers have frequently alleged that the police
attempted to obscure evidence.

Lawyers representing the co-plaintiffs in the Dink trial have long
claimed that the murder was the doing of Ergenekon, a clandestine
group charged with plotting to overthrow the government. In the latest
hearing they also petitioned the 14th High Criminal Court to contact
the prosecutors investigating Ergenekon to request a copy of documents
that describe the organization’s plots against religious minorities in
Turkey.

13 February 2010, Saturday
TODAY’S ZAMAN Ä°STANBUL

FIRST VICE SPEAKER OF AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT ADDRESSES US CONGRESS: "THE SO-CALLED "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE" IS NOT YOUR JOB, IT IS A HISTORIC ISSUE"

APA
43
Feb 12 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayev – APA. "They pressure on Turkey instead of
Armenia today. US Congress Committee included the so-called "Armenian
genocide" resolution into its agenda.

They discuss the so-called "genocide" issue in every April. They made
24 April a cash cow. I address the US Congress: This is not your job,
this is a historic issue. Let the historians to address this problem",
said first vice speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament Ziyafat Asgarov
in his statement. He said they were trying to blackmail Turkey in
every April. "I would like to ask them: Why don’t you recognize
Khojaly genocide? You know this tragedy happened before the world
eyes. I believe that the US Congress will not address this issue".

Asgarov said the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs should pressure on
Armenia. "The problem entered into the last stage. Everyone knows
that Armenian is not an independent country, but it is a province
of Russia. We don’t want this issue to be prolonged. Otherwise the
other way of solution is unavoidable".

MP Zahid Oruj expressed concern over the Iranian officials’ statement
about Karabakh problem. He said involvement of Iran in this problem
could make it harder. "Let Iran to use Turkey’s experience and to close
its borders. After that this country can say that it supports us".

In response to Zahid Oruj, speaker of the parliament Oqtay Asadov
said Iran had 600-km borders with Azerbaijan and it was not correct
to reject their support as neighbor country. "If there is support,
we have to use it".

HACKERS ATTACK TURKEY-BASED ARMENIAN NEWSPAPER, FOUNDATION SITES

Hurriyet Daily News
Feb 12 2010
Turkey

The Web site of Turkey’s leading Armenian newspaper was hacked in
the early hours on Friday. Hackers also attacked the Web sites of
two Turkey-based foundations.

Hackers identifying themselves as "AK Hacker" overtook the Agos
Web site and put up an image of Ogun Samast, the alleged murderer
of the former editor in chief of the daily, Hrant Dink. The image
was accompanied by a text that criticized opposition to the ruling
party and stated the act of hacking was "an action that will go on
to spread like poison to others who oppose the current powers."

The International Hrant Dink Foundation and the Art for Peace
Foundation were also hacked around the same time. An official from
the Hrant Dink foundation told the Hurriyet Daily News that they were
uncertain if the site was attacked by the same hackers.

An attempt to view the Art for Peace Web site led to an error page
bearing the same redirect address as the Agos Web site.

Threatening messages

The note on the Agos site also made a chilling threat given the murder
of Hrant Dink: "If you do not fix your reporting in the way we see fit,
there will be new Ogun Samasts and new Hrant Dinks."

Here’s a translation of the full text on the hacked site:

"You either love or you leave it. Or like the traitor Hrant, you die
and disappear. You are you. You know yourself as much as we know you.

You lived through what you deserved and it will continue as such. This
act take on behalf of the Turkish flag, which is not on your Web site,
and in the name of the Turkish Republic, will continue to spread like
poison to others who oppose the current powers and everyone who opposes
will be affected as such. If you do not change your articles and your
words and your actions along the lines that we see fit, then there
will be new Ogun Samasts and new Hrant Dinks. Thinking you’re smart is
your biggest ignorance. Just as the traitors who have given up their
Turkishness will one day be expelled from the borders of this country,
Turkey will be cleansed thanks to the current powers in Turkey and all
slander campaigns will be unsuccessful and inconclusive from now on.

"GAME OVER!

"Who are we?

"Hate, loathsome, Muco, Mr. Bond

"Do you remember?

"Ak Hackers"

ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS TO BE INTRODUCED IN RA NA

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.02.2010 15:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian-Turkish Protocols will be submitted to
the RA National Assembly on Friday.

"It is a mere procedure. The Armenian National Assembly will not debate
the Protocols unless the Turkish parliament ratifies them," Galust
Sahakyan, head of RPA parliamentary group told reporters in Yerevan.

"Our patience wears thin. If Turkey goes on at that rate, signatures
can be recalled," Mr. Sahakyan said.

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of
the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet
Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks
held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of
Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.

TURKISH PRESIDENT CALLS FOR NORMALIZATION OF TIES WITH ARMENIA

RTTnews.com
eView.aspx?Id=1209639&SMap=1
Feb 11 2010

(RTTNews) – Turkish President Abdullah Gul insisted Thursday that
both Turkey ad Armenia must make serious efforts to normalize their
relations by honoring an historic deal made to end the long-time
hostilities between the two sides.

"We have to be aware that concluding this historic process will require
honoring our commitments in their entirety as well as displaying
adequate political courage and vision," Gul was quoted by local news
agencies as saying in a letter addressed to his Armenian counterpart
Serzh Sarksyan.

"You should have no doubt that our determination to move these
objectives forward is intact, provided that this resolve and commitment
remains reciprocal," Gul added in his response to an earlier message
sent to him by Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan.

In a message sent to Gul earlier in the week, Sarkisian had said that
the "time has come to manifest determination to take the next major
step and leave to future generations a stable and secure region."

Sarkisian was apparently referring to the ratification by the Turkish
parliament of two agreements that commits Turkey and Armenia to
establish diplomatic relations and open their mutual border to
each other.

Sarksyan also insisted in his message that Armenia’s parliament would
approve the agreements only after the Turkish parliament ratifies
them. He also warned that Armenia could break off its relation
normalization efforts if Turkey delayed the ratification of the
protocols.

Both Turkey and Armenia had announced last April a deal that would
normalize relations between the two sides. Though the deal has strong
backing of the international community, it is currently on the brink
of collapse as both Turkey and Armenia are yet to ratify the agreement.

Turkey’s parliament initially delayed ratifying the protocols, as it
linked the establishment of diplomatic relations to negotiations on the
Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. Armenian troops are currently occupying the
enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh after they helped Armenian separatists to
seize control of the enclave from Azerbaijan, a close ally of Turkey,
in the early 1990s.

The war for the enclave resulted in the death of nearly 30,000 people
and forced two million others to flee their homes. Though the two
countries signed a ceasefire agreement in May 1994, the dispute
remains unresolved despite continued international efforts.

Linking the agreement to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue has triggered an
outrage among Turkey’s sizable Azeri minority. It also evoked a strong
response from Azerbaijan, with President Ilham Aliyev threatening to
boycott the Nabucco pipeline project designed to carry natural gas
from Central Asia to markets in Europe through Turkey.

Following Azerbaijan’s threat to back out of the Nabucco pipeline
project over Turkey’s deal with Armenia, Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan visited Azerbaijan in an effort to ease tensions.

During that visit, Erdogan stressed his country would not seek to
normalize relations with Armenia on Azerbaijan’s expense. He also
added that Turkey will not re-open its borders with Armenia until
Armenian military forces withdraw from Azerbaijani territory.

Turkey then demanded the resolving of the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave
conflict through international meditations and the withdrawal of
Armenian forces from the enclave as a condition for ratifying the
agreements.

Another hurdle to Turkey’s ratification of the agreements sprung up
recently after Armenia’s Constitutional Court ruled on 12th January
the deal with Turkey should not breach the country’s Independence
Declaration, which states that the Republic of Armenia "stands in
support of the task of achieving international recognition of the
Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia."

But Turkey objected to the Armenian Constitutional Court ruling,
insisting that the ruling was based on "preconditions and restrictive
findings" that undermine the "fundamental objectives" of the
protocols. Prime Minister Erdogan described the court ruling as
"unacceptable" and said it could undermine the reconciliation efforts
between the two countries.

Turkey denies the occurrence of any genocide of Armenians and insists
that those killed were victims of during the chaotic collapse of the
Ottoman empire before the birth of modern Turkey in 1923.

Turkey and Armenia have not had any diplomatic or economic relations
after Armenia declared its independence in 1991. In addition, Turkey
also closed its borders with Armenia in 1993 as a token of support
for Azerbaijan, which had a territorial conflict with Armenia.

"YEREVAN, MY LOVE" PROJECT LAUNCHED IN LONDON

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
11.02.2010 13:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During his working visit to the UK, President of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan met with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in
the Buckingham Palace to discuss Armenian-British relations, process
of Armenia’s integration in European structures, as well as issues
pertinent to Armenian-Turkish reconciliation process. Regarding
all these issues the President of Armenia presented to Her Majesty
official position of Yerevan.

Later in the afternoon President Sargsyan met with Foreign Secretary
David Miliband. Armenia-UK bilateral relations and as well as
regional security issues were in focus. Attaching importance to further
development of political dialogue and enhancement of economic relations
the two men concurred that the Eastern Partnership initiative provides
ample opportunities for efficient cooperation. The RA President thanked
the British government for the assistance provided to Armenia since
it regained independence.

Mr. Sargsyan and Mr. Miliband also referred to regional security
issues, specifically the process of Armenian-Turkish reconciliation
and Nagorno Karabakh peace talks. The UK Foreign Secretary welcomed
Armenia’s efforts aimed at the normalization of relations with Turkey
and said his country supports the process and is interested in peace
and stability in the South Caucasus.

In Windsor Palace, the President of Armenia met with His Royal
Highness Prince Charles. "Yerevan, My Love" project was launched
during the reception, followed by a concert under the guidance
of the world-famous conductor Valeri Gergiev. "Yerevan, My Love"
project envisages reconstruction of four structures of historic and
architectural value in the center of the capital, which will serve
as social centers for vulnerable groups and gifted children under
the auspices of Holy See Saint Etchmiadzin.

President Sargsyan also held a meeting with Armenian businessmen
and representatives of the Armenian Diaspora, the RA leader’s press
office reported.

THREATS TO BAKU ABOUT RESUMPTION OF WAR DIRECTED RATHER TO MOSCOW THAN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.02.2010 14:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Threats to Baku on the resumption of war in the
Karabakh conflict zone are rather directed to Moscow than Yerevan,
Ruben Mehrabyan, the expert of the Armenian Center for Political and
International Studies told a press conference in Yerevan. According
to him, therefore, Azerbaijan gives signal to Russia to intensify
the mediation efforts to resolve the Karabakh-Azerbaijani conflict.

"Baku warns Moscow, playing an active ever role in addressing the
problem, what might happen if negotiations do not record a progress.

And there are no signs of progress," the political scientist said,
stressing that the possibility of the resumption of hostilities is
very small.

The negotiating process is continuing and is controlled, which
is very important, he said. In his opinion, the current process
of Karabakh settlement is delayed not in favor of Armenia and not
promising anything good to the Armenian side. In terms of transport
and energy benefits, the interests of the superpowers is the South
Caucasus are increased, which opens new opportunities for Azerbaijan,
and brings serious challenges to Armenia. "Armenia cannot only hope
for a favorable power balance in the region. Resources Armenian are
within the country, and should be mobilized. The retreat of democracy
in the country only weaken our position becoming a "sword of Damocles"
over Armenia, " Ruben Mehrabyan said.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out in
1988 as result of the ethnic cleansing the latter launched in the
final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from
1991 to 1994. Since the ceasefire in 1994, sealed by Armenia, Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan, most of Nagorno Karabakh and several regions
of Azerbaijan around it (the security zone) remain under the control
of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks
mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.