Author: Jalatian Sonya

The New Anatolian, Turkey
June 18 2005
Turkey questions Germany’s ‘friendship’
The New Anatolian / Ankara
The German Parliament’s decision urging Ankara to examine its role
in the so-called Armenian genocide has united all sectors of Turkish
society. While Prime Minister Erdogan accuses the German Parliament
of ‘sacrificing’ this serious issue to ‘mere lobbyists,’ Turkish
Parliament Speaker Arinc writes a letter to his German counterpart
denouncing the decision
On the ‘opposition front’ the situation is no different. CHP
parliamentary group head Anadol blames the German Parliament for
taking decisions without ‘understanding the realities.’ DYP leader
Agar holds a press conference to denounce the decision and asks:
‘Has Germany forgotten our longtime friendship?’
Besides politicians, Turkish nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
also show their outrage with a protest in front of the German Embassy
in Ankara. A black wreath is placed in front of the embassy by the
Public Workers’ Labor Union (Kamu-Sen). Police efforts to remove the
wreath cause an uproar

PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: (374-1) 52-35-31
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Minister Oskanian Addresses Armenia-Turkey Relations at House of Lords
Armenian’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vartan Oskanian, addressed a group
of journalists, parliamentarians and other officials at a 90th Anniversary
Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide organized by the British Armenia All
Party Parliamentary Group, in the House of Lords Moses Room. The program was
opened by Armenia’s Ambassador to the UK, Vahe Gabrielyan. The moderator was
Baroness Caroline Cox, chair of the Parliamentary Group, and active
supporter of Armenian issues. The guests included former member of the
Canadian Parliament Sarkis Assadourian, head of the French-Armenian
Friendship Group of the French National Assembly, Francois Rochebloine, and
James Smith, of the Beth Shalom Holocaust Foundation. Below is the full text
of the Minister’s address.
The program was preceded by an ecumenical service at St. Margaret’s Church.
Address by
H. E. Vartan Oskanian
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of Armenia
At
The Commemoration of the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
By
The British Armenia All Party Parliamentary Group
At
The House of Lords, Moses Room
London
June 15, 2005
I am pleased to join you in this remembrance of the first genocide of the
last century. Since then, the millennium has changed, but man has not. That
tragedy, that crime against humanity, was followed by a dozen more such
politically motivated murders of entire nations. Today, at the beginning of
the 21st century, in Darfur, we are again witnessing a world caught up in
condemnation, but lacking the political will to name and stop the
perpetrators of genocide. It is history repeating itself.
This year, on and around April 24, we marked the 90th anniversary of the
Genocide of Armenians. British political life kept you from doing so here,
and so today in June, this conference reminds us that remembering and
condemning are not limited to anniversaries.
I appreciate that this commemoration is taking place in Great Britain, the
home of Arnold Toynbee and James Bryce ­ a historian and a diplomat who were
charged with examining documents about the treatment of the Armenians in the
Ottoman Empire. Today¹s Turkish government wants to review and rewrite their
work.
That is what Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan said in a letter addressed to
the British Parliament earlier this year. It¹s not enough that they have
spent a good part of this century rewriting their own history, now they want
to rewrite yours. In the year 2005, in a world that no longer has empires
and colonies, in a world where it is lofty ideals which unite countries and
nations in alliances and guide their policies and engagements, it is at the
very least disheartening that a modern Turkish government ­ hailed by some
as a democratic beacon, an example of the victory of universal ideals over
sectarian beliefs ­ can continue to cynically deny their history, and ours.
When a government plans to do away with its own population to solve a
political problem ­ that¹s genocide. At the turn of the 20th century, the
Ottoman Empire was shrinking, it was losing its hold over its subjects along
the periphery of the empire. For fear that in Anatolia, too, the Armenian
minority would agitate for greater rights and invite foreign powers to exert
pressure, the Ottoman leadership used the cover of World War I to attempt to
wipe out the Armenians.
US Ambassador Henry Morgenthau called what he witnessed, the Murder of a
Nation. Others called it ~Lrace murder¹. They did so because there was no
term Genocide yet. When the word was finally coined in 1944 by Raphael
Lemkin, it was done with clear reference to genocidal acts prior to that
date, the Armenian Genocide included. There is no doubt that if the word
genocide had existed in 1915, every one of the hundreds of articles would
have used the term.
In the face of this, Turkey¹s continued insistence on rejecting and
rewriting history costs them credibility and time. Two months ago, Prime
Minister Erdogan wrote a second letter. It was addressed to my President —
although they gave it to the press before they gave it to us. The letter
said let¹s set up a joint historical commission and let them study what he
called this ~Ldisputed period in history¹. He said it would constitute a
step towards contributing to the normalization of relations between our
countries.
We would like nothing more than normalization between our countries. But we
think he has it backwards. We need some normalization between our countries
in order for a joint commission to be able to work on this or any other
dispute. There is nothing normal about our relationship today. Within
Turkey, there is not a normal environment in which to discuss these issues.
In the two months since this letter was issued, Turkey has ratified a penal
code which makes use of the word genocide a punishable crime. In the two
months since this letter, Turkey has put on trial several writers and
historians for use of the word genocide, and most recently even for use of
the term ~Lmassacre¹. In the two months since this letter, Turkish
authorities forced the cancellation of an academic conference co-sponsored
by three Turkish universities, with the very politically correct title:
Ottoman Armenians During the Decline of the Empire.
One does not knock on Europe¹s door by blindfolding historians and gagging
writers. In this kind of environment, what are the members of the commission
supposed to discuss? In the absence of relations between the two
governments, who is to appoint them and who are they to report to?
Denial and rejection have taken deep root in Turkish society. They¹ve been
justified by a rhetoric of Armenian treachery, aggression, criminality and
territorial ambition.
The political consequence of this rationale has been a unilateral closing of
the Armenian-Turkish border. There have been no normal exchanges,
interactions or relations across our borders ­ not in Soviet times, and not
since our independence. Does Turkey wish to spend the whole of the next
century obstinately cementing the memories and reproaches of the past? When
will we move on to creating a new context within which these two neighbors
will be able to share a common space, create new experiences and grow to
live together without acrimony or hostility? Armenians need recognition for
very tangible security reasons, as well, and not just in the interests of
historical justice.
Consigning these difficult issues to a few academics and experts, in such a
vacuum, is not a genuine attempt at creating a dialog.
The massive resources and reputation of the Turkish state have been invested
in evading history and avoiding the term genocide. It will take the
engagement of that same Turkish state to begin a dialog. We are not the only
neighbors in the world who have had, and who continue to have, a troubled
relationship.
That is what President Kocharian said to Prime Minister Erdogan in his
response. He also said that Armenia is ready for a political dialog. Under
the rubric of a political dialog, all other kinds of discussions ­ about
today¹s borders and yesterday¹s history ­ can take place. Under the rubric
of a political dialog, those responsible, committed and empowered to act can
be engaged in the healing.
Today¹s Turks do not bear the guilt of the perpetrators, unless they choose
to defend and identify with them. Armenians and Turks, together with the
rest of the modern world, can reject the actions and denounce the crimes of
the Ottoman Empire.
Some Turkish writers and academics have begun down that difficult road to
introspection and study. Some are doing so publicly and with great
transparency. In this context, it is essential that the international
community doesn¹t turn a blind eye, but instead consistently extends its
hand, its example, its own history of transcending.
Every nation edits its own past ­ just as it edits visions of its future. It
has been the selective amnesia of the Turkish establishment which is the
stumbling block to efforts to reckon with our common past. We continue to
hope that Turkey¹s 21st century vision of a future in Europe, and Europe¹s
vision of a Europe with Turkey, will overtake 19th century politics.
Thank you.
–Boundary_(ID_f2kow6G/HswD+ax9x8t3TQ)–

ERDOGAN CALLS “FALSE AND OUTRAGEOUS” DECISION OF BUNDESTAG REGARDING ISSUE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
YEREVAN, JUNE 17. ARMINFO. Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip
Erdogan sharply criticized the resolution of the Bundestag regarding
the issue on Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915.
As German resources inform, Erdogan called “false and outrageous”
the resolution of the Bundestag. Speaking about Chancellor of
Germany Gerhard Schroeder, Erdogan mentioned that “he pays tribute
rather politicians, who have their point of view”, reminding that
during the last visit to TUrkey Schroeder had agreed with Turkey’s
position in this issue. As the Turkish newspaper “Vatan” informs,
as a protest, most likely Turkey will call its ambassador to Germany
for consultation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE CENTER OF ATTENTION
A1plus
| 14:50:21 | 17-06-2005 | Social |
On June 17-19 a republican youth conference entitled “Youth. Reality.
Outlook” will take place in the Government building. The conference
will consist of two parts – a symposium and exhibition of international
organizations.
During the symposium the young people will represent more than 50
reports and there will also be discussions. And during the exhibition
every non-governmental organization or group will represent their
works. For example, in the pavilion “Village Woman” the works of the
Oshakan Youth Union “Village Woman” were represented – paintings,
gobelins, dried fruit, sculptures, etc.
And the Javakhq Puppet theater organized a performance for the
visitors. Today they represented “The Tailless Fox” of Hovhannes
Toumanyan.
On June 19, at 7:00 p.m. the official ceremony of closing the
conference will take place during which results of the both the
Symposium and the exhibition will be summed up.

rchiv.tagesspiegel.de/tool
box-pnn.php?ran=on& url= 5/18808
49.asp
Bundestag gedenkt der Armenier
Fraktionen einig / Begriff Völkermord nur in Begrundung / Ankara
protestiert
Berlin/Ankara – Ungeachtet heftiger Widerstände von turkischer
Seite will der Bundestag an diesem Donnerstag der Massaker vor 90
Jahren an den Armeniern gedenken. Im dem gemeinsam von SPD, CDU/CSU,
Grunen und FDP gestellten Antrag, der ohne Debatte beschlossen
werden soll, taucht der Begriff Völkermord aber nur in der
Begrundung auf. Dort heiÃ~_t es vorsichtig, dass die Vertreibung und
Vernichtung der Armenier 1915/16 von zahlreichen unabhängigen
Historikern, Parlamenten und internationalen Organisationen so
bezeichnet werden. Nach unabhängigen Berechnungen fielen den
Deportationen und Massenmorden uber eine Million Armenier zum Opfer.
Auch das Deutsche Reich habe damals nicht versucht, die Gräuel zu
stoppen, heiÃ~_t es in dem Beschluss.
In der Begrundung finden sich scharfe Angriffe gegen Ankara: Das
AusmaÃ~_ der Massaker und Deportationen werde in der Turkei
â~@~^immer noch verharmlost und weitgehend bestritten”. Diese
turkische Haltung stehe â~@~^im Widerspruch zu der Idee der
Versöhnung, die die Wertegemeinschaft der Europäischen Union
leitet”. Die Initiative war von der Unionsfraktion ausgegangen.
Aus Rucksicht auf turkischstämmige Wähler hatte Rot-Grun
durchgesetzt, dass ein Beschluss erst nach der
Nordrhein-Westfalen-Wahl gefasst wird. Der CDU-Bundestagsabgeordnete
Christoph Bergner sagte, er sei erleichtert, dass trotz der geplanten
Neuwahlen ein Kompromiss zwischen allen Fraktionen gefunden wurde.
Der turkische AuÃ~_enminister Abdullah Gul sagte am Mittwoch vor
deutschen Journalisten in Ankara, er sei â~@~^besturzt”
daruber, wie sein Land â~@~^in billiger Art und Weise”
beschuldigt werde. Zum Vorwurf des Völkermords an den Armeniern
fragte er: â~@~^Wann und wo soll es das gegeben haben?” Es habe
sich um kriegsbedingte Umsiedlungen gehandelt. Gul rief dazu auf,
die Integration der Turken in Deutschland als vorrangig anzusehen.
Der Bundestag wurde dieses Ziel mit seiner Entscheidung
â~@~^uberschatten”. Zuvor hatte der turkische Botschafter in
Berlin, Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, gewarnt, die Debatte vergifte die
deutsch-turkischen Beziehungen. Fur Sonntag hat die Turkische
Gemeinde zu Berlin zu einer Demonstration aufgerufen. Der Protest
richtet sich auch gegen den Bundestag, der die Geschichte zum
â~@~^Zankapfel” mache. Matthias Meisner/Juliane Schäuble
–Boundary_(ID_qwZMDaz+y0m0aa/gCe4Utw)–

IN EXPECTATION OF SITTING
A1plus
| 20:53:25 | 14-06-2005 | Official |
Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) Nikolay Bordyuzha is arriving in Yerevan tomorrow.
He is scheduled to meet with Robert Kocharyan and Defense Minister
Serge Sargsyan. During the visit Nikolay Bordyuzha will report on
issue included in the agenda of the upcoming CSTO sitting as well as
problems, ways of their settlement and further plans.
To note, Robert Kocharyan will take part in the CSTO sitting to be
held in Moscow June 22-23. The sittings of the Foreign and Defense
Ministers, Secretaries of National Security Councils of the CSTO
member-states are also scheduled.

ILHAM ALIYEV PROMISES STATUS OF AUTONOMY TO KARABAKH AND MAKES HIS AMENDMENTS TO HISTORY
YEREVAN, JUNE 14. ARMINFO. Provision of a status of autonomy to
Nagorny Karabakh is the maximum concession on the part of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made this statement talking to
journalists in Croatia, Azertaj reports. “We are ready to provide
Karabakh the highest status of autonomy in the world and guarantees of
security. These are the maximum concessions we can go on,” Azerbaijani
president said. Drawing parallels between Azerbaijan and Croatia
Ilham Aliyev stated that these two stated had much in common as
“Azerbaijan has also suffered from external aggression becoming a
victim of Armenia’s aggression.” “And the reason was ‘protection’
of the Armenians residing in Azerbaijan. However, there was no need
to protect the Armenians in Karabakh as they had lived in our country
for over 150 years and had never had problems. The major reason was
an intention to occupy the territory of Azerbaijan, and Armenian has
managed to do it due to external support and assistance,” Aliyev said.

EU SUMMIT WILL NOT DISCUSS TURKEY ACCESSION
Pan Armenian News
14.06.2005 04:48
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ For the first time within the past years the
European Union Summit opening Thursday will not discuss the question
of Turkey’s accession. EU representatives said today, this is due
to the failure of the reforms over the European Constitution in
France and the Netherlands. Today the EU FMs adopted a protocol on
inclusion of Turkey in the customs union along with the EU 10 new
members, including Cyprus. As soon as Ankara signs the document, all
conditions for starting talks over Turkey~Rs accession to the EU on
October 3 will be met, the Yerkir newspaper reported.

US PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR TAKES INTEREST IN REFORMS IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JUNE 10. ARMINFO. Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
and Stephen J. Hadley, National Security Advisor for US President,
discussed process of peaceful resolution of Karabakh conflict in
Washington. It should be noted that Minister Oskanyan is on a two-day
working visit to the USA.
The Press and Information Department of the Armenian Foreign Ministry
informs ARMINFO that the sides touched upon the relations of Armenia
and Turkey. Stephen Hadley displayed a special interest in the
process of democratic, election and constitutional reforms in
Armenia. In Washington Vardan Oskanyan met with the members of the
Armenian Caucus members. At the beginning of the meeting, current
issues of Armenian-American relations were discussed. Oskanyan
informed the congressmen of the last news on the process of peaceful
settlement of Karabakh conflict as well as of relations
Armenia-Turkey. He thanked the congressmen for continuing
contribution to Armenia. The parties also discussed issues which may
be put on agenda of the Armenian-American Commission for Economic
Cooperation. Then, Armenian Minister Oskanyan met with
representatives of the National Committee of America and the Armenian
Assembly of America and discussed agenda of Armenian-American
relations. The source reports that it is the first visit of Vardan
Oskanyan to the USA after re-election of George Bush for second term.
Today the foreign minister will meet with US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice, will speak at the US National Press Club and
“Bruckings” organization.

Gulf Times, Qatar
June 11 2005
Azerbaijan set for a second oil boom
Published: Saturday, 11 June, 2005, 11:53 AM Doha Time

By Paul Brown
THERE are 800 manmade lakes on the edge of the Caspian Sea in an area
that is known simply as Twenty. The lakes contain oil, tar and raw
sewage as well as water – a mixture that in the summer months
provides potent fumes and a breeding ground for malarial mosquitoes.
On parts of the site – which, established in 1847, is the oldest oil
field in the world – a few remaining productive wells still work,
with `nodding donkeys’ pumping up the last of the oil.
A few miles from this suburb of Azerbaijan’s capital Baku, in the
country’s section of the Caspian Sea, a newer story is unfolding.
British Petroleum (BP) is developing what it says is a
state-of-the-art, nearly pollution-free oilfield that will connect to
the controversial but almost complete 1,762km Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
(BTC) pipeline, which stretches from Azerbaijan to Turkey.
Last month the oil finally started to flow through the pipe towards
the Mediterranean where it will then travel by tanker to the UK to be
refined and keep Britain’s cars and aeroplanes running.
Before arriving at the new sea terminal, the pipeline runs through
environmentally sensitive areas in Georgia and has raised concerns
about the human rights of local villagers in Turkey. But BP believes
that all these problems have been settled and says the pipeline’s
advantage is that it avoids taking more oil tankers from the Black
Sea through the Bosporus strait. It describes BTC as the largest
energy project in the world.
Indeed, the pipeline will transport a million barrels of oil a day,
enough to turn impoverished Azerbaijan into a wealthy country almost
overnight. By 2007 it will have an income of $7bn a year, even if oil
falls back from its current price of almost $50 a barrel to a modest
$25 a barrel. But despite predictions of untold wealth, there are
concerns over whether the oil that will keep the UK running will be a
blessing or a curse for its country of origin.
Inayat Mehtiyeva, whose shop is a few metres from the nearest oil
lake that is fed by raw sewage from houses further up the hill,
explains that, so far, no benefits can be seen. She says people
rarely pay for the bread from her shop. `There is not much money, we
operate a barter system. We swap things. Some people take bread and
say they will pay later but they never come back. We really depend on
God here.’
Along with 80% of the other residents of Twenty, Mehtiyeva is a
refugee. She has lived there for 12 years after fleeing from her home
in Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave of Azerbaijan on the border with
neighbouring Armenia, during the war between the two countries. UN
agencies say Armenia still occupies 14% of Azerbaijan, although the
Azeri government claims it is 20%.
Mehtiyeva, whose first name means faith, hopes that one day, with her
two sons, she can return home where life was simple but good.
`Perhaps the oil money will help, but I do not know how. I know I
cannot stay here. At the first opportunity, I will flee.’
Hasay Hasanov, a shipyard worker who works next to area Twenty, says
his $100 a month pay is not enough. He is worried that his two
children might catch malaria and wants the old oilfield cleaned up,
but he does not think he will see any benefit from the new oil money.
`What we want is a decent wage – $300 a month – so we can afford more
than just paying the rent and buying food.’
The World Bank’s country manager for Azerbaijan, Ahmed Jehani, is
unsure whether the oil will be `a benefit or a curse’. He is afraid
that other industries will wither away if the country relies on oil
revenue alone. Politicians might become less responsive to the needs
of the people, he says, because they would no longer rely on them for
taxes. Rich resources could also lead to ethnic and other tensions,
especially if the benefits are not shared.
Added to this are doubts about whether democracy in Azerbaijan is
robust following the country’s election in October 2003. President
Ilham Aliyev was voted in after the death of his father Heydar, whose
giant presidential portraits still appear in their thousands all
across the capital.
Furthermore, according to Transparency International’s 2004 index,
Azerbaijan is one of the world’s most corrupt countries. `This is a
major concern of the World Bank,’ says Jehani. `We need to get
accountability in elections, in the assets. There is a deficiency of
justice, access to courts, and lack of general transparency.’
Jehani is hopeful, however. The government has set up an oil fund
which will publish all the details of money coming in and where it is
invested. `This is a shining example of what can be done. Let us hope
that temptations to divert money away from long-term investment do
not prove too strong,’ he says.
Today’s oil boom in Baku is not the first. At the end of the 19th
century, Azerbaijan provided more than half the world’s oil, and 60%
of Britain’s oil. It supplied the cash for some of the most sumptuous
Victorian stately homes in Britain, but left Baku with a legacy of
oil pollution that the Soviet empire added to and left behind.
As Azerbaijan returns to an oil boom, it will again bolster profits
far away, notably those of BP. But the oil from the new fields is
expected to last only until 2020, after which time the country will
produce just enough for the needs of its 8mn people.
Jehani sums up: `It is a question of whether the money generated from
these 15 years of the second oil boom will be invested to turn
Azerbaijan into a modern and wealthy state, or whether it will be an
opportunity wasted.’ – Guardian Newspapers Limited
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress