Author: Kafian Jirair

Turkish Daily News, Turkey
Nov 17 2006

Turkey to light Greek Aegean islands
Friday, November 17, 2006

Greece wants to buy electricity from Turkey because of a supply
shortage on some of its Aegean islands. Turkey will also resume its
importation of Bulgarian electricity, which was halted in 2003

BEGUM GURSOY

ANKARA

Turkey is preparing to export electricity to some Greek islands and
also to resume importing electricity from Bulgaria after a stoppage
lasting almost three years.

Despite the disagreement on the Cyprus issue, Turkey has already
started negotiations for trade in electricity with Greece. The Greek
side is reported to have informed Turkey that there was a supply
shortage in the Greek islands located close to the Turkish coast.

Greece has told Turkey that this need could be met by importing
electricity from the Turkish mainland.

The bilateral talks indicate that the island of Rhodes will have
priority and that other Greek islands lying close to the Turkish
coast will be provided with electricity transmitted from Turkey.

Turkey will become a full member of the Union for the Coordination of
Transmission of Electricity (UCTE) in 2007 and thus will standardize
its electric system with Europe and start trading electricity with
other countries.

Bulgarian electricity to arrive in 2007:

State-owned Turkish Electricity Trading Company (TETAŞ), operating
under the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, will manage the
resumption of electricity imports from Bulgaria.

Turkey imported 4 billion kilowatts of electricity from Bulgaria
between 2000 and 2003 after an intergovernmental agreement signed in
1998. While Turkey was paying 3.7 cents per kilowatt, Turkey halted
the imports on April 21, 2003 on the basis that the Bulgarian side
was not honoring its contractual obligations.

According to the energy deal, the Bulgarian side was to select
Turkish contractors to build its hydroelectric power plant and highway
projects. However, Turkey asserted that the Bulgarian side was not
complying with this commitment.

Top officials from both countries have been reviewing the issue and
trying to find a compromise. The agreement under negotiation calls for
resuming imports of Bulgarian electricity in 2007, yet the two sides
continue to debate the price, with TETAŞ reported to oppose any
wholesale price above 5.7 cents per kilowatt.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s expected membership in UCTE will give it more
options for electricity trading with other countries as Turkey will
be connected to the European electricity transmission system through
Bulgaria and Greece.

Turkey’s electric grid will become harmonized with the European one
so that a supply shortage in Turkey can be met by transmissions from
the European system’s back-up power supply.

UCTE membership will also provide advantages to the private sector,
enabling power generators here to find customers in Europe once the
harmonization is finalized.

Regional electricity trade to develop:

Turkey now has interconnected lines with Azerbaijan, Armenia,
Bulgaria, Romania, Iran, Iraq and Syria. On the other hand, UCTE is
a coordinating body for developing and managing the European electric
transmission system.

This organization now has 23 communication companies as members.

Member countries are Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, the Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark,
Spain, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Macedonia,
the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and the Slovak
Republic.

Apart from these, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia have been connected to
the European system through Gibraltar. Electricity trade with these
countries is expected to develop after Turkey finalizes its technical
harmonization to the UCTE system.

THE RELATION BETWEEN HISTORY AND POLITICS ACCORDING TO HANIOGLU
Sahin Alpay

Zaman, Turkey
Nov 15 2006

No doubt M. Sukru Hanioglu is at the top of the list of historians
illuminating the last period of Ottoman history. Leaving aside the
articles he has written in various academic magazines and books,
a list of the books he has authored is enough in itself to show the
dimensions of his contribution:

"Preparation for a Revolution: The Young Turks, 1902-1908," Oxford
University Press, 2000.

"The Young Turks in Opposition," Oxford University Press, 1995.

"Kendi Mektuplariyle Enver Pasha (Enver Pasha in Light of His Own
Letters)," Der Publications, 1989.

Professor Hanioglu has been a faculty member at Princeton University,
one of the U.S.’s most distinguished universities, from the 1990’s to
date, and chairman of the Middle East Research Department for the last
three years. He is a source of pride for Turkey as a social scientist,
not only for being an extremely fastidious researcher and superior
analyst, but also with his intellectual character tied to independent
values and critical method.

His new book is entitled "Osmanli’dan Cumhuriyet’e Zihniyet, Siyaset
ve Tarih (World-view, Politics and History from the Ottomans to the
Republic, Baglam Publications, 2006), and it is comprised of articles
published in Zaman newspaper from the fall of 2002 to the summer
of 2006. I am very happy that a short time after I began writing for
Zaman, I encouraged my old friend Professor Hanioglu to write for Zaman
once every two weeks as well. His Zaman articles, which combine his
broad knowledge of history with an analytical logic, are the most
valuable contribution made in recent years to the understanding of
Turkey’s presence in light of the historical behind-the-scenes reality
of the transitional period from the Ottomans to the Republic.

In regard to the interest shown to these articles, Hanioglu says the
following: "These commentaries that were aimed at bringing different
perspectives to current issues received an unexpected amount of
interest. While messages related to my academic publications generally
don’t reach two-digit numbers, I received close to 50 notes after
each newspaper commentary. I had an opportunity to exchange ideas
with many people, even if it was in a virtual realm." (p. 9)

In this article I want to dwell on his last piece, published in
Zaman in two parts, entitled "History, Politics and the 1915 Tragedy
in Light of the Vote in the French Assembly" (October 26-27), which
was not included in Professor Hanioglu’s book, but which is extremely
worthy of attention. Here Hanioglu interprets the relationship between
history and politics in view of the bill accepted on October 12th by
the French Assembly that makes denial of the "Armenian Genocide" a
crime. He takes this "denial" argument even further: It is impossible
to leave history to historians, and it is inevitable that politics
interpret history. The problem is not with politics’ interpreting
history; it is with imposing your interpretation, as the only truth,
on society and prohibiting debate. (In this respect, Hanioglu reminds
those supporting the thesis, "Let’s leave history to historians,"
that the Turkish Parliament declared May 27th as a "Constitution and
Freedom Holiday" on April 3, 1963, and that it made it a crime to
"insult the memory of Ataturk" on July 25, 1951.)

Hanioglu points out that it is past the time for producing politics
by means of free discussion instead of countering prohibition with
prohibition, when taking up the issue stemming from the question,
"What Happened to the Ottoman Armenians?" In other words, the most
important historian of the Union and Progress period says to stop
curtailing debate by means of Turkish penal code 301 and elsewhere
and, instead, allow for the production of new and result-oriented
politics by means of free historical debate to counter the campaign
for "recognizing genocide" and now "punishment for the denial of
genocide." Actually, this is the task before us.

With this opportunity, I would like to note on the record that I am
one of those eagerly awaiting his book-in-progress on the Committee
for Union and Progress’ reign of power (1908-1918).

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CONGRATULATES
THE NEW SPIRITUAL LEADER OF THE DRUZE

His Holiness Aram I appointed a special delegation headed by the
Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon, Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, to
congratulate the new spiritual leader of the Lebanese Druze community.

The delegation, including V. Rev. Fr. Norayr Ashekian, Rev. Fr. Torkom
Donoyan and Dr. Jean Salmanian, visited the Druze headquarters in
Beirut on November 9. The delegates conveyed His Holiness Aram I’s
congratulation to the newly elected leader of the Druze community,
Judge Sheikh Naim Hassan and his wishes for brotherly love and
cooperation between the different communities in Lebanon.

The two sides discussed the relationship between the Armenian and
Druze communities. Both Sheikh Naim Hassan and the Armenian Primate
stressed the importance of going beyond coexistence to cooperation.

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
Ecumenical activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer
to the web page of the Catholicosate, The
Cilician Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is
located in Antelias, Lebanon.

EU-ARMENIA ACTION PLAN OFFICIALLY ADOPTED

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 14 2006

November 14 the 7th sitting of the Armenia-EU Cooperation Council was
held in Brussels. The Action Plan of Armenia and the European Union
was ratified and came into force during the sitting.

The Armenian delegation was headed by the Armenian Co-Chair of the
Cooperation Council, RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. From
the European Union the sitting was attended by EU Presidency
representatives – Minister of Foreign Trade and Development of
Finland Paola Lehtomaki, German Secretary of State Gunter Glusser,
EU Special Envoy for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby, other European
Commission officials.

The sitting was opened by Paola Lehtomaki, following which RA Foreign
Minister addressed the meeting. The EU Representative highly assessed
the jointly elaborated Armenia-EU Action Plan, emphasizing EU’s
willingness to start accomplishing the provisions of the document.

Latter reference was made to the agenda of the Council. Discussions
focused on political question including domestic reforms and human
rights issues. Views were exchanged on energy issues. The Armenian
side presented the activities in the direction of diversification
of energy sources, particularly the process of construction of the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline.

The sitting was followed by the ceremony of official adoption of the
EU-Armenia Action Plan in the framework of the European Neighborhood
Program. RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and Minister Lehtomaki
signed a corresponding document.

The adoption of the document allows to implement a whole package of
reforms with EU assistance. In the result of the implementation of
the document, Armenia’s social, political and economic systems will
come close to European ones.

The Action Plan attaches particular importance to the economic
cooperation of Armenia and the EU. EU financial assistance will be
expressed in the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument
proposed by the European Commission.

In the evening the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan will
hold the recurrent meeting, featuring the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

MUSEUM HEAD REFUTES TRANSFER OF RAMIL SAFAROV TO AZERBAIJAN

Panorama.am
18:45 13/11/06

Some media outlets, including Armenian TV companies, made reports
according to which Ramil Safarov, who murdered an Armenian officer,
Gurgen Margaryan, in Hungary, later may be transferred to Azerbaijan
to undergo his punishment there. Safarov was sentenced to life
imprisonment by the Hungarian authorities. The reports referred to
Androsh Bragiova, judge of the Hungarian Constitutional Court, who
supposedly said that Safarov may be transferred later.

Haik Demoyan, head of Genocide Museum, who participated in the trial
in Budapest as a representative of the Armenian defense ministry,
refuted such rumors, saying the information was released by the Azeri
media and may possible be misinformation. "We have witnessed Azeri
misinformation during the recent few years," he said.

By not excluding the possibility of transfer, the Hungarian judge may
have been just diplomatic, Demoyan said. He is sure if the transfer
were made, the Armenian parties would have been informed.

DEMOCRATS’ VICTORY IN HOUSE TO PROMOTE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.11.2006 15:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The balance of power shifted in Washington yesterday
as Democrats took control over the House of Representatives, paving
the way for Armenian Caucus Member Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to become
the first female Speaker of the House. Pelosi’s anticipated rise,
coupled with the likelihood of numerous Caucus Democrats picking up
important leadership positions, will expand the scope and influence
of this important body in the next congressional session. As part
of that power shift, House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill) will
pass the Speaker’s gavel to Pelosi, making her the first Armenian
Caucus Member to hold that position. Pelosi has a strong record of
support on Armenian-American issues and has regularly called on the
Administration to properly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. She
is currently a cosponsor of H. Res. 316 – a bill that affirms the
attempted annihilation of the Armenian people as genocide, reports
the Armenian Assembly of America.

MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION TO CONTINUE FINANCING OF ITS PROGRAMS IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 8 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. "Though the Armenian public
negatively related to Richard Hoagland’s candidature, appointed on
the post of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the
U.S. to Armenia, the U.S. Government does not see other candidature
for that post." Anthony Godfrey, the Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. to
Armenia stated about it at the November 8 press conference.

Responding the journalists’ questions, he also stated that during
the current year, the Millennium Challenge American corporation will
continue financing of its programs in Armenia. At the same time,
A.Godfrey mentioned that existence of just management in Armenia is
very important, and Armenia must do its best for the coming elections
are just. To recap, not long ago the Freedom House international
right protection organization called on the Millennium Challenges
corporation to stop showing assistance to a number of countries,
including Armenia as well, because of not securing protection of
political rights and civil freedoms.

Alex Russin, the Chairman of the Millennium Challenge corporation in
Armenia, touching upon this issue as well, mentioned that he hopes
that the 2007 forthcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia will
prove correctness of the corporation’s solution about financing of
Armenia, and owing to it, the cooperation will continue. At the same
time he emphasized that the corporation is not based on separate
facts that’s why injustice of elections may not become a reason for
stopping financing.

BAGHDASAROV IS LOYAL TO SERGE SARGSYAN

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 8 2006

In almost every country in the world rich businessmen back one
government official or another, and Armenia, which is building
capitalism, cannot be an exception. Mikhail Baghdasarov, one of the
big businessmen of Armenia stated this idea on November 7, the day
of the Bolshevist revolution.

"Capitalism supposes that big businessmen, as well as all the
ordinary voters have their opinion and support someone. For instance,
from America to Angola, there are big companies which support the
government, the president. This is widely known," says Baghdasarov.

Also it is known that Mikhail Baghdasarov’s name is directly related
to Serge Sargsyan’s name. Therefore, the society wants to know what
Mikhail Baghdasarov and generally all the businessmen surrounding
the defense minister would be doing if Serge Sargsyan suddenly has
to quit power.

"You should ask those people. You are asking me instead of everyone.

I can say that there were cases when Serge Sargsyan was having hard
times, and we stayed as we were. There is a certain group who first
support one, then they support the other. Everyone has their policy,
some people are loyal to someone, others go to the one who is standing
in the sun," says Mikhail Baghdasarov. In this case it is interesting
why this businessman, who is so close to Serge Sargsyan, did not
enter the Republican Party with the defense minister in July 2006.

"First of all, every businessman has their opinion. Some people want
to become engaged in politics, I have stated for a number of times
that I do not want to be in politics," says Mikhail Baghdasarov. He
says he is a citizen of Russia and could not join the Republican
Party. Besides, Mikhail Baghdasarov has another reason not to become
engaged in politics. The reason is that in 2003 he became engaged in
politics. Mikhail Baghdasarov, who is a citizen of Russia, supported
the Union of Women of Armenia. This union got 2.5 percent votes
in the election of 2003. Baghdasarov was disappointed. Not about
2.5 percent but that an unknown party, the unknown members of this
political party, the Women of Armenia, got so many votes. This helped
Baghdasarov understand the political sphere of Armenia and made him
decide not to take part in the processes of this sphere where unknown
women can get a rating equal to that of well-known male figures.

"In the previous election I understood what Armenian politics is.

With a weak team we got 2.7 percent and I understood what it is. At
the same time, I saw what our women are like, and I decided that
our women will hardly enter the Armenian parliament and therefore I
disagree with them, those men," says Mikhail Baghdasarov.

Baghdasarov says in the previous election they supported a political
force, understood the situation and now they think that no force
needs their support.

ARMENIA GIVES PRELIMINARY POSITIVE REPLY TO PROPOSAL OF POLAND

Panorama.am
18:36 07/11/06

The preliminary reply of Armenia to the proposal of Poland to represent
the interests of Armenia in Turkey and Turkish interests in Armenia
is positive, Vardan Oskanyan, Armenian foreign minister told a news
conference today.

In his words, the suggestion was made two months ago at the level of
foreign ministries. Turkey has given no response to the suggestion
of Poland.

"ARMENTEL" IS OFFICIALLY NOT SOLD

A1+
[05:11 pm] 01 November, 2006

The RA Ministry of Transport and Communication has not received a
corresponding document from Greek company OTE about the sale of 90%
of the shares of "ArmenTel", press secretary of the Ministry Tamara
Ghalechyan informed.

Let us remind you that on October 12 RA Minister of Transport and
Communication Andranik Manoukyan informed that OTE will probably
represent the corresponding documents in mid October. According to
him, the Greek company must officially inform about the results of
the competition.

It is noteworthy that the OTE declared an auction in order to sell
90% of the share of "ArmenTel". 16 companies have participated
in the auction. The companies which reached the second phase are:
"Vympelcom" and MTC from Russia, ETISALAT (Emirates Telecommunications
Corporation/Istithmar ETV -Emergent Telecom Ventures) and VTEL
Holdings/Knightsbridge Associates.