Author: Kajoyan Gevork

BAKU BICKERING: AZERI OPPOSITIONISTS IN CLOSE RELATIONS WITH TURKEY WANT ALIYEV RESIGNATION
By Aris Ghazinyan

ArmeniaNow
10.01.12 | 16:08

Photo: Via Facebook

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mrs. Mehriban
Aliyeva

Last weekend a session of Public Chamber civil movement was held
in Baku in the headquarters of Musavat oppositional political party
which hosted the round-table discussion.

As Musavat party leader Isa Gambar stated, the priority of 2012 will be
to seek the resignation of President Ilham Aliyev. Other participating
politicians also called for off-year presidential elections, among
them Ari Karimli leading the Popular Front of Azerbaijan party.

The two political parties (Musavat and Popular Front of Azerbaijan)
are the closest to Turkey among political organizations of Azerbaijan.

Some analysts claim Azerbaijan is experiencing consolidation of
political forces directed against the Aliyev clan, and that this
movement is initiated by Turkey. In this case, Aliyev might be forced
to resort to “non-standard measures”, among them a possible initiation
of a new wave of tensions in the Karabakh conflict zone.

Late last year, Baku-based Poligon publication reported with reference
to sources among Turkey’s ruling top that Turkish premier Recep Tayyip
Erdogan “decided to support the Azeri opposition”. Tensions between
Turkey and Israel at a time when the Azeri elite is strengthening
ties with Israel” was pointed to as one of the reasons for Turkey’s
potential pressure on the Aliyev clan.

Arif Yunus, head of Azeri Institute of Peace and Democracy’s Department
of Conflict and Migration Studies, says: “There is a certain degree of
exaggeration here, however it’s a common knowledge that Ilham Aliyev
and Recep Tayyip Erdogan are not in best and warmest relations with
each other, as they themselves publicly admit.”

Yunus says that there are controversies and unresolved issues, which
are sure to annoy Ankara. “One such example is the unilateral visa
regime, when the Azeri authorities are unwilling to do as the Turkish
authorities did around one and a half a year ago, when they exempted
Azeri citizens from entry visa requirement.”

Another factor that’s currently irritating Ankara is that the
ruling Aliyev clan of Azerbaijan does not declare Kurdistan Workers’
Party as a terrorist organization. “Moreover, certain units of it
are functioning in Azerbaijan, and that’s also a common knowledge,”
says Yunus.

At the same time he says with certainty that Azerbaijan will be
challenged by a spontaneous outburst “like in Egypt, Tunisia and even
Libya, if nothing changes in the country.”

Some analysts view the activities of such politicians as Isa Gambar
and Ali Karimli in the context of collusion with Turkey to force
Ilham Aliyev’s resignation.

At the same time analysts say that the president’s position now is
rather shaky and he is “surrounded by a mighty camp”. It’s about
the confrontation between the “Aliyev” and “Pasha” clans, and the
first lady of the country Mehriban Aliyeva is a representative of the
“Pasha clan” at that.

It is under her influence that such universally recognized “soldiers of
the Aliyev clan” were accused of corruption and arrested as healthcare
and economy ministers of Azerbaijan (the economy minister is also
one of the founders of the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan party).

Heydar Aliyev’s younger brother, academician MP Jalal Aliyev’s position
is noteworthy in this connection, who publicly refused to participate
in parliament sessions.

Hence, currently neither the representatives of his own clan, nor
brother Turkey, nor the opposition are happy with the president. If
for an extended period of time the foundation of his “lasting power”
were high oil prices, with the strengthening of Pasha clan that
resource can melt away in no time.

The overall situation might force Aliyev’s hand to use the Karabakh
issue as one of the possible means to stabilize his influence.

EXPERT: ANC WON’T GATHER VAST MASSES FOR FEBRUARY RALLY

PanARMENIAN.Net
January 10, 2012 – 16:32 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Caucasus Institute Director is sceptical over
the possibility for Armenian National Congress (ANC) to gather vast
masses for rallies in February, there being no political or social
preconditions to it.

According to Alexander Iskandaryan, with rallies as its main political
tool in parliamentary race, ANC will be attempting to boost supporters’
activity right before the elections.

“Whether ANC will succeed in increasing the number of its supporters
to gain electoral votes, will depend on social and economic situation
in the country,” the expert noted.

During November 25 demonstration in Yerevan, ANC leader Levon
Ter-Petrossian named February 2012 as the next rally date.

TATUL MANASERYAN: OLIGARCHIES BOOST INFLATION

Panorama.am
10/01/2012

We had unprecedented high inflation in 2010, while in 2011 we
managed to restrain inflation to some extent, mainly through flexible
instruments of monetary and credit policy, economist, head of the
Alternative Research Center Tatul Manaseryan told a Panorama.am
reporter.

Nevertheless, according to him, measures implemented by CBA are not
sufficient to restrain inflation, with phenomena boosting inflation
existing in Armenia.

Manaseryan particularly stressed existence of oligarchies in the
agricultural goods market.

In 2012 the inflation rate will be conditioned by two circumstances,
said the expert. First, global market trends, where food prices are
expected to rise. However, the economist said, in order to restrain
inflation, we must boost production of 10 first-necessity goods
in Armenia.

Armenia’s economy will face serious challenges in 2012, so we must
do our best to keep the positive things we achieved in our economy
in past years and to make them regular, Manaseryan stressed.

“If we keep the current economic growth rate and take all necessary
measures, we can expect serious results after 2013,” he said.

TURKEY WILL CONTINUE TO IMPOSE ITS 8-POINT SANCTIONS AGAINST FRANCE – TURKISH PM

News from Armenia – NEWS.am
January 10, 2012 | 13:13

During a joint press conference with his Norwegian counterpart Jens
Stoltenberg, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan reflected on regional
issues, with the French National Assembly’s passing of the bill that
criminalizes the denial of genocides, including the Armenian Genocide.

Turkey’s PM noted that the Armenian bill was expected to enter the
French Senate on January 23. “Turkey will continue to impose its
eight-point sanctions against France. In addition, there is a reaction
against the bill from within France. Collaborating with these circles,
we will explain to Sarkozy’s authorities that these problems must
be solved by the assistance of historians,” Erdogan said, Turkish
Dunyabulteni website informs.

In the Turkish PM’s words, the companies which have made investments
in Turkey are concerned over this matter, too. “We will meet with
French businessmen and remind the Senate about our sensitivity toward
this problem. This is our shared problem. If the process continues,
it could cause serious problems,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan added.

To note, the French National Assembly passed, on December 22, the
bill that criminalizes the denial of genocides. But the bill still
needs to be approved by the French Senate to become a law. The bill
sets a one-year prison sentence plus a 45-thousand-Euro fine for
anyone who denies genocides. And in reprisal to the passage of this
bill, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Turkey’s eight-point
sanctions against France. Also, Erdogan accused French President
Nicolas Sarkozy of “provoking Islamophobia” for election purposes,
and accused France of committing genocide against the Algerians.

TERT.AM WESTERN ARMENIAN CELEBRATES FIRST YEAR ONLINE

Tert.am
10.01.12

On January 10, 2011, Tert.am launched a webpage in Western Armenian.

Within a short period, the new section attracted a broad circle of
readers from different corners of the world. The webpage is mostly
visited by the Armenians in Turkey, the United States and Lebanon.

It is also widely popular in Canada, Syria, France, Greece, Arabian
Gulf countries, Germany, Jordan, Belgium, Sweden, Cyprus, Russia,
Australia, Kuwait, the Netherlands and Israel.

Our Western Armenian page can be said to have achieved its purpose,
by fostering the Armenia-Diaspora ties still further.

We are thankful to our readers who, apart from following our news, also
share them in social networks, making the western Armenian information
available to more people, especially our compatriots in the Diaspora.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS AT HRANT DINK’S MURDER TRIAL

News from Armenia – NEWS.am
January 10, 2012 | 16:55

ISTANBUL. – During the next court hearing into the murder of Hrant
Dink-the founder and former chief editor of Istanbul’s Agos Armenian
weekly, who was killed in 2007-the Dink family’s attorney, Fethiye
Cetin, informed that, at the moment of Hrant Dink’s murder, five
unidentified people in the vicinity of the incident were in contact
with the killers.

Cetin noted they examined the recordings of the telephone conversations
that were made on the day of the murder and at the vicinity of the
incident, Zaman daily of Turkey informs.

Fethiye Cetin also said they examined the telephone calls that were
made, and the telephone numbers that were dialed, on that day, among
which five persons, or telephone numbers, were in the vicinity of the
murder and they had direct contact with Hrant Dink’s killers. She
also stressed that fourteen others, who were not in the vicinity,
again were in telephone contact with the defendants.

To note, Turkey’s telecommunication department for a long time was
refusing to submit to the court the list of telephone calls that
were made in the vicinity of Hrant Dink’s murder. And the court had
requested, several times, that the department promptly submit the
recordings of those calls.

TURKISH ENVOY WARNS PARIS

News from Armenia – NEWS.am
January 10, 2012 | 18:37

PARIS. – Turkish Ambassador in France Tahsin Burcuoglu who was recalled
to Ankara after bill penalizing Armenian Genocide denial was approved
by French parliament, returned to Paris to improve contacts until
the measure is debated in Senate.

Burcuoglu said Turkey’s goal is to provide freezing of the proposal
in a short term period adding that it is “senseless, useless and
extremely dangerous,” TRT Russia reported.

Recalling that the bill will be debated on January 23, the Ambassador
said they should not allow holding discussions and consideration of
the bill until January 22.

He also commented on French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s efforts on
spreading the bill throughout Europe.

“It is equal to opening a new front with Turkey. If it happens,
Turkey will respond adequately,” he said.

AZERBAIJAN LAUCHES DIGITAL BROADCASTING IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH
Aynur Mehtiyeva

SIA.az
Jan 9 2012
Azerbaijan

Teleradio Industrial Association of Communication and Information
Technologies Ministry of Azerbaijan has launched a new telestation
to cover northerrn part of Nagorno Karabakh with digital broadcasting.

The Ministry reports that the new station has been created to
provide qualitative broadcasting in Garabagh zone of Azerbaijan ,
in particular its lowland part- Agdam, Barda and Terter regions as
well as north of Nagorno Karabakh.

Such measures are taken within restoration of communication on
Azerbaijan’s territories occupied by Armenia after their liberation.

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

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Watch our latest videos on YouTube here:

“WE SHOULD ASSESS THE PAST YEAR AND PLAN 2012
ACCORDINGLY IN ORDER TO ENCOUNTER ALL CHALLENGES AS A PEOPLE”
Declared Aram I on New Year’s Day

On January 1 2012, after the Liturgy, His Holiness Aram I greeted the
faithful in the Main Hall of his Residence. In his message, he said, “Let us
assess the past year, learn from our failures and plan the next steps for
community building. ” He then continued, we could implement our plans only
through deep faith and strong commitment.”

In the end, the Catholicos identified five challenges to be met in 2012. “a)
Renewal of spiritual life, b) Stronger cooperaption between Armenia and
Diaspora, c) contribute to the prosperity of Armenia and Karabagh, d)
Capacity building and reorganizing the Diaspora, e) a unified plan of action
to pursue the Armenian Cause.

DENIAL OF GENOCIDE TO BE CRIMINALIZED IN ENTIRE EU

BIAnet.org
Jan 10 2012
Turkey

According to the EU states’ Joint Framework Decision on the denial
of genocide, the denial of the Armenian genocide can be considered
a crime in 26 countries. French President Sarkozy wants the decision
to be valid in the whole EU.

Ankara – Paris – BÄ°A News Center10 January 2012, Tuesday French
President Nicolas Sarkozy pushes for a genocide denial law to be
valid in the whole European Union (EU). His efforts come after the
French Parliament passed a law on 22 December 2011 that foresees
legal punishment for the denial of the Armenian genocide.

The draft law was brought to the agenda of the French Senate and
is being debated today (9 January) at the Presidency Council of the
Senate. The draft will probably be presented to the Senate between
23 and 31 January. As reported by the Hurriyet newspaper, Sarkozy
signed a decision that might also affect Turkey’s EU accession process.

The EU Joint Framework Decision was a matter of debate since 2001and
approved on 19 April 2007 under German EU Presidency. It intends to
fight racism, xenophobia and genocide.

In other words, the recent decision taken in France does not only
concern the country but might become valid for all 26 EU member
states. The decision entitles the courts of the EU states to decide
whether the act of genocide happened or not. Should the courts approve
the provision, anybody who denies the genocide can be sentenced to
imprisonment of up to three years.

French bureaucrats and diplomats in Brussels took efforts at the
EU Commission and the EU Council that the Framework Decision should
also cover the denial of the Armenian Genocide once the draft bill
will have been approved by the French Senate. This means that the
denial of genocide within the EU would be punished with prison terms
of between one and three years.

The Framework Decision also stipulates regulations that include the
state’s struggle against racism and the punishment of the denial of
the holocaust.

What happened after the law was approved?

* The parliamentary approval of the law on the denial of the Armenian
genocide caused diplomatic tensions between France and Turkey.

* Representatives of the Association of Turkish Industrialists
and Business People (TUÄ°SAD) and the Turkish Union of Chambers
and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) went to Paris to prevent the draft
bill from passing into law. They warned that the draft might have
a negative influence on the anticipated purchase of a considerable
number of Airbus planes by Turkish Airlines and on energy tenders
worth $ 100 billion for the coming ten years.

* Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his dissent, “It was
genocide what the French did in Algeria. If Sarkozy does not know that,
he should go and ask his father Pal Sarkozy about it”.

* Thereupon, Algerian President Ahmet Uyahya responded, “The Turks
brought the French to Algeria for three days. Don’t take advantage
of our bloodshed”.

* On 23 December, right after the draft bill had been approved by
the French Parliament, Turkish Ambassador to France Tahsin Burcuoglu
was being called to Ankara. However, Burcuoglu returned to France
to resume work on 8 January. The declared reason for his return was
“Taking efforts to prevent the draft bill from passing through Senate”.

* It was announced that French companies or companies with French
partners might not be entitled to participate in the air defence
system tender of the Undersecretariat of Defence Industries (SSM)
worth $ 4 billion.

France had previously recognized the genocide of Armenians and
Switzerland and Slovakia had approved of legal punishment for the
denial of genocide.

On 16 December 2003, Switzerland recognized the Armenian genocide in
a parliament decision. The related decision is still pending in the
senate. Later on, a provision foreseeing monetary fines and prison
terms for the denial of genocide was added to the regulations.

Switzerland was the first country to implement such a provision.

Turkey released a protest note and condemned the decision. The
regulation was put in order within the process despite the fact that
diplomatic relations between Turkey and Switzerland were shaken.

(IC/VK)

These are the countries which recognized the Armenian genocide: Uruguay
(1965), Greek Cypriot Administration (1982), Argentina (1993), Russia
(1995), Canada (1996), Greece (1996), Lebanon (1997), Belgium (1998),
France(2001), Sweden (2000), Italy (2000), Switzerland (2003),
Slovakia (2004), the Netherlands (2004), Poland (2005), Germany
(2005), Venezuela (2005), Litvanya (2005), Chile (2007).