Author: Kajoyan Gevork

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Oct 28 2011

US pledges to deliver Predators, Cobras to Turkey by end of year

Friday, October 28, 2011
SEVÄ°L KÃ`Ã?Ã`KKOÅ?UM
ANKARA ` Hürriyet Daily News

The U.S. pledged to deliver three Cobra helicopters and several
Predator surveillance aircraft to Turkey by the end of the year to aid
in the fight against terrorism as two police officers were killed by
suspected militants in the southern province of Osmaniye on Oct. 28.

A senior delegation from the U.S. led by Assistant Secretary of the
Department of Defense Alexander Vershbow visited Ankara on Oct. 27 and
held talks with Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu. They discussed a
list of measures against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)
that Turkey had given the U.S.

The U.S. officials said Washington would provide Turkey with three
Cobra helicopters, to be dispatched from U.S. forces in Afghanistan,
stressing that the administration had won a preliminary consent from
the U.S. Congress, a senior Turkish diplomat told the Hürriyet Daily
News.

The two police officers killed Oct. 28, Mehmet Ali Ã`nal and Vahap
Alagöz, were traffic officers reportedly answering a fake call about a
traffic accident when a group of PKK militants attacked them. Osmaniye
Gov. Celalettin Cerrah said one PKK militant was killed in the clash
and operations were underway to capture the other attackers.

Complicated procedure

Under U.S. law, the administration must provide 15 days’ formal notice
to Congress before going ahead with a transfer like the Cobra deal
with Turkey. The Turkish diplomat said Washington was planning to
follow the normal procedures, which could result in a short delay in
the transfer to early 2012.

On the issue of Predator drones, the U.S. officials promised to rebase
several aircraft to the Ä°ncirlik Air Base from Iraq as its forces are
pulling out, the diplomat said, adding that the number was not clear.
He said Turkey still wanted to buy its own Predators from the United
States but that the purchase would require a complicated approval
process in Congress, posing political risks at a time when Turkey
relations with Israel are on the rocks.

The transfer of U.S. military equipment was part of a list of demands
that Turkey conveyed to the U.S. when Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
ErdoÄ?an visited New York in September and held talks with President
Barack Obama.

Following the deadly PKK attacks in Ã?ukurca, `Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton and Foreign Minister DavutoÄ?lu agreed to work to
improve counter-terrorism efforts and President Barack Obama told
Prime Minister ErdoÄ?an that he would send a team to Turkey to carry
out the work,’ a U.S. Embassy statement said.

In a related development, Turkey’s National Security Council (MGK) has
warned that countries who shelter and encourage PKK militants will be
considered as sharing responsibility for the harm caused by terrorism,
in a statement issued late Oct. 27 after its routine bimonthly
meeting.

The MGK also urged friendly countries and allies `to prevent
activities of the terrorist organization and its supporters on their
soil, take the necessary measures to cut off the terrorists’ financial
channels and extend efficient support to Turkey’s struggle against
terrorism.’

The MGK asserted Turkey’s commitment to cooperate with Iraq and
underlined Ankara’s determination and expectations for the eradication
of PKK bases in northern Iraq.

Meanwhile, ErdoÄ?an met behind closed doors with Iraqi Vice President
Tareq Hashimi on Oct. 28, after which he held an unscheduled talk with
Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Ã-zel.

Friday, October 28, 2011

CLINTON TO DELIVER REMARKS AT AMERICAN-TURKISH COUNCIL

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 29, 2011 – 10:52 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On October 31, 2011, U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Rodham Clinton will deliver remarks at the opening dinner of
the 2011 Annual Conference on U.S.-Turkey Relations, hosted by the
American-Turkish Council.

The event will be held at the Washington Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the
State Department said.

The theme of the 30th Annual Conference is “Honoring the Past, Building
for the Future.” The conference is the largest annual gathering
of public officials and private business people dedicated to the
promotion of a strong U.S.-Turkey relationship. The American-Turkish
Council expects several hundred Turkish and American government,
business and military leaders will attend.

In addition to Secretary Clinton, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali
Babacan, and Minister of National Defense Ismet Yilmaz will deliver
remarks.

EXPERT: ARMENIA’S COMPLEMENTARY POLICY EXHAUSTED

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 29, 2011 – 13:38 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia should be deeper engaged in integration
processes in the post soviet area, head of Eurasian Integration
NGO said.

“We see our future in the Eurasian Economic Community,” Babken
Harutyunyan told a press conference in Yerevan.

The complementary policy has already been exhausted, according to him.

“Armenia must be active and must not fear partial loss of sovereignty,”
he said, bringing European Union countries as an example.

“Eurasian integration doesn’t imply severing ties with the EU or U.S.,”
Harutyunyan said.

YERKIR: A FEW SCENARIOS OVER YEREVAN MAYOR’S POSITION

Tert.am
11:23 29.10.11

The paper claims that following the resignation of Yerevan Mayor
Karen Karapetyan the ruling Republican Party of Armenia is currently
discussing a few scenarios for the mayoral position.

Citing its source in the party, the paper claims that the most
probable scenario is that an acting mayor will be appointed till May
next year when together with parliamentary elections early Elders
Council elections will be held.

Further, it says that there a few candidates to the mayoral position,
but First Yerevan Deputy Mayor Taron Margaryan has most of the chances.

The paper further says that Gagik Melikyan from the ruling party
denied reports of holding early Elders Council elections in May.

ANYTHING FOR HAI-TAHD: FROM PICKING UP THE TRASH TO RUNNING THE CAUSE OF A NATION
By Pattyl Aposhian-Kasparian

asbarez
Friday, October 28th, 2011

At the ANC office, volunteers working on preparations

How broken is Washington? Thanks to the enormous bureaucracy,
congressional paralysis, systemic corruption with lobbyists spending
billions of dollars every year and disintegrating media-we are left
to our own resources at best.

But when our resources include true grassroots, there’s nothing that
can stop us from pursuing our Cause.

With 30 days left to the ANC WR Banquet and Conference weekend (after
Thanksgiving Day), all hands are on deck.

Two past and two current banquet chairwomen, ANC WR Board Members,
Central Committee representative, Editor of Asbarez, Publisher of The
California Courier, banquet committee members, interns and employees
stuffed more than 1,500 invitations in less than two hours while in
meeting mode. Now, that’s grassroots!

Sitting on the floor labeling invitations, I was overwhelmed with the
passion surrounding me. With a smile and childish tone, I started
teasing the professionals stuffing, sealing and labeling banquet
invitations with the same zeal and energy as a five year old mailing
out birthday invitations.

“Can you believe the things we do for the ANC?” I joked. “Couldn’t
we hire this out?”

I was reminded of an article I read years ago where Jack Lindquist, a
Disney executive and legend said, “At Disney, Everyone Picks up Trash!

Of course, there are wonderful cast members assigned to emptying trash
receptacles and handling sweeper pans. But no cast member, whether
a Jungle Cruise skipper or an executive vice president should walk
by a leftover napkin, a park map, or an empty water bottle and not
pick it up.”

I can’t think of any other organization strong enough and passionate
enough to collect the best of the best around its cause and take
ownership of any project-from scheduling the extraordinary speakers
for the conference to editing the Year in Review Video for the banquet
to stuffing envelopes.

If this doesn’t serve as a strong testament to the power of the
Armenian National Committee, see for yourself. Reserve your seat now
for the conference and annual banquet.

Be a part of the ANC WR Grassroots Weekend and spend your Thanksgiving
weekend with your ANCA family.

LES FRERES ARMAN ET ARDAVAZD KARAMIAN ONT ARRETE LEUR CARRIERE PROFESSIONNELLE
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

armenews.com
samedi 29 octobre 2011

FOOTBALL

Les frères jumeaux du football armenien, les internationaux Arman
et Ardavazd Karamian (32 ans) ont, selon le site roumain ziartop.ro
abandonne le football au profit des affaires. L’ancien selectionneur
de l’equipe d’Armenie, le Roumain Mikhaïl Stoïtska avait invite les
frères Karamian pour jouer a ” Mioveni “. Mais ces derniers ont refuse
l’offre en affirmant qu’ils avaient arrete leur carrière sportive
pour s’occuper du business. Durant leur carrière de footballeurs
professionnels, les frères Arman et Ardavazd Karamian ont joue a
” Arabkir ” Erevan, ” Guiliguia ” Erevan, ” Panakhaïk ” (Grèce),
” Arsenal ” (Ukraine), ainsi qu’aux clubs roumains de ” Rapid “,
” Timisoara ” et ” Steaoa “. Les deux frères comptent ensemble 100
selections au sein de l’equipe d’Armenie.

MEDAILLE ” BOGHOS NOUBAR ” POUR DIDIER PARAKIAN
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

armenews.com
samedi 29 octobre 2011

COMMUNAUTE-MARSEILLE

Mercredi 26 octobre a Erevan, Didier Parakian, Adjoint au Maire de
Marseille et president-delegue de l’association ” Marseille-Armenie ”
etait decore par la Ministre de la Diaspora Hranouche Hagopian de la
medaille ” Boghos Noubar “. En presence de S.E. Vicken Tchitetchian,
Ambassadeur d’Armenie en France et d’un nombre important de
personnalites, Didier Parakian etait ainsi honore par la medaille ”
Boghos Noubar ” a l’occasion du 20ième anniversaire de l’Independance,
pour ” services envers l’Armenie et la communaute armenienne de France
“. Hranouche Hagopian a egalement felicite et remercie Didier Parakian
pour son travail et son engagement pour le developpement des liens
entre la diaspora et l’Armenie ainsi que ses actions d’aide envers
l’Armenie. ” C’est pour nous un grand honneur d’avoir un armenien
tel que Didier Parakian qui aime l’Armenie et le monde armenien
” dit dans son discours Vicken Tchitetchian. ” Pour atteindre le
bonheur supreme, il faut venir au minimum sept fois en Armenie et
en general une fois par an. J’en suis deja a mon septième sejour
en Armenie ! L’an dernier j’ai baptise mon fils Sevan au lac Sevan,
j’avais des larmes de joies qui coulaient dans mon coeur. Aujourd’hui
c’est une grande fierte de recevoir cette medaille ” Boghos Noubar
” car la personnalite de Boghos Noubar est pour moi exemplaire ” dit
Didier Parakian visiblement très emu. Didier Parakian etait en Armenie,
delegue par la ville de Marseille pour la representer a l’Assemblee
generale de l’Association Internationale des Maires Francophones
(AIMF).

Cette annee, Didier Parakian a envoye plusieurs containers charges de
materiel medical en Armenie, issus des hôpitaux publics de Marseille.

Dans la region de Kegharkounik il offrit grâce a un financement
des centaines d’examens de mammographie. Enfin, l’~Rete dernier
il participa par une aide a la renovation de l’ecole du village de
Davidachen dans la region de Talin.

Krikor Amirzayan

Hranouche Hagopian decore Didier Parakian Didier Parakian honore par
la medaille “Boghos Noubar”

ARMENIE : 5000 MANIFESTANTS EXIGENT LA DEMISSION DU PRESIDENT
Stephane ©armenews.com

armenews.com
samedi 29 octobre 2011

ARMENIE

Près de 5000 opposants armeniens se sont rassembles vendredi a Erevan.

Ils demandent la demission du president armenien, Serge Sarkissian.

” Notre lutte entre dans une nouvelle phase, une phase pre- electorale
“, a lance devant la foule Levon Ter-Petrossian, ex- president armenien
et candidat malheureux a la presidentielle de 2008.

” Si nous n’arrivons pas a obtenir la demission de Serge Sarkissian,
alors nous devons nous assurer assez de sièges dans le parlement
afin de lancer une procedure de destitution a son encontre “,
a-t-il souligne.

Après plusieurs manifestations de l’opposition au cours des derniers
mois, le president Sarkissian a pris contact fin avril avec des
opposants et leur a propose de cooperer avec les autorites. Ces
dernières avaient alors autorise pour la première fois depuis 2008
un rassemblement sur la place de la Liberte dans le centre d’Erevan.

Presidentielle en 2013

En mai, M. Sarkissian a egalement gracie plusieurs opposants condamnes
pour trouble a l’ordre public après de violentes manifestations
organisees pour contester les resultats de l’election presidentielle
de fevrier 2008, qui avaient fait 10 morts.

Mais les negociations entre l’opposition et les autorites ont ete
suspendues après l’arrestation en août d’un opposant suite a un
affrontement avec des policiers.

Les prochaines elections parlementaires sont attendues en 2012 en
Armenie, suivies de la presidentielle en 2013.

US PLEDGES TO DELIVER PREDATORS, COBRAS TO TURKEY BY END OF YEAR

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Oct 28 2011

The U.S. pledged to deliver three Cobra helicopters and several
Predator surveillance aircraft to Turkey by the end of the year to
aid in the fight against terrorism as two police officers were killed
by suspected militants in the southern province of Osmaniye on Oct. 28.

A senior delegation from the U.S. led by Assistant Secretary of the
Department of Defense Alexander Vershbow visited Ankara on Oct. 27
and held talks with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. They discussed a
list of measures against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)
that Turkey had given the U.S.

The U.S. officials said Washington would provide Turkey with three
Cobra helicopters, to be dispatched from U.S. forces in Afghanistan,
stressing that the administration had won a preliminary consent
from the U.S. Congress, a senior Turkish diplomat told the Hurriyet
Daily News.

The two police officers killed Oct. 28, Mehmet Ali Unal and Vahap
Alagöz, were traffic officers reportedly answering a fake call about a
traffic accident when a group of PKK militants attacked them. Osmaniye
Gov. Celalettin Cerrah said one PKK militant was killed in the clash
and operations were underway to capture the other attackers.

Complicated procedure

Under U.S. law, the administration must provide 15 days’ formal notice
to Congress before going ahead with a transfer like the Cobra deal
with Turkey. The Turkish diplomat said Washington was planning to
follow the normal procedures, which could result in a short delay in
the transfer to early 2012.

On the issue of Predator drones, the U.S. officials promised to rebase
several aircraft to the Ä°ncirlik Air Base from Iraq as its forces are
pulling out, the diplomat said, adding that the number was not clear.

He said Turkey still wanted to buy its own Predators from the United
States but that the purchase would require a complicated approval
process in Congress, posing political risks at a time when Turkey
relations with Israel are on the rocks.

The transfer of U.S. military equipment was part of a list of demands
that Turkey conveyed to the U.S. when Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan visited New York in September and held talks with President
Barack Obama.

Following the deadly PKK attacks in Cukurca, “Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton and Foreign Minister Davutoglu agreed to work to
improve counter-terrorism efforts and President Barack Obama told
Prime Minister Erdogan that he would send a team to Turkey to carry
out the work,” a U.S. Embassy statement said.

In a related development, Turkey’s National Security Council (MGK) has
warned that countries who shelter and encourage PKK militants will be
considered as sharing responsibility for the harm caused by terrorism,
in a statement issued late Oct. 27 after its routine bimonthly meeting.

The MGK also urged friendly countries and allies “to prevent activities
of the terrorist organization and its supporters on their soil, take
the necessary measures to cut off the terrorists’ financial channels
and extend efficient support to Turkey’s struggle against terrorism.”

The MGK asserted Turkey’s commitment to cooperate with Iraq and
underlined Ankara’s determination and expectations for the eradication
of PKK bases in northern Iraq.

Meanwhile, Erdogan met behind closed doors with Iraqi Vice President
Tareq Hashimi on Oct. 28, after which he held an unscheduled talk
with Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Ozel.

Friday, October 28, 2011

THE MOTHER OF ALL PROBLEMS

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Oct 28 2011

Are you following the organizational mess surrounding the earthquake
in Van? Those coordination failures highlight Turkey’s underlying
problems. What, really, is the mother of all problems in Turkey? The
Kurdish issue comes to mind, doesn’t it? Or the Armenian question,
perhaps? I don’t think that these 19th century leftovers will
challenge Turkey in the first half of the 21st century. The challenge
is the economy. Let me explain: The challenge lies in the country’s
institutional capacity in preparing the grounds for a new beginning.

Turkey will either rise to be a high-income country or get trapped in
its current middle-income state. But all reforms that can contribute
to the former outcome have been postponed these past 10 years. Not
ideal for a new beginning.

We managed to change the structure of our economy in the past
30-something years. Turkey has transformed itself from an agrarian
society into a mid-tech industrial economy. The customs union agreement
and relative economic and political stability have contributed to the
increase in urbanization rate to its current 75 percent level. But
Turkey’s transformation failed to enrich and empower the population
of the country as a whole. We cannot solve our 19th century problems
without empowering the population.

Take a look at the figures of the 20 largest economies in the world.

Turkey was 25th in 1980. We rank 17th today, right above Indonesia, the
second Muslim-majority country on the list. The political leadership
is now aiming to become the 10th largest in 2023, which is easier
said than done. Turkey enjoys the cushion of a large domestic economy
in these times of crisis, but qualitative indicators are pointing
towards the need for structural reforms.

Currently, output per worker in Turkey is about a third of that
in developed countries. It is definitely five times larger when
compared to China and India, but we still need a productivity
boost. Up until now, productivity growth has largely been coming
from internal migrations that speed up the process of reallocation of
resources from low to high productivity activities, more specifically
from agriculture to services and industry. It is time to focus on
intra-sector productivity. And that is the hard part. Rapid growth
is not possible from here on without structural reform.

Looking at age, the young population is out there with an average
age of 28.5. That’s younger than China’s average of 35.5. Average
schooling is around six years in Turkey, one the lowest in the list of
the first 20 largest economies of the world. That means our population
is young but uneducated. If you compare English proficiency results on
that list, Turkey definitely ranks one of the worst. We can’t speak
English, which means we’re not connected to the world. We also rank
dead bottom in the women’s labor force participation ratio. The ratio
in Turkey is 24.5 percent, far behind Indonesia’s 52 percent.

Young, uneducated, unequal and unconnected: That dismal list spells
out Turkey’s challenge in the 21st century. Is rapid productivity
increase in the face of severe structural limitations doable? Yes,
but it requires our immediate attention. The problem is that our
decision makers are preoccupied with 19th century problems. If they
would focus on the real challenges, perhaps they would understand
that the problems of old are, in reality, non-issues.