Author: Kajoyan Gevork

THE ANATOLIANS ARE COMING

Hurriyet Daily News
Oct 5 2011
Turkey

If you want to get an idea of how much Turkish civil society
has flourished recently, just visit this address on your browser:
It is the website of the “Anatolian Cultures
and Food Festival” that will be held this upcoming weekend in Costa
Mesa, California. Probably the largest nongovernmental “Turkish event”
so far in the United States, it is quite impressive. In a huge area
expected to be visited by tens of thousands, icons of Turkish culture
will be displayed via impressive installations, concerts, conferences
and eateries.

I emphasized the civil society aspect of this big event, for it
is organized by none other than the “Hizmet” (Service) movement,
which is inspired by the teachings of Fethullah Gulen, Turkey’s most
influential spiritual leader. As the promoter of an interpretation
of Islam that is theologically conservative, politically moderate
and culturally tolerant, the Gulen Movement, as it is also sometimes
called, has become gradually global since the early 1990s and has
opened hundreds of schools and other institutions around the world.

I know that the very concept of a “Muslim movement” is toxic to some
ears these days, as any inspiration from Islam is supposed to be
inherently authoritarian, intolerant and even violent. But the Gulen
Movement seems to be the perfect antidote to that misperception. Their
thought excludes the calls for an “Islamic state” and rather seeks
religious freedom under the secular state. Their works focus on not
challenging the West, Israel, or other “infidels,” but rather raising
pious individuals who are hoped to be exemplary figures for Islam. And
they look at other religions not as enemies, but as different shades
of the same truth.

Some of the talks scheduled in the Anatolian Festival underline this
ecumenical vision of the Gulen Movement. One of the titles reads
“Cultural Legacy of Armenians in Anatolia and in the Ottoman Empire.”

Another one is about “The Scriptural Foundations of Muslim-Jewish
Dialogue and Coexistence in Muslim and Jewish Sacred Texts.” I, too,
will give two talks there on the weekend about “the exceptional story
of Turkish Islam” as a part of my three-week-long book tour in the
United States.

This inclusion of the Armenian and Jewish cultures in the “Anatolian”
concept is worth pondering, for it tells something about the cultural
codes of some of the makers of “New Turkey” and how they differ from
the codes of “old” (i.e., Kemalist) Turkey.

In fact, the term “Anatolian” was used as a derogatory term by
the Kemalists for decades. They regarded themselves as enlightened
urbanites, whereas they saw the Anatolians as parochial masses kept
ignorant by religion.

However, the “modernity” of the Kemalists was defined by a zealous
Turkish nationalism, which rested on a nasty history of Turkey’s
“Turkification.” The ethnic cleansing of the Ottoman Armenians
by the secular Young Turks, Ataturk’s “population exchange” with
Greece and the military’s forceful assimilation of the Kurds were
all manifestations of the same monist paradigm.

The Anatolia-based conservatives were partly influenced by this
century-long paradigm, too. But their very cultural conservatism
helped them preserve some “Ottoman” values and helped them grow
more respectful to the non-Turkish cultures of Turkey, ranging from
Armenians to Greeks, or from Jews to Kurds. (That can’t be said for the
whole Islamist movement, unfortunately, for their political reaction
to Israel misleads some of them to anti-Semitism.)

That is why those who believe in pluralism should welcome the coming
of the Ottoman-minded “Anatolians” – and I mean not just to the
Los Angeles area this weekend, but also to the Turkish Republic of
this century.

NOTE: I will be off for the next two weeks. Hope to “see” you again
on Oct. 22.

SPEAKER BERRI: ME WILL NOT WITNESS PEACE, LEBANON ENTITLED TO HANG ON TO RESISTANCE

Ahlul Bayt News Agency

Oct 5 2011
Iran

Lebanese Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri criticized the international
community on its double standards when dealing with the “Israeli”
enemy, and accused it of hidden agendas concerning the Middle East.

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) – Lebanese Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri
criticized the international community on its double standards when
dealing with the “Israeli” enemy, and accused it of hidden agendas
concerning the Middle East.

During his official visit to Armenia, and speaking before the Armenian
parliament, Speaker Berri affirmed, “International decision-makers
are placing Arab regimes in the position of the accused in order to
subject them to their will”.

He further indicated that the decision makers are aiming at weakening
all Arab states, one country at a time.

Referring to the powers that seek to manipulate the democratic
demands of the people for their own interests, Berri stressed that
these powers should be confronted.

Regarding the Palestinian bid for statehood at the UN, Lebanese
Speaker noted that the developments in the region indicate that a
long time will pass before stability is reached.

“The Middle East will not witness peace and the Palestinians will
continue to have the right to keep a comprehensive popular resistance,
as do the Lebanese against “Israeli” violations”, Speaker Berri
emphasized.

He reaffirmed that given the ongoing “Israeli” violations of
international resolutions, Lebanon has the right to hang on to its
resistance.

Moreover, Berri went on to say, “I had previously warned that “Israel”
is seeking to evade its obligations towards fair and comprehensive
peace … and facts have demonstrated that peace that is not based
on justice is doomed to fail”.

On the level of the Lebanese-Armenian ties, Speaker Nabih Berri urged
to enhance the economic and commercial ties between both states,
further praising the good relations between the nations of both
countries.

ARTSAKH WILL SUPPLY ELECTRICITY TO ARMENIA – KARABAKH PM

news.am
Oct 5 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Once several investment programs in the energy sector come
to an end, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; NKR) will commence
supplying electricity to Armenia’s distribution network, NKR PM Ara
Harutyunyan stated in Armenian capital Yerevan on Wednesday.

As per Harutyunyan, Artsakh consumes approximately 240-million-kW/hour
electricity, annually, whose 100 million is produced at Sarsang hydro
power plant (HPP).

Artsakh’s energy development program aims to increase construction
of small HPPs, and, in parallel with these constructions, Sarsang HPP
is being revamped and its energy output will increase by 30 percent.

And after the end of constructions, Nagorno-Karabakh will annually
produce 300-million-kW/hour electricity, which is considerably more
than local demand. And according to NKR PM, surplus electricity will
be supplied to Armenia.

N. ZOHRABYAN DELIVERS REMARKS IN PACE: DENYING OF SELF-DETERMINATION RIGHT IS VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Panorama
Oct 5 2011
Armenia

A draft resolution titled “National sovereignty and statehood in
contemporary international law: the need for clarification” has been
discussed on the 4th of October in PACE session. Naira Zohrabyan,
a member of Armenian delegation to PACE, has told Panorama.am that
the draft resolution authored by German Marina Schuster is completely
unacceptable for Armenia. “It doubts the right to self-determination
as an important norm of international law, and I’ve expressed my
concerns in this respect,” said Mrs. Zohrabyan.

The German MP noted that the criteria for statehood remain a
contentious issue in contemporary international law. The lack of clear
criteria for statehood and for lawful secession has encouraged the
emergence of numerous secessionist movements and thereby threatens
peace, stability and the territorial integrity of existing states,
also in Europe.

“We signify the necessity to preserve peace in Europe, but peace and
welfare must be combined with the human rights protection, which is
a higher value,” stated Armenian MP.

N. Zohrabyan has said that the draft resolution contained many
inaccurate wordings and contradictions, particularly regarding the
right of peoples to self-determination.

“The UN Charter has defined “to develop friendly relations among
nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and
self-determination of peoples and to take other appropriate measures
to strengthen universal peace.”

The UN Charter also says “the right of peoples and nations to
self-determination is a prerequisite to the full enjoyment of all
fundamental human rights.” It means that respect towards the right
to self-determination is a precondition for world peace. Thus, the
denying of self-determination right is violation of human rights,
and the international law,” said the Armenian MP.

ILHAM ALIYEV HAD HIGH-LEVEL MEETING WITH ARMENIAN SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA, THEN MFA BLACKLISTED HIM

Panorama
Oct 5 2011
Armenia

Joseph Simitian, California State Senator of Armenian descent, who
visited Baku a week ago, has been officially banned from entering
Azerbaijan. He has been blacklisted by the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry.

According to Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev,
the Senator has been punished for visiting Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azadlyg reports that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had a
high-level meeting with Joe Simitian a couple of days ago. During the
meeting, Aliyev stressed the development of the bilateral relations and
the necessity of mutual visits for expanding cooperation between the
two states. Moreover, the Azerbaijani President expressed satisfaction
with the delegation’s visit to Azerbaijan, headed by Joe Simitian.

“Azerbaijan’s leadership was well aware that the State Senator is
of Armenian descent and has repeatedly visited NKR. The Azerbaijani
government apparently tried to get propaganda dividends from the State
Senator’s meeting with Ilham Aliyev, but soon they faced the fact that
Simitian visited NKR, and “the spirit of patriotism” awoke in them.

The result was that Azerbaijan once again found itself in a comic
situation,” Azadlyg reported.

D. BABAYAN: AIRPORT OF STEPANAKERT WILL SOON BE READY TO FUNCTION

Panorama
Oct 5 2011
Armenia

“The constructions of the airport are speedy, and I hope that the
airport will soon be ready to function,” said Davit Babayan, the head
of public relations department of NKR President, to Panorama.am making
remarks on the construction of Stepanakert’s airport.

According to the Artsakh official, the runway has been significantly
increased and additional work is being held in this respect.

“The reconstruction process will soon be terminated,” said the
official.

ANKARA DEMENT AVOIR PROPOSE A DAMAS UN MARCHE FAVORISANT LES FRERES
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 5 octobre 2011

Le ministère turc des Affaires etrangères a fermement dementi
vendredi avoir propose aux autorites syriennes de faire entrer les
Frères musulmans au sein du gouvernement en echange de son appui pour
mettre un terme a la contestation, qualifiant ces affirmations de
“propagande”.

“Ces allegations n’ont aucun lien avec la realite”, a affirme le
porte-parole du ministère, Selcuk unal, dans un communique.

“Nous avons constamment suggere a la direction syrienne de lancer les
travaux pour des reformes dans les domaines politique, economique
et social repondant aux revendications legitimes du peuple et fait
savoir que nous etions pret a fournir notre aide dans ce processus”,
a-t-il poursuivi.

“L’objectif a ete la sante et la paix du peuple syrien dans son
ensemble, il n’a jamais ete question de marchandage ou de favoriser un
quelconque groupe politique, ideologique, ethnique ou confessionnel”,
a ajoute M. unal, evoquant de la “propagande”.

Des responsables syriens et des diplomates occidentaux ont recemment
evoque des tractations entre le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, un ancien islamiste, et le president syrien Bachar al-Assad,
au sujet des Frères musulmans, une organisation islamiste interdite
en Syrie.

“Dès le mois de juin, (M.) Erdogan avait invite le president syrien
Bachar al-Assad a inclure au gouvernement un quart et ou tiers de
ministres issus des Frères musulmans en echange d’un engagement de
sa part pour user de toute son influence afin de mettre un terme a
la rebellion qui secouait le pays”, a affirme a l’AFP un diplomate
occidental.

Un responsable syrien proche du dossier a declare que lors d’une visite
a Damas en août, le chef de la dipolomatie turque Ahmet Davutoglu
“avait demande le retour des Frères musulmans en Syrie”, mais avait
essuye un refus de la part d’Assad.

M. Erdogan a annonce le 21 septembre avoir rompu ses contacts avec
le regime de Damas.

“J’ai rompu mes discussions avec l’administration syrienne. Nous
n’aurions jamais souhaite en arriver la mais malheureusement cette
administration nous a pousse a prendre une telle decision”, a-t-il dit.

” SARKOZY VIENDRA-T-IL AVEC AZNAVOUR ? ”
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 5 octobre 2011

Dans un article intitule ” Sarkozy viendra-t-il avec Aznavour ? “,
Haykakan Jamanak se refère a l’agence de presse Reuters qui a fait
savoir que le President de la Republique se rendrait en Armenie le 6
octobre, avant de se rendre a Bakou et a Tbilissi. Une autre agence,
ITAR-TASS a fait savoir que Nicolas Sarkozy serait accompagne, lors
de sa visite en Armenie, par Charles Aznavour. Haykakan Jamanak relève
que, commentant la visite du President francais en Armenie, les experts
en attribuent la motivation aux prochaines elections presidentielles
en France, a la veille desquelles, le chef de l’Etat francais aurait
besoin d’obtenir la sympathie de la communaute armenienne de France. Ce
quotidien cite un article paru dans le quotidien turc ” Hurriyet ”
qui relève que ” le President francais Nicolas Sarkozy s’est lance
dans une offensive, afin de renouer de bonnes relations avec la
communaute armenienne “.

Dans un article intitule ” Le tour est a la France, semble-t-il “,
Azg se felicite de l’activite intense de la France dans la region et
suppose que d’ici la fin de l’annee la Russie cèdera son ” leadership
” dans le règlement du conflit du HK a la France.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

Service de presse

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN – DEUX BANQUES TURQUES ONT REMIS LEURS CONCLUSIONS
Stephane

armenews.com
mercredi 5 octobre 2011

Deux banques turques ont remis leurs conclusions dans le procès
que leur ont intente trois organisations armeniennes d’Amerique
alleguant de la saisie de biens immobiliers par la Turquie au cours
des evenements de 1915, lors des derniers jours de l’Empire Ottoman,
pour demander des dommages et interets. La Banque Centrale de Turquie
et la Banque Ziraat appartenant a l’etat ont remis leurs conclusions
le 19 septembre, tandis que le ministère des affaires etrangères turc,
egalement poursuivi, a refuse de le faire dans ce procès.

“La restitution des biens immobiliers est en droit international la
reponse qui convient pour les demandeurs illegalement expropries de
leurs biens immobiliers”, a declare par courrier electronique Vartkès
Yeghiayan, le defenseur des plaignants, a Hurriyet Daily News.

Les banques soutiennent dans leurs conclusions que la Republique
Turque fondee en 1923 ne peut pas etre tenue responsable des incidents
qui se sont passes au cours de l’epoque ottomane. Les plaignants,
par ailleurs, demandent 64 millions de dollars en indemnites.

“A la place de la restitution des biens immobiliers, les demandeurs
sont fondes a recevoir leur compensation au prix du marche actuel en
plus du cumul du produit de leur loyer raisonnablement evalue”, a dit
Yeghiayan. “Ce procès est egalement important dans le contexte de la
communaute internationale. “Rita Mahtesyan, Anaïs Harutyunyan et Alex
Balakyan ont intente ce procès pour recuperer les biens immobiliers
expropries, d’après leurs allegations, par la Turquie au cours des
evenements de 1915 et dont le produit a ete transfere selon leurs
dires aux deux banques en cause. La propriete qu’ils souhaitent
recuperer inclut egalement la base d’Incirlik utilisee par les USA
dans la province d’Adana de l’est mediterraneen. “Les gouvernements
de la Republique de Turquie beneficie de l’exploitation des biens
immobiliers”, a dit Yeghiayan.

Vercihan Ziflioðlu

ISTANBUL- Hurriyet Daily News

Traduction et commentaire de Gilbert Beguian

L’argument des deux banques, pretextant que la Republique de Turquie
ne peut pas etre tenue responsable d’ “incidents” survenus sous
l’empire ottoman, est faible : le droit a la restitution ou a des
compensations pour les victimes de graves violations des droits de
l’homme est inscrit dans le droit international. Avec le procès des
banques detentrices des indemnites d’assurance sur la vie des victimes
du genocide, avec celui intente contre le musee Paul Getty pour la
restitution des pages de la bible de Zeitoun, avec les conclusions
du comite d’ethique de la chambre des USA a la suite du procès
intente a David Krekorian par Jean Schmidt, la decision de la cour
du Massachussetts dans le procès du programme d’education, ce procès
montre la vitalite des juristes americains contre les agissements turcs
aux USA et pour la defense des interets armeniens. Peut-etre est-il
temps en France de reactiver le combat sur le terrain juridique ?

Gilbert Beguian

SUPERVISED PEACE IN TRANSCAUCASIA
by Yury Roks

DEFENSE and SECURITY
October 3, 2011 Monday
Russia

Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, September 29, 2011, p. 6

RUSSIA PROPOSED THE US AND THE EUROPEAN UNION TO PROVIDE FOR
NON-RESTARTING OF WAR IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS TOGETHER; Russia is ready
to become a guarantor of peace in the South Caucasus and would be
grateful if the US and the European Union help it in this mission.

Russia is ready to become a guarantor of peace in the South Caucasus
and would be grateful if the US and the European Union help it in
this mission.

Reaction of the South Caucasian countries to the statement of
the Russian Foreign Minister may serve as an illustration to the
position of Russia in the South Caucasus. This “diversity” probably
explains the call on the West to help Russia to be a guarantor of
peace and stability in the South Caucasus. The phrase “zone of our
responsibility” sounded in the speeches of Russian leaders about this
region in the past.

Speaking at a meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York,
Sergei Lavrov announced, “Russia is firmly going to do its best to
prevent use of the forceful scenario and escalation of violence in
the Caucasus.” According to Lavrov, in case of illegal use of force
by any party “Russia is ready to take all necessary measures for
enforcement of peace in the region.”

Is it possible to take this statement as a warning about a possibility
of deja vu of August of 2008 if shooting begins in Transcaucasia? It
looks like this. Along with this, Russia once again manifested its
readiness to become a guarantor of the agreements on non-use of force
among Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Lavrov said, “We would
welcome undertaking of similar obligations by the US and EU. In the
role of guarantors we will be ready to take measures for non-restarting
of violence in the region and in case of illegal use of force by any of
the parties we will be ready to achieve the soonest regulation of the
situation on the basis of the existing norms of the international law.”

According to Alexei Malashenko, member of the scientific council
of the Moscow Carnegie Center, the statement of Lavrov is caused
by recognition of reality, as well as unwillingness to pose Russia
as an empire against the background of probable return of Vladimir
Putin to the post of the president. Professor Malashenko says,
“If, let us say, the West fails to do anything in the triangle of
Georgia-Abkhazia-South Ossetia, the critique of Russia about the
relevant issues will subside.”

Tbilisi responded to the statement of Lavrov about a wish of Russia to
be a guarantor of peace in the region by reminding about the losses
borne by Georgia when it trusted its northern neighbor. Tbilisi
also hinted clearly that it was not going to sign agreements with
its “autonomies” but was ready to consider an option of signing of
an agreement on non-use of force with Russia with participation of
international community in the form of the West.

The EU manifested a bigger interest in the proposal of Lavrov than
Georgia. Press secretary of its supreme representative for foreign
policy Maja Kocijancic told journalists that it “touches on some
aspects of the complicated situation related to the conflict in
Georgia that we need to study in detail.”

Lavrov spoke about the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, “We will continue
promotion of additional opportunities for peaceful resolving of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that have appeared as a result of efforts
and with mediation of Russia. We will continue promotion of the
peaceful resolving of the conflict in the framework of the Minsk OSCE
group together with the partners France and US. In the framework of
the group of three co-chairs of the Minsk OSCE group together with
American and French partners we will promote a set of measures of
confidence and strengthening of the ceasefire regime.”

Calling a spade a spade, the Foreign Minister of Russia actually said
that the status quo would be optimal in Nagorno-Karabakh: negotiations
under the aegis of the Minsk OSCE group with a small increase of
pressure on this or that party of the conflict with refusals to sign
the proposed documents by one party or the other. This may be somehow
suitable for Yerevan but not for Baku.

Speaking from the same tribute, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan
Elmar Mamedyarov named the conditions that might contribute to the
progress in the regulation. He did not say anything new mentioning
the requirements that the Armenian party did not accept without
recognition of independence of Nagorno-Karabakh: withdrawal of the
Armenian armed forces, return of refugees, “creation of conditions
for peaceful coexistence of Azerbaijanis and Armenians in the region
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the framework of the territorial
integrity.” Mamedyarov said, “Azerbaijan retains its interest,
motivation and patience in a very difficult and sensitive process of
negotiations. We believe that the international community will persuade
the Armenian party. In turn, we are ready to guarantee a high level of
self-government for this region within the Azerbaijani Republic.” In
the intonations of the Foreign Minister there were obvious notes of
frustration about the fruitless negotiations that lasted for many
years. His deputy Khalaf Khalafov spoke in a harsher way about this
topic recently during a meeting with a delegation of the parliament
of Argentina in Baku, “Peaceful negotiations do not have results
because of non-readiness of the authorities of Armenia to quit the
occupied territories.” There is probably no need to explain that is
the conclusion from such statement in conditions of unacceptability
of loss of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan. From this point of view
the statement about readiness of Russia to be a guarantor of peace
could confuse Baku and could simultaneously have a sedative effect
on the Armenian party.

Yerevan emphasized once again that a compromise implied mutual
concessions and Azerbaijan had only demands and ephemeral promises
“to organize a referendum about the status of Nagorno-Karabakh some
time,” “to provide democratic norms and civil liberties to residents
of Nagorno-Karabakh” etc. Naira Zograbian, head of the permanent
commission for matters of European integration of the parliament
of Armenia, said, “It is strange to hear this from leaders of the
country that has frequently been criticized by PACE for regress in
democratic processes. Amendments to the Constitution that abolished
limitation of election of the president to two terms were passed in
Azerbaijan. In a country where lifelong ruling is legalized it is
useless to speak about democracy.”

Konstantin Zatulin, director of the institute of the CIS countries and
Duma member, says, “Of course, it is impossible to interpret the words
of Lavrov with 100% assurance. In projection to the Nagorno-Karabakh
problem a joint approach is possible if Russia, US and EU, let us
say, with absence of resistance of Turkey, formulate the terms that
correspond to reality and offer a package agreement to Yerevan and Baku
as the only way of the conflict resolving. My position in this aspect
is well known: to recognize sovereignty of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic,
to transfer the territory around Nagorno-Karabakh except for the Lachin
District to Azerbaijan and to return refugees.” According to Zatulin,
positions of Russia and the West about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
are fairly close. Zatulin adds, “If Lavrov has meant that Russia may
reach an agreement with the West about all South Caucasian issues,
I do not believe in this because we have an absolutely different
vision of the situation in Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.”

[translated from Russian]