Author: Kajoyan Gevork

SMALL HPPS ARE GROWING: NEW POLICY OF THE ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT

news.am
Sept 12 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – The Armenian government proposed to the Public Services
Regulatory Commission of Armenia to limit 30 MW, instead of the
current 10 MW, as maximum capacity for small hydro power plants (HPP).

In this way, the relatively average-capacity HPPs will likewise be
defined as small HPPs. In addition, during a session on September 8,
the “Strategic Development Program of the Hydro Energy Domain” was
approved, whereby it is planned to produce – through small HPPs – 1
billion kW/hour annual electricity, instead of the current 400 million.

But this decision by the government has already received negative
reaction from the environmentalists. According to EcoLur organization,
in this way the water systems of Armenia’s rivers could be destroyed
since there is no regulation as to which part of the river water can
be used without damaging the ecosystem.

Nonetheless, there is no doubt that the country’s water potential must
be used effectively, and this is the case in terms national security,
in the first place.

According to expert analysis, from Armenia’s largest rivers the Debed –
together with its Dzoraget creek – and the Araks are poorly used for
energy purposes.

But large-scale HPP construction, or planning, is underway at those
3 rivers. In addition, 74 small HPPs are under construction, and 101
small HPPs were producing energy as of March 1, 2011.

Also, the Armenian government prepared an interesting proposal toward
developing the country’s hydro energy potential; but this proposal
could change the price of electricity being supplied to consumers. The
Public Services Regulatory Commission is recommended to increase,
starting from 2016 and up to 6.5 US cents, the electricity supply
tariff for HPPs with over 10-MW capacity. This is a fairly important
decision considering the fact that the price of electricity supplied
from large HPPs is fairly low.

At present, the price of electricity supplied from small HPPs is
17.2 drams ($.05 dollars)/kW, without value added tax. But even if
the change in tariff of small HPPs might not substantially reflect
on the price of electricity supplied to the consumer, in the case of
large HPPs a price change cannot be avoided.

It is apparent that, first and foremost, the government is trying to
stimulate construction of large or medium-size HPPs, as the priority
was formerly given to up-to-10-MW-capacity HPPs.

Samvel Avagyan

URUGUAY’S DECISION ON KARABAKH CAN INFLUENCE OTHER COUNTRIES – MP

news.am
Sept 12 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – The MP of the Prosperous Armenia Party Vartan Bostanjyan
said that Uruguay’s steps on the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh is
connected to South America’s Armenian community factor

“In all circumstances, it is clear that Nagorno-Karabakh’s issue
doesn’t have an alternative option. Even the countries that haven’t
decided yet know that it is worth recognition. The problem is in
big countries, which should not have any other option than recognize
Nagorno-Karabakh,” said Vardan Bostanjyan.

As Armenian News-News.am reported earlier, Uruguay’s FM Luis Almagron
said that Nagorno-Karabakh “should be independent and in the course
of time join Armenia.”

EXPERTS FEAR DETERIORATING TURKISH-ISRAELI RELATIONS
By Wladimir Van Wilgenburg

Rudaw.net

Sept 12 2011
Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands — Experts fear Israeli-Turkish relations
could further deteriorate following a report that the Israeli Foreign
Ministry advised supporting Kurdish rebels against Turkey.

The Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot reported Friday that a Foreign
Ministry team recommended Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman punish
Ankara by backing and possibly arming the Kurdistan Workers’ Party
(PKK) as well as supporting the Armenian anti-Turkey lobby in the
United States.

Lieberman on Saturday reportedly denied that support for the PKK was
discussed at the Foreign Ministry meeting.

The report has nonetheless deepened the rift between Israel and Turkey,
which recently ordered its senior diplomatic staff in Israel to return
after Israel refused to apologize for attacking a Turkish flotilla
transporting humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip in 2010. The raid
killed nine people.

Following the report, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan once
again threatened to challenge the legality of the flotilla incident
in The Hague. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu stated,
“Every time someone tries to harm Turkey, it uses the PKK to do so.”

“I believe this is serious. The ongoing tensions will further
escalate,” said Saban Kardas, assistant professor of international
relations at the TOBB, Economy and Technology University in Ankara.

However, he maintained, “It doesn’t matter for the Turkish government.

Such statements are good tools to bolster anti-Israeli rhetoric
domestically. This is what matters the public is already prone to
think Israel is behind PKK anyway,” referring to Turkish conspiracy
theories over foreign support for the PKK.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office did not deny
or confirm the report but released a statement after the article
was published, saying, “Our policy was and remains to prevent a
breakdown of relations with Turkey and easing the tensions between
the countries.”

So far, the PKK hasn’t reacted to the news, but the pro-PKK Firat
News Agency suggested that Kurds were suspicious of the proposal.

Furthermore, journalist Amet Dicle of Denmark-based Roj TV wrote
on Twitter that Turkey is bombing PKK guerillas with intelligence
collected by Israeli Heron drones. Roj TV is under investigation in
Denmark for having ties to the PKK, which is considered a terrorist
organization in the United States, Turkey and Europe.

United Press International, however, quoted Israeli commentators as
saying that Turkey’s pressing need for Israeli drones amid an uptick in
fighting with the PKK could help mend the strained relations between
the one-time strategic allies.

Under a US$183 million deal, the Israeli state-run IAI provided Turkey
with 10 Heron drones.

Kardas said the drone deal “might be the best hope to save the
relationship, but given all that has transpired, I am not that
optimistic.”

Tel Aviv University Researcher Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak said the
Israeli foreign minister has warned Turkey through unofficial channels.

“Certainly in the short-term the PKK card was used as a bluff against
Turkey. However, in the case of an unfortunate confrontation in the
Mediterranean, the Israeli-PKK connection may become a reality,”
he said.

Yanarocak maintained that Lieberman is “well aware Turkish Foreign
Minister Davutoglu’s connections with Lebanese Hezbollah and with
Hamas” and “may not think twice in case of a concrete hostility. Of
course this attempt will harm sensitive relations between the people.”

He argued that Israel is more likely to ally with the anti-Turkey
Armenian lobby, which presses western nations to isolate Turkey and
recognize the Armenian genocide, if Ankara takes Israel to The Hague.

“Lieberman wants Turkey to know that the sanctions against Israel
are not a ‘one way street’ that only affect Israel, but (the they)
will also affect Turkey harshly,” he said.

Other Turkish experts reacted negatively to the statements. Kardir
Ustun, research director at the Washington-based SETA Foundation
wrote on Twitter that “such a threat by Israeli side is a dumb idea,
not discussing whether they’ve done it or will do it.”

Michael Rubin of the neoconservative American Enterprise Institute
wrote an article for the Kurdistan Tribune in which he argued that
the Turkish position towards Israel “has broader implications. Turkey
justifies its actions in Iraq because it considers the PKK to be
a terrorist group, a definition the State Department shares. But,
if it is willing to supply and support Hamas–a group that engages
in far bloodier actions than the PKK–then Turkey has no moral or
legal basis to continue its crusade against the PKK. That Hamas won
an election is beside the point. After all, within Turkey, the BDP
has won many elections.”

ARMENIAN SOLDIERS PARTICIPATE IN COMBINED ENDEAVOR 2011 EXERCISE

news.am
Sept 12 2011
Armenia

Servicemen of the Armenian armed forces arrived in Germany on September
8 to participate in participate in Combined Endeavor 2011, the largest
collaborative military communications exercise in the world.

Combined Endeavor is a multi-nation exercise involving nearly 40
NATO, Partnership for Peace and strategic security partners, DVIDS
website reports.

“This exercise provides a good opportunity for us to share knowledge
and experience between participating countries,” the website quotes
Armenian Lt. Col. Aram Gevorgyan, Armenian delegation chief.

Gevorgyan stressed that although the main objective of exercise is
exchange of experience in communication techniques and technologies,
relations and bonds formed working alongside other nations has been
valuable.

It is for the ninth year consecutive year that Armenian troops are
participating in the exercise.

TURKISH PM GIVES ARMENIA CHANCE FOR RAPPROCHEMENT WITH ISRAEL – AMERICAN EXPERT

news.am
Sept 12 2011
Armenia

Turkey provokes conflict with its regional ally in the case when the
situation at all its borders is tense, former US State Department
advisor and Heritage Foundation’s Russian and Eurasian Studies and
International Energy Policy Project Manager Ariel Cohen said in an
interview with IzRus news portal.

In Cohen’s words, Turkish PM Erdogan has given Armenia a historic
chance to establish close ties with Israel. “The Turks destroyed with
their own hands the relations with their only stable regional partner.

And this is occurring at a time when their ‘Zero Problems with
Neighbors’ Policy has become a malicious joke. The Turks have problems
throughout their border. Instead of making slanders against Israel,
the Turks should look in the mirror,” Cohen noted.

He added that without pressure by the Jewish lobby, the Turkish
positions are weakening in terms of obstructing US recognition of
the Armenian Genocide. “The genocide’s recognition by the Congress
is a matter of time. And if that happens, an opportunity would arise
for the Armenian side to demand compensation from Turkey,” Cohen
maintained. So, by losing Israel as an ally in that issue, Turkey
puts itself at the risk of receiving a very powerful economic blow.

“Today, Armenia has an absolutely historic chance to establish
ties with Israel. But it must understand that it should not be
a maximalist. Israel would not like to destroy relations with
Azerbaijan. So, it is solely by way patience and understanding that
Yerevan can establish good relations,” Cohen concluded.

Hurriyet, Turkey
Sept 11 2011

Relations with Israel and the Kurdish question

Sunday, September 11, 2011

The rising tension between Turkey and Israel is not the only a problem
of confrontational regional relations, but it may also have serious
implications on domestic politics. All countries in the region used to
manipulate anti-Israeli feelings as a useful tool to hide their
authoritarian politics. Anti-Israeli rhetoric is not only the official
discourse in Iran and Syria, but in all Arab countries, all sorts of
regimes use this rhetoric to fill the gap of oppositionist energies.
Moreover, it is also useful to suppress criticism by labeling it as an
`Israeli conspiracy.’ Now, as tension with Israel rises, Turkey seems
to undergo a similar process. Many times, pro-government writers hint
that any opposition to the present government may be related to the
`Israeli lobby’ since the new Turkish government policy dares to
challenge Israel bravely.

Recently, the conservative media started to portray the outlawed
Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, as an `Israeli pawn.’ In the dark
days of the 1990s, the PKK was portrayed as collaborating with
Armenian ASALA and PKK members were often presented not as Kurds but
as Armenians. In fact, it is an old and major problem to avoid
recognizing the Kurdish problem in all its aspects. In the past, the
main problem was not to differentiate Kurds and the PKK and justify
suppression of Kurds as fighting with PKK. Now it is the opposite, now
the PKK has considerable social support, but this time the Turkish
state and government want to differentiate the PKK to justify
suppression and avoid any chance of negotiation for a peaceful
solution.

Those who portray the PKK as an Israeli pawn either must be seriously
deluded concerning the Kurdish problem or must be thinking about
killing two birds with one stone by despising Israel and the PKK at
the same time. Nevertheless, such rhetoric risks the democracy in
Turkey in two ways. Firstly, it further hinders chances of political
negotiations for a democratic solution and social peace, by
`evilizing’ the Kurdish enemy. Secondly, the anti-Israeli feeling and
its anti-Semitic implications are being enforced with the rhetoric of
`war on terror’ against the PKK.

Anti-Semitism is not as popular in Turkey as it is in many Muslim
countries, yet the danger exists. Unfortunately, most Turkish
intellectuals are not concerned, but there is a tradition of
anti-Semitism especially among conservative circles (and now among
secular nationalist circles) in Turkey. Many intellectuals define
anti-Semitism only as `hostility toward Jews’ and underestimate the
fact that anti-Semitism is also a kind of `reaction toward modernity,’
so therefore an essential aspect of almost all authoritarian politics.

When anti-Kurdish feelings meet anti-Semitism, one must say farewell
to democracy. I hope we do not come to this point.

Hurriyet Daily News , Turkey
Sept 10 2011

Historical Armenian church hosts service

Sunday, September 11, 2011
VAN- Anatolia News Agency

A historical Armenian church located on Akdamar Island in Lake Van
hosted on Sunday the second religious ceremony since its renovation in
2007.

The ceremony at the Akdamar Church was led by Turkish Armenian
Patriarchate’s Archbishop Aram AteÅ?yan.

Speaking at the ceremony, AteÅ?yan said their wishes were for
tranquility in the country and brotherhood between all societies and
humans.

Around 3,000 people were in attendance.

Income received from the sale of candles at the church will be sent to
famine-stricken Somalia.

Akdamar Church opened to worshippers for a single day and hosted a
religious ceremony for the first time after 95 years in September
2010.

The church attracted nearly 30,000 tourists in 2010 and has received
even more visitors in the first seven months of this year, tourism
officials told AA.

Officials said the number of tourists visiting the Akdamar Church was
expected to reach 60,000 by the end of 2011 as the church would host
another religious ceremony.

Akdamar Church was built by Architect Bishop Manuel between 915-921
A.D. under the supervision of King Gagik I.

The name given to the island, Aght’amar, is explained by a well-known
legend among the local population: A nobleman who fell in love with a
beautiful girl named Tamar visited the island every night to see her.
As he was crossing the lake one stormy night, his boat capsized and
fighting the waves, he drowned uttering the words `Ach Tamar’. Tamar,
awaiting the arrival of her loved one, grieved deeply upon hearing the
news of his death and died soon after. Hence, the island was called
`Ach Tamar’ (Aght’amar/Akdamar) ever since.

The church remained as part of a monastic complex until the beginning
of the 20th century. It was abandoned during World War I due to
fighting along the Russian border and was left in a bad condition for
many years.

Turkish authorities restored the church between 2005 and 2007 and
opened it as a museum.

Upon a proposal by the Van Governor’s Office and approval of the
Turkish Culture & Tourism Ministry, authorities later decided that
Akdamar Church shall host a religious service once a year.

APA, Azerbaijan
Sept 10 2011

Former US Ambassador to NATO: `There is always the possibility of
destabilization – whether it is Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, Ossettia,
or elsewhere in the Caucasus’ – INTERVIEW

[ 10 Sep 2011 12:12 ]
`The United States believes in the rights of the people and states of
the Caucasus themselves, and does not agree with the assertion of a
Russian `sphere of influence”

Washington. Isabel Levine – APA. Former US Ambassador to NATO and
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Volker is on his way to
Azerbaijan, next week. Mr. Volker, who currently serves as senior
fellow and managing director of the Center for Transatlantic Relations
at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International
Studies, will be in Baku, on Wednesday, September 14. In his pre-visit
interview with APA’s Washington DC correspondent Ambassador Volker
described the visit and shared his view on some of the regional
developments.

– Why are you visiting Baku at this time?

– I am helping an educational institution – the Legislative Leadership
Institute, which is part of the American College of Dublin, Ireland –
find international partners for its Masters Degree programs. I believe
that Azerbaijan could be a fascinating place for Members of Parliament
and state legislatures to visit as part of their Masters degree
studies, and I believe it would be a tremendous benefit for Azerbaijan
to expose these kinds of future leaders to everything this country has
to offer. So it should be a win-win, and I’m hoping to help both sides
here make the right connections. And it’s also a great chance to visit
my friend Matt Bryza, who is a fantastic representative of the United
States here in Baku.

– Let us ask some questions about the regional developments. Just
recently, the South Caucasus countries commemorated the third
anniversary of the last war in the region. Today many local analysts
question whether the stability in the region is strong and if there is
any possibility of destabilization?

– The truth is that until these issues are finally and truly resolved,
there is always the possibility of destabilization – whether it is
Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, Ossettia, or elsewhere in the Caucasus.
That’s why it is so important for the governments of the region to
stay focused on efforts to reach settlements, and to continue to press
forward on domestic political reform and economic opportunity. The
more successful the countries in the region are in terms of freedom
and prosperity, the more easily the lingering conflicts will be
resolved.

– Should the South Caucasus countries look for their stability and
protection in NATO? Is there any possibility for them to integrate
into it?

– Countries that join NATO need to be security contributors even more
than they are security consumers. NATO’s doors are always open.
But it takes strong democracies, able to contribute to the security of
NATO as whole, to be able to walk through those open doors. In the
short-term, therefore, it is the process of reform, stabilization, and
resolving long-standing conflicts that will provide the most security.
Over time, success in those areas will make NATO membership more
likely, and thus help guarantee such stability for the very long-term.

– There is no doubt that Russia still considers the region under it
influence. Do you think the US and Russia can anyhow cooperate in that
region?

– In principle, the US and Russia ought to be able to find ground for
cooperation in the Caucasus. We support democracy, peace, human
development, anti-terrorism, and anti-narcotics efforts, for example.
But to the extent Russia believes it has a special `droit-de-regard’
over the Caucasus, we are also bound to disagree. The United States
believes in the rights of the people and states of the Caucasus
themselves, and does not agree with the assertion of a Russian `sphere
of influence.’

– What long-term prospects do you see for the frozen conflicts, such
as Nagorno-Karabakh, what do you think is the next step in NK?

– Lingering, long-term conflicts serve no one’s interests. They
depress economic activity and investment. They perpetuate fear and
uncertainty among local populations.
They create spaces in which criminal activity, drugs and human
trafficking, and all manner of other of societal ills can flourish. It
is therefore in the interest of every government, every leader, and
every citizen – regardless of ethnicity, religion, or identity – to
work to overcome these lingering conflicts.
I have long felt that the elements of a solution for Nagorno-Karabakh
have been on the table for some time. It takes courageous political
leadership to act in the long-term interests of the people of the
region, when short-term fears and grievances would stand in the way.

– More generally, do you see any major changes in the South Caucasus this year?

– Unfortunately, at this state, I am not predicting much change in the
South Caucasus this year. Conflicts are indeed embedded, Russia’s
occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossettia will continue well beyond
the Sochi Olympics, N-K does not seem to be moving, and the United
States is distracted with domestic politics and a bad economy. So it
is difficult to predict change. That said – this creates a tremendous
window of opportunity for leadership within the region, and I hope
that leaders there seize this moment.

TURQUIE
Rasmussen : la crise entre Israël et la Turquie, une affaire bilatérale

Le secrétaire général de l’Otan Anders Fogh Rasmussen a déclaré
mercredi à Prague que l’actuelle crise entre Israël et la Turquie
constituait une `affaire bilatérale` dans laquelle l’Alliance n’allait
pas interférer.

`Les relations entre Israël et la Turquie constituent une affaire
bilatérale dans laquelle je ne vais pas interférer`, a déclaré M.
Rasmussen devant la presse, à l’issue de son entretien avec le Premier
ministre tchèque Petr Necas.

`J’espère que les deux pays pourront trouver les moyens d’apaiser les
tensions et de développer des relations positives`, a-t-il ajouté.

Les rapports entre les deux pays se sont envenimés après le refus
d’Israël de s’excuser pour la mort de neuf Turcs tués en 2010 au cours
d’un raid de l’armée israélienne dans les eaux internationales contre
une flottille en route vers Gaza.

Le 2 septembre, la Turquie a décidé d’expulser l’ambassadeur d’Israël
à Ankara et de suspendre tous ses accords militaires avec l’Etat
hébreu.

dimanche 11 septembre 2011,
Sté[email protected]

RUSSIE
Une infirmière azérie essaye de tuer un enfant arménien

Une infirmière azérie dans la ville russe de Sochi a été accusée par
la police d’avoir tenté de tuer un enfant arménien originaire du
Karabakh.

Selon le journal arménien Yerkramas publié en Russie, l’enfant de huit
ans avait été hospitalisé victime d’une infection intestinal aigue.

L’infirmière qui s’occupait de l’enfant a coupé les veines des jambes
de l’enfant. La mère plus tard s’est réveillée trouvant l’enfant
couvert de sang.

IUn médecin a réussi à sauver sa vie.

L’infirmière a déclaré qu’elle avait décidé de faire du mal à l’enfant
après qu’elle ait découvert qu’il était du Karabakh.

Une enquête est en cours.

dimanche 11 septembre 2011,
Sté[email protected]