Author: Kajoyan Gevork

TURKEY COULD BECOME CLOSER TO RUSSIA; WE SHOULD NOT EXPECT FRATERNAL RELATIONS, BUT EXPANSION OF POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE

Izvestiya, Russia
Oct 21 2013

by Darya Tsoy, Konstantin Volkov, and Mariya Gorkovskaya:

[Translated from Russian]

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip
Erdogan will meet in Moscow at the end of the fall. The fourth
session of the top level Cooperation Council will be held under their
chairmanship. The two countries’ leaders will sum up the results of
collaboration over the year and set tasks for the future.

Turkish experts believe that these contacts acquire special
significance in connection with the fact that Ankara’s prospects of
joining the EU remain murky. The Turks will probably try to acquire
Moscow as a more forward-minded partner.

Turkish Vice Premier Bulent Arinc said 17 October that the number of
those wanting to join the EU has declined greatly among the Turkish
population. Whereas the figure used to be up to 75 per cent, according
to the latest polls it is something like 20 per cent. The functionary
sees the reason in “the irresponsible behaviour of those European
countries which are constantly creating one barrier after another.”

“Russia, with its enormous market and fine opportunities for
development, energy resources, nuclear technologies, and tourism
potential, is increasingly becoming Turkey’s most important economic
partner,” political analyst Emre Iseri, professor at Istanbul’s [as
published, should be Izmir’s] Yasar University, says. “The countries
have come to an understanding that the interdependence of trade and
economic relations could lead to the deepening of relations in the
political sphere and also to joint participation in resolving regional
conflicts – in Syria and over Cyprus and Nagorno-Karabakh.”

In addition, the expert says, Moscow and Ankara have adapted quite
swiftly to the new conditions of the modern era of globalization,
setting aside historical differences.

There is marked progress in the economic sphere – particularly in
power engineering.

“The most graphic example is the installation of the Akkuyu nuclear
power station, based on a Russian project, on Turkey’s Mediterranean
seaboard,” Oktay Tanrisever, an international relations expert at
Turkey’s Middle East Technical University, believes.

He says that the nuclear power station will consist of four reactor
units with [water-cooled] VVER-1200 reactors. In addition, part of
the “South Stream” gas pipeline, which starts near Novorossiysk and
which, according to the plan, should be completed in 2015, will pass
through Turkey’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea. Also as of
today, according to a report by the International Strategic Research
Organization (USAK), Turkey gets up to 60 per cent of its gas from
Russia. Not to mention the millions of Russian tourists who vacation
every year in Anatolia and other Turkish resorts.

“The fact that in April of this year Turkey received the status of
partner in dialogue with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization also
signifies an improvement in political relations in the Eurasian area,
particularly with Russia,” USAK expert Kerim Has believes. “The
geopolitical situation attests that if the countries’ interests
intersect in the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Balkans, and the Middle
East, then the expansion of bilateral relations becomes a necessity.”

Proof that Ankara is not only seeking partners in Europe is also
provided by the expansion of cooperation with Kiev, including plans
to create a free trade zone with Ukraine.

Whereas, back in the early 2000s, joining the EU was the sole priority
for the Turkish authorities (talks on this subject have been under
way since 2005), in the past decade, having strengthened economically
and geopolitically, Turkey already has the opportunity of choosing
between two vectors of cooperation. And although the desire to join
the EU remains, that is not the only path of development.

“Erdogan’s aim is to strengthen influence throughout the Muslim East,”
Middle East Institute expert Sergey Seregichev says. “And also to
expand relations with the powerful states of Eurasia. So far Ankara
lacks the strength, as Turkey’s recent attempt to remove Syrian
President Bashar al-Asad from power by supporting the opposition
shows.”

Of course, that does not mean that Turkish policy will turn away
irrevocably from the EU. According to Vice Premier Arinc, his country
“does not intend to take a step back from its 50-year-old dream of
joining the EU.”

“As a member of the EU Customs Union, Turkey is seeking more,” Oktay
Tanrisever believes. “Despite the continuing obstacles, it has every
chance of joining, even if only in the long term.”

Nor does Europe believe that the road there is closed to Turkey.

“Too many questions which must be resolved are under discussion,”
Didier Billion, a specialist in EU foreign policy at the Paris
Institute of International and Strategic Relations, explained. “And
Turkey’s candidacy has been under discussion since 2005. Over that
time the sides have agreed on only 13 contentious issues. So that
hypothetical association to the European Union will certainly not
happen any time soon.”

The political analyst says that Brussels itself must decide what it
needs. There are members in the EU who believe that the union is a
culturally homogenous association of the Christian type into which
it will be hard to integrate Muslim Turkey.

“It is indeed difficult to overcome that barrier. But without Turkey,
the EU will hardly be able to become a real geopolitical player in
the Middle East and the Caucasus. If Brussels still has such plans,
then Ankara’s prospects of association will obviously increase,”
Billion says.

Here, the expert reminds us, Turkey is now far more closely linked
economically with Brussels than with other regions of the world. The
EU accounts for 50 per cent of Turkish exports and imports. And 80
per cent of direct investments come from Europe. But it is not a fact
that this situation will continue.

[Translated from Russian]

TURKS LIVING IN TURKEY ARE NOT WELL INFORMED ABOUT ARMENIANS – CANADIAN-ARMENIAN BUSINESSMAN

October 24, 2013 | 15:45

YEREVAN. – Armenians should establish ties with the Turks and Kurds
living in Turkey, and inform them about who Armenians really are.

Canadian-Armenian businessman Vazken Kaljian stated the above-said
during a press conference on Thursday.

“I have always wanted to learn about our historic homeland, and that
interest increases every time when I am in Western Armenia [i.e.,
today’s eastern Turkey],” Kaljian noted.

Speaking about the hidden Armenians in Turkey, he stated that, not
knowing his national belonging at first, they did not trust him. But
then they gradually came and started to remember and speak about
their Armenian forebears.

As per Kaljian, the Armenians in Turkey should not be blamed for
being born and living in a Muslim environment.

“We likewise did not have faith 3,000 years ago, but we were Armenian.

One cannot say that if a person is a Muslim, he is not Armenian,
since religion is a choice each person,” Kaljian argued.

He also stressed that the objective of his activities is to find
those Armenians that wish to learn about Armenian culture and ideology.

As per Kaljian, more than four million Armenians live in the western
regions of Turkey, and they were able to maintain their existence on
the account of denying their faith.

“The Turks and Kurds living in Turkey do not know much about
Armenians. I always tell them that the Armenians are good people,
that we are peace-loving people,” the Canadian-Armenian noted.

Vazken Kaljian also assured that the Turks and Kurds are very
respectful toward the Armenians living in Turkey.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

EX-PREMIER OF ARMENIA: IF ARMENIA DOES NOT ABOLISH THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT, THE GOVERNMENT WILL ABOLISH ARMENIA

by Alexandr Avanesov

Thursday, October 24, 17:59

If Armenia does not abolish the present government, the government
will abolish Armenia, the former prime minister of Armenia, head of
the “Freedom” party, a member of the parliament from the opposition
Armenian National Congress, Hrant Bagratyan, wrote at his Facebook
page, when commenting on the last data regarding social and economic
situation in Armenia.

He said that the economy growth rates in Armenia dropped by 3.2%. “In
August this indicator was 3.8%, and 9% at the beginning of the current
year. Incidentally, the IMF predicted world economy growth by 3.3-3.8%
in 2013. This means that we shall again register the growth level
lower than the international one”, – Bagratyan said and added that
for the last six years the economy growth rates in Armenia lagged
behind the average world economy growth rates threefold.

“So, according to the known rule of economy, the marginal productivity
of investments should be threefold higher. If this country had
a responsible president or political force, they would invite the
government and ask them to explain, why the economic growth of Armenia
is not 10% and more. However, we do not have such a president and
political force. Finally, if Armenia does not abolish the present
government (authorities), the government will abolish Armenia”, –
Bagratyan said.

ARMENIAN DEFENCE MINISTER’S ADVISER: THE INFORMATION THAT TRAINING OF REBELS FROM CIS COUNTRIES FOR FREE SYRIAN ARMY IS HELD UNDER COMMAND OF ALIYEV’S CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER, IS A SERIOUS REASON FOR CSTO TO THINK

by David Stepanyan

ARMINFO
Thursday, October 24, 18:00

The information that training of rebels from CIS countries for Free
Syrian Army is held under command of President of Azerbaijan Ilham
Aliyev’s chief security officer, Beilyar Eyubov, is a serious reason
for CSTO to think about it, Armenian Defence Minister’s Adviser, David
Jamalyan, said at the international conference “CSTO and Security of
EurAsia” held in Yerevan today at Noravanq Foundation.

“The so-called Free Syrian Army financed from abroad is not free at
all. It is a crowd of cutthroats which were violating law in their
countries for many years. There is the information that this collection
of undesirables after ending of their “service” in Syria may be also
used against the Karabakh Republic. This is rather realistic if we
take into consideration the name of the man which is responsible
for their training. I would like to remind that Armenia, which is a
member of the CSTO, is a guarantor of the NKR security”, – Jamalyan
emphasized. He also added CSTO should revise the given scenario taking
into account the danger of its fulfillment for Armenia – CSTO member.

PANORAMA.AM RECEIVES AWARD AT UN JOURNALISM AWARDS CEREMONY

18:50 24/10/2013 ” SOCIETY

The UN in Armenia, together with its strategic partners – government
officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps, international
organizations, private sector, civil society, educational institutions
and media, celebrates the 68th anniversary of the UN today.

During the month, the UN organized various outreach events around the
country: from the opening of a new UN Corner in the Gyumri Central
Library, UN materials distribution through Bibliobus, numerous
debates with youth, education outreach in different universities and
organization of the Model UN Conference.

The celebration culminated with the UN Journalism Awards Ceremony,
where two best journalists received awards for their professional
coverage of issues related to the UN work in Armenia. The winner
of category “coverage of UN Armenia work in general” was Martha
Hahknazaryan from Golos Armenii, who received a tablet and a special
certificate. Within category “coverage of UN work in the regions of
Armenia” the winner was Lia Khojoyan from Panorama.am and WomenNet.am
who also received a tablet and certificate. All other top candidates
received certificates and other gifts, which will be useful for their
professional work. The UN expert jury selected the winners based on
their in-depth coverage, professionalism, knowledge of the UN mandate,
importance of the issue in Armenian context and vision.

The UN Resident Coordinator Bradley Busetto said: “Since the
establishment of the UN Office in Armenia to present day, due to the
combined efforts of many agencies of the UN family, we can humbly
point out that the UN had its tangible input in the advancement of the
country and, certainly, is going to have in the coming future. The
areas of application of our efforts through diverse programs are
pretty much broad, encompassing mostly those in need. Nevertheless,
we can express in one word the resolute objective for the entire UN
system activities in Armenia – people, with particular focus on the
vulnerable segments of the population.”

Other partners, also spoke about the important role the UN has
in supporting the country’s efforts to advance sustainable human
development and achieve the nationalized Millennium Development Goals.

Bradley Busetto thanked all UN partners, including the government,
civil society and media for their cooperation and assistance in the
work of different UN institutions operating in Armenia.

On 24 October 1945, sixty-eight years ago, the founding Charter of
the UN entered into force. The UN Office in Armenia was opened in
December 1992, after Armenia became a member of the United Nations
in March 1992.

Source: Panorama.am

BOOK ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH

14:46, 24 October, 2013

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS: Ahead of the 100th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide, the English version of the three-volume book
“Armenian Genocide in Turkey” has been published. At the meeting with
the journalists the Director of the National Archive Amatuni Virabyan
told about it. According to him, the book includes the stories told
by the Armenian Genocide witnesses collected in 1916, as well as the
English versions of the maps of the Western Armenia.

“The Armenian version of the book “Armenian Genocide in Turkey”
emerged great interest in Turkey. And we decided to publish the
English version of the book jointly with Van Foundation. It will
have 1000 samples and in case of greater demand, we will increase
the number of the books”, – said Amatuni Virabyan, Armenpress reports.

In the years of 1892-1923 the Turkish government organized the
Armenian Genocide, during which mass deportation and massacre of
more than 1,5 million people from the Western Armenia, Cilicia and
Ottoman Empire was carried out. Conditionally the beginning of the
Genocide is considered to be the April 24 1915, when 600 Armenian
intellectuals were arrested and then killed in Constantinople.

EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE FOR INTENSIFYING THE PROPAGANDA

Tuesday, 22 October 2013 14:31

During the 4-5 October international scientific conference The
National-Liberation Struggle of Artsakh: from Gyulistan to Nowadays
held in Stepanakert, hot discussions took place over the current
stage of the negotiations on the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh
conflict.

The views of Director of Modus VivendiResearch Center,
political scientist Ara Papyan on the right of Nagorno Karabakh to
self-determination and the principle of territorial integrity, which
he expressed in his speech The International Legal Status of Nagorno
Karabakh (from 1917 to nowadays), are worth of attention.Following
is an interview with Ara Papyan on this issue.

– Mr. Papyan, you noted in your speech that the principle of
self-determination leads, to a certain extent, the people of Karabakh
to a trap. What did you mean?

– Yes, I noted this, because the movement emerged within the USSR,
articles 72-77 of the Constitution of which contained both the
principles of nations’ self-determination and immutability of
the republics’ borders, and this contradiction moved after 1991,
when Armenia and Azerbaijan gained independence. The principles of
self-determination and territorial integrity were accepted purely
formally, though in this case, the territorial integrity cannot refer
to Azerbaijan. Why? According to international law, violation of
integration is when there is involvement of foreign force of threat of
foreign force. While we know that the Artsakh Movement was a national
movement, and Armenia acted as just a supporter. If the events are set
up in this way, the principle of self-determination becomes a serious
problem to us. In practice, what are going to resolve? According to
the Madrid Principles, by saying self-determination, self-determination
within the territory of the former NKAO is meant.

Or, at best, Karabakh can gain independence within the territory of the
NKAO. If it gains independence, it is still another matter, whether
it will take place or not. Are the Karabakh people and authorities
really ready to return the security zone-liberated territories? It
isn’t accidental that when the NKAO was “created” in 1923, such
division made the area extremely vulnerable. Moreover, the Madrid
Principles do not contain a solution to the issue. There is a delay of
the issue. So, you pay today with the liberated territories, that is,
your security; instead, you get a promise, which isn’t clear to be
realized in 5, 10 or 15 years. Let’s take another right – the right
to expression. What does it mean? It means that the people should
express with whom it desires to live, yes, after so many years.

It means that without getting a status and having one of the provisions
– the return of refugees, tens and hundreds of thousands will come
here. Today, 300-600 thousands of refugees are noted in Azerbaijan…

– More than the total size of the population those years…

– While about 40.000 Azerbaijanis lived here that time.

They say 20 years have passed, and our population has increased 5
times and so on. There is also another circumstance. The international
community will look through the documents with the place of birth
– a Karabakhian village. The Soviet passports were long changed,
and the people got Azerbaijani passports long ago, but the place
of birth there was fixed as a Karabalkhian village (they wrote
what they wished). But, assuming that about 80-100 thousand people
(there were 40.000, increasing twice) will arrive, imagine what kind
of inter-ethnic clashes may occur. Even at best, imagine that they
come, live peacefully and finally the people vote for independence
or uniting with Armenia. And Azerbaijan says no, I don’t recognize,
as it happened previously. What should we do in this case? Will the
international community begin “to bomb” Baku, pressing it to recognize
us? Surely, not. Or, it hasn’t a real lever for influence. The real
lever is war, but nobody will use it. Will the Karabakh people be
really able to stand up for its own rights in case of yielding the
surrounding territories, in a psychologically changed atmosphere,
having tens of thousands of Azeris within the country?

– It will be very difficult or impossible…

– Surely, it will be impossible. Now a propaganda struggle is
underway. And this is an important stage. Currently, a lot of issues
are resolved, basing on the public opinion. It is very important in
the West. The authorities take decisions under the influence of the
public opinion. If we had managed to demonstrate the truth to the
world, the public opinion would have forced to recognize Karabakh.

– What prevents us to implement this propaganda?

– First of all, the improper attitude to the public opinion. Maybe
it isn’t characteristic to us to pay corresponding importance to
the public opinion. And we think that others act similarly. But,
others differ from us, living in another system of values. Secondly,
I’d like to note the lack of professionalism. Here the situation is
complicated, because there are no clear boundaries between the wrong
and right and there is no specification of the good and bad. And third,
the funds are spent improperly…

– Can you give an example?

– For example, many great events take place in Armenia and Karabakh,
in particular, on the occasion of the Yerevan-Erebuni and Independence
Days, which do not encourage the people for a special attitude
towards independence. On the contrary, it causes antipathy in the
poor country. Part of the funds allocated for these events can be
spent for social programs and for propaganda. The literature, which
was published in Russian in due time, can be re-printed, translated,
duplicated and sent to large and small libraries and universities
operating in different countries of the world. I must say, they don’t
use textbooks for studying there. Students are instructed to write
works on any topic or to prepare a report. They use library- and
Internet materials to prepare their works. If the needed book lacks
in the library, he isn’t a specialist to seek and find it, and one
should give him a corresponding book. I assure that the libraries
contain books by about 20 or 30 Azerbaijani and Turkish authors;
surely, they are not all about Karabakh or the Genocide. A considerable
part of the books is about the negative image of Armenians. In short,
the young people form their opinion, basing on these books.

– So, corresponding works should be conducted for improving the
specialists’ knowledge and for creating the proper public opinion.

– Yes, and all this should be universal, comprehensive, and most
importantly, systematized. We (I mean the two Armenian administrative
entities) do not implement systematized propaganda. You cannot
imagine what works are conducted by our opponent. And we cannot
expand and systematize our works. For example, while making a speech,
I spoke about an important document – a resolution of the League
of Nations. But, a few people speak about the document, which is
so important for us. The successor of the UN took a decision on
the Karabakh issue, which wasn’t realized, due to a crime. Or,
this region was occupied by the Red Army. Now it would be natural
if after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 we returned to the
situation that was provided by international law in the 20s of the 20th
century. But, what has happened in fact? The incompatibility of the
two principles regarding Karabakh, which was formed during the Soviet
period, was formally transferred to the next period. While even that
period, according to the document adopted by the League of Nations,
Karabakh was a recognized and independent state. The matter is that
Azerbaijan, actually, accepts that fact, because the declaration on its
independence clearly provides that the modern Azerbaijani Republic is
the successor of the first (and not the Soviet) Azerbaijani Republic.

It turns out that it refuses of Soviet Azerbaijan. But, in this case,
why don’t we propose, respecting the decision of the Azerbaijani
authorities, which refused of the Soviet Azerbaijani Republic, to
return to the pre-Soviet period and see what we have and what legal
materials are available there? See how many fundamental documents
are available, but who is speaking about them? But, Azerbaijan has
stated so much about the 20% of the so-called “occupied” territories
that the world believes it.

– If the propaganda is expanded and systematized, will the world
really take a true stance on the Karabakh recognition? Or, are there
other circumstances, which dictate the current situation?

– Certainly, the work will be successful. Be sure it will be so. I’ll
say how. Let’s imagine a mass, a small part of which is well informed
of the issue and knows that Armenians are right.

Another small part, which is also aware of the issue, says that
Azeris are right. As a rule, it proceeds from certain interest. But,
the majority, or about 80 %, is the hesitating part, which isn’t
informed of the issue and isn’t interested in it. And we should work
with this part. I state once more that these people form the public
opinion, which forces the authorities to take other decisions. See,
the same took place on the issue of the Genocide. So many states
have recognized the Armenian Genocide for the last decades. Thanks
to what it has happened? Thanks to the public opinion. I must say,
here we have certain advantages and we must make a lot of efforts
and spare no means to develop these advantages.

Susanna BALAYAN

ARMENIA’S SECOND PRESIDENT TRAVELS TO RUSSIA

October 24, 2013 | 15:37

YEREVAN. – Second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan will arrive
in Russian capital city Moscow on Thursday, Kocharyan’s office manager
Victor Soghomonyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“He left today [on Thursday], but has not yet arrived,” Soghomonyan
noted.

He informed that on Saturday Kocharyan will participate in the board
of directors meeting of Sistema JSFC holding company of Russia.

To the query as to whether Robert Kocharyan is also slated to meet
with senior officials, Victor Soghomonyan responded by saying, “no.”

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

15TH EXHIBITION OF IRANIAN GOODS TO OPEN IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, October 24. / ARKA /. The 15th exhibition of Iranian goods
will open on October 26 at Yerevan expo center.

The exhibition will feature products of several major Iranian
companies, the center told ARKA. It will run until October 29. -0-

– See more at:

AN UNCOMMON BEAUTY: HIKING AROUND GOSH LAKE, ARMENIA

14:40, October 24, 2013

Vasken Brudian

A place where the Gods reside? Or is this the heaven we have been
searching for? At least that is the sense one gets when in the presence
of this extraordinary and strange beauty. I say strange because in
my own life at least, I have rarely been confronted with so much
alluring beauty, calmness, tranquility, and a seductive manifestation
of nature’s splendor.

Gosh lake is located in the Tavoush region of Armenia, near the
villages of Ganja and Gosh. Our hike started from Goshavank, and from
there, a muddy, steep climb to an altitude of approx. 1550 meters
(5000 feet). It is roughly one and a half hours to two hours to reach
this point. But once you get here, you realize that a “heavenlike”
place like this should not be an easy stroll.