Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 9 2012

Abant tackles contentious issue of drafting new constitution

9 March 2012 / TODAY’S ZAMAN, Ä°STANBUL

As this year’s Abant Platform tackles the pressing issue of shaping
Turkey’s new constitution, a wide spectrum of intellectuals, lawyers,
political leaders and journalists are discussing the problematic areas
of, and proposing solutions to, the constitutional drafting process.
`Deliberations should continue with the spirit of respecting each
other’s thoughts on a given topic. What I say might be right but what
another person says might be right, too,’ said Parliament Speaker
Cemil �içek, who heads the parliamentary Constitutional Reconciliation
Commission, at the opening of the 26th Abant meeting, held from March
9 to 11 in the northwestern province of Bolu. `Somebody says forget it
if the constitution does not include a specific sentence. This is an
aggressive attitude, not one of compromise. Everybody should think
about what happens next in Turkey if no way of compromise is found. It
would not be a process of positive development for the country,’ he
added. �içek said they are not giving directions at the commission
about the way the constitution will be but collect thoughts and ideas.
`It is not the commission but the people who should write the
constitution. We are making it happen, not writing it,’ he said,
stressing the need for the four parties in Parliament to commit
themselves to making it happen.

After the commission collects the views of individuals and
institutions, a draft text will be prepared as of May 1 after which
the opinion of Parliament and the public will be taken again. As a
final step, the necessary changes will be made to the draft text and
presented to Parliament for approval and then to a public referendum.
Levent Köker, a constitutional professor who is the current chairman
of the Abant Platform, said the Parliament that was established after
last year’s June 12 elections represent more than 90 percent of the
society.

`They cannot remain deaf to society’s call for a new constitution,’ he
said in reference to the support from the society to get rid of the
shackles put in place by the country’s 1982 Constitution, which was
passed following the Sept. 12, 1980 military coup, restricting
freedoms. `The debate is going to liven up since the contents of the
constitution will be actively debated soon,’ he added.

Mustafa YeÅ?il, who heads the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV),
which has organized the Abant Platform since 1998, said Turkey needs a
new constitution. `As we enter spring and leaving behind winter, we
hope that cold days will be taken over by warm days,’ he said at the
meeting on Friday.

Also at the meeting was ErdoÄ?an Toprak, the opposition Republican
People’s Party (CHP) deputy chairman. `Here we have the opportunity to
make a new constitution if we want a more democratic regime,’ he said.
`However, we should look at issues not only from our side but from
others’ point of view as well in the process.’

The concept of citizenship and how to describe the issue of
citizenship in the new constitution were discussed at the Abant
Platform’s first panel discussion on Friday. In that regard,
Galatasaray University lecturer Birol Caymaz said the description of
citizenship should be inclusive.

On the same line, Rober KoptaÅ?, the editor-in-chief of the
Turkish-Armenian Agos weekly, said he wants to forget that he is an
Armenian.

`Conditions in Turkey constantly remind me that I am an Armenian. This
is a painful fact that I cannot escape from. I’d like to feel that I
belong to this land, and I want to get lost in the crowds. The new
constitution should promise that future to us,’ he said, adding that
Turkey’s Armenians do not want to be treated any differently than
others but just want to be treated as equal citizens.

`Armenians here believe they are second-class citizens. Minority
rights should be guaranteed not with international agreements but with
a consensus in society above those international agreements,’ he also
said.

Speaking on the same topic, Gazi University lecturer Vedat Bilgin said
a definition of `democratic citizenship’ could be the key for solving
problems in relation to citizenship. `The new constitution should
protect micro identities and at the same time allow a macro
transformation,’ he said.

Orhan MiroÄ?lu, a Kurdish writer, said on the same issue, `We should
seek answers to how to keep many identities together. Not meeting
demands is threatening for people. If we don’t solve this problem with
a new constitution, it’s possible that different identities will seek
ways to part ways.’

Participants of the Abant Platform will examine the constitutional
process under the headings of `mother tongue education,’ `local
governments in the balance of a unitary state and autonomy,’ `freedom
of religion,’ `religious education,’ and `the position of the
president in the Constitution.’

Former Supreme Court of Appeals President Sami Selçuk and academics
from various universities and journalists from Turkey’s many dailies
will lead the discussions.

As with every Abant meeting, the platform will release a summary
declaration arising from the discussions’ conclusions. The Abant
Platform is an independent think tank that takes its name from Lake
Abant in the province of Bolu, the location of its first meeting. It
is one of the most well-known programs of the GYV, which was
established in 1994. Its mission and work were inspired by the GYV’s
honorary president, Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.

ianyan magazine
March 9 2012

In Armenia, Gender Discrimination Just a Scratch Beneath Surface

Features – By Victoria Rovira Infante on March 9, 2012 12:00AM

A while back, I was chatting with Naira, an Armenian friend of mine,
who was pregnant at the time. I was asking her whether she and her
husband had picked a name for the baby yet, if they knew which
hospital they would be going to, etc. You know, pregnancy talk. Then
I asked whether her husband would be allowed to stay in the delivery
room, assuming that she would want him at her side. Naira, whom I
consider to be an educated person, was confused by my question… she
replied with a question of her own: `Why would he want to stay?’

To an outsider looking in for the first time, Armenian women seem to
be liberated, especially when compared to women in neighboring Muslim
countries; they can generally dress as they please and go where they
like without fear of persecution or assault, have access to health
care (including birth control) and higher education, and can freely
participate in democratic processes. But a mere scratch on the surface
is enough to reveal that this land is steeped in old-fashioned, macho
values and crisscrossed with clear boundaries separating the roles and
expectations of men and women.

Aside from newsworthy cases of discrimination and domestic violence,
like the infamous 2010 tragedy of Zaruhi Petrosyan, there are
countless instances of blatant sexism that occur every day, unnoticed
and undocumented, for they are seen as nothing unusual. And in some
situations, this mindset leads to discrimination against males as well
as females – locals and foreigners alike.

Most hospitals here don’t permit husbands in the delivery room when
their wives are in labor.

I learned about this policy when an American friend of mine had to
shell out hundreds of U.S. dollars to convince the nurses to let him
remain with his Armenian wife as she delivered their first child in
March 2009. They gave in and let him stay, but kicked him out shortly
after the birth, and he basically didn’t see his wife and newborn son
until they were discharged and he took them home three days later. It
was his story that prompted me to ask Naira about her choice of
hospital when she was expecting. Imagine my dismay at her response.

A lot of people are familiar with the double-standard imposed upon
young men and women – that is, a girl is expected to remain a virgin
until her wedding night, although a boy is expected to enter marriage
with some level of sexual experience – because it is a phenomenon not
unique to this country. Slightly less known, or perhaps just
less-talked about, is the frequency of male infidelity in Armenian
marriages. For example, a female friend relates the following
anecdote:

`I went to a popular disco one night and danced with a guy named
Artur, and we hit it off right away. We started seeing each other
casually, and over drinks one evening, he told me he was really
excited because his wife was pregnant! I didn’t even know he was
married, but apparently, he wasn’t trying to hide that fact.
Obviously, I broke up with him, but what is still so strange to me is
the fact that he felt absolutely no shame in what he was doing.’

Incredibly, I have heard similar stories from other single women,
mostly expats and Western volunteers. Some, who have been here longer
than I have, tell me that such conduct is culturally acceptable. After
speaking to a number of locals and foreigners about this, what I
gather is that many Armenian husbands actually have so much `respect’
for their wives, they consider them sacred, and would never make them
do `dirty’ sexual acts…only gentle love-making and intercourse for the
sake of procreation.

They prefer to satisfy their more carnal desires with another
girlfriend or prostitute and thereby keep their marriage pure and holy
(when in fact, this is how they transmit STDs to their wives). In many
instances, such as when the wife is pregnant or has recently given
birth, this behavior – like pre-marital intercourse – may even be
expected of them. Meanwhile, there is plenty of discussion about what
happens to Armenian women who have extra-marital sex.

Having conversations with the average person here can sometimes feel
like stepping back in time, and not in a good way. When I mentioned to
a colleague the other day that I allow my son to paint his nails
occasionally, she expressed concern: `Aren’t you worried he might like
it?’ No, obviously, I’m not worried, and yes, obviously, he does like
it. So what? It’s a phase, and truthfully, it’s already passed.

This seemingly insignificant dialogue made me wonder about something
much larger. I’ve always been under the impression that parents want
to give their children the whole world, so how can one say to one’s
child, `No, you can only have this half of the world’? This is the
very attitude that leads to misogyny, homophobia, bullying, and
violence against children and adults in schools, in the military, in
families, and in other institutions throughout the country.

I can appreciate the need to preserve certain elements of cultural
heritage, but if it comes at the cost of suppressed individuality and
trampled dreams, is it worth it? Especially when Armenia wants so much
to be recognized as a modern, forward-thinking European nation.
Clinging desperately to harmful `traditional’ values will not get her
there.

So when I want to understand the problems caused by sexual inequality
in Armenia, there’s no longer any need for me to read shocking stories
about bride-napping, red apple ceremonies, and sex-selective abortions
in remote villages, or about the miserable state of sex education in
schools, employer discrimination against married and pregnant women,
and the low visibility of women in politics right here in the capital.
I already know.

As an outsider looking in, even I am not completely safe from the
far-reaching claws of bigotry in my everyday life. I know it when men,
thinking they are being polite, treat me as weak or inferior.

I know it when I raise my voice or make a cynical remark, and people
stare at me in disbelief. I know it when I can’t have an innocent
girls’ night out with my Armenian friends because their boyfriends and
husbands won’t `allow’ them to go out – so much for feelings of
superiority over Iran. The government and people of Armenia have a
long way to go if they aspire to be like France, Canada, the United
States, and other developed countries – whose people are, of course,
still fighting for equal rights themselves.

This article is part of a series written in honor of International Women’s Day

A first-generation Filipino American, Victoria Rovira Infante was born
and raised in the Washington, D.C. area and has also lived extensively
in Florida and California. She earned her B.A. in English and a minor
degree in Environmental Science from the University of South Florida
in 2005. In 2008, she and her husband moved to Yerevan, Armenia to
teach full time at an international school, where their young son is
also a student. She enjoys discovering the past (and therefore, the
present and future) through both travel and the multi-faceted,
ever-evolving written word.

Political News
March 9 2012

Sens. Scott Brown, Feinstein, Kirk Lead Senate Effort To Fight For
Religious Rights In Turkey

Senators introduced the Return of the Churches Resolution,which calls
on the Government of Turkey to return all churches and places of
worship to their rightful owners end all religious discrimination

PoliticalNews.me – Mar 09,2012 – Sens. Scott Brown, Feinstein, Kirk
Lead Senate Effort To Fight For Religious Rights In Turkey

Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Scott Brown (R-MA), Dianne Feinstein
(D-CA), and Mark Kirk (R-IL) introduced the Return of the Churches
Resolution, which calls on the Government of Turkey to return all
churches and places of worship to their rightful owners and end all
forms of religious discrimination.

`Religious liberty is a core value of our democracy and I believe we
should stand for the rights of people of faith around the world,’ said
Senator Brown. `I am proud to lead this effort to speak out for those
who are suffering discrimination in Turkey.’

`Freedom of religion is one of our most cherished values,’ said
Senator Feinstein. `This resolution is a simple but clear statement of
support for Christian communities in Turkey who should be able to
practice their faith freely.’

“This resolution sends an unequivocal message to the Government of
Turkey that it must respect the rights of its Christian minority and
reaffirms America’s commitment to religious freedom around the world,”
said a spokesperson for Senator Kirk.

“I join with Armenian Americans from across the Commonwealth in
sharing our gratitude with Senator Brown for his leadership, along
with Senator Feinstein, in championing religious liberty and the
return by Turkey of stolen Christian church properties,” said George
Aghjayan, a Westminster, Massachusetts, resident who serves as
Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America, Eastern United
States. “In introducing the Return of Churches resolution in the
Senate, they are building on the overwhelming bipartisan adoption of
this freedom of faith measure by the House, and increasing pressure on
the Administration to reaffirm – in both words and concrete actions-our
nation’s fundamental commitment to the return of religious sites to
their rightful owners. We look forward to working with Senator Brown
and his colleagues in support of the timely adoption of this
resolution.”

Specifically, the Return of the Churches Resolution calls on the U.S.
Secretary of State to emphasize in all official contacts that the
Government of Turkey should end all forms of religious discrimination,
return all Christian churches and other places of worship to their
rightful owners, and allow owners of Christian churches to preserve,
reconstruct, and repair churches and other places of worship as they
see fit.

According to the Congressional Research Service, between `1915 and the
establishment of the Turkish republic in 1923, the Ottoman Empire
adopted a policy during World War I… to deport most of its Armenian
population from Anatolia… The abandoned properties of the
Armenians – including those belonging to Armenian Orthodox, Catholic,
and Protestant churches – were largely confiscated by the state and
either retained or redistributed to its Muslim inhabitants.’

Turkey remains on the 2011 `Watch List’ of the United States
Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). The USCIRF
stated in its 2011 report that `the Turkish government continues to
impose significant restrictions on [religious minorities’] rights to
own, maintain, and transfer both communal and individual property, and
to control internal governance, and to train religious clergy. These
kinds of restrictions have led to a critical shrinkage of these
communities, and in many cases, make it impossible for these religious
institutions to chart a sustainable and vibrant future for
themselves.’

The Return of the Churches Resolution passed the House of
Representatives in late 2011 by voice vote and with broad bipartisan
support.

ITAR-TASS, Russia
March 8, 2012 Thursday 05:04 AM GMT+4

Sarkozy vows to secure adoption of law condemning genocide of Armenians

PARIS March 8

French President Nicholas Sarkozy has promised that he would secure
the adoption of a law introducing criminal punishment for denying the
genocide of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the
20th century.

He declared this intention at a meeting with representatives of the
Armenian community at the Elysee Palace.

“The Armenian community, like any other, has the right to legal
protection from negationism (illegitimate historical revisionism –
Itar-Tass). Therefore I have asked the government to draft a new
version of the document. I promise you I shall be prepared to bring
this undertaking to a logical outcome,” Sarkozy said, adding that he
would not backtrack even despite the decision by the Constitutional
Council.

At the end of February the French parliament voted for a bill
introducing a punishment of up to one year in prison or a fine of
45,000 euros for denying any cases of genocide, recognized by the
country’s government.

However, the Constitutional Court ruled that the bill was
unconstitutional and violated the right to the freedom of speech.

Canadian Museum For Human Rights to focus on Armenian Genocide

March 9, 2012 – 13:15 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Breaking the Silence gallery of Canadian Museum For
Human Rights will focus particularly on the five genocides officially
recognized by Canada’s Parliament, including the Armenian Genocide.
The gallery will highlight Diaspora communities in Canada who have
successfully fought to break the silence regarding genocides against
their group, according to the letter submitted by the Museum to
Canadian politician of Armenian descent Sarkis Assadourian.

`…Given your experience as a Member of Parliament during the time
the Armenian Genocide was officially recognized by the Government of
Canada, we would be honored if you would be willing to meet with us to
discuss your experiences and insights into breaking the silence about
the Armenian Genocide,” the letter reads.

In this context, Mr. Assadourian expressed appreciation and gratitude
to Prime Minister of the country Stephen Harper, the Government of
Canada for their moral and financial support towards the realization
of this unique project.

Sarkis Assadourian, politician from the Liberal Party of Canada,
became the first Armenian-Canadian to be elected to the House of
Commons, with great support of the Armenian community of Toronto.

Assadourian was first elected as member for Don Valley North in 1993.
In 1997 he moved seats to Brampton Centre. Generally considered a
Chrétien loyalist, he did not run in the 2004 election after the
election of Paul Martin as leader. The Liberal Party candidate was
instead Ruby Dhalla.

Mr. Assadourian has always been an active member of Armenian community
in Canada. He initiated a number of pro-Armenian resolutions and
projects both in the country’s parliament and community circles,
simultaneously backing the Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission
(TARC).

Realistic Cooperation with NATO

ARMAN GALOYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 17:38:24 – 09/03/2012

The deputy minister of defense Davit Tonoyan has held different
positions in the NATO Allied Command Operations staff. In 2004 he was
appointed representative of the RA Armed Forces to NATO. Lragir.am
held an interview with Davit Tonoyan on NATO-Armenia relations

You were the representative of the RA Armed Forces to NATO for many
years. Now Armenia merely implements different programs with NATO,
without being a member of this alliance. In your opinion, is the
membership of Armenia to NATO expedient for Armenia?

Before dwelling on the main question, I would like to note that
Armenia is not merely implementing different programs with NATO as you
say but participates in the International Security Assistance led by
NATO, sometimes outnumbering the troops of some NATO member states,
provides structured advice on political, security and defense issues,
organizes military exercise, and recently the first North-Atlantic
Council + Armenia meeting has been held in which the president of
Armenia participated. We have high-level relations with NATO, and the
implemented programs are systemic and are related to the defense
reforms in Armenia. In more general terms, I can state that we
participate in cooperative security with NATO. As to collective
security, the results of evaluation of the security climate and
threats now and in the foreseeable future show that it is possible to
fulfill this through membership to the CSTO on the basis of the
Armenian-Russian strategic alliance. There are several circumstances
which make collective security within NATO unrealistic.

Georgia indents to join NATO, Turkey is a member of NATO. So is it
expedient to join the CSTO instead of NATO?

In terms of its capacity and abilities NATO is an effective security
organization in the world but in terms of national interests Armenia
conducts a realistic and multi-vector policy. An important
circumstance is often ignored. The membership of Armenia and other
countries to the alliance does not depend only on the wish of that
country, it must be agreed by all the member states. As you mentioned
Georgia, the example of Georgia shows that the will of one country or
even several countries is not enough to join NATO. All the suggested
political preconditions of all the member states must be met.

Certainly, if Georgia joins NATO in future, it will bring about
certain new geopolitical realities to the region, and as a state we
need to take this factor into account.

For the sake of the full regional security pattern, we should not
forget to note that we have two other bordering states which are not
NATO members. We do not have diplomatic relations with them, and on
top of all, we hear daily threats from them. NATO neighborhood does
not necessarily suppose membership. Over 40 non-members cooperate with
NATO, 5 are in Western Europe, another 7 do not have common borders
with NATO members however Cooperative Security satisfies their
national interests. Among them are Switzerland and Austria.

What hinders Armenia’s membership to NATO? For instance, one of the
representatives of the political forces stated that we cannot walk
towards NATO unless Turkey, a NATO member, carries on the blockade of
Armenia.

As I said, in the process of membership the preconditions are set by
the accepting side, not the applicant. Since there is no wish for
membership and subsequently a process, I think it is unnecessary to
talk about the obstacles.

In regard to Turkey, I would like to note that this country does not
bring about serious obstacles for NATO-Armenia practical cooperation
though the complicated relations with the latter have a negative
impact on the social rating of Armenia. At the same time, the issue of
membership has not been raised by Armenia, therefore no obstacles on
behalf of Turkey cannot be concerned.

Is Russia an obstacle to NATO membership?

Since there is no way to it, I leave it up to theoreticians to discuss
the obstacles. But I would like to advise theoreticians to view the
security of Armenia from the point of view of our common interests and
political priorities with the CSTO and NATO rather than a
confrontation between them. We can see them in the practical plane.

In your opinion, is the CSTO a more effective security system than NATO?

If we are in the CSTO, it means that the CSTO is an effective system
of ensuring security. Moreover, we do everything to make it more
dynamic. This year the military training of the CSTO fast reaction
forces will be held, and we will have the possibility to check the
effectiveness of activities of the past few years.

By the way, the issue of NATO membership is not discussed at a state
level or at the level of political forces, nor is it in public
discussions. Why is it so? We do not understand its importance or
value?

Today the absence of the prospect of NATO membership in the agenda of
the main political and social forces of Armenia is evidence to the
realistic understanding of the political realities by the political
forces and the society. There are no premises for even theoretical
discussions.

We appreciate NATO. Moreover, we can see its importance in
implementing large-scale reforms, development and capacity building in
the armed forces, cooperation with NATO is realistic, predictable and
effective.

FRANCE
Des milliers de Kurdes manifestent à Strasbourg pour la libération d’Öcalan

Des milliers de Kurdes ont manifesté samedi à Strasbourg pour demander
la libération du chef historique du Parti des travailleurs du
Kurdistan (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, détenu en Turquie depuis 1999, et
interpeller les pays européens.

Selon la préfecture, ils étaient `entre 9.500 et 10.000` près de la
gare de Strasbourg au départ de la manifestation, qui devait parcourir
plusieurs kilomètres avant un rassemblement en début d’après-midi dans
un quartier du sud de la ville.

D’autres participants devaient ensuite rejoindre le cortège, ont
affirmé les organisateurs, qui tablent sur `30.000 personnes`, venant
de toute l’Europe, et surtout de France et de l’Allemagne voisine.

Cette manifestation est organisée tous les ans à Strasbourg pour
commémorer l’arrestation en février 1999 d’Abdullah Öcalan, détenu en
Turquie.

Sur les nombreuses banderoles brandies par les manifestants, en
anglais, français ou encore en allemand, on pouvait notamment lire :
`La liberté d’Öcalan est celle du peuple kurde` ou encore `Paix au
Kurdistan`.

`Il faut libérer Öcalan, c’est un personnage incontournable si on veut
parvenir à la paix`, a dit à l’AFP Eyyup Dorus, représentant en Europe
du parti turc pro-kurde BDP (Parti pour la paix et la démocratie).

`La situation des Kurdes en Turquie se dégrade, les arrestations se
multiplient, l’Europe ne doit pas cautionner ça`, a-t-il ajouté,
expliquant le choix d’une manifestation à Strasbourg par la présence
du Conseil de l’Europe, de la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme et
du Parlement européen.

Cette manifestation, `c’est un appel à la communauté internationale et
notamment aux pays européens`, a dit une autre porte-parole des
manifestants, Yurtsever Tekiner, de la confédération des associations
kurdes d’Europe.

Quelque 200 militants kurdes avaient déjà manifesté jeudi devant le
Parlement européen. La moitié d’entre eux avaient gagné Strasbourg à
pied, à l’occasion d’une marche de près de 400 km en provenance de
Genève.

Les affrontements entre l’armée turque et le parti séparatiste PKK se
sont intensifiés ces derniers mois. Le conflit kurde en Turquie a fait
des dizaines de milliers de morts depuis le début de l’insurrection en
1984 du PKK, considéré comme une organisation terroriste par la
Turquie et de nombreux pays.

vendredi 9 mars 2012,
Stéphane ©armenews.com

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Jan 10 2012

Senators Urge U.S. Secretary of State to Adopt Anti-Turkish Resolution

Saturday, 10 March 2012

Several U.S. senators urged U.S. Secretary of State to adopt
anti-Turkish resolution, said in Senator Scott Brown’s page on the
website of the U.S. Senate.

Senators Brown, Feinstein and Kirk urged Secretary of State to
strengthen the fight against religious discrimination in Turkey on
March 8.

The draft resolution provides the return of churches and temples to
“rightful owners” and the cessation of all forms of discrimination on
religious grounds.

“This resolution sends an unambiguous signal to the Government of
Turkey that it must respect the rights of Christian minorities, and
reaffirms America’s commitment to religious freedom around the world,”
a spokesman for Senator Kirk said.

The draft resolution also calls Turkey to return all confiscated
church property, as well as churches, monasteries and holy places and
personal property, i.e. works of art, manuscripts, church plates, etc.

Senators also urge to call Turkey not to restrict the freedom of the
Armenian and Greek churches in religious matters.

Saturday, 10 March 2012

Source: Trend AZ

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
March 10 2012

Russian gas transit through Georgia to Armenia stopped for a few days

Because of an accident at a section of the North-South Georgia
pipeline (MG) the transit of Russian gas to Armenia was temporarily
stopped, ITAR-TASS reported. This was announced today by the Minister
of Energy and Natural Resources of Georgia, Aleko Khetaguri. He, along
with the Director General of Oil and Gas Corporation of Georgia
(CNGG), Zurab Janjgava, visited the scene of the accident.

Khetaguri said that the accident was caused by a landslide near the
village of Mamkoda in the Mtskheta District. According to him, “a
landslide damaged a gas main on-site welding of pipes, to repair the
damage we need to cut out the damaged section and replace it with a
new one, which takes several days.” “Work on clearing up the accident
has already been initiated, presumably the transit of Russian gas to
Armenia will be restored in the evening of March 12, at the most
extreme – the morning of March 13,” Khetaguri said.

In turn, Janjgava told reporters that the incident “will not affect
the gas supply to the population of Georgia, as the main gas supply is
intended only for Armenia.”

It should be noted that in recent years Georgia’s gas supply comes
almost entirely from gas supplies from Azerbaijan. Georgia does not
receive gas directly from Russia. In accordance with a previously
signed agreement between Georgia and Russia, Georgia, as payment for
transit of Russian gas to Armenia receives about 10% of its amount.
This 10% is about 10% of the gas in the country – the remaining 90%
comes from Azerbaijan to Georgia.

The suspension of Russian gas transit through Georgia is not a problem
for the gas supply to Armenia, as this country has a gas storage
facility, which can provide the country with gas for nearly two
months.

Targeted News Service
March 9, 2012 Friday 9:31 PM EST

Feinstein Calls for Religious Freedom in Turkey

The office of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., issued the following
news release:

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) joined with Senators Scott Brown
(R-MA), and Mark Kirk (R-IL) to introduce the Return of the Churches
Resolution, which calls on the Government of Turkey to return all
churches and places of worship to their rightful owners and end all
forms of religious discrimination.

“Freedom of religion is one of our most cherished values,” said
Senator Feinstein. “This resolution is a simple but clear statement of
support for Christian communities in Turkey who should be able to
practice their faith freely.”

“Religious liberty is a core value of our democracy and I believe we
should stand for the rights of people of faith around the world,” said
Senator Brown. “I am proud to lead this effort to speak out for those
who are suffering discrimination in Turkey.”
“This resolution sends an unequivocal message to the Government of
Turkey that it must respect the rights of its Chris-tian minority and
reaffirms America’s commitment to religious freedom around the world,”
said a spokesperson for Senator Kirk.
“I join with Armenian Americans from across the Commonwealth in
sharing our gratitude with Senator Brown for his leadership, along
with Senator Feinstein, in championing religious liberty and the
return by Turkey of stolen Christian church properties,” said George
Aghjayan, a Westminster, Massachusetts, resident who serves as
Chairman of the Ar-menian National Committee of America, Eastern
United States. “In introducing the Return of Churches resolution in
the Senate, they are building on the overwhelming bipartisan adoption
of this freedom of faith measure by the House, and increasing pressure
on the Administration to reaffirm–in both words and concrete
actions-our nation’s fundamental commitment to the return of religious
sites to their rightful owners. We look forward to working with
Senator Brown and his colleagues in support of the timely adoption of
this resolution.”

Specifically, the Return of the Churches Resolution calls on the U.S.
Secretary of State to emphasize in all official con-tacts that the
Government of Turkey should end all forms of religious discrimination,
return all Christian churches and other places of worship to their
rightful owners, and allow owners of Christian churches to preserve,
reconstruct, and repair churches and other places of worship as they
see fit.

According to the Congressional Research Service, between “1915 and the
establishment of the Turkish republic in 1923, the Ottoman Empire
adopted a policy during World War I… to deport most of its Armenian
population from Anatolia… The abandoned properties of the
Armenians–including those belonging to Armenian Orthodox, Catholic,
and Protes-tant churches–were largely confiscated by the state and
either retained or redistributed to its Muslim inhabitants.”

Turkey remains on the 2011 “Watch List” of the United States
Commission on International Religious Freedom (US-CIRF). The USCIRF
stated in its 2011 report that “the Turkish government continues to
impose significant restrictions on [religious minorities’] rights to
own, maintain, and transfer both communal and individual property, and
to control internal governance, and to train religious clergy. These
kinds of restrictions have led to a critical shrinkage of these
communities, and in many cases, make it impossible for these religious
institutions to chart a sustainable and vibrant future for
themselves.”

The Return of the Churches Resolution passed the House of
Representatives in late 2011 by voice vote and with broad bipartisan
support.