Author: Kalantarian Kevo

TURKISH PARLIAMENT SPEAKER WARNS FRANCE ON ARMENIAN RESOLUTION

Anadolu Agency
Dec 19 2011
Turkey

Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek said regarding a French
resolution which criminalizes the rejection of Armenian allegations
on 1915 incidents that if the resolution was adopted, France would
pay its cost high.

Cicek told reporters on Monday that he sent a letter to his French
counterpart last week which conveyed Turkey’s concerns about the
issue and also condemned the stance of France.

He added that a Turkish Parliamentary delegation had been in France
since yesterday regarding this issue.

Noting that Turkey had comprehensive relations which were rooted in
the past with France, Cicek said that attempts to adopt resolutions
on parliamentary level regarding historical matters were only
exploitations by domestic politics.

It is necessary to avoid such attempts only to gain a few more votes
in the elections, he added.

ARMENIAN LOBBY IMPEDES US INTERESTS – THE WASHINGTON POST

Vestnik Kavkaza
Dec 20 2011
Russia

The Washington Post has published an article of Fred Hiatt about
the role of Armenian lobby in impeding realization US interests,
1news.az reports.

US President Barack Obama sent a high-skilled diplomat as ambassador
to Azerbaijan but returned him in a month. Failed appointment of
Matthew Bryza is a demonstration of political moves. The story starts
in the oil-rich Azerbaijan, a republic on the Caspian Sea coast with
a population of 8 million people, mainly Muslims. Its competitor is
Armenia with a population of 3 million, mainly Christians.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Armenia was expected to follow a
scenario of successful development, due to its cultural identity and
loyal communities in the US, France and other states. Yet, its poor
economy resulted in the country taking the 141th position in the list
of the poorest states with an income per capita of $5700 annually.

Armenia failed to settle conflicts with Azerbaijan and Turkey.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and two pro-Armenian
US republican senators Barbara Boxer and Robert Menendez disapproved
Bryza as the ambassador. They were dragging the appointment in 2010,
neglecting his professional skills. John F. Kerry, Chairman of the
Committee for Foreign Affairs, a democrat from Massachusetts, has
not ordered hearings.

Menendez noted Bryza’s refusal to recognize Armenian Genocide of
Turkey as a reason for not approving him as ambassador. Boxer said
that Bryza is not devoted to stopping Azerbaijani agression.

36 diplomats, including Thomas Pickering and Nicolas Berns, former
Deputy Secretaries of State, published a letter where Bryza was called
the perfect ambassador.

WHY DON’T THE ARMENIAN “EPP PARTIES” DO THEIR HOMEWORK?

Mediamax
Dec 17 2011
Armenia

Dr Michael Kambeck
Secretary General of European Friends of Armenia (EuFoA)

Last week in Marseille, three Armenian parties made a step towards
closer co-operation with the European People’s Party (EPP). For those
who don’t know the relevance of such party alliances, it is worth
reading the last weekend edition of the Financial Times. There, the
analysis of the complete defeat of the British Prime Minister Cameron
during the EU summit was explained mainly with his own decision of
2009 to lead his party out of the EPP into a more nationalistic block.

Most European party alliances, especially the EPP, the Socialists and
the Liberals, gather in party co-ordination conferences before they
arrive at such summits. While Merkel, Sarkozy and hundreds of EPP MEPs
and national MPs decided their strategy in Marseille before the summit,
Cameron was the only Head of Government who came to the Brussels summit
without “friends” – and then could not find support for his ideas.

So, being member of such an alliance means real power, real exchange
of information and access to key European politicians. That is why it
was right for the four Armenian parties (Republican Party, Prosperous
Armenia, Heritage and Rule of Law) to seek observer membership in
this family, just as the ANC the Liberals and Dashnaktsutyun with
the Socialists. But what I keep asking myself is: Why don’t they do
their homework?

While the Armenian President’s visit in Marseille showed great
commitment and even helped the candidature of the smaller applicants,
the misalignments in the Council of Europe have for years been
a known obstacle to the EPP membership and remain unresolved. In
that European institution, David Harutyunyan (RP) is aligned to the
European Democrat Group, while Gagik Baghdasaryan (Rule of Law), Armen
Melikyan and Naira Zohrabyan (both Prosperous Armenia) are all in ALDE
(Liberals). This is like saying that you want to join the church of
Holy Echmiadzin but on Sundays people see you in a mosque.

Prosperous Armenia was rejected mainly because the EPP does not
believe that it is a real party, but more a platform for party
chairman Tsarukyan. Given their known criteria, this reaction should
have been expected. If Prosperous Armenia wanted to join, why didn’t
they prepare a party conference with a European focus, demonstrating
their inner democracy, demonstrating that the party would continue
to exist even if the chairman would one day leave and deciding their
European agenda? Similar actions would also help the other parties and
at the same time clarify for the Armenian voters the parties’ views on
Europe – and such clarity is always good ahead of an upcoming election.

European Friends of Armenia has always supported Armenian alignments
with European parties. We strongly hope that the EPP in February
will decide positively. If the parties do their homework, the chances
will be good. Like the alignments of other parties with other groups,
this would certainly be good for them and for Armenia.

Dr Michael Kambeck is the Secretary General of European Friends of
Armenia (EFoA). These views are his own.

HAYK DEMOYAN: 2015 IS NOT THE END OF THE STRUGGLE FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

Mediamax
Dec 19 2011
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Acting Director of the Armenian Genocide
Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan stated today that the process of
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide can~Rt be stopped.

Speaking about the N 306 resolution adopted by the U.S. House of
Representatives and the French parliament~Rs possible adoption of
law on criminalization of denial of the Armenian Genocide, Hayk
Demoyan noted that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is a
prolonged process and isn~Rt subject to Turkey~Rs desire and denial,
Mediamax reports.

Hayk Demoyan noted that 2015, the year of the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, is not the end of the struggle. According to him,
genocides don~Rt have periods of limitation.

Hayk Demoyan thought the combination of efforts made by Armenia,
Diaspora, foreign specialists and academic circles important in the
struggle for recognition of the Armenian Genocide on the threshold
of the 100th anniversary.

He also stressed the need for introducing a joint subject about the
Armenian Genocide in the schools of Armenia and Diaspora.

Within next 3 years, the Genocide Museum-Institute will organize 30
mobile exhibitions in dozens of cities of the world as part of the
events devoted to the 100th anniversary.

AZERBAIJAN APPROACHES KARABAKH THROUGH WALL, ARMENIA THROUGH ROAD – EXPERT

news.am
Dec 19 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Based on Azerbaijani and Armenian approaches, their
position on Karabakh conflict is clear, political scientist Aleksandr
Iskandaryan told the journalists on Monday commenting on the decision
of constructive projects between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

To note, Azerbaijan declared building walls along the conflict line
of Nagorno-Karabakh Armed Forces, whereas, Armenia intends to build
the second, north road in Karabakh.

“Thus, we can account on conflict approaches. The border is temporary
and it cannot be outlined by walls. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan
understand that Karabakh is forever,” Iskandaryan said.

According to the expert, Azerbaijani rhetoric has also changed. The
aggression has significantly reduced, military statements has also
changed. Azerbaijan has understood that military statements will hardly
lead to something, while peace negotiations will not promise something
progressive as well. Thus, the conflict may prolong for a long time,
the expert stated.

H. DEMOYAN: PROCESS FAILED WITH A DOC. WE’VE SIGNED

Panorama
Dec 19 2011
Armenia

“I think Turkey has proved another time its unpredictable nature. A
new similar document with Turkey is unreasonable but the process
cannot move forward with the document we’ve already signed. Thus, our
signature should be called back,” Hayk Demoyan, director of Armenian
Genocide Museum-Institute, said in a news conference referring to
Armenian-Turkish protocols, which according to him are dead.

He has said Armenian-Turkish protocols are failed because of Turkey.

The international community, according to him, also says Turkey pushes
unacceptable terms.

ARMENIAN GAS SUPPLY THROUGH GEORGIA RESTORED

Vestnik Kavkaza
Dec 19 2011
Russia

The Georgian gas transport company has restored the gas supply
to Armenia after maintenance activities on the North Caucasus –
Trans-Caucasus pipeline, Trend cites ArmRosgazprom as saying.

The supply started on December 18 at 11.45 am. It was stopped on
December 16 due to restoration on the 67-68th km section of the
pipeline (diameter 1000 mm).

Gas supplies in Armenia were not restricted.

ArmRosgazprom is the monopolist in supply and distribution of Russian
natural gas in Armenia. Gas arrives through Georgia. The company
was founded in 1997, its shareholders are Gazprom and the Armenian
Ministry for Energy and Natural Resources.

Azg: No room for Turkey in EU
11:09 – 14.12.11

Turkish mass media reported Dec. 13 that, in responding to questions
by Le Monde, French President said his “reservations have not
changed.”

The European Union is primarily for the European continent. “To my
knowledge, our Turkish friends, a great power, a great nation, are
mainly in Asia Minor,” the French leader said.

“I wish we had the best relations with Turkey, of course. It has an
important role to play in the world, a role of bridge between East and
West,” Sarkozy said.

Tert.am

Le Monde, France
18 décembre 2011 dimanche

En Turquie, protestations officielles contre la France avant un vote
au Palais-Bourbon sur le génocide arménien

Guillaume Perrier

L’Assemblée nationale examine la possible pénalisation de la négation
du génocide de 1915

Les relations franco-turques menacent de connaître une nouvelle
période de turbulences. Dans une lettre envoyée vendredi 16 décembre
au président de la République, Nicolas Sarkozy, le premier ministre
turc, Recep Tayyip Erdogan a averti Paris des ” graves conséquences ”
pour les relations bilatérales, ” sur le plan politique, économique et
culturel “, qu’impliquerait l’adoption d’une loi pénalisant la
négation du génocide arménien. L’Assemblée nationale française doit
examiner, le 22 décembre, une proposition de loi déposée par la
députée (UMP) Valérie Boyer, fruit du travail d’un avocat de
Marseille, Philippe Kirkorian, selon laquelle toute personne qui
nierait ou contesterait le génocide des Arméniens de l’Empire ottoman
par le gouvernement nationaliste Jeune Turc en 1915 serait passible
d’un an de prison et de 45 000 euros d’amende.

Le ministre turc des affaires étrangères, Ahmet Davutoglu, a dénoncé
cette semaine la ” mentalité moyengeuse ” de la France et les ”
calculs électoralistes du président Sarkozy”.

La diplomatie turque ne veut pas, pour le moment, parler de sanctions,
évoquant seulement un éventuel rappel de l’ambassadeur à Paris pour
consultations, ” une mesure de routine “. S’il était adopté par les
députés, le texte devrait encore passer devant le Sénat, qui avait
rejeté une proposition de loi similaire, en mai, ainsi que le
souhaitait l’Elysée. Comme, depuis, le Sénat a changé de majorité, le
résultat du vote pourrait être différent. Tous les leviers de pression
se mettent en place. L’association patronale Tüsiad et l’Union des
chambres de commerce et d’industrie (TOBB) ont envoyé une délégation à
Paris pour y rencontrer des représentants du Medef. En 2006, après le
vote du texte en première lecture à l’Assemblée nationale, la Turquie
avait exclu les entreprises françaises de marchés publics et écarté
GDF d’une participation au projet de gazoduc Nabucco.

Tabou historique

Depuis l’adoption par la France, en 2001, d’une loi reconnaissant le
génocide arménien de 1915, la question s’invite régulièrement dans les
relations franco-turques. ” Malheureusement, à chaque fois que la
France entre en campagne électorale, ce type d’attitude se manifeste
de nouveau “, déplore Volkan Bozkir, président de la commission des
affaires étrangères au Parlement, qui conduira un groupe de députés
turcs devant arriver lundi 19 décembre à Paris pour deux jours de
consultations. Les intérêts économiques – les échanges se montent à 8
milliards d’euros – et la coopération culturelle pourraient ptir de
cette situation, prévient ce député du parti au pouvoir AKP. ” Ce
sujet doit être laissé aux historiens et ne peut pas être jugé par les
parlements “, estime Yusuf Halaçoglu, élu du parti nationaliste MHP et
ancien directeur de l’Institut d’histoire turque, qui a élaboré la
version officielle de l’Etat turc sur la tragédie de 1915.

La délégation turque représentera ” un Parlement à l’unisson “, selon
Osman Korotürk, député du parti kémaliste CHP et ex-ambassadeur turc
en France. Mais les députés du parti kurde BDP, favorables à une
reconnaissance du génocide arménien, ont affirmé ne pas avoir été
invités à y participer.

Vendredi, une cinquantaine de militants nationalistes du Comité Talaat
Pacha, du nom du ministre de l’intérieur qui organisa à l’époque la
déportation des Arméniens, ont manifesté devant l’ambassade de France
à Ankara.

Plus que l’hostilité, cette initiative provoque l’incompréhension en
Turquie. Et les historiens et les intellectuels qui se sont employés
ces dernières années à déverrouiller timidement le tabou historique du
génocide de 1915 craignent une poussée de fièvre contre-productive.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Dec 18 2011

Turkey toughens stance, tells France to face own `bloody history’

18 December 2011 / TODAY’S ZAMAN, ANKARA

Turkey has slammed France for what it calls attempts to judge Turkish
history before coming to terms with its own `dirty, bloody past’ and
repeated warnings of consequences in response to a bill the French
legislature is readying to vote on that would criminalize denial that
the Ottoman-era killings of Armenians in 1915 was genocide.

`Today, nobody talks about the 45,000 Algerian deaths in 1945, or the
role of France in the massacre of 800,000 people in Rwanda in 1994,’
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an said of France on Saturday
with a bitter criticism as he urged the country to face its own
history before judging the history of others with strictly political
motives. ErdoÄ?an’s strong reaction came in response to a vote by the
French Senate to criminalize denial in France of the so-called
Armenian genocide of 1915 and make it punishable by a maximum one-year
prison sentence and a 45,000 euro fine — a punishment that would
bring denial of the alleged genocide up to par with denial of the
Holocaust, the Associated Press news agency reported on Sunday.

`Those who do not wish to see genocide should take another peek at
their own dirty and bloody histories,’ ErdoÄ?an said during a joint
press conference with Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, chairman of the Libyan
National Transitional Council (NTC). This was a clear message to
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who within the months leading up to
the French presidential elections, has ratcheted up his call on Turkey
to recognize these killings as genocide and face its history. Sarkozy,
previously an opponent of the denial vote, changed his stance in
October, when he announced he would support the denial bill unless
Turkey took immediate steps to recognize the deaths as genocide.

Accusing France of insincerity due to its `attack against Turkish
history based on unfounded allegations,’ the Turkish prime minister
repeated Turkey’s official stance regarding the Armenian deaths of
1915 as an historical matter that calls for the judgment of historians
and academics rather than as a matter of politics to be voted on in
parliaments. Ankara has also raised doubts regarding Sarkozy’s motives
in changing his stance regarding the Turkish-Armenian conflict,
speculating that the French president might be seeking votes from the
strong Armenian community in France to gain an advantage over his
Socialist Party rival, François Hollande. Hollande is also a known
defender of `Armenian genocide’ and voiced throughout his election
campaign that he would support a law to make genocide denial
punishable in French courts.

`The bill is completely against common sense. The toll [in the case
the bill passes into law] will be on French firms conducting business
in Turkey,’ Turkey’s EU Affairs Minister Egemen BaÄ?ıÅ? said on
Saturday, two days after Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu
invited executives from French firms in Turkey to his ministry to
discuss the possible results of such a law for French investment in
the country. `The bill is mainly the problem of French businesses that
are trying to work in this region through bases in Turkey,’ BaÄ?ıÅ?
said, warning that the bill is sure to have financial effects that
might reach beyond Turkey.

`It is one of the nonsensical moves Sarkozy has initiated to win back
the support he has lost in France,’ the first Turkish president of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Mevlüt
Ã?avuÅ?oÄ?lu, stated as he joined ErdoÄ?an in his warning that
consequences will not be pleasant for France if it passes the denial
law, Anatolia reported on Sunday.

Ã?avuÅ?oÄ?lu also stressed that he interprets the French move as part of
an election campaign, calling out Sarkozy for `using Turkey as a tool’
towards own his political motives. `It [the law that criminalizes
denial of Armenian genocide] is first and foremost against the
principles of the council [PACE], against the principle of freedom of
thought,’ Ã?avuÅ?oÄ?lu said to highlight the discrepancy between the
French bill and European standards. He added, `You have the right to
recognize the alleged genocide, but I have the right to say it was not
genocide.’

In order to block the passage of the law through the French Senate,
which is now set to vote on it Thursday, Ankara has mobilized various
diplomatic efforts to convince the Senate to reconsider, warning of
dire political and economic consequences should the bill be passed.
ErdoÄ?an personally warned Sarkozy of `irreparable damage’ in a letter
he sent to the French president last week, Anatolia reported. A
Turkish diplomat further alerted Paris that the Turkish ambassador
would be withdrawn for an indefinite period for consultations with
Ankara, but no response has been offered by Paris so far regarding the
ambassador.

Unmoved by Ankara’s warnings, Sarkozy’s ruling party reaffirmed its
faith in the bill, expressing support for its passage. Lawmakers
interviewed by Agence France-presse (AFP) said that they were
`determined at this time’ that the bill not return from the Senate, as
it did back in 2006. France had previously brought the same bill to
the agenda five years ago, but the French Senate refused to discuss it
even though France recognized the Armenian deaths of 1915 as genocide
in 2001.

According to a Cihan news agency report on Sunday, regarding the
Turkish warnings as `blackmail,’ French Senator Philippe Kaltenbach
said, `France should not give up on its values in the face of this
[Turkey’s] attitude.’ Kaltenbach also suggested Turkey is not sincere
in its warnings, since the country issued similar statements back in
2001 when France recognized the alleged Armenian genocide, but none of
its warnings were realized. `Turkey is after the same strategy [of
issuing threats],’ Kaltenbach said.

Although modern Turkey recognizes there were a large number of
casualties during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the onset of
World War I, the country vehemently rejects allegations that there was
a systematic cleansing targeting the Armenian community in the
country, ruling the deaths casualties of civil unrest. Turkey also
claims that the casualties were from both sides, and the death toll —
estimated at more than a million by Armenia — is inflated. Several
other countries recognize the killings as genocide, including Uruguay,
Chile, Argentina, Russia, Canada, Lebanon, Belgium, Greece, Italy, the
Vatican, Switzerland, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Poland, Lithuania and
Cyprus, according to AP reports.