Author: Kalantarian Kevo

HIDDEN DANGERS OF LYDIAN INTERNATIONAL’S GOLD MINE. CYANIDE

Lragir.am
Country – 22 December 2014, 15:36

People who are concerned about the environmental issues in Armenia
one more time got convinced that the environmental examination in our
country does not serve its intended purpose, but only automatically
confirmd the political decisions that have been made for realizing
this or that program. Another evidence of this was the environmental
impact assessment report #76 given on October 17, 2014 by the Ministry
of Environmental Protection of Republic of Armenia (RA) to the mining
complex working draft presented by Lydian International/Geoteam CJSC.

There was no professional analysis and evaluation of the environmental
hazards of this mega and disastrous project done by the ministry
experts, but there was only a documentation study done and a ten-page
summary was established which doesn’t give much information to
the public.

As the authorized state bodies did not do their duties assigned to
them by the laws and decisions of the RA, we have to reflect on the
uncontrolled dangers of Amulsar mine in series of analytical short
articles, so that the public will be informed of the true situation.

In these first series of articles we will present the hidden dangers
of the method of sodium cyanide heap leach gold and silver mining.

Sodium cyanide (NaCN) is an extremely strong and fast-acting toxic
substance, which penetrates into human organism within 2-4 hours and
causes a painful death. For an adult only 0.3 grams of cyanide is a
deadly quantity. If it passes to the lungs through breathing it will
cause almost instant death within a minute.

“Geoteam” CJSC owned by Lydian International Limited, registered in
offshore zone, is planning to carry out the extraction of gold using
this highly toxic substance, only 1km away from Arpa River which feeds
the whole Vayots Dzor region, 1.2 km away from the nearest village
settlements Gndevaz and 7.6 km away from Jermuk rehabilitation center.

We should note that 2000 tons of sodium cyanide and 1,000 tons of
hydrochloric acid (HCl), will be used per year and, 18 000 tones
of cyanide, or 60 billion lethal dose during the nine years of mine
operation.

Let’s try to understand how reliable is this method and what advantages
and disadvantages it has and in general, why to use cyanide? Cyanide
leaching method has been used for more than 100 years, but only in
the last 30 years it got to be widespread, due to the possibility of
large volumes of ore processing as a result of installation of the
so-called closed systems.

Only the application of this method makes it a profitable deal to
operate mines with less than one gram per ton gold content (in the case
of Amulsar it’s 0.7-0.8 g / t). And this is the only and most important
reason why Lydian / Geoteam have chosen this method of extracting gold.

But behind the cyanide leaching method serious primary and secondary
risks are hidden which in many cases are uncontrollable. Primary
risks include fires in cyanide warehouses, accidents in technical
constructions, the emissions of toxic solvents, natural disasters,
terrorist acts and other related accidents, the consequences of which
can be very serious both for people and the environment.

The catastrophic consequences of cyanide related incidents in different
parts of the world over the last 20-25 years only confirm this claim
(Romania – 2000, 2004, Kazakhstan – 2011, Kyrgyzstan – 1998, 2004,
Russia – 1998, 2009, 2012, Ghana – 2006, Turkey – 2011, Japan 2013,
Mexico – 2014, USA, Canada, etc.).

As for the secondary risks, their nature is much more complex and
their negative impact stays forever. During the operation the gold
and silver containing ore is being crushed and as a result all of the
elements or metallic and non-metallic compounds are extracted. This
mass is processed by cyanide and water mixture, and as the result of
the chemical reaction gold is disconnected. However, cyanide comes
into reaction not only with gold but also with ore-free and many
other materials, elements and heavy metals, which result in nitrates
and other chemical compounds. In the case of Amulsar the ore contains
many precious and heavy metals such as cobalt, copper, iron, nickel,
mercury, zinc, tungsten, bismuth, chromium, lead as well as harmful
toxic elements such as arsenic, selenium, beryllium, cadmium, which
will stay in the waste and in the future will pollute and endanger
both the environment and people’s health as well as ecosystems.

Currently, the scientific world has not come up with a means of
neutralizing these compounds and hazardous wastes that are dumped
directly into the environment and forever remain as a “gift”
for generations to come. Therefore, the extraction of gold or
silver through the use of cyanide is only profitable if the mining
company does not pay any fees for the generated waste. If the future
generations attempt to neutralize the compounds and hazardous wastes,
then it will most likely cost them a lot more than the profits
generated from extraction and sale of gold. Residents of Armenia
will receive 100 million tons of extraction waste containing heavy
metals and toxic elements as a “gift” in return for 60 tons of gold
extracted from the Amulsar mine.

In response to the 2000 Romanian Baia Mare cyanide spill that resulted
in an environmental disaster, the European Parliament and the European
Council adopted Directive 2006/21/EC, which discusses the management
and regulation of waste generated by the extractive industry. Article
13 clearly prohibits the deposit of waste containing more than 10
grams of weak acid dissociable cyanide per ton into the environment.

In accordance with the requirements of Article 14, the extractive
companies are required to provide financial guarantees for clean-up,
rehabilitation and restoration of the contaminated areas after the
closure of the mine. Of course, these and many other liabilities set
by international standards have been neglected by Lydian International
Limited, Geoteam and Armenian public authorities.

We conclude that the extraction of gold through the use of cyanide is
not effective for mankind, and to permit the construction of cyanide
heap leach in the immediate vicinity of rivers and settlements is
simply insane, and the resulting effects on the environment and mankind
is not possible to predict nor to manage, not to mention the daily
environmental pollution occurring as a result of the gold extraction.

And we keep hearing verbal promises, such as “Nothing is going to
happen, “This is a safe technology, “We are working in accordance with
the international standards”, etc. Can they guarantee safety? Are we
obligated to listen to them? How can people exposed to this danger
sleep peacefully? It seems the longing for immediate profit has
blinded everyone and for the sake of profit they are ready to “play”
with cyanide. Yes, to “play” with cyanide, because it is with the
help of cyanide that they can get more money.

Pan-Armenian Environmental Front (PAEF)

DEPARTEMENT D’ETAT : LES RELATIONS AMERICANO-ARMENIENNES INCHANGEES MALGRE L’ADHESION A L’UEE

ARMENIE

La collaboration de Washington avec Erevan continuera après que
l’Armenie soit devenu officiellement membre de l’Union economique
eurasienne (UEE) a declare un porte-parole du departement d’Etat
americain.

“Les Etats-Unis vont continuer a travailler avec l’Armenie pour
soutenir les reformes democratiques et economiques et preserver
les progrès realises a travers la relation Etats-Unis-Armenie >>, a
declare Jen Psaki lors d’une conference de presse la semaine dernière.

Le porte-parole a souligne que tous les pays ont le droit de choisir
leur propre voie d’integration economique et de developpement
conformement a leurs interets nationaux.

“Aucun pays n’a le droit de determiner l’orientation politique et
economique d’un autre pays, ni decider de ces alliances et de ces
accords commerciaux” a souligne Jen Psaki.

lundi 22 decembre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

OPPOSITION GROUP BLAMES GOVERNMENT FOR LATEST ATTACK ON ACTIVIST

HUMAN RIGHTS | 22.12.14 | 13:14

Photo: Via Facebook

A new opposition movement called “100th Anniversary without the Regime”
has condemned the weekend attack on its activist, describing it as
the latest evidence that “the criminal regime is trying to cling to
power at any cost, including by means of violence.”

Civil activist Vaghinak Shushanyan said he was attacked and beaten up
by two unknown men in the center of Yerevan on Saturday evening. He
claimed it was retribution for his statements against the president
that he made during a protest near the government office earlier
that week.

The radical opposition movement that seeks a change of government
before or on April 24, when the nation will observe the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, said this was the latest
“joint step of the state administration and criminal elements to
intimidate citizens.”

Several attacks against civil activists and other public figures
known for their opposition views, including opposition lawmaker Aram
Manukyan, took place in Armenia in recent weeks.

The opposition blamed the government for orchestrating the beatings
of opposition figures, including several Karabakh war veterans,
but government representatives have denied any involvement of the
authorities in the attacks.

OFFSHORE LABYRINTH: FORMER ARMENIAN PM AND CHURCH PRIMATE HAVE YET TO BE QUESTIONED

Edik Baghdasaryan

12:25, December 22, 2014

Here’s a photo taken awhile back of Ararat Diocesan Primate Navasard
(Samvel) Kjoyan proudly standing next to his famous Bentley.

Archbishop Kjoyan always claimed that the car was a gift, but never
revealed from whom. The primate says he’s now sold the car.

We know that the Bentley was a gift from businessman Ashot Sukiasyan
who, in turn, purchased it with loans received from Ameria Bank
for which another businessman, Paylak Hayrapetyan put up his assets
as collateral.

The case looking into the offshore labyrinth involving the primate
and the former prime minister of Armenian exposed by Hetq isn’t
getting anywhere.

Ashot Sukiasyan, the third player in the multi-million dollar drama,
remains under arrest.

But that’s about it. The state investigative body supposedly looking
into the case has yet to question either Primate Kjoyan or former
Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, who has since been appointed
the country’s ambassador to the U.S.

If Kjoyan hasn’t been interviewed then the Bentley matter isn’t a
part of the investigation.

In a letter sent by to Armenia’s Prosecutor General and Hetq explaining
how the names of Primate Kjoyan and former PM Sargsyan appeared on
the registration documents of the Cypriot offshore company Wlispera
Holdings Ltd, Ashot Sukiasyan wrote the following:

“I stood as the godfather of the cross at the blessing of the water
ceremony at Saint Sargis Churchlocated in the Ararat Diocese. The
secretary was Tigran Sargsyan and the diocesan primate, Archbishop
Kjoyan. I wish to raise the issue of the offshore company Wlispera
Holdings Limited. First, let me say that I founded this company and I
registered T. Sargsyan and N. Kjoyan as shareholders, without their
knowledge and without their agreement. I took this step to protect
my business from various threats. It never occurred to me that what
I did could have such consequences.”

After Hetq broke the story, then Prime Minister Sargsyan declared
that he had no connection to the company. Archbishop Kjoyan denied
any connection as well. The two also stated that they had no idea how
their names appeared on Wilspera’s registry document as shareholders.

Kjoyan had merely stated that he visited Cyprus once, accompanied
by Sukiasyan.

Following the pronouncements of Ashot Sukiasyan’s lawyer to the
press we can infer that the investigative body is only looking into
Wlispera Holding; just one of the Cypriot off-shore companies involved
in the case.

But this approach neglects two other companies intricately tied to
the matter.

The first, A.B.S. Global Limited, was the prime facilitator of the
shady off-shore transfers.

Readers will remember that $9,370,450 of the loans issued by Ameria
Bank were transferred by Ashot Sukiasyan to the accounts of several
offshore companies held at the Hellenic Bank Publik Company of Cyprus.

The loan monies were transferred to:

A.B.S. GLOBAL LIMITED- $7,020,450 WLISPERA HOLDINGS LIMITED- $350,000
STR EMERALD LIMITED- $2,000,000

A.B.S. Global Limited, the company to which the largest amount was
wired, is 66% by Wlispera Holdings Limited.

It turns out that A.B.S Global Ltd has had commercial transactions
with companies of other countries.

Thus, an end to the investigation isn’t only awaited in Armenia.

CNN about Armenia – Video

13:46, 20 Dec 2014

Today the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
posted in its Fаcebook page CNN’s `On The Road’ program telling about
Armenia.

L’AUTEUR DU LIVRE >
Yervant Dink >

Le 11 décembre dernier à Erévan lors de la présentation de son livre > traduit du turc en arménien Hasan Cemal, le
petit-fils de Cemal (Djémal) Pacha l’un des organisateurs du génocide
arménien avait fait l’objet d’un scandale. Le traducteur arménien
Roupen Melkonian avait reproché à Hasan Cemal d’avoir demandé -avec
l’aide de l’éditeur la Fondation Hrant Dink- le retrait de plusieurs
passages contenus dans le livre d’origine en turc. Dans ces passages
notamment Hasan Cemal critiquait >. Ces révélations lors de la présentation publique du
livre de Hasan Cemal avait fait l’effet d’une esclandre, qui avait
conduit l’auteur et journaliste Hasan Cemal à annuler ses prochains
rendez-vous de présentation de l’ouvrage en diaspora.

Dans une interview accordée à notre confrère arménien Tert.am, Yervant
Dink, le frère de Hrant Dink affirme qu’il est inquiet quant à la vie
de Hasan Cemal dont la tête aurait été mise à prix par les militaires
Turcs. ont déjà décidé
du sort de Hasan Cemal. Il y a une ambiance de peur autour de son
assassinat programmé et aujourd’hui sa vie est en danger >> dit Yervant
Dink. Pour les passages retirés dans sa version arménienne du livre de
Hasan Cemal, Yervant Dink évoque une manipulation du traducteur et
minimise les propos de Hasan Cemal. > dit le frère de Hrant Dink.

> continue Yervant Dink.

Il continue >

Enfin, sur la question de la reconnaissance du génocide arménien par
Hasan Cemal, Yervant Dink conclut >.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 21 décembre 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

Azeri murderers not to be extradited from Karabakh – Armenian MOD opinion

00:12, 22.12.2014

YEREVAN. – Azerbaijani saboteurs and murderers Shahbaz Guliyev and
Dilham Askerov will probably not be extradited from Karabakh after the
court verdict, Armenia’s Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan told
Armenian News -NEWS.am.

According to Armenian MOD, the Azeri saboteurs had illegally crossed
the border and are charged with many severe crimes.

“I think, the answer [concerning their extradition] is not. However,
you should ask Karabakh authorities concerning this question,”
Minister Ohanyan said.

Note that the prosecutor demanded life sentence Askerov and 22 years
of imprisonment for Guliyev.

The court trial over Dilham Askerov and Shahbaz Guliyev – the two
members of an Azerbaijani intelligence-gathering sabotage team that
had infiltrated into the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic – came to an end
early in December at Karabakh capital city Stepanakert seat of the
Karabakh First Instance General Jurisdiction Court.

The court verdict on the saboteurs is expected to be announced before
the end of the year.

Dilham Askerov is charged with espionage; unauthorized border
trespass; kidnapping and violence against a minor, committed by an
organized group; murder committed by an organized group motivated by
ethnic hatred; and attempt of murder of two persons, committed by an
organized group, motivated by ethnic hatred. Shahbaz Guliyev is
charged with espionage; unauthorized border trespass; kidnapping and
violence against a minor, committed by an organized group; and murder
committed by an organized group motivated by ethnic hatred.

Armenia News – NEWS.am

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (+961- 4) 410001, 410003
Fax: (+961- 4) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

His Holiness Aram I Meets with Members of Church Councils and
Representatives of Community Organizations in the Region

Antelias – Following the consecration of the Armenian Church in Abu
Dhabi, Catholicos Aram I met with around 75 young Armenian men and
women, who shared their concerns and questions regarding the Church. The
Catholicos posed the question of what it means to be a young Armenian in
the diaspora today. He asked them to consider a number of attendant
questions: `How can the youth keep their Armenian identity in
pluralist societies?’ `What is the role of Armenia and the Armenian
church and culture in safeguarding the identity of our youth’ He said,
`It is important for the Church to listen to the voices of the youth
as they discuss the post-100th anniversary Genocide priorities.’

After the meeting with the youth, His Holiness met with members of the
Church Council of Qatar and Abu Dhabi, together with the Catholical
Vicar and the President of the Council, Mr Hrayr Soghomonian. The
representatives informed the Catholicos of their activities and future
plans. They discussed the situation of the Armenian community in Qatar
and the United Arab Emirates, after which the Catholicos recommended
that a church and community centre be built in Qatar and community
centres be constructed in Sharja and Dubai.

His Holiness Aram I Addresses an Interfaith Meeting in Abu Dhabi

Antelias – In between his pastoral meetings, His Holiness was asked to
join a special meeting organized by Religions for Peace to prepare a
statement on religious extremism. The meeting brought together, among
others, the representatives of the Holy See, the General Secretary of
the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious
and Intercultural Dialogue in Vienna and the representative of the
General Secretary of the United Nations.

His Holiness said that he was glad to address the distinguished audience
as a President of Religions for Peace and reminded them that extremism
contradicts the teachings of all religions. In view of the current
situation in the world, the Catholicos invited Muslim religious leaders
to lead the way and show how the Holy Qur’an is being misinterpreted
and Islam misrepresented as an exclusivist ideology. He then recommended
that all religions promote education for building inclusive communities.

The participants highly appreciated the intervention of His Holiness,
which prompted fruitful discussion.

The Papers of the Conference On “The Armenian Genocide from Recognition
to Reparation” Appear in a Special Issue of Volume 14 of the
International Criminal Law Review

Antelias – The Communication and Information Office of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia announces that the papers delivered at the
momentous conference, held from the 23rd through the 25th of February
2012 in Antelias, Lebanon have been published in a special issue in
Volume 14 of the International Criminal Law Review, 2014.

The conference, which was the first of its kind to be dedicated to the
issue of reparations, was initiated by His Holiness Aram I, assisted by
Dr Nora Bayrakdarian. His Holiness, who presided over the conference,
wrote the preface to the volume.

The volume is a collection of the articles presented during the
conference by internationally known experts, with Henry Theriault as its
guest editor.

The following articles appear in the issue:

`The Armenian Genocide: =46rom Recognition to Reparations,’ Aram I,

`Economic-Legal Perspectives on the Armenian Genocide,’ Dean Susan
A. Karamanian,

`The Consequences of Turkey Being the `Continuing’ State of the
Ottoman Empire in

Terms of International Responsibility for Internationally Wrongful
Acts,’ Dr Patrick

Dumberry,

`Jumping Hurdles Backwards: The Armenian Genocide and International
Criminal

Court,’ Dr Dov Jacobs,

`Establishing State Responsibility for Historical Injustices: The
Armenian Case,’

Dr Marco Roscini,

`The Notion of `Continuous Violations,’ Expropriated Armenian
Properties, and the

European Court of Human Rights,’ Dr Frédéric Mégret,

`Restoration of Historical Memory and Dignity for Victims of the
Armenian Genocide:

A Human Rights Law Approach to Effective Reparations,’ Dr Richard J.
Wilson,

`An Attempt to Recover Armenian Properties in Turkey through the
French

Authorities in Syria and Lebanon in the 1920s,’ Dr Vahé Tachjian,

`Ius Humanitatis and the Right to Reparation for International Crimes
in Foreign

Domestic Courts,’ Dr Marcel Brus,

`The Spirit of the Law: Following the Traces of Genocide in the Law of
Abandoned

Property,’ Dr Taner Akçam,

`Foundations of Non-Muslim Communities: The Last Object of
Confiscation,’ Dr Sait Çentinoglu,

`Compensation and Damages in International Law and Their Relevance for
the

Valuation of Expropriated Armenian Property,’ Dr Irmgard Marboe,

`International Law between the Duty of Memory and the Right to
Oblivion,’ Dr Gabriele Della Morte,

`Reparations for Genocide: Group Harm and the Limits of Liberal
Individualism,’ Dr Henry C. Theriault.

# #

Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
PO Box : 70 317 Antelias – LEBANON
Tel: (+961-4) 410 001 / 3
Fax: (+961-4) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]

STORIES OF ARMENIAN SURVIVORS OF 1915 COMPILED IN NEW BOOK

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Dec 19 2014

ISTANBUL

The stories of Armenians who survived the mass killings of the late
Ottoman era have been gathered in a book titled “100 years… Real
Stories.”

The 47 stories inside the book – which were collected as part
of the “Turk Who Saved Me” project supported by the U.K. Foreign
and Commonwealth Office and realized by the Armenia-based Armedia
Agency and the European Integration Non-Governmental Organization –
are presented in the words of the survivors with minimal editing,
bilingual Turkish-Armenian newspaper Agos has reported.

The book has been translated into Armenian, English and Turkish,
and will be distributed free of charge as part of the project.

Lilit Gasparyan, who translated the book into Turkish, said they
had selected 47 stories for publication but received many more after
initially calling for contributions.

“We deliver the verified, real stories of the people who survived the
genocide thanks to the efforts of their Turkish neighbors, friends
or ordinary Turks,” said Gasparyan.

Journalist Aris Nalcı, who coordinated the project, said similar
projects also needed to be conducted in Turkey.

The year 2015 marks the centenary of the 1915 Ottoman Armenian mass
killings during World War I. While Armenia and some countries legally
refer to the incidents as “genocide,” the Turkish state does not
accept the term and says the issue should be reviewed from a wider
perspective.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ police overview, published on its
website, states that Turkey “does not deny the suffering of Armenians,
including the loss of many innocent lives, during the First World War.

However, a greater numbers of Turks died or were killed in the
years leading up to and during the War. Without belittling the
tragic consequences for any group, Turkey objects to the one-sided
presentation of this tragedy as genocide by one group against another.”

December/19/2014

TURKISH-RUSSIAN UNION: ARMENIA ON THRESHOLD OF SERIOUS UNREST

Trend, Azerbaijan
Dec 19 2014

19 December 2014, 22:20 (GMT+04:00)

By Rufiz Hafizoglu – Trend:

Anti-Russian sanctions, applied after the Crimean events by the West,
also became in every sense a good chance for Turkey, along with the
fact that they forced Moscow to shrink its economic grip and led to
a sharp drop in the rate of the ruble.

Ignoring the US and EU sanctions against Russia, representatives
of Ankara declared that they would continue economic cooperation
with Moscow.

Although there are dark sides in the relationship of the parties
regarding the Turkish Stream gas project, it can be seen that both
sides are persistent in the implementation of this project.

Numerous political events taking place in the region, sanctions
against Russia, the attitude of the EU to Turkey gives grounds to
say that the Moscow-Ankara union, which was once just a dream, is real.

If this alliance is a necessity for Moscow, for Ankara the union
is also a tough response to Europe, using the “human rights” and
“freedom of thought” as a cover, along with the fact that it is the
realization of economic interests.

In fact, the rapprochement between Moscow and Ankara, which is
considered a historic breakthrough, could have a serious repurcussions
in the region.

Speaking at his 10th annual press conference on Dec.18, Russian
President Vladimir Putin said that Turkey and Russia have many common
interests. He said the two countries have many coinciding regional
interests, adding that it is impossible to resolve these issues
without Turkey’s participation.

In reality, Putin’s remarks prove the increasing regional influence
of Turkey, which is a ‘door of hope’ for Moscow. The main unresolved
regional issue is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

It is highly likely that the strengthening of the alliance between
Ankara and Moscow will have a serious impact on the region and change
of interests. The Russian alliance with Armenia, which seeks to mark
the 100th anniversary of the ‘Armenian genocide’ this year, will be
overshadowed for Moscow.

Being seriously anxious about the rapprochement between the two
countries, Armenia will have to turn to the West and the US in search
of patrons and it cannot be ruled out that against the backdrop of the
economic union between Ankara and Moscow, Yerevan will face serious
political unrest.

As a result of the political processes in the South Caucasus and the
strengthening ties between Moscow and Ankara it looks like Armenia,
which is the weakest player in the region, will be the losing party.

In fact, Moscow is well aware that its alliance with Armenia will
not save its crumbling economy; but more adversely, the crisis in
the Russian economy is moreover “a sign of the end of the world” for
Armenia. The effect of which has sent protestors into the streets of
Yerevan demanding the government relieve the growing economic stress
on the population by Dec. 23 or incur unforeseeable consequences.

The economic crisis in Russia may also have an indirect effect on the
Turkish market, although it is not as dangerous for Ankara as it is
for Yerevan.

Today, it is undeniable that along with strengthening of relations
between Ankara and Moscow, and the Moscow-Yerevan relations receding
into the background, the relations between Baku and Ankara stand at
a high level still.

Considering that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a fundamental
factor affecting the prosperity and economic growth in the region,
I can say that the conflict’s settlement will be a higher priority
issue amid these current developments.

Turkey, which has constantly supported the position and territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan, will never take any action against the
interests of Azerbaijan; no matter what course the improvement of
relations between Ankara and Moscow may take.

The fact that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a national issue for
Turkey and is a major impediment to stability in the region; it is
one that Turkey has personal interest in seeing it removed from the
list of frozen conflicts.