Author: Kalantarian Kevo

LES NON-MUSULMANS EN TURQUIE EN FAVEUR DE LA LOI SUR LES FONDATIONS
Stephane

armenews.com
vendredi 16 septembre 2011

Le quotidien Zaman a realise un reportage sur la reaction des
non-musulmans en Turquie suite a la decision du gouvernement turc
de rendre les proprietes confisquees aux minorites religieuses
depuis 1936. Les non-musulmans attendent avec impatience l’annonce
des decrets precisant comment la loi sera executee. ” C’est une
decision très positive ” a dit Rober Koptas, redacteur en chef de
l’hebdomadaire Agos.

” Cependant, nous devons voir comment la loi sera executee ” a-t-il
ajoute. L’une de ces proprietes est le Camp armenien pour enfants de
Tuzla qui a ete construit par Hrant Dink. Le camp ne figure pas parmi
les proprietes qui pourront etre rendu car le gouvernement indemnisera
les proprietes non detenues par l’etat ou dont l’etat n’a tire aucun
revenu lors de la vente. Le camp Tuzla a ete achete par la Fondation
armenienne Gedikpasa en 1962, mais suivant une decision de la cours
de cassation en 1974, les acquisitions faites après la declaration
de 1936 n’avait aucune validite legale et le camp a dû etre rendu
a ses anciens proprietaires. ” En consequence, le camp Tuzla a ete
rendu a son premier proprietaire ” a-t-il dit ajoutant que dans que
ce cas l’etat n’a pas recu d’argent de la vente mais que le transfert
etait toujours ” injuste ” parce que la decision etait basee sur de
” la discrimination “. rober Koptas a aussi pointe le besoin d’une
solution plus complète.

” Nous avons besoin de dispositions pour traiter des expropriations
de proprietes, puisque ces actions n’ont pas ete basees sur de justes
evaluations dans de nombreux cas “.

Rober Koptas a pointe une serie de pratiques discriminatoires de
la republique visant les non-musulmans. Une nouvelle loi sur les
Fondations en 1936 a place les fondations musulmanes et non-musulmanes
sous la tutelle de la Direction Generale des Fondations (VGM), en
violation du Traite de Lausanne entre la Turquie et les puissances
Occidentales de 1923 qui garantissait le droit aux communautes
non-musulmanes ” de conserver une education speciale et des droits
de propriete “.

Mihail Vasiliadis, redacteur en chef d’Apoyevmatini, un journal grec
hebdomadaire a declare pour sa part que la decision du gouvernement
turc est particulièrement complaisante pour les populations armeniennes
et Juives de Turquie, mais les grecs ont un problème plus saisissant. ”
Le gouvernement a pris un pas très courageux. Le Premier ministre
a fait cela malgre des tendances ultranationalistes fortes dans le
pays, mais nous avons un cancer et une aspirine ne le guerira pas ”
a dit Vasiliadis. ” Disons que si nous recuperons les proprietes qui
va en profiter ? “.

Il a rappele qu’il y avait moins de 100000 grecs dans les annees 1930
et que depuis les emeutes du 6-7 septembre 1955 et la deportation en
1964 d’environ 12000 grecs sans citoyennete turque, la population
greque a ete en declin constant. Vasiliadis a dit qu’en 1966, la
population grecque d’Istanbul represantait moins de 30000 personnes
et qu’elle a diminue depuis et qu’elle est maintenant près du point
d’extinction.

” Nous avons maintenant plus de morts que de naissances. Nos
ceremonies religieuses sont suivies par quelques personnes et nous
sommes enchantes s’il y a cinq ou six etudiants dans nos ecoles ”
a-t-il ajoute. Vasiliadis suggère que le gouvernement turc ” en memoire
des grecs expulses ” donnent le travail et des permis de sejour aux
citoyens grecs qui vivent a l’etranger et qui desire venir en Turquie
et s’integre dans la petite communaute grecque Orthodoxe du pays.

L’execution de la loi est une question clef.

Laki Vingas, membre du conseil a la Direction Generale des Fondations
et citoyen turc d’origine grecque, a rappele qu’en 2008 environ 100
proprietes appartenant a des non-musulmans ont ete rendues et des
problèmes legaux lies a environ 50 proprietes ont ete resolues. Il
y avait des demandes pour le retour d’environ 1400 proprietes en 2008.

Recemment, le VGM a dit qu’environ 200 proprietes seront probablement
rendues.

” Le gouvernement, particulièrement le Premier ministre Erdogan,
a ete decisif sur la question ” a-t-il dit.

” Nous allons en avant avec chaque decision, chaque pas. Nous,
les non-musulmans, nous sentons davantage les citoyens de ce pays ”
a ajoute Laki Vingas.

” Si vous considerez la politique enracinee a l’egard des minorites
de Turquie, on peut voir ce decret du gouvernement comme une sorte
de revolution ” a dit l’avocat specialise dans les droits de l’homme
Orhan Kemal Cengiz.

Fortement critique du gouvernement dans le passe pour ne pas avoir
pris ” des mesures permanentes ” pour s’occuper des questions des
minorites, Cengiz a dit le retour des proprietes aux non-musulmans
est un pas irreversible et marque un tournant en Turquie. Il a
aussi note que non seulement la propriete mais aussi la gestion des
” fondations saisies ” a ete reprise par le VGM, bien que la Turquie
ait ete dans le processus d’adhesion a l’UE. La Commission europeenne
s’est rapidement felicite du decret du gouvernement turc.

” La commission contrôlera de près l’execution de la nouvelle
legislation, en contact a la fois avec les autorites turques et les
communautes religieuses non-musulmanes ” a adeclare le Commissaire
en charge de l’elargissement Stefan Fule le 29 août.

TURKEY-ISRAEL TENSION: HIGH STAKES FOR US
by ALÄ° H. ASLAN

Today’s Zaman
Sept 15 2011
Turkey

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently said Israel is acting
like a “spoiled child.” From the US government’s perspective, however,
Turkey and Israel are both looking like spoiled children lately.

Israel has refused to apologize for the terrible actions of its
military when they killed nine Turkish civilians during the Mavi
Marmara raid. And Turkey seems to be more than ready for a fight.

Seriously? Is this high school or something?

Being Turkey and Israel’s big brother in the region, the US is likely
to suffer from a further escalation of this conflict, perhaps even
more than the actual disputing parties. The Americans are working hard
to ease the tension but neither party is showing signs of backing off.

The world has turned upside down for the US in the Middle East due
to the Iraq war and the Arab Spring. This Turkey-Israel conflict is
just the latest glitch.

For decades, the US has relied on its allies to continue its
dominance in the region, with little or no interest in whether
they are democratic or autocratic. Not only Israel’s controversial
military actions but the democratic shortcomings of Saudi Arabia,
Egypt and pre-revolution Iran were also often overlooked. However,
Americans dealt with conflicts between its allies more thoroughly. The
Egypt-Israel peace treaty of 1979 was so valuable for the US that
billions of US tax dollars were allocated with ease. Had Turkey not
been more economically and democratically sound as it is now — and the
US not as broke — Washington might have offered similar incentives.

Followed by a series of disappointments, reactions and denials since
the early 2000s, the US has finally come to realize that a relatively
independent Turkey could actually be useful. When Turkey does not look
like a total US satellite, the region, especially its people, trusts
Ankara better. A popular Turkey that keeps its communication channels
open with Washington is expected to smooth things out. Engagement with
Ankara helps the Obama administration “lead” regional developments
“from behind” — as well as keep an eye on Turkey. Given its
geostrategic, military, economic and democratic assets, Turkey is
a shining star that is very valuable to US interests. Hence, there
is a lot of concern in Washington when Ankara tries to test its US
friendship with a conflict with Israel, another indispensable friend.

At the end of the day, I don’t expect the Obama administration to pick
clear sides between Turkey and Israel. America, along with Israel,
will certainly be lobbying against the Palestinian bid for statehood
at the upcoming UN General Assembly, which Turkey vigorously supports.

Despite upcoming presidential elections, where Jewish Americans are
an important factor, the White House is not likely to go too hard on
Turkey. The clear choice of the US Congress, however, is Israel, thanks
to some very powerful lobbying mechanisms there. Lifting the blockade
on Gaza, a newly adopted Turkish precondition for normalization with
Tel Aviv, is a non-starter in Congress.

Turkey-hating Armenian and Greek groups can now make life even more
difficult for the US and Turkish administrations. The Turkey-Israel
conflict is likely to give an already unfriendly House Republican
majority another reason to slam the White House.

Although most higher level US officials, first and foremost President
Barack Obama himself, care about Turkey, some of Ankara’s policies on
the 2003 Iraq war, Armenia and the Iran nuclear program have left scars
among many in mid and lower levels of bureaucracy. For them, Turkey
may seem a major troublemaker and this recent conflict with Israel
is just another example. Some Washingtonians yearn for the days when
they mainly worked with the old secularist Kemalist elite who generally
conformed to the US in exchange for international legitimacy for their
corrupt and antidemocratic ways. So they might be less sympathetic
to the Turkish position on Israel. On the other hand, when you talk
to Turkish diplomatic sources they say administration officials
who are familiar with negotiations on apologies and reparations are
disappointed by the non-compromising Israeli attitude.

Rubbing salt into the wound for the US are the seriously deteriorating
relations between Tel Aviv and Cairo, further isolating Israel in the
region. An isolated Israel is likely to get more hawkish and defensive
rather than self-corrective. That might create a vicious circle calling
for more reaction from Turkey and others in the region. Ankara has
clearly concluded that the Israelis have more to lose from this
confrontation. They think a tough stance against Israel opens up
strategic space for Turkey in the region. Certainly, it doesn’t
hurt the Erdogan government in domestic politics, either. But the
US is concerned the situation might get out of control. Ankara’s
declaration that it will not let the eastern Mediterranean be
dominated by Israel and that it will dispatch more Turkish navy
vessels there is especially worrisome. The situation is reminiscent
of risky Turkish-Greek encounters in the Aegean. Who needs another
hard player in the eastern Mediterranean, especially if the player
is a NATO member?

Israel-Turkey relations have historically been marked with ups and
downs. So, this is not the first time they went bad. For example,
in 1980, Turkey downgraded its diplomatic presence in Israel to
junior chargé d’affaires level in reaction to a controversial Jewish
decision vis-a-vis East Jerusalem. Perhaps what makes the latest
tensions more serious is that we are dealing with a more powerful
new Turkey and a dramatically transforming region. Especially since
we are in unchartered territories, extreme attention and caution is
essential for all parties involved, including the US.

MINSK GROUP TO BE INSTRUMENTAL FOR NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEACE TALKS

Trend
Sept 15 2011
Azerbaijan

U.S. , Washington, Sept. 15 /Trend special corr. M.Assenova/

The United States will continue working through the Minsk Group to
achieve an agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan on peace talks
on Nagorno-Karabakh, said Justin Friedman, Director of the Office
of Caucasus Affairs and Regional Conflicts at the U.S. Department
of State. He was speaking at a conference dedicated to 20 years of
independence in the South Caucasus, which was held by the Center for
Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC. The conference
focused on lessons learned from the tumultuous independence of the
region and on its uncertain future.

Mr. Freedman said the U.S. will also continue supporting the
reconciliation process between Armenia and Turkey, and Georgia’s
sovereignty and territorial integrity through the Geneva Talks on
Abhazia and South Ossetia.

The U.S. administration has pursued advancing sovereignty of all
three countries in the South Caucasus so that they can pursue five
interlocking goals: live in peace, integrate into geopolitical and
economic groupings of their own choosing, develop their economic
potential, build the infrastructure of democratic governance, and
protect the freedom and personal liberties of their citizens.

According to Mr. Friedman, the context of the region is complex
with the Soviet legacy of instilled divisions along ethnic lines
and the “frozen conflict” landscape of today that has implications
for sovereignty of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The region is an
intersection of three powers – Russia, Turkey and Iran – which have
distinct and conflicting interests in the South Caucasus.

He noted some of the successes in the region such as the remarkable
post-Rose Revolution transformation of Georgia from a corrupt state
toward transparent governance and rule of law. In Azerbaijan, the
construction of BTC and SCP led to economic independence to support
political independence. Armenia has also made some steps toward
democracy and market economy despite its partial isolation. Further
support for economic development and democratic institutions will
allow the South Caucasus countries to become more stable and eventually
resolve their most pressing security problems.

“The best way forward for the South Caucasus may be to continue
supporting Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in their efforts toward
Western economic and political systems, but this will be a long
process with some hurdles to overcome,” Mr. Friedman said.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT SEEKS DEEPER CO-OPERATION WITH WORLD BANK
BYLINE: Lilit Gevorgyan

Global Insight
September 14, 2011

On 12 September, Armenian prime minister Tigran Sarkisian met with
the World Bank Europe and Central Asia Regional Director for the
South Caucasus Asad Alam in the Armenian capital Yerevan. Sarkisian
highlighted that his government is interested in quick implementation
of the World Bank projects to expand co-operation with it to boost
Armenia’s economic development. Sarkisian listed the areas where
Armenia will seek more assistance, including industry and agriculture.

He also stressed that Armenia’s governing system needs modernisation
and that is an area where the country will greatly benefit from
co-operating with the World Bank.

Significance:Armenia started its co-operation with the World Bank
shortly after gaining independence in 1991. The country has benefited
greatly from the structural reform packages that helped it to make
the transition from a Soviet to a market economy. While progress is
clearly visible, there are many lingering issues. The World Bank has
in particular urged the Armenian government to make serious efforts
to break down the oligarchic structure of the economy and improve
competition. Sarkisian, being a technocrat head of the cabinet, has
found himself at times alone in trying to break down the resistance
by big and politically well connected businesses to paying taxes.

Sarkisian’s drive to expand co-operation with the World Bank will not
only help him to continue with the reform plans but also jumpstart
the sluggish pace of structural changes in the country, especially
when it comes to its governing system.

INCIDENT WITH AZERBAIJANI DRONE TO ALARM INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

news.am
Sept 15 2011
Armenia

STEPANAKERT. – The flying equipment shot in the territory
of Nagorno-Karabakh was not made in Azerbaijan, head of Karabakh
President Central Information Department, political scientist Davit
Babayan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“Technical issues are secondary as Azerbaijani side has announced that
it purchases such equipment from different states, including Israel.

More important is that the equipment is used against us and one
of them is deactivated,” he said and added that it should not be a
surprise for Azerbaijan that Armenian forces deactivated it.

Babayan believes that it is a serious alarm for international
community. Ceasefire regime violations are not carried out by common
weapons, or snipers’ shots but by special weapons. This is a new task
for OSCE mediator mission.

Armenian News-NEWS.am informed that Karabakh MOD deactivated
Azerbaijani drone near Martuni region. Special committee studies the
remnants of the equipment. Investigation is underway.

BOSCH PROVIDES YEREVAN SCHOOL LABS WITH EQUIPMENT

news.am
Sept 14 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – The problems related to the project of providing Yerevan
school laboratories with electric equipments were discussed during
the meeting of Yerevan city Mayor Karen Karapetyan with German Bosch
company’s Regional Director of sales Lutts Marshal.

The city hall press service informs Armenian News-NEWS.am that Lutts
Marshal, on behalf of the company expressed willingness to implement
a similar, but larger-scale project in Yerevan, adding that besides
providing the schools with such electronic equipments, the company is
also ready to organize training courses for teachers. Karen Karapetyan
presented the guests the projects being implemented by the Yerevan
City Hall in the field of education.

“We are ready to cooperate, especially if this cooperation will bring
benefits to children,” said the mayor.

According to the agreement, the sides will meet again to discuss
other possible areas of cooperation.

ARMENIAN CHESS FEDERATION CONFIRMS COMPOSITION OF ARMENIAN NATIONAL TEAM

Panorama
Sept 14 2011
Armenia

Armenian Chess Federation confirmed the compositions of the Armenian
national teams which are going to participate in the European Team
Championships to be held in Porto Carras, Greece on November 2-12,
2011, “armchess.am” informs.

GMs Levon Aronian, Sergei Movsesian, Vladimir Akopian, Gabriel
Sargissian, Robert Hovhannisyan (coach – GM Arshak Petrosian) are
going to compose the Armenian men’s team.

GM Elina Danielian, WGM Lilit Mkrtchian, WGM Lilit Galojan, WGM Maria
Kursova, WGM Nelly Aginian (coach – GM Artur Chibukhchian) are going
to play in the women’s team.

SF’S ARMENIAN FOOD FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 54TH YEAR
By Ellen Huet

SF Weekly, San Francisco
Sept 14 2011
CA

St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church’s upcoming bazaar may advertise
live entertainment and Armenian folk dances. But church staff member
Sevag Badoyan knows what the real attraction is: the food.

“Baklava, kebabs, all kinds,” are among the mouthfuls available at the
church’s food festival, which celebrates its 54th birthday this year.

That’s a lot of time to get the formula just right.

Although Badoyan described the fare generally as “Middle Eastern food,”
he emphasized the keufta, a sort of meatball that ranges in varieties
— from India to the Balkans — as well as spellings (try “kofta,”
“kufteh,” etc.).

The Armenian incarnation, he says, is “basically ground beef with
cracked wheat — the size of a tennis ball.” Eloquently put.

The entry fee is just $5 for what can be a day-long feast and show, if
you plan correctly. The festival runs this Friday 7 p.m. to midnight,
Saturday noon to midnight (score), and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. Feast on.

For more information, call the church at (415) 751-9140.

AZERBAIJANI AMBASSADOR TO U.S. PROTESTS EVENT ON SELF-PROCLAIMED “NKR”

Trend News Agency
Sept 14 2011
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan Ambassador to the U.S. Yashar Aliyev voiced a protest
against the event associated with the self-proclaimed separatist
regime of “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic”, a representative of Azerbaijani
Embassy in Washington told Trend.

Protesting against the event, hosted September 13 in Washington by
the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues in cooperation with the
Armenian Embassy and a number of Armenian-American organizations,
Yashar Aliyev sent a letter on September 11 to all 435 members of
the U.S. House of Representatives.

The letter lists the facts of Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan,
occupation of Azerbaijani territories, forced displacement of hundreds
of thousands of Azerbaijanis as a result of this occupation, as well
as the establishment by Armenia of an illegal regime in the occupied
Azerbaijani territories that is not recognized by any country in
the world.

At the same time, the letter notes that the event organizers aimed to
divert the attention of members of Congress and the American public
from the fact of the continuing occupation of Azerbaijani territories,
and thereby to consolidate the results of the occupation.

In view of this, the ambassador urged lawmakers not to participate in
the event, intended against the sovereignty and territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan, which is a strategic partner of the United States.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and its surrounding
regions.

ARMENIA DEMANDS DDTC ARMS EXPORT INVESTIGATION
by Clif Burns

Export Law
Sept 14 2011

According to this article, Armenia has demanded that the Department of
State, presumably through the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls
(“DDTC”), investigate arms export violations it alleges are revealed
in connection with an Azerbaijani drone that was shot down by the
disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh (“NKR”). NKR is ethnically
Armenian but claimed by Azerbaijan as part of its own territory,
a claim disputed by Armenia.

According to Armenia, a video of the drone wreckage taken by the NKR
Ministry of Defense shows that the drone contained a part, pictured
on the right, made by Novatel, a Canadian company with a presence
in the United States. The part is a compact GPS antenna which can
be found by following this link. More detailed specs for the antenna
can be found at this link.

As you can see, it is far from clear that a violation of the Arms
Export Control Act is implicated by the inclusion of this part in
the Azerbaijan drone. First, the part does not appear to be covered
by Category XV of the USML system which covers GPS receivers and
components. The item does not look like it was designed for military
use and is instead an item designed principally for civilian use. Nor
does it appear to meet the alternate performance characteristics
specified in that category. For example, even though the spec
suggests that the antenna can operate at an altitude over 60,000, it
is not clear that it can operate at a speed of 1,000 knots. Finally,
it seems questionable that this item was manufactured by Novatel in
the United States and/or exported from the United States.