Author: Kalantarian Kevo

RUSSIA IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SITUATION IN THE ZONE OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Jan 30 2014

30 January 2014 – 8:34pm

Russia urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to take additional measures to
stabilize the situation in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“We are concerned about the situation in the zone of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. As a result of the frequent cases of
ceasefire violations there are victims among the military. There is
also information about wounded among the civilians”, ITAR-TASS quotes
the commentary of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The diplomats stress that an escalation of violence would inevitably
cause “a negative effect on the process of the Karabakh conflict
regulation. It would be complicated to implement the agreements of the
Azerbaijani-Armenian summit in Vienna on November 19, 2013”. Moscow
urges the sides to take measures to stabilize the situation, including
the mechanisms stipulated by the 1995 ceasefire agreement.

WHY IS TURKISH WRITER SEVAN NISANYAN IN JAIL?

Al-Monitor
Jan 30 2014

Author: Orhan Kemal Cengiz
Posted January 30, 2014

Sevan Nisanyan, a Turkish citizen of Armenian origin born in 1956,
is without doubt one of the most colorful personalities in Turkish
intellectual life. In the book Wrong Republic, he wrote about
questioning the “Ataturk taboo” in Turkey, arousing the anger of
secular-nationalist Turks. He outraged religious circles with his
criticism of Muslim beliefs, has infuriated feminists and leftists
and never hesitates to speak bluntly about the Armenian genocide.

Nisanyan is now in the first month of a two-year prison term in
Torbali, Izmir province. Ostensibly, Nisanyan is in prison not
for his contrarian views or identity, but because of “construction
infractions.” Is this really the case? Why did only Nisanyan end up in
jail for building in an enviroment of rampant illegal construction? Is
his jail term really to punish his contrarian views?

This all began in 1995, when Nisanyan moved to the village of Sirince,
near the Selcuk township, in Izmir province. It was a small village
no one had heard of before Nisanyan moved in and began to fix the
roads, restore the crumbling houses and open small, charming bed
and breakfasts.

Today, however, according to figures provided by Nisanyan’s ex-wife,
Mujde Tonbekici, Sirince has become a major destination, attracting
some 600,000 to 800,000 foreign and local tourists a year. Shortly
after settling in Sirince, Nisanyan won the hearts of the local
population with his contributions to the village. But all the
construction and restoration work encountered serious bureaucratic
barriers, and in 2001, he was sentenced to 10 months in jail for
construction-related infractions.

According to officials, their investigations of Nisanyan’s
construction activities were legally justified. Sirince is subject to
government-imposed construction restrictions, but for some reason,
the “transition-period construction regulations” issued for areas
subject to such restrictions were never presented for Sirince.

As a result, Nisanyan has been sentenced to a two-year prison term for
installing a small, 40-square-meter shed on his own land. Dozens of
cases have been brought against Nisanyan for unpermitted maintenance,
repair and construction. If all of these cases end in prison terms,
Nisanyan could well spend the rest of his life in jail.

Nisanyan’s former wife spoke about the process that led to Nisanyan
being in prison: “Sirince is a restricted construction zone. That is
why you can’t build what you want. This is fine. But in the law, there
is a clause that says the government has to issue transition-period
construction regulations until the final construction-zoning plan is
made. This is to allow you to do construction legally. But look, it
has been thirty years, and we still don’t have the transition-period
guidelines or the final construction plan. We ran into big problems
because of that. We couldn’t carry out our construction. We visited
the government agency in charge 50 times, but couldn’t get the
permits. Sevan, being a man who can’t sit idle, went after them
persistently, but at the end declared, ‘That’s it,’ and started
to build.”

Nisanyan thinks the real targets of his prison sentence are his
identity and opinions. He was bitter and angry before he went to
prison. He expressed his sentiments to Turkish journalist Hasan Cemal:
“All my life — with my books, with my work in the village — I tried
to do something good for the people. What did I get in return? From
the state, I always got suspicion, enmity and despotism. I always had
to deal with ethnic and political prejudices, with disrespect and
contempt. Five governments, eight sub-governors — [I] don’t know
how many ministers and governors changed. Every once in a while,
we get a couple of decent people and high hopes. But in the end,
nothing changes.”

Nisanyan was more blunt in an earlier interview with Agos, expressing
his views about the true motivation behind his prison sentence: “It is
obvious that the fact that I am Armenian plays a role in this process.

In Turkey, anyone who goes out of the box is punished, even if your
last name is [that of a] ‘true Turk.’ If you do something out of
the box, you get punished. On top of that, if you are Armenian,
your punishment is magnified.”

There are many who think that Nisanyan was sentenced to prison not
because of construction infractions, but because of his views that
defy a number of taboos in Turkey. A local and international petition
campaign for his release states the following:

Sevan Nisanyan is being punished for doing illegal construction on
his own land in Turkey, which is a haven for illegal construction, and
is now incarcerated at Izmir-Torbali prison, since Jan. 2. Moreover,
instead of being awarded a Nobel Prize for architecture for what
he created in Sirince, he faces about 50 years of prison terms for
17 cases brought against him. In fact, everybody knows that the
case against Sevan Nisanyan has nothing to do with construction
infractions. He is being punished for his history and literary work
challenging the official ideology.

Another petition campaign asserts that the real reason for Nisanyan’s
prison term are his views on Islam:

We denounce the injustice of … years of prison terms slapped on Sevan
Nisanyan for a village tenement he built on his own land. The sentence
given to Sevan Nisanyan, who turned Sirince into a paradise of culture
and tourism in our country, which is a nirvana for illegal construction
and crooked urbanization, is unjust and disgraceful. We don’t believe
that the heavy and unjust imprisonment of Nisan Sevanyan is because
of construction regulations, when another trial has been going on
for 13 and a half months’ imprisonment for saying that satirical
and denigrating expressions about Islam in a country with a Muslim
majority can’t be a hate crime. The sentence handed to Nisanyan is a
disgrace that should rattle our conscience and cast shadows on hopes
for freedom of thought.

In short, there is a sizeable group in Turkey that thinks Nisanyan’s
going to prison has nothing to do with infractions of construction
regulations.

The corruption investigations launched against the government (that are
not going anywhere because of heavy pressure) have revealed illegally
issued construction permits amounting to millions of dollars in
Istanbul, making it a tragicomedy that an Armenian who built a small
shed on his own land ends up in prison. It is a reality that one must
think hard about to understand Turkey.

Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE January 29, 2014
Contact: Haig Baghdassarian
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: (415) 596-6163

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CURRICULUM BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY BY CALIFORNIA STATE
ASSEMBLY

SACRAMENTO, CA — Despite heavy opposition by pro-Turkey lobbying groups,
the California State Assembly voted unanimously, today, to pass
Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian’s bill, AB 659, encouraging schools to use
oral histories when teaching about the Armenian Genocide. AB 659 will now
move on to State Senate for consideration.

“The unanimous passage of AB 659 sends a strong message that California
officials cannot be bought or bullied into denying truth and justice. The
ANCA WR commends Assemblymembers Nazarian and Achadjian for spearheading
through this important genocide education legislation and looks forward to
working with them in garnering similar support in the State Senate,” stated
Elen Asatryan, Executive Director of the ANCA-WR.

“AB 659 has enjoyed overwhelming support from my colleagues in the
Assembly,” commented Assemblymember Nazarian, following the vote. “I look
forward to continuing to work with the ANCA-WR to garner support from our
counterparts in the Senate. The personal testimonies of Genocide survivors
will give educators a powerful tool to engage students in the subject
matter in ways they have never been taught before. If we expect to stop the
genocides of the future, it is important that we strengthen the teaching
mechanisms on past genocides,” he continued.

Joining Nazarian as co-authors AB 659 were State Senator Mark Wyland (R)
and Assemblymembers Katcho Achadjian (R), Steve Fox (D), Mike Gatto (D),
Scott Wilk (R), and Cheryl Brown (D). Other members of the State Assembly
who spoke in support of the measure during the floor session today were
Assemblymembers Tim Donnelly (R) and Diane Harkey (R).

Assemblymember Achadjian, principal co-author on AB 659, worked closely
with his Republican colleagues to secure broad bipartisan support for the
measure, noted, “I am proud to be a principal co-author of AB 659. Part of
ensuring a better world for our children includes educating them about the
past. We must take the initiative to recognize such tragic acts of
violence in order to prevent such events from happening again. It
encourages teachers to educate our students on the Armenian Genocide.”

Earlier this month, AB 659 was unanimously adopted by the State Assembly
Education and Appropriations Committees. Education Committee Chairwoman
Joan Buchanan explained, “It is important for California students to
understand and learn from the lessons of history, including the atrocities
of genocide around the world. I am proud to support AB 659, which
encourages schools to include the Armenian genocide in our history courses.”

In the weeks leading up to State Assembly consideration of the measure, the
ANCA Western Region worked closely with legislators to ensure they learned
of the Armenian American community’s enthusiastic support for the measure.
“Grassroots efforts are critical for the success of such legislation,
particularly in light of the increasingly aggressive lobbying campaigns
which are being mounted by Turkey and Azerbaijan. In these times, it is
especially important to activate our grassroots, because while we may be
outspent by our adversaries, active participation by our community makes a
difference,” added Asatryan.

Once adopted by the State Senate and signed into law by the Governor, AB
659 would encourage the incorporation of oral testimony and teacher
training, such that the Genocide may be more comprehensively taught in
California’s public schools.

The Genocide Education Project (GenEd), a non-profit organization based in
San Francisco which has developed model resources for high school teachers
regarding the Armenian Genocides, hailed the measure. “With the proper
materials and training, teachers can incorporate the Armenian Genocide into
their social studies curriculum in a meaningful way,” said Roxanne
Makasdjian of The Genocide Education Project. “This resolution reminds
education administrators across the state of California’s commitment to the
inclusion of the Armenian Genocide as an essential part of its courses on
world history, genocide, and human rights.”

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest
and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in
the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and
affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

####

Armenian Assembly of America News
1334 G Street, N.W., Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20005
Tel: (202) 393-3434
Fax: (202) 638-4904
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Plight of Christians, Armenians in Syria Focus of Heritage Foundation
Panel Discussion

January 29, 2014
By Taniel Koushakjian

This week, the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. held a panel
discussion entitled “Marked for Destruction: the Plight of Syria’s
Christians with Syrian Christian Leaders.” The panel featured Reverend Adib
Awad, General Secretary of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and
Lebanon, H.E. Bishop Elias Toumeh, The Orthodox Bishop of Pyrgou-Syria,
Reverend Dr. Riad Jarjour, Presbyterian clergyman from Homs, Syria and the
former General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches
(1994-2003), H.E. Bishop Dionysius Jean Kawak, Metropolitan of the Syrian
Orthodox Church, and His Grace Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Primate of the
Armenian Church of Damascus. The discussion was co-hosted by the
Westminister Institute and Barnabas Aid Fund, who was represented by
International Director Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo. Bishop Julian Dobbs of the
Anglican Church of North America made introductory remarks, while Becky
Norton Dunlop, Heritage Vice President of External Relations, opened and
closed the program.

To explain the current situation in Syria, the panelists provided a
historical context of centuries-long persecution and massacres of
Christians in the greater Middle East. Speaking first was Rev. Dr. Riad
Jarjour, who talked at length about the “indigenous Christians” of Syria.
He expressed the uncomfortable feeling registered among Christians,
especially since Ottoman times, directly citing “what happened to the
Armenians.” Jarjour went on to state that Christians in Syria today do not
feel safe “in the land they were born.” He then reflected on current
events, highlighting the kidnapping of priests and nuns, the confiscation
of churches, and the brutal beheading of Armenians all by Al-Qaeda/Al-Nusra
Front and other extremist groups. “At least 80 people have been used as
human shields in Homs,” said Jarjour, “they are not allowed to leave the
city.” In a plea to all Syrians, Jarjour warned of the consequences of a
“Syria without Christians,” sharing his view that not only will the
Christian community of Syria loose, but that Syria’s Muslims will also
loose a very significant segment of their society.

Bishop Dionysius Jean reflected on specific episodes of Christian
persecution in the Ottoman Empire. He mentioned the massacres of Christian
Armenians “since 1860 and 1895,” the latter a direct reference to the
Hamidian Massacres that served as a precursor to the Armenian Genocide.

Unafraid to share some of the most alarming reports of recent Islamic
extremism was Rev. Abid Awad. He called attention to “terrorists” in Syria
“from 83 countries” that he said were “armed, supported and funded by Saudi
Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.” Rev. Awad talked about the recent beheading of
Armenians who reportedly were killed when they refused to convert to Islam.
According to Awad, their heads were sent to adjacent Christian villages, in
order to instill fear among Christian populations in Syria. “The priests
buried the bodies without their heads,” he exclaimed.

In an expression of solidarity, with all the various religious groups in
Syria, Bishop Nalbandian warned against heeding the calls of Islamaphobes.
Nalbandian explained the uniqueness of the Armenian situation. “After the
Armenian Genocide, Syrian Muslims accepted us, welcomed us,” Nalbandian
said. Nalbandian differentiated between secular Syrian Muslims who want
peace and the foreign extremists who are kidnapping and killing Christians.

Addressing the panel from the audience, Archbishop Vicken Aykazian,
Diocesan Legate of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) stated, “Three
close allies of the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey, are
supporting terrorist groups in Syria.” “What can America do to hold
countries like Turkey accountable for supporting extremists in Syria,” he
asked. The dignitaries tried to avoid delving into politics.

There are a number of steps that the U.S. can take, such as a drastic
reduction and/or full cessation in the transfer or sale of U.S. military
aid and equipment to such countries. It’s not about dismissing the
U.S.-Turkey relationship; it’s about putting the relationship on an honest
footing – be it Turkey’s inexplicable campaign to deny the Armenian
Genocide or its blatant support of Islamic extremists whose efforts run
counter to U.S. values. Friends don’t let friends support terrorists. It’s
time U.S. taxpayers stopped footing the bill, too.

Available online at:

CONSTRUCTION OF ALEXANDER SUVOROV AND VALERIAN MADATOV MILITARY SCHOOL ON IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

15:18 * 28.01.14

The construction of a military school after Alexander Suvorov and
Valerian Madatov is continuing in Nagorno-Karabakh under the national
security program.

The school is going to be the most up-to-date in the Commonwealth
of independence States (CIS) in terms of architecture, technical
equipment and education methods. Experts from different countries
are elaborating special training methods. The military school will
also be provided with sporting facilities.

Not only Armenians, but also Lezghians, Talysh, Avars, Tsakhurs
(Caxur) and Udis may apply for education.

LA CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES ARTSAKH INDEPENDENCE

Tuesday, January 28th, 2014

LA City Councilman Paul Krikorian and Shushi Mayor Artsvik Sarksyan
unveil a sign at Los Angeles Friendship Park in Shushi. Sep. 23, 2013.

LOS ANGELES–In continuing its commitment to the right to
self-determination of the people of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, the
Los Angeles City Council unanimously adopted a resolution, introduced
by Councilmember Paul Krekorian, recognizing the independence of
Republic of Artsakh.

The resolution was introduced and adopted on September 10, 2013 ahead
of Krekorian’s trip to Armenia and Artsakh as part of a California
state and local delegation visit. The official resolution was presented
to the Permanent Representative of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic in
Washington, Robert Avetisyan, late last week.

While visiting Artsakh, Kerkorian and the members of the delegation
took part in the official inauguration of Los Angeles Friendship Park
in the city of Shushi in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, with which
the Los Angeles City Council had established a “friendship” pact.

During the inauguration of the Los Angeles Friendship Park in Shushi,
as well as during remarks at the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Parliament,
Krekorian spoke about LA’s commitment to Artsakh’s independence and
highlighted the resolution adopted days before his trip to Armenia
and Artsakh.

“We want to thank Councilmember Paul Krekorian and the City of Los
Angeles for their leadership and for standing on the side of truth
and justice and express our appreciation to each of his colleagues
who joined in this effort of adopting a resolution recognizing
the Independence of Artsakh,” said ANCA-WR Executive Director Elen
Asatryan.

In 2012, during a visit to Los Angeles, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghulian was hosted by the City Council at
which time Krekorian said: “Today Artsakh is truly a democratic,
sovereign and independent state,” ahead of presenting a proclamation
detailing friendly relations between Los Angeles and Shushi.

During that visit, then City Councilman and current Mayor of Los
Angeles Eric Garcetti welcomed Ghulian and pledged the commitment
by the City of Los Angeles to the Artsakh’s people’s right to
self-determination.

“Although the Federal authorities of the US have not yet recognized
the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, we are the people
of this country and our decision is unbreakable,” Garcetti said at
the time.

“We are proud that Los Angeles was the first to make a step recognizing
the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination,” he added.

In this most recent resolution, the LA City Council reaffirmed
its commitment, adding that it took “great honor in recognizing
the continuing vibrancy of the independent and sovereign Republic
of Artsakh.”

The resolution also honored “the Republic Of Artsakh and its citizens,
and recognizes the sacrifices, dedication and resolve shown by the
people of the Republic Of Artsakh in the face of extreme adversity.”

Through the resolution, the City of Los Angeles also extended “its
best wishes to the Republic Of Artsakh and its citizen for peace,
prosperity and continuing success, and calls upon the international
community to give appropriate recognition to the Republic Of Artsakh
as a free, independent, and sovereign state.”

Below is the complete text of the Los Angeles City Council resolution:

WHEREAS,we take great honor in recognizing the continuing vibrancy
of the independent and sovereign REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH;and

WHEREAS, the REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH has a long and storied history dating
back thousands of years, and holds a cherished place in the Armenian
people’s history and culture; and

WHEREAS, the REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH declared its independence on December
10, 1991, after a long struggle that in some respects continues to
this day, and the persistent demand for self-determination was an
inspiration to people of many nationalities in the region and was
one of the catalysts for the breakup of the former Soviet Union; and

WHEREAS, through the course of the last two decades, the people of
the REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH have shown tenacity and perseverance in the
face of war, massacres, economic deprivation and other tremendous
hardships; and

WHEREAS, the REPUBLICOF ARTSAKH has for more than twenty years stayed
true and faithful to its citizens by remaining independent while
working to bring change and stability to the Caucasus region, and
by holding free and fair elections and referendums that were widely
declared as a model for the region; and

WHEREAS, on April 24, 2012 the City of Los Angeles recognized its
friendship relationship with the city of Shushi in the REPUBLIC
OF ARTSAKH;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that by the adoption of this resolution,
the City of Los Angeles honors the REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH and its
citizens, and recognizes the sacrifices, dedication and resolve
shown by the people of the REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH in the face of extreme
adversity; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Los Angeles extends its
best wishes to the REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH and its citizen for peace,
prosperity and continuing success, and calls upon the international
community to give appropriate recognition to the REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH
as a free, independent, and sovereign state.

THE GIST OF RECENT SKIRMISHES IN KARABAKH

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Jan 28 2014

Efgan Niftiyev

On a day when Azerbaijan was commemorating the 24th anniversary of
Black January, Armenian news outlets were flooded with an alleged
Azerbaijani military provocation and attack at the frontline that
left one Armenian soldier killed. The next day, Azerbaijan Ministry
of Defense denied the allegations and reported that it was actually
Armenian units that tried to break into Azerbaijani defense lines
and were repelled by the Azerbaijani army. The Azerbaijani side also
reported over 150 ceasefire violations by Armenian troops stationed in
Karabakh. These reciprocal statements may sound like mere propaganda,
but on the eve of the meeting of Azerbaijan and Armenian foreign
ministers, these deserve a careful reading.

At first, it seemed each party established its own narrative of events
around the Karabakh conflict, but Armenia used the alleged incident
as pretext to accuse the Azerbaijani side of damaging the process of
peace talks, thus trying to put Azerbaijan at a low ebb prior to the
Paris meeting of the foreign ministers. Reacting to the skirmishes
in the frontline, American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James
Warlick said the violence and tension along the line of contact would
undermine efforts to bring about a negotiated settlement.

However, it should be noted that the possibility of frequent violations
at the Azerbaijan – Armenia front line is no surprise. The fact that
over 3000 Azerbaijani and somewhat proportionate Armenian soldiers
have died, despite the ceasefire, over the last 20 years, shows the
extent of the ceasefire’s fragility.

Unless the very reason of the conflict – the occupation of Azerbaijani
territories – addressed, the loss of lives would persist.

It should be noted that the chronologic pattern of the serious
ceasefire violations are coincided with domestic economic and political
upheavals in Armenia. Military-Political leadership of Armenia utilized
these incidents at the frontline in order to divert public attention
from domestic problems. The occupation of Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region
cost Armenia, with the exclusion from regional economic projects,
and hurt its economy severely. Although the Armenian leadership
continues its rule with the strong backing of military establishments,
the current popular distaste and unrest is widespread. The exodus of
the Armenians in the pursuit of a better life is serious indication
of economic failure of the political administration.

In fact, protracted conflict has high costs not just for Armenia,
but both countries, including hundreds of thousands of displaced
persons, lost relatives and closed borders. However, the way towards
conciliation does not go through being intransigent and using
inevitable skirmishes as a cloak to run away from resolving the very
reason of the trouble – the occupation of the territories of the
neighboring country. The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia
will meet on Friday in Paris. I hope it will add meaningful progress
to the peace talks that will lead to the meeting of the presidents
of Azerbaijan and Armenia in February.

Efgan Niftiyev, is the coordinator of strategy and policy in the
Caspian Strategy Institute.

January/28/2014

“IT IS DIFFICULT TO SPEAK ABOUT COMMON STANDARDS OF THE EU”

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Jan 28 2014

28 January 2014 – 12:24pm

Interview by Orkhan Sattarov, the head of the European bureau of
Vestnik Kavkaza

Vestnik Kavkaza publishes a series of interview with political
scientists of the European Union, who express a European point of view
on relations between the EU and the South Caucasus countries. The
German expert on post-Soviet space Heiko Langner answers question
on European integration of Georgia and Turkey, the Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement, and ties with Armenia.

– How does Europe view efforts by the new Georgian government to
meet European standards?

– We can hardly speak about common European standards – they hardly
exist even in political practice of the EU itself. Political systems
and democratic standards inside Europe are very different.

European democratic standards should be accepted as certain political
limits for the EU members. However, in reality it is not always so.

For example, Hungary and Berlusconi’s Italy had shifted from the
common European course in the past years.

The new Georgian government, as well as other countries, has a right
for its own democratic way. Certain democratic progress is registered
in Georgia, and it is a reason for moderate optimism. But it depends
on changes in the social practice, and time should pass for us to
see a result.

– Should we expect a more active mediatory role from the Minsk
Group of the OSCE in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement now, when the
OSCE is headed by Switzerland which is well-known for its peacemaking
diplomacy? What steps can it take in the direction?

– Switzerland has long mediatory experience, including in difficult
international issues. Due to its neutrality, Switzerland deserves
to be a reliable and powerful mediator. From this point of view, it
would be positive, if Switzerland used its chairmanship in the OSCE
to contribute to the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. First of all, we should speak about certain measures on
improvement of trust between the sides of the conflict.

The way to peace is long and difficult and Russia’s participation
is necessary.

– Do you think cooperation between Armenia and the EU is possible,
despite Yerevan’s decision to join the Customs Union? If not, in what
spheres can contacts be maintained?

– Armenia had been using instruments of the European Neighborhood
Policy more actively than Georgia. Therefore, a political interest
exists. However, Armenia has great political and economic dependence
on Russia and has little room for European integration.

Armenia can undertake political maneuvers only in spheres which are
not very important for Russia.

The EU should continue working with Armenia for further liberalization
of its economy, mainly to boost European investments. The EU should
also cooperate in strengthening the borders of Armenia to prevent
illegal migration.

– What are the instruments of influence on Russia by the EU in the
issue of the South Stream, concerning European laws? What concessions
does the EU expect from Gazprom?

– Russia is an exporter of raw material resources, and it has a
beneficial position for providing its own interests. Moreover, when
disputes occur, general energy policy turns into waste paper, and
priority is given to national interests of certain EU members. Russia
prefers bilateral agreements as well, and it has proved to be a
reliable partner. Problems which occurred with power resources’
supplies last year were connected with such transit countries as
Ukraine and Belarus, as Moscow had disputes with them on gas prices
and volumes.

– How did the readmission agreement stimulate Turkey’s membership
in the EU? What are obstacles in the way of the event?

– The readmission agreement didn’t influence positively the
process of Turkey’s accession to the EU. The agreement serves only
sordid interests of the EU which wants to establish its antihuman
migration policy on external borders. The EU strives for signing
such agreements almost with all bordering and transit countries to
secure itself from illegal migration. The talks with Turkey were
provided by some dishonest members of the EU, especially France and
Germany. The countries don’t want full membership of Turkey in the
EU. My position is simple – the talks on Turkish membership in the EU
should have an aim of full membership of the country in the European
Union. When Turkey meets Copenhagen criteria and its population vote
for membership in the EU, the country should be accepted to the Union
immediately. Democratic Turkey which follows human and minorities’
rights could play an important role of a bridge between the East and
the West, being the EU members.

HOLLANDE’S TURKEY VISIT HINTS AT WARMING TIES

Voice of America News
January 27, 2014

Dorian Jones

January 27, 2014

ISTANBUL – French President Francois Hollande is in Turkey for a
two-day visit aimed at improving relations between the two countries.

French President Francois Hollande’s visit comes after years of
strained relations between France and Turkey during the tenure of
his predecessor, Nicholas Sarkozy.

Former French president Sarkozy’s outspoken opposition to European
Union membership for Turkey was the source of the breakdown.

But, at a press conference Monday, Turkish President Abdullah Gul
underlined what he hopes to see from his French counterpart.

“We welcome the positive stance Hollande has adopted for the past few
years,” he said. “But the negotiation process does not mean full [EU]
membership. The negotiation process is an adaptation process. We hope
that a political blockage will not take place,” said Gul.

Since he was elected to office, Hollande has lifted a veto on one
of the five European Union chapters France has been blocking, which
Turkey needs to complete as part of its EU membership process.

At the press conference, the French president indicated further
concessions could be made.

“The opening of new chapters would support Turkey,” he said, “as
some of the negotiation chapters are related to topics including the
separation of powers, fundamental rights, the rule of law and the
judiciary – that are also connected to the current debate in Turkey’s
domestic politics.”

But Paris wants to press home the point that accession talks will
not progress unless Ankara upholds its commitments to rule of law,
separation of powers, independence of the judiciary and respect for
basic freedoms.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is currently embroiled
in a widening corruption scandal that has implicated members of his
inner circle, including ministers.

His response to the probes into alleged corruption was a purge of
police and prosecutors and the tightening of government control of
the judiciary. These moves have provoked deep concerns about the
state of democracy in Turkey.

According to opinion polls, a large majority of the French oppose
EU membership for Turkey. But political analyst Cengiz Aktar of the
Istanbul Policy Forum says the French president will be keen to use
his visit to focus on business.

“He is putting heavy emphasis on the economic diplomacy. It is
also a U-turn. When a president visits a foreign country, he or she
concentrates on human rights, democracy and this sort of thing. Now
it’s business, business, business,” said Aktar.

Relations also hit an all-time low after French lawmakers passed
a bill in 2011 making it a crime to deny that the mass killings of
Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I constituted genocide.

Turkey admits that many Armenians were killed but says the deaths
were part of the widespread fighting that took place during the war.

Although the legislation was later declared invalid by France’s
constitutional court, it severely damaged business ties.

France is now keen to benefit from Turkey’s economic growth. Hollande
was accompanied on his trip by seven cabinet ministers and a business
delegation.

With the French economy close to recession, major Turkish contracts
would be a welcome boost to the French leader. Observers say Ankara
is likely to stress that economic cooperation will go hand-in-hand
with diplomatic progress.

HOLLANDE VISITS TURKEY, REVIVES EU AMBITIONS, ESCAPES PERSONAL WORRIES

Deutsche Welle Europe, Germany
January 27, 2014 Monday 10:44 PM EST

Jan 27, 2014

French president Francois Hollande has traveled to Turkey, and signaled
a possible change in France’s views on Ankara’s EU bid. His trip is
somewhat of an escape from media focus at home on his relationship
woes. Hollande’s state visit to Turkey -. the first by a French
head of state in 22 years – was billed on Monday as a bid to mend
relations strained in recent years by differing views on the mass
deaths of Armenians in 1915, while smoothing the way for French
companies looking to do business in Turkey.

During talks on Monday, the French leader somewhat cautiously backed
Ankara’s aim to join the EU, despite concerns within the European
Commission over the independence of the Turkish judiciary amid a
Turkish government crackdown on alleged corruption.

Hollande, whose predecessor Nicolas Sakozy favored association status
for Turkey instead of full accession, said Ankara should continue to
negotiate on joining the EU.

He said talks would allow it to fully address concerns such as the
rule of law, judicial independence, separation of powers and respect
of fundamental liberties.

“The [membership] process must be carried forward with the most
difficult subjects, subjects that are necessarily the hardest,”
Hollande said during a press conference with Turkish President Abdullah
Gul [both pictured above].

“The negotiation process must allow Turkey to develop and show what
it’s capable of achieving…That is the answer that the Turks must
provide,” Hollande said.

Slow progress at talks Turkey has completed 14 of 35 membership
‘chapters’ that must be fulfilled before it can join the EU. It
resumed talks last year following a three-year hiatus.

On that, Hollande added: “Negotiations do not entail membership. The
issue of membership will be decided upon at referendum.”

EU rules dictate that accession of a new member requires unanimous
approval by the bloc’s 28 current members.

Gul did not make mention of any tension in Ankara but said the talks
with the EU was a technical process with an as-yet unknown outcome.

“We respect that the accession process is one to adopt legal and
democratic criteria and judicial reforms,” he said. “We should not
like this to become hostage to politics.”

Full diplomatic ties between Turkey and France were restored two years
ago after a falling out over a French law that made it illegal to
deny that the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915 amounted
to genocide. The law was struck down by the French Constitutional
Court last year.

Domestic drama Hollande’s visit comes days after he announced a split
from his long-term partner, journalist Valerie Trierweiler, following
tabloid reports the leader had had an affair with actress Julie Gayet.

Hollande did not comment on his private life while in Ankara on
Monday. While he was there, Trierweiler was on a trip of her own to
India, for a charity against hunger.

In her first public comments since the scandal broke, Trierweiler
reacted tongue-in-cheek to French journalists who had followed her
across the world for their “interest in malnutrition.”

When asked about her health, Trierweiler said she “felt well” and
that it felt good to be on the trip.

“I have the impression I’m being useful for something. Don’t worry
about me,” she told reporters.

jr/ipj (AFP, Reuters, AP)