Author: Kanayan Tamar

TURKEY TO RECALL AMBASSADOR IF FRANCE BANS GENOCIDE DENIAL

Agence France Presse
December 15, 2011 Thursday 10:04 PM GMT

Turkey will recall its ambassador and freeze ties with Paris if French
lawmakers approve a bill banning the denial of the Armenian genocide
next week, he told AFP on Thursday.

“There will be irreparable consequences in all bilateral relations,”
ambassador Engin Solakoglu said, adding he expected to be called back
to Ankara for an indefinite period from December 22.

That is when France’s National Assembly is expected to pass a law
banning the denial of the 1915 to 1916 massacre, which Armenians
regard as a deliberate genocide while Turks argue the deaths were a
side-effect of war.

France, which has a large population of Armenian descent, has
recognised the event as genocide since 2001, but the bill proposed by a
member of President Nicolas Sarkozy’s Enhanced Coverage LinkingNicolas
Sarkozy’s -Search using:Biographies Plus NewsNews, Most Recent 60
Daysmajority party has strained ties with Ankara.

“Turkey considers this a hostile act by the French executive,”
Solakoglu told AFP. “All cooperation with the French government,
all joint projects, will be frozen.”

The French foreign ministry refused to directly comment on the threat,
but spokesman Bernard Valero said: “Turkey is an important friend
and ally.”

French business leaders based in Turkey said they had been summoned
by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who asked them to put pressure
on their boards.

The minister reportedly warned of drastic consequences on their
businesses should they fail to ensure the bill is shelved or rejected.

Several hundred French firms operate out of Turkey, including leading
car manufacturers and insurance companies.

A Turkish parliamentary delegation, led by its foreign affairs
committee chief Volkan Bozkir, is due in Paris on Monday to lobby
officials in a last minute bid to head off Thursday’s vote.

If the law is passed as expected, anyone in France who publicy denies
the genocide could face a year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros
($58,000).

Most historians agree that between 500,000 and 1.5 million Armenians
died in a series of massacres and deportations from Asia Minor in
the Turkish-led Ottoman Empire in 1915 and 1916.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their people were killed during
World War I by forces belonging to Turkey’s former Ottoman Empire.

Turkey refuses to call the killings a genocide and says 300,000 to
500,000 Armenians, and at least as many Turks, died in combat or of
starvation when Armenians rose up and sided with invading Russian
forces.

Sarkozy has called on Turkey to recognise the killings as genocide
and in the past promised his country’s large Armenian community to
support a law criminalising its denial.

Modern day Armenia, now independent, and around 20 countries regard
the killings as genocide.

Sarkozy’s government has had tense relations with Ankara on other
issues. Paris opposes Turkey’s bid to join the European Union and
has worked to block the process within Brussels institutions.

TURKISH PM URGES SARKOZY TO BLOCK GENOCIDE BILL

Khaleej Times

Dec 16 2011
UAE

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan appealed Friday to French
President Nicolas Sarkozy to block an Armenian genocide bill and
warned of “serious consequences” if it passes.

The legislation before the French parliament would criminalise the
denial of the killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as genocide,
a move long resisted by Ankara.

“This bill directly targets the Turkish Republic, the Turkish nation
and the Turkish community living in France, and it is hostile,”
Erdogan said in a letter sent to Sarkozy.

Erdogan warns of “irreperable” damage the bill, if passed, would do
to Franco-Turkish relations, in the letter quoted by the Anatolia
news agency.

If the bill passes, there will be “serious consequences regarding
political, economic and cultural… ties between Turkey and France,”
Erdogan warned.

The issue is “sensitive” and “the demands of third parties should
not hold captive the ties” between the two countries, Erdogan said
in a reference to Armenia, which uses diplomatic channels to pressure
Turkey about genocide.

Armenia says up to 1.5 million of its people were killed during World
War I by forces belonging to Turkey’s former Ottoman Empire.

Turkey refuses the term genocide and says 300,000 to 500,000 Armenians,
and at least as many Turks, died in combat or of starvation when
Armenians rose up and sided with invading Russian forces.

MKHITARYAN DISTINGUE EN ARMENIE

UEFA.com

16 dec 2011

L’equipe nationale d’Armenie domine les recompenses individuelles
dans le pays après ses bons eliminatoires de l’EURO 2012. Henrik
Mkhitaryan en tete.

L’equipe nationale d’Armenie domine les recompenses individuelles
dans le pays après ses bons eliminatoires de l’EURO 2012. Henrik
Mkhitaryan en tete. Le milieu de terrain du FC Shakhtar Donetsk a
ete nomme joueur de l’annee pour la deuxième fois d’affilee.

Mkhitaryan, 22 ans, a termine a la première place d’un sondage
realise par la Federation armenienne (HFF) auprès de ses membres,
des representants des clubs et des medias nationaux.

Yura Movsisyan et le gardien Roman Berezovski suivent sur le podium
dans cet ordre.

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN: ERDOGAN APPELLE PARIS A RENONCER A UNE LOI, ET MENACE

Le Point

16 dec 2011
France

Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a menace vendredi la
France de “graves” consequences si elle adoptait un projet de loi
penalisant la non reconnaissance du genocide armenien, que la Turquie
a toujours nie, demandant personnellement a Nicolas Sarkozy de barrer
la route a ce texte.

“Si ces demarches arrivent a terme, les consequences sur les relations
politiques, economiques, culturelles et dans tous les domaines avec la
France seront graves”, a averti M. Erdogan dans une lettre adressee au
chef de l’Etat francais, selon l’agence de presse officielle Anatolie.

M. Erdogan, dont le pays ne reconnaît pas le genocide armenien
(1915-1917), evoque l’impact “irreparable” sur les relations
franco-turques qu’aurait le vote de ce texte par le Parlement francais.

“J’espère sincèrement que vous tiendrez votre promesse de faire
echouer des initiatives de ce genre et empecherez ainsi des demarches
qui auraient des consequences irreparables” sur les liens bilateraux,
a dit M. Erdogan.

Il a en outre appele la France a faire preuve de “bon sens” et a
empecher que les relations franco-turques ne deviennent “l’otage des
revendications de tierces parties”, faisant allusion a l’Armenie.

“Ce projet de loi vise directement la republique de Turquie, la nation
turque et la communaute turque de France, et nous le considerons
comme hostile”, a ajoute M. Erdogan.

Le texte, qui prevoit une peine d’un an de prison et une amende de
45.000 euros en cas de contestation du genocide armenien, doit etre
examine le 22 decembre.

L’ambassade de Turquie a Paris a deja averti qu’un vote favorable
entraînerait le rappel pour consultations de l’ambassadeur en France,
Tahsin Burcuoglu, et le gel de toute cooperation avec Paris.

Ce nouveau coup de fièvre entre Paris et Ankara survient alors que
les relations bilaterales, difficiles du fait du refus de la France
de voir la Turquie, pays musulman d’environ 75 millions d’habitants,
rejoindre l’Union europeenne, s’etaient ameliorees dernièrement avec
une cooperation accrue, en particulier sur la Syrie et la lutte contre
les rebelles kurdes.

Une cinquantaine de militants d’une association nationaliste ont
denonce vendredi devant l’ambassade de France a Ankara le projet
de loi. “La France stop. Nous n’avons pas commis de genocide. Nous
avons defendu la patrie”, proclamait une banderole deployee par les
manifestants.

La Turquie reconnaît que jusqu’a 500.000 Armeniens ont peri en
Anatolie au cours de la Première guerre mondiale, mais, selon elle,
ils n’ont pas ete victimes d’une campagne d’extermination, mais du
chaos des dernières annees de l’Empire ottoman.

Pour les Armeniens et une vingtaine d’autres pays, il s’agit d’un
genocide, qui a fait 1,5 million de morts.

La diaspora armenienne en France, forte de 500.000 personnes, est
un enjeu electoral avant le scrutin presidentiel de 2012, ce que n’a
pas manque de faire remarquer Ankara.

Deux delegations turques se rendront en debut de semaine a Paris pour
tenter de convaincre les decideurs et elus francais de faire marche
arrière sur ce projet.

Les observateurs turcs s’attendent que si les deputes francais votent
le texte, le gouvernement turc impose des sanctions contre la France en
ecartant ses entreprises – elles sont plusieurs centaines en Turquie –
de projets lucratifs.

Le chef de la diplomatie turque, Ahmet Davutoglu, qui a accuse
la France de “mentalite moyenâgeuse” dans cette affaire prise au
serieux par Ankara, a convoque jeudi les representants des entreprises
francaises operant en Turquie, et leur a demande d’intervenir auprès
de leurs directions pour qu’elles fassent pression sur le gouvernement
francais.

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN : LA TURQUIE MENACE LA FRANCE DE CONSEQUENCES “GRAVES, IRREPARABLES”

TF1

16 dec 2011
France

Par Sophie Lutrand, le 16 decembre 2011 a 12h15 , mis a jour le 16
decembre 2011 a 12h25

Des paroles fortes pour prevenir la France des consequences
qu’auraient l’adoption d’un projet de loi sur la reconnaissance du
genocide armenien. Le Premier ministre turc s’adresse directement a
Nicolas Sarkozy.

Le Premier ministre turc, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a menace la France de
consequences “graves, irreparables” qu’aurait l’adoption d’un projet de
loi reprimant la negation du genocide armenien, appelant le president
francais a barrer la route a ce texte, a rapporte vendredi l’agence
Anatolie. “Je souhaite exprimer clairement que si ces demarches
arrivent a terme, les consequences sur les relations politiques,
economiques, culturelles et dans tous les domaines avec la France,
seront graves”, a souligne M. Erdogan dans une lettre envoyee au chef
de l’Etat francais, Nicolas Sarkozy.

M. Erdogan, dont le pays a toujours refuse de reconnaître le genocide
armenien (1915-1917), evoque aussi l’impact “irreparable” sur les
relations franco-turques qu’aurait le vote de ce texte par le Parlement
francais, exhortant M. Sarkozy a faire obstacle au projet.

“Je souhaite sincèrement que vous tiendrez votre promesse de
faire echouer des initiatives de ce genre et empecherez ainsi
des demarches qui auront des consequences irreparables” sur les
relations bilaterales, a dit M. Erdogan. Il a en outre appele la
France a faire preuve de “bon sens” et a empecher que les rapports
bilateraux deviennent “l’otage des revendications de tierces parties”,
faisant reference a l’Armenie. “Ce projet de loi vise directement la
republique de Turquie, la nation turque et la communaute turque de
France, et nous le considerons comme hostile”, a ajoute M. Erdogan.

Le projet doit etre examine le 22 decembre par l’Assemblee nationale
francaise. L’ambassade de Turquie a Paris a deja averti qu’un vote
favorable jeudi prochain entraînerait le rappel pour consultations
de l’ambassadeur en France, Tahsin Burcuoglu, et le gel de toute
cooperation avec Paris. La Turquie reconnaît que jusqu’a 500.000
Armeniens ont peri dans l’Anatolie ottomane au cours de la Première
guerre mondiale, mais, selon elle, ils n’ont pas ete victimes d’une
campagne d’extermination mais du chaos des dernières annees de l’Empire
ottoman. Pour les Armeniens, il s’agit d’un genocide, qui a fait plus
d’un million et demi de morts.

Par Sophie Lutrand le 16 decembre 2011 a 12:15

THE ARMENIAN TEAM WILL NOT PLAY A FRIENDLY MATCH WITH TURKEY, FFA PRESIDENT SAYS
Alisa Gevorgyan

“Radiolur”
17.12.2011 15:18

“The failure to qualify for the final round of Euro 2012 was the
greatest disappointment of the year, while the beautiful game that
pleased the fans was the greatest achievement, “President of the
Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) Ruben Hayrapetyan said, summing
up the results of the passing year.

According to him, the national team will start preparing for the new
season in February. Before the start of the qualifying round of FIFA
World Cup 2014, Armenia will hold four friendly matches. No agreements
have been reached with possible rivals. However, Ruben Hayrapetyan
says, the Armenian team will never play a friendly match with Turkey.

As for the schedule of the matches of the FIFA World Cup qualifying
round, FFA President says Armenia is lucky to play the first match with
Malta, not Denmark, Italy or the Czech Republic, since goalkeeper Roman
Berezovski will have to miss the match because of disqualification.

ARMENIA’S PARTICIPATION IN “EUROVISION 2012” TO BE CLEAR AT THE END OF THE YEAR

ARMENPRESS
December 15, 2011
YEREVAN

Public Television of Armenia has not yet adopted a decision on
participation in “Eurovision 2012”. The decision is suggested to
be clear at the end of the year, head of the Armenian delegation of
“Eurovision” Gohar Gasparyan told “Armenpress”.

Gohar Gaspryan said earlier that Armenia anticipates guarantees of
serious and perfect safety for participation in “Eurovision 2012”
to be held in Azerbaijan.

“As an organizing country of “Eurovision”, Azerbaijan has to ensure
the safety of every delegation, but we must not forget that we have
an individual issue, and need subjective approach to be able to
participate confidently,” the head of the Armenian delegation said.

The semifinals of “Eurovision 2012” will be held May 22 and 24,
and the final – May 26

TURKISH SOLDIER KILLED FOR ARMENIAN ORIGIN

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 15, 2011 – 18:08 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Ethnic Armenian Sevag Å~^ahin Balıkcı was murdered
for his Armenian origin, parents of the deceased said.

“Though 7.5 years have passed since our son’s death, we still have
no answers to a number of questions,” they said.

Sevag Å~^ahin Balıkcı, 25, was killed in a Turkish military unit
on April 24, 2011. As Turkish media reports, the Armenian was killed
after the gunshot wound he received while playing a practical joke
with his co-serviceman.

On the day of Balıkcı’s death, an order was given to fence the
military unit he served at with a barbed wire.

Usually, the fencing is preceded by the soldiers’ unloading their
weapons under the commander’s supervision. However, on April 24, none
of the commanders made sure the weapons were unloaded. Kivanc Agaoglu
claims to inadvertently have pressed the trigger and killed Sevag.

Agaoglu was taken under arrest.

KAJARAN MAYOR RESIGNS IN PROTEST; VOWS TO FIGHT MINING INTERESTS
Grisha Balasanyan

hetq
14:33, December 15, 2011

Yesterday, Kajaran Mayor Rafik Atayan told Hetq that he has resigned
from his post and from the ruling Republican Party as well.

Atayan says he’s been pressured by the party to sign off on a contract
that would allocate Kajaran municipal lands to the Zangezur Copper
Molybdenum Combine. He wouldn’t agree to the deal and has resigned
in protest.

The former mayor told Hetq that he will fight alongside Kajaran
residents to oppose the land swap.

“The entire village has decided to oppose the deal. We will not cave
in and hand our homes over to anyone,” Atayan stated.

The government has decided to hand over Kajaran property and lands from
neighboring villages to the mining company in an “eminent domain” deal.

Zangezur Combine has brought in heavy equipment to Kajaran to start
exploratory mining, but residents have so far prevented the company
from doing so.

BRITISH BARONESS BOOSTS ASIAN INVESTMENT FLOW TO ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 15, 2011 – 16:58 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Delegation from Hong Kong headed by member of
the British House of Lords, Baroness Caroline Cox is currently on
familiarization visit in Yerevan, accompanied by Chairman of the
Global Group of Companies Johnny Hon and Vice Chairman Keith Bennett.

“I have brought Hong Kong businessmen with an aim to present the
country’s vast investment potential,” Baroness Cox said, adding that
the visit will boost Asian investment flow to Armenia.

Chairman of the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia,
Arsen Ghazaryan, in turn, said that guests take primary interest in
communication and banking sectors, as well as mining industry.