Author: Kanayan Tamar

TURKEY CAN NO LONGER HIDE FROM RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 8, 2011 – 09:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Last December, when three Armenian Americans filed a
multi-million dollar lawsuit in U.S. Federal Court against the Republic
of Turkey, the Central Bank, and Ziraat Bank, the Turkish government
ridiculed the charges, claiming “sovereign immunity,” Harut Sassounian,
the Publisher of The California Courier writes in his article titled
“Turkey can run, but can’t hide from long arm of U.S. law.”

The two banks filed a motion on June 1, 2011, seeking the dismissal
of the case, arguing they had not received the proper documents.

The Armenian American plaintiffs were seeking $64 million in
compensation for the confiscation of their properties in Adana, Turkey,
in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide. The plaintiffs were also
demanding additional millions of dollars for the accrued rent and
interest the U.S. government paid Turkey in the past 60 years for
use of the strategic Incirlik Air Base, located on Armenian-owned land.

On Aug. 2, U.S. Federal Judge Dolly Gee rejected the Turkish request.

The judge ruled that the Republic of Turkey had been adequately
served with legal documents and ordered the Turkish entities to
present their pleading in court no later than Aug. 19.

On Aug. 29 the attorneys for the Armenian American plaintiffs asked
the Federal Court to enter a default judgment against the Turkish
defendants.

Mr. Sassounian reminds that Vatan newspaper reported last week that
the two Turkish banks, alarmed by the serious prospect of losing a
multi-million dollar lawsuit due to their failure to respond to the
U.S. Federal Court, rushed to hire a lawyer and asked for more time
until Sept. 19, 2011 to file a response.

Should the Turkish defendants not show up in court on Sept. 19, the
federal judge could enter a default judgment and order that their
assets in the U.S., up to the value of the judgment, be seized and
turned over to the Armenian American plaintiffs.

The Turkish government can no longer hide from its responsibilities for
the devastating damage caused to the Armenian people as a result of the
genocide. It is high time for Turkey to acknowledge its long history
of colossal criminal acts and make appropriate amends, concludes the
Publisher of The California Courier.

ARMENIA IMPROVES ITS RANKING IN THE GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS REPORT

Mediamax
Sept 7 2011
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Armenia improved its rating by 6 points ranking
92nd among 142 countries according to 2011-2012 Global Competitiveness
Report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Country competitiveness is calculated based on 12 core criteria
(institutions, infrastructures, macroeconomic environment, healthcare
and primary education, higher education and retraining, labor
market effectiveness, financial market effectiveness, technological
qualification, market size, level of business environment advancement,
innovativeness) which are figured out by collecting statistical data
and surveys of the company heads.

Head of “Economy and Values” research center (WEF’s Armenian
partner) Manuk Yeganyan said today that the improvement of Armenia’s
competitiveness is conditioned by enhancement of the most of the
criteria mentioned above, Mediamax reports.

In particular, the index of Armenian state institutions reflected in
the report has improved by 14 points (83d among 142 countries).

According to Manuk Yeganyan, on the one hand, it can be explained
by transparency growth in the system of state administration and
facilitation of some procedures, and on the other hand -by toughening
of state regulation in other countries as a result of the crisis.

According to the report, Armenia has made substantial progress in the
following fields: infrastructure, higher education and retraining,
financial market and technological qualification.

At the same time, Armenia’s ranking significantly deteriorated in the
spheres of macroeconomic environment and stability (114th – a fall
by 15 points). According to Manuk Yeganyan, it is mainly explained
by high inflationary environment.

The procedures of employment and layoffs (18th), simplicity of starting
a business (34th ), low crime level and companies’ expenditures as
a result of crimes (17th place), size of customs (34th) and mobile
network penetration level are underlined in the report to be Armenia’s
significant advantages.

The inner competition level (139th among 142), effectiveness of
antimonopoly policy (138th) , existence of dominating groups of
subjects on the market (133d), complexity of customs procedures
(132nd), level of state purchases of technological goods (124th) and
protection of minority stockholders’ rights (120th ) are underlined
in the report to be Armenia’s most significant shortcomings.

ISRAEL-TURKEY: HOW TO CHANGE THE GAME?

Today’s Zaman
Sept 7 2011
Turkey

Many comments have been made in Turkey about the current situation
of the Turkish-Israeli relationship. Unfortunately, some of these
comments were openly anti-Semitic. Besides, most of the comments did
not have much to do with the specific incident of the Mavi Marmara
but with regional balances and the future of relations between Israel
and Turkey.

There is no doubt that the essence of the issue is indeed about the
future of the region. However, the balances in the Middle East are
determined not just by the will and capabilities of Turkey and Israel.

For example, in the recent past, the period during which these two
countries cooperated closely was initiated by third actors, and it
was mostly the result of Turkey’s determination to act within the
Western alliance. We also remember that some countries such as the
United Kingdom were opposed to that cooperation. However, the US had
insisted on it and European countries weren’t able to resist much.

Now, because of the current state of the Turkish-Israeli relations,
there are people who are questioning Turkey’s place in the Western
alliance. Some commentators have even suggested that Turkey should be
expelled from NATO. There are indeed some countries that are trying
to make Turkey make mistakes in order to question the country’s NATO
membership. Perhaps, some foreign strategists are calculating that it
would be good for their plans if Turkey intervened militarily in Syria,
if at the same time military tension arises between Turkey and Israel
over oil exploration off the Cypriot coast, thus causing relations to
worsen between Turkey and Greece and if, on top of that, commemorations
for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian “genocide” begin.

They probably expect that if Turkey struggles with the Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK), Cypriot, Armenian and Israeli problems
simultaneously, it will only have two choices: Either it will become
desperate to be accepted into the EU and become silent member of the
NATO, or it will drift totally apart from both of these organizations.

In other words, they expect Turkey to lose all its clout and
negotiating power before the West or to get out of the Western
institutions once and for all. Which European countries’ interests
will be best served if this happens?

Let’s recapitulate: The Turkish government has to make crucial
decisions on two important matters, namely the Mavi Marmara issue
and the Deniz Feneri case. It’s true that the government is only
indirectly involved in these two matters as they are both about civil
society organizations. However, it is significant that both matters
have connections with Germany. Maybe it is just a coincidence, but it
is worth noting that two major subjects that have put the government
into difficulty have German connections.

Let’s imagine that there is indeed an effort to corner Turkey. It will
probably serve actors who are trying to exercise their influence in
the Middle East and the Mediterranean. However, no one can be sure if
this is a good thing for the relationship between Israel and the West,
for example.

Hard days are ahead of Israel, which is losing its friends one by one,
but it would be a mistake for it to believe that European countries
can substitute these lost friends. If the Republicans win the next
presidential elections in the US, they will probably try to keep Israel
and Turkey for themselves to the detriment of the EU. In other words,
these two countries will continue to be the tools of a bigger conflict.

Instead of waiting for someone to save them, one way out is to
decipher this risky game, which doesn’t serve Turkey or Israel’s
interests. Turkey is angry not only at Israel but also at the traps
being set by third actors. Israel too will be better off if it decides
to undo this game and stop being used.

IF AZERBAIJAN BECOMES A NON-PERMANENT MEMBER OF UN SECURITY COUNCIL THE AUTHORITY OF THE STRUCTURE WILL SUFFER, ARMENIAN FM STATES

Mediamax
Sept 7 2011
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian stated
today that if Azerbaijan becomes a non-permanent member of the UN
Security Council “it will not raise the authority of the structure but,
vice versa, will undermine it”.

The Minister stated this in Yerevan, addressing the joint press
conference with the European Union Special Representative for the
Southern Caucasus and crisis in Georgia Philippe Lefort, Mediamax
reports.

“UN Security Council’s main goal and objective is to establish,
maintain and cement peace. Many people wonder: how a country with a
leadership who takes pride in having increased its military budget
20-fold over 6 years and has made the threat of using force the major
part its policy can have such ambitions?”, said the Minister.

He noted that Azerbaijan is competing against two EU member-countries,
Hungary and Slovenia, for the position of non-permanent member of
the UN Security Council.

ARMENIAN FM WELCOMES EU’S DECISION TO PLAY A MORE SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

Mediamax
Sept 7 2011
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Today, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan
welcomed the decision of the European Union to play a more significant
role in the process of NK conflict settlement to back the existing
format of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Edward Nalbandyan said this in Yerevan today during a joint press
conference with the new EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus, Philippe Lefort, Mediamax reports.

According to Armenian FM, the European Union has frequently stated
that there is no alternative to the peaceful resolution of the
Karabakh conflict.

Philippe Lefort said in his turn that the EU attaches great
significance to the South Caucasus region which has huge perspectives.

He pointed out that the main mandate at the talks on Nagorno Karabakh
belongs to the OSCE Minsk Group, however the EU, having big mediation
experience in resolving conflicts, could have brought in additional
efforts to help Armenia and Azerbaijan come to peace.

ARMENIAN POPULATION DISARMS

news.am
Sept 7 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenian law enforcement agents continue to confiscate
weapons from the citizens, who keep them illegally.

An unknown citizen called police at 07.35 p.m. on Monday and said
that he is going to leave weapons near the Dinamo Stadium in Yerevan,
police press service informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. Police arrived
at the scene and found the weapons.

The same day another citizen called and told the police that he leaves
weapons near the Nork district cinema. Police found gun and bullets
at the scene.

Besides the capital city, gun was confiscated also in the Gegharkunik
region on Tuesday. Weapons are sent for the expertise. Investigation
is underway.

ISTANBUL AIRPORT: TURKEY DETAINS 40 ISRAELIS FOR 90 MINUTES, FOR NO REASON

Examiner.com

Sept 7 2011

Add a comment Adam Taxin, Philadelphia Jewish Culture Examiner
September 7, 2011

40 Israeli passengers were held up for no apparent reason for 90
minutes, with passports seized, after their arrival in Istanbul
(formerly Constantinople) Airport.

According to Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor, the
Israelis, mostly businessmen, were not told why they were taken to
a side room in the airport, where their passports were taken from them.

Israel Radio has reported that, on another flight from Israel to Tel
Aviv, passengers were “humiliated.”

It is not known at this point if any of the held-up Israeli passengers
had close ties to the Philadelphia area.

Israeli-Turkish relations have been deteriorating in recent years. A
particularly divisive incident occurred on May 31, 2010 when Israeli
military personnel intervened to prevent a Turkish-sponsored pro-Arab
Muslim “flotilla” from bringing weapons, terrorists and Muslim/Leftist
provocateurs into the Gaza Strip.

Advertisement In 2005, led by its President Abraham Foxman, the
Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which has been under fire lately,
gave Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan something called
the “Courage To Care Award.” In 2007, the ADL fired its New England
regional director after he had the audacity to suggest that the Turkish
(and Kurdish) Muslim extermination of up to 1.5 million Armenian
Christians during World War I should be acknowledged as a “genocide.”

Nadia Silk, of Jewish and Armenian descent, and who is on the executive
committee of the Philadelphia Armenian Genocide Walk and an active
member at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Cheltenham,
expressed concern for the travelers. Silk added that: “the current
incident is another reason to be wary of traveling to Turkey … as
if the despicable failure by its government to recognize, 96 years
later, the Turkish genocide of 1.5 million of its Armenian citizens
weren’t enough reason to hesitate before traveling to Turkey.”

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO HOST EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO SOUTH CAUCASUS

Panorama
Sept 7 2011
Armenia

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received today Phillip
Lefort, the EU Special Representative on South Caucasus and crisis
in Georgia.

Minister Nalbandian congratulated Mr. Lefort on assuming EU Special
Representative’s office and expressed hopefulness that he would
contribute to the reinforcement of Armenia-EU relations.

Phillip Lefort has hailed dynamically developing Armenia-EU relations.

Mr. Lefort has said he supports efforts by the OSCE Minsk Group
towards the resolution of NK conflict.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PUBLISHERS TO PRESENT 2000 BOOKS AT ARMENIA EXPO 2011

ARMENPRESS
20:18, 7 September, 2011

At Armenia Expo 2011 international expo-fair the National Association
of Publishers will present 2000 books, published in the recent years
by the member-publishers of the association. The expo-fair will be
held September 9-11 at Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex.

GEORGIAN DEPUTIES FOR PRIVATIZING RUSSIA-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 7, 2011 – 21:03 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Amendments to legislation have been initiated
in Georgian Parliament enabling the government to sell shares of
strategic entities in international stocks.

Among such entities are the gas-main pipeline connecting Russia
with Armenia, railway, power supply system, Vzglyad reports quoting
Georgian Pirveli.

The authors of the bill are Zviad Kukava and Mikheil Tskitishvili.

Earlier Georgian prime-minister Nika Gilari said that 20-25% shares
are possible to sell in New York, Warsaw, London markets. That “will
allow us to attract considerable capital to the country,” he sad at
a government sitting.

“That will also prompt our private companies to similar actions with
regard to opening new work places,” Gilari said. According to him
investors have high trust in Georgia.

The existing legislative regulations did not allow that. Amendments
will be discussed at autumn session. The opposition stands against
the government to sell shares of strategic entities.