Author: Kanayan Tamar

‘DISAGREEMENTS OUTWEIGH AGREEMENTS IN US-TURKISH TIES,’ SAYS DIPLOMAT

Hurriyet Daily News
Nov 15 2009

Philip Gordon, assistant secretary for the U.S. State Department’s
Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs

The growing number of disagreements over global and regional
affairs between Turkey and the United States signals a "bumpy road"
to Washington, D.C., for Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
in early December.

The deterioration in ties between the two allies was obvious during
Philip Gordon’s trip to Ankara last week. At a press conference held
here, the assistant secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian
Affairs hinted that "there were more points of disagreement than of
agreement with Turkey."

As Gordon put it, the diplomatic agenda shared by the two NATO allies
is "vast," ranging from Iran’s nuclear program to the Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement and from Sudan to energy-security projects. Erdogan and
U.S. President Barack Obama will review all of these issues during
their December meeting, Gordon said. The positions of the two countries
on some important international issues can be summarized as follows:

Iran

Iran is the issue on which the two countries’ views differ most.

Underestimating the concerns of the West over Iran’s controversial
nuclear program, Erdogan has argued that these concerns were just
"gossip." He also declared that as a non-permanent member of the U.N.

Security Council, Turkey would not endorse potential sanctions
against Iran.

In his very diplomatic answer on this topic, Gordon tried to emphasize
that the two countries were still working on the issue and seeking
ways to move forward. But, he said, in an indirect message to the
Turkish leadership: "It’s not a good thing to make business at the
moment with Iran. Iran needs to be assured that it has to cooperate
with the international community; otherwise it will face consequences."

Turkey and Iran signed multibillion-dollar energy agreements last week
despite strong opposition from Washington. Gordon said Thursday that
"Turkey’s engagement with its neighbors was neither surprising nor
concerning," but also noted Washington’s expectation that Turkey
would share U.S. concerns over Iran’s nuclear program.

On the very recent idea of storing Iran’s enriched uranium in Turkey,
Gordon said "it was a good one to explore," adding that Turkey would
be a safe and secure location for such a purpose.

Sudan

Although Turkey avoided a visit to Istanbul from indicted Sudanese
President Omar al-Bashir through a last-minute interruption, Erdogan’s
denial of Darfur atrocities by saying "a Muslim can never commit
genocide" caused international reaction. When asked his thoughts
on Erdogan’s statement, Gordon, in another diplomatic twist, said,
"We have been clear with what’s going on out there" and called on
the international community to act together.

Karabakh pre-conditionality

It was the United States that most supported the reconciliation process
between Turkey and Armenia. Reiterating Washington’s backing of the
process, Gordon said: "We’d like to see the move forward for the
ratification of the protocols and implementation… and the opening
of the border."

But for Gordon, Turkey’s move to put the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict before the ratification of the protocols
is not correct. "We do not link the two issues," he said. "Turkey and
Armenia moving forward is a very positive development and should not
be linked with anything else."

Turkey-Israel

The cooling in ties between Turkey and Israel is another concern for
the United States. "Americans watch closely Turkey’s relations with
its neighbors," Gordon said, adding that the U.S. believes that the
Turkish government’s zero-problems-with-neighbors policy should also
include Israel.

Energy security

Turkey’s recent deals with Russia, facilitating Moscow’s target of
realizing the South Stream project to block the U.S.-backed Nabucco
natural-gas pipeline, are seen with concern in the West.

Afghanistan

According to Gordon, the ideal example of Turkey-U.S. cooperation is
seen in Afghanistan. "We value Turkey’s very positive contributions,"
he said. "There are some issues [on which] we have disagreements, but
in Afghanistan we have similar points. It is a global area [where]
we are working very closely." When asked about troop contributions
from Turkey, however, Gordon said, "All countries should do more with
regard to Afghanistan."

Changing axis

Gordon said the current debate about whether or not Turkey’s axis
has been changing from West to East is an "exaggeration." Adding
that Turkey still has significant relations with the West, he said,
"We’re not always saying same things, but that’s why we have an open
dialogue with our Turkish friends."

ARMENIAN LOBBY IN WASHINGTON WILL KEEP TURKEY IN LINE: JEWISH TRIBUNE

news.am
Nov 16 2009
Armenia

Eli Shaked, Israeli Former Ambassador to Turkey, is not alarmed with
"Worrisome trend of Turkey’s souring relationship with Israel,"
Jewish Tribune article as of Nov 12. reads.

According to him, "Turkey’s anger at Israel and its embracing Syria
and Iran is a tactical, not a strategic, move. Nonetheless, on the
very day that Shaked made his observations, a Turkish mob threw eggs
at the present ambassador, Gabi Levy. A few days before, Turkey signed
a US $10 million oil refinement deal with Iran, in defiance of the
US call for sanctions," the source reads.

Shaked explained that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is
backing neo-Ottomanism which "favors a common market with its Muslim
neighbors."

The paper quotes Shaked saying that Davutoglu "aspires to transform
Turkey into a superpower and enhance its military and economic
strengths while avoiding conflict with its neighbors."

"Turkey recently restored diplomatic ties with Armenia, its eastern
neighbor and century-old enemy. This in turn upset Turkey’s cordial
relationship with Azerbaijan, which disputes territory occupied by
its Armenian neighbor. In the past, Turkey performed joint military
exercises with the Jewish state. However, Turkey’s Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of war crimes during its Cast
Lead operations in Gaza. Yet Ankara never condemned Hamas for firing
rockets into Israel’s south," Jewish Tribune says.

Shaked maintained that Turkey’s thrashing over Israel "is merely a
way of expressing its frustration at not being admitted to the EU."

He also underlined that "whether the Turkish PM is an antisemite is
less significant. What is more important is whether Erdogan will
restore its economic and military ties with Israel. Other Turkish
leaders were anti-Semitic but knew how to hide it," the source
quotes Shaked.

The paper concludes saying that "despite Turkey’s dampened relations
with Israel, Shaked feels that Europe’s castigating Turkey for
its human rights violations, along with a strong Armenian lobby in
Washington, will keep Turkey in line."

AZERBAIJAN SHOULD SET TIME LIMIT FOR SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT: MP

Today
html
Nov 16 2009
Azerbaijan

"Azerbaijan should recover the Armenia-occupied lands as a first step
and then determine status of Karabakh," member of Azerbaijani Milli
Majlis (parliament) Jamil Hasanli said.

Intensification of negotiations is not due to the activities of the
OSCE Minsk Group. The Minks Group aims to maintain status-quo and
make Azerbaijan reconcile with it, the MP said.

"If to look closely at this situation, we can see a purposeful
demonstration Azerbaijan’s will in the Karabakh issue. Turkey has
also recently intensified efforts in the region. Finally, after the
war in Georgia in August 2008, the Western countries understood how
dangerous are the frozen conflicts in the Caucasus. Intensification
of the negotiations on the Karabakh issue is due to these factors,"
Hasanli said.

"The fact that Azerbaijan solves the Karabakh issue through peaceful
means in international organizations does not mean that we accept the
current status-quo forever. The current situation is good for Armenia.

Therefore, Azerbaijan should recover the Armenia-occupied territories
as a first step and then determine the status of Karabakh. Currently,
Armenia is engaged in outrageous policy of bargaining occupied areas
around the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region in exchange for
recognition of the status of Karabakh," he added.

Azerbaijani MP also commented on a statement by Special Representative
for the Caucasus Peter Semneby who said that the current status-quo
in the Karabakh issue is not favorable for Armenia.

"Semneby possiblly meant that the Karabakh problem adversely affects
international image of Armenia. I think the main mistake of the West
and MG is that they equalize an occupier country and a country which
is a victim of occupation,’ Hasanli said.

Bashar al-Assad expressed relief over the signature of
Armenian-Turkish agreement
15.11.2009 17:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Receiving Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness
Karekin II, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad expressed relief over the
signature of the normalization of relations agreement between Turkey
and Armenia which will positively affect the region’s peoples and
future.

The historical relations connecting the Syrian and Armenian peoples,
were reviewed during the meeting, where His Holiness Catholicos
stressed the importance of the recent visit paid by President al-Assad
to Armenia and the good impression it has left in the hearts of the
Armenian people.

He highly appreciated Syria’s embracement of the Armenians as a
full-fledged Syrian citizens who contribute in the development and
prosperity of their country.

President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday stressed Syria’s keenness on
upgrading its relations with Armenia in all fields to match the
distinguished relations between peoples of the two countries and its
determination to contribute in all what would push relations among
countries of the region forward, Champress reported.

KU RDISH INSTITUTE OF BRUSSELS: To the Attention of Press and Public
&quot=3BDERSIM &#039=3B38 CONFERANCE&quot=3B

To the Attention of Press and Public "DERSIM ’38 CONFERANCE"

================================ ==============
KIB – on 15 October, 2008 10:47:00

It’s the 70th anniversary of the Dersim Genocide. Although 70 years
have passed since the genocide by the Turkish Government in Dersim in
1937-38, this massacre has never been forgotten nor will it be
forgotten as the culprits have not been brought out into light.

Dersim massacre started with the Turkish Republic regime presenting
Dersim as a target by stating "Dersim is a ‘Pandora’s Box’".

First by means that aren’t very common the name of Dersim was changed
to ‘Tunceli in 1935.

In order to carry out this massacre, the Council of Ministers came
together in Ankara on 4 May 1937 and formed ‘Tunceli Questioning
Operation’ Council of Ministers and signed the half a page document
classed as "Top Secret" which was the order for the Dersim massacre.

According to the official figures 12 thousand people were massacred in
the Dersim Genocide. According to the people of Dersim 70 thousand
people were massacred. After this atrocious act thousand of people
were banished from their homeland.

On 16 November 1937, Seyit Riza who was one of the Kurdish leaders and
seven of his comrades were hanged in Elazig. Despite all attempts by
the families, the grave sites of Seyit Riza and his comrades still
haven’t been disclosed.

Dersim Genocide is not the only genocide the Republican Turkey has
committed towards Kurds and Alevis. During the reign of the Ottoman
emperor Ahmet I. between 9 December 1606 and 5 August 1611, the "fire
wells" of ‘Murat Pasha the Well digger’ who had murdered almost 100
thousand Kurdish Kizilbash Alevis, are still remembered by many. The
problem Yavuz Sultan Selim couldn’t solve in 1514 by murdering 40
thousand people by sword was attempted to be solved during 1935-1938
in Dersim once again by a massacre.

The 1938 tragedy has not only left behind the dead, the wounded and
banishments, it has left behind a depopulated region whose name and
all presence has been banned. The Dersim Kurds has faced a planned,
systematic genocide and an extremely cruel assimilation process
because of their=3B identity, language, culture and religious beliefs.

The "one language and one nation" policy of the Republic of Turkey
that continues in today’s society as been the source of serious
massacres first in Kocgiri, then at Seyh Said Revolt, at Zilan and at
Dersim.

During the Dersim Genocide the Turkish government has massacred
thousands of people, those who survived were banished, Dersim was
depopulated. The cause of these merciless acts was being Kurdish,
Alevi and Kizilbash. Although 70 years have passed, Turkey is not
willing to acknowledge this Genocide like many other Kurdish
Genocides. Those responsible for the deaths of thousands of people
have never been tried nor have they been brought out into light. The
broken families could never discover their past. Thousands of people
still haven’t received news from their families and close friends. The
whereabouts of the Kurdish children taken by the Turkish Government at
the time are unknown. Many other world counties who have had a similar
experiences and committed genocide against its people have
acknowledged the injustice and sorrow they have caused and have
apologised. However Turkey is continuing to resist and use "it does
not exist" strategy with the Kurdish Genocide just as they have with
the Armenian Genocide. Latin America called it "Making Peace"=3B the
Japan called it "Leaving the past behind"=3B Italy had the "Cleaning
Operation"=3B Austria took up "Nazi Cooperation"=3B Switzerland faced
the "Nazi Accounts" and the "Nazi Gold". Australia said "Sorry" to the
Aborigines. Canada did the same for the Quebecois. South Africa put an
end do the racist regime of Apartheid. This and similar examples prove
that it is only possible to cleanse ourselves from the outworn traces
and influences of the past by abandoning ‘denial’ and ‘destroying
strategies’. As evident by these examples, the road to living together
in peace goes through a democratic mentality transformation.

However, Turkey has not abandoned its desire for massacre, which it
uses as a government policy. Kurdish regions are still being bombed,
villages are being emptied, people being murdered because of their
identity and culture. To remind the world public of Dersim Genocide in
its 70th year, we are organising the "Dersim ’38 Conference" at the
European Parliament on 13 November 2008. We will be there to face our
history, to show that we have not forgotten nor will forget our
ancestors and mothers who had been massacred.

We convey that the solution for our difference is not to kill or to
die as it was the case in the Dersim Genocide and various other
Kurdish Revolts, but to be seen as cultural richness. The solution for
the Kurdish problem can be achieved not by denial or annihilation but
by a peaceful approach. However, having a safe and secure future can
be achieved if the government can face its past. Otherwise this pain
and trauma will not end and it will not contribute to the solution to
this problem.

Armenians, Greeks, Kurds, Jews, Alevis-Kizilbashes, Syrians,
Assyrians, all citizens of Turkey and those who were classed as "the
other" are the real owners of this move for Turkey to accept its past.

It is for this reason the Association of Reconstruction of Dersim is
organising a conference regarding the Dersim ’38 Genocide at the EU
Parliament with the left party acting as the host.

We invite all EU counties, UN, civil public organisations and Kurdish
people to show sympathy to this conference which will take place on 13
November 2008.

Interfax, Russia
Nov 12 2009

Attempts to resolve Karabakh issue "fruitless" – Aliyev

MINSK Nov 12

Azerbaijan will continue to seek justice and restoration of its
territorial integrity, said country’s President Ilham Aliyev.

"The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was forced on us even before the
collapse of the Soviet Union. A war was launched against Azerbaijan,
ethnic cleansing began, and over a million of our citizens became
refugees, while about 20% of our territory is occupied. Azerbaijan’s
cultural monuments, our cemeteries, other objects were either
destroyed or looted," Aliyev told the alumni of the Belarusian State
University in Minsk on Thursday.

Armenia is not complying with the United Nations resolution on the
withdrawal of its forces from Azerbaijan, he also said.

"All attempts to resolve the issue peacefully are fruitless," Aliyev said.

26 PACKAGES OF PROPOSALS ON 2010 DRAFT STATE BUDGET SUBMITTED

Noyan Tapan
Nov 13, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The results of the preliminary
discussions of the draft law on the 2010 state budget of Armenia held
at the Standing Committees of the RA National Assembly from October 30
to November 6 have been finalized. 26 packages of written proposals
were submitted by the NA deputies, factions and standing committees
by the deadline – November 13, 3 pm. On the same day the packages
were sent to the government, NT correspondent was informed by the
National Assembly.

It is envisaged including the draft law on the 2010 state budget of
Armenia on the agenda of the regular four-day session on November
16-19. During the plenary sittings, the government will present the
preliminary version of the draft without any changes. Under the Rules
of Procedure of the RA National Assembly, after the completion of
the regular stage of discussions, a break for at least 4 days will be
announced, after which the government will present the final version
of the draft amended based on the proposals for changes acceptable
to the government. The final version will be presented for discussion
and approval by vote at a plenary sitting of the parliament.

PURCHASE AND SALE TRANSACTIONS OF 10.39 MILLION DOLLARS CARRIED OUT AT NASDAQ OEMEX ARMENIA OJSC ON NOVEMBER 13

Noyan Tapan
Nov 13, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Purchase and sale transactions of
10 million 390 thousand dollars at the weighted average exchange rate
of 387.7 drams per dollar were carried out at Nasdaq Oemex Armenia
OJSC on November 13. According to the press service of the Central
Bank of Armenia, the closing price was 387.55 drams.

LA CUCINA D’ARMENIA BOOK IN ITALIAN PUBLISHED IN MILAN

Noyan Tapan
Nov 12, 2009

MILAN, NOVEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The launching of
Sonya Orfalian’s book LA CUCINA D’ARMENIA (Armenian kitchen) took
place in the Italian city of Milan in October. The book was published
by Ponte delle Grazie Editor. An interview with the author took place
after the launching ceremony. S. Orfalian spoke not only about the
Armenian cuisine but also about Armenian life and politics.

ARMEN PETROSYAN: UNLIKE CAUCASIAN EPICS, HEROES IN ARMENIAN EPICS ARE REAL PEOPLE

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.11.2009 14:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The third international conference on "Armenian
National Epic and World Epic Heritage " has brought together scholars
from Armenia, Abkhazia, United States and Germany. Discussion is
devoted to various aspects of Armenian epic.

Participants will introduce reports on the following themes: "Results
and prospects of studying Armenian epic" (Samvel Harutyunyan),
"Comparison of Armenian and Caucasian epics" (Armen Petrosyan),
"Records of XVI century Portuguese travelers on the narrative retelling
of ‘Daredevils of Sasun’ " (Peter Kaui), "Combat between David and
Mher in the context of Indo-European heroic poetry" (Karl Richell),
"Abkhazia’s Abskir and Armenia’s Mher" (Zurab Japua) etc.

"19th century Russian and French scholars dwelled on the common
features of Armenian and Caucasian epic. They also stressed that
cultural development came from the East. Evidently, common features
are reflected through images and bear a structural and schematic
character. Both Armenian and Caucasian epics have twin heroes –
the founders of the country or capital towns, as well as key and
resurrected heroes," Armenian Petrosyan said, summing up his speech.

He also stressed that unlike Caucasian epics, Armenian epics have
historical heroes representing Artashesyan royal house.

In his report on the "History of Written Epic", Director of RA NAS
Institute of Literature Azat Yeghuzaryan said, "It should be noted that
epics live longer than the peoples who created them. A fair example is
"Gilgamesh" which to day is a source of study for literary critics and
historians and contributes to the development of those disciplines."

"Armenian epic David of Sasun survived to the present day thanks
to Garegin Srvandztyan who compiled records into a book in 1865,"
Azat Yeghiazaryan stressed.

To prolong the life of epics and achieve their international
recognition it is necessary to record the pieces of folk art, he added.

Conference objective is to analyze recent studies in epic literature
and compare Armenian epic with those of other nations, pointing out
similarities and differences.

Conference organizer is RA NAS Institute of Archaeology and
Scientific-Research Centre of Armenian-Russian (Slavonic) University.

This is the third conference on Armenian epic, which will last till
November 14. Previous conferences devoted to the theme were organized
in 2004 and 2006.