Author: Kanayan Tamar

Turkish premier says no link between US base request, Armenian genocide issue
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
31 Mar 05
Rabat, 31 March: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on
Thursday [31 March] that there was political will to further improve
relations between Turkey and Morocco. [Passage omitted]
Erdogan said, “Turkey does not accept the accusation of so-called
Armenian genocide. Documents refutes such slanders”.
When asked, “what does the United States want from Turkey about the
Incirlik Air Base? Some circles have connected the United States’
request for use of the Air Base with approval of a resolution about
so-called Armenian genocide by the US congress. What do you think
about it?” Prime Minister Erdogan said, “as a democratic, secular and
social state of law, Turkey will continue supporting its ally under
the structure of NATO and under the United Nations humanitarian relief
efforts. However, it is impossible to meet all requests every time.
We do not have any problem about principles. In the meantime, we will
regret any attempts to relate it to so-called Armenian genocide.
The US parliament has never done such a thing, and I believe that it
will not do so in the future”.
Recalling that Turkey had opened its state archives in an effort to
enlighten the facts, Prime Minister Erdogan told reporters, “the
United States should also take action by charging historians and
jurists to make a detailed research. Because, decisions we make do not
concern only one country. These decisions should not affect the other
countries”.
“Turkey has never cherished any resentment or hatred against
Armenia. We declared that we have opened our state archives, and
called for a research. However, they rejected our proposal. Their
baseless slanders are totally unacceptable. Turkey does not accept the
accusation of so-called Armenian genocide since documents refutes such
slanders. Turkey will make a decision soon, and inform all countries
approving resolutions to recognize so-called Armenian genocide,” he
said.
[Passage omitted]

RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER: `RUSSIA INTERESTED IN US MILITARY BASES TEMPORARY
PRESENCE IN CIS’
31.03.2005 03:21
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov supposes that
temporary presence of US military bases in the CIS territory, destined
for fighting terrorism in Afghanistan, fits the interests of Russia,
the Minister told Arguments and Facts Russian weekly. `There are US
temporary bases present in the CIS territory due to the counter-terrorism
operation in Afghanistan. It was adjusted by the US and Russia. It is
in our vital interests. I am convincedin it, ‘ the Minister stated.
`There is no military presence of the US and NATO there – except for
the cases clearly agreed upon,’ he noted.

USEUCOM DEPUTY COMMANDER, GENERAL CHARLES F. WALD ARRIVES IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, MARCH 30, ARMENPRESS: Gen. Charles F. Wald, Deputy
Commander, Headquarters U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany
(USEUCOM) is arriving today in Yerevan on a two-day visit. The US
Embassy Public Affairs Section said General Wald is scheduled to meet
with Armenian president Robert Kocharian, defense minister Serzh
Sarkisian and other top Armenian army officials.
The Embassy said the goal of USEUCOM’s visit to Armenia is to
discuss here growing US-Armenian military cooperation.
USEUCOM is responsible for all U.S. forces operating across 91
countries in Europe, Africa, Russia, parts of Asia and the Middle
East, and most of the Atlantic Ocean.
General Wald earned his commission through the Air Force ROTC
program in 1971. He has combat time as an O-2A forward air controller
in Vietnam and as an F-16 pilot flying over Bosnia. The general has
served as a T-37 instructor pilot and F-15 flight commander. Other
duties include Chief of the U.S. Air Force Combat Terrorism Center,
support group commander, operations group commander, and special
assistant to the Chief of Staff for National DefenseReview. He was
also the Director of Strategic Planning and Policy at Headquarters
U.S. Air Force, and served on the Joint Staff as the Vice Director
for Strategic Plans and Policy.
General Wald commanded the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base,
Italy, where on Aug. 30, 1995, he led one of the wing’s initial strike
packages against the ammunition depot at Pale, Bosnia-Herzegovina, in
the first-ever NATO combat operation. He also commanded the 9th Air
Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.,
where he led the development of the Afghanistan air campaign for
Operation Enduring Freedom, including the ideaof embedding tactical
air control parties in ground special operations forces.Prior to
assuming his current position, he was Deputy Chief of Staff for Air
and Space Operations at the Pentagon.
The general is a command pilot with more than 3,500 flying hours,
including more than 430 combat hours over Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos,
Iraq andBosnia.

Turkish Press
March 30 2005
Press Scan
SWISS FM MAKES STRANGE COMMENT
HURRIYET- Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey met Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul in Ankara. The visit of the Swiss minister to
Turkey planned for 2003 didn’t take place after the parliament of a
western Swiss canton recognized the so-called Armenian genocide
claims. During the meeting, Calmy-Rey made a strange proposal to
Turkey about the Armenian claims saying that Turkey should be warm to
the idea of foundation of an international commission.

NEW POWER UNIT ON JAPANESE MONEY
Azg/arm
31 March 05
Armen Movsisian, minister of energetics, labeled unprecedented
agreement between the Armenian government and the Japan Bank for
International Cooperation concluded on March 29. The Bank is going to
allocate 16 billion yen ($150 million) for reconstructing the heat
power plant of Yerevan. This is a longcredit that is given for 40
years with 0.75 percent for repayment. The money will be spent on a
new power unit.
The minister said that the Yerevan thermal plant was built in 1960s
with a term of exploitation for 25-30 years. For 1 kw-hr electricity
it vapored 370-400 gramme gas. The reconstructed plant will provide 1
kw-hr electricity using only 160-220 gramme of gas decreasing
electricity fee from 16.5 to 8 AMD.
Armen Movsisian informed that as soon as the signing ceremonies are
over they will hold a contest to start construction that is envisaged
to end by 2008.
Kuniaki Itu, executive director of JBIC branches in Europe and Middle
East, also expressed satisfaction with the cooperation and noted that
this is the second major credit program after the credit for the
reconstruction of Armenia’s electricity network. The Japanese guest
expressed hope that the Armenian-Japanese cooperation will develop in
other spheres as well.
Armen Movsisian spoke of the possibility to press on Armenia to close
the nuclear power plant as soon as the thermal plant is built. He said
that the thermal plant can by no means be a substitute for the NPP.
By Ara Martirosian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA AMBASSADOR TO IRAN AND IRI FOREIGN MINISTER MENTION HIGH LEVEL OF
RELATIONS BETWEEN 2 COUNTRIES
YEREVAN, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN. Last week Karen Nazarian, RA Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to IRI, handed the copy of his
credentials to Seyed Kamal Kharazi, IRI Foreign Minister. According to
the RA FM Press and Information Department, during the meeting the
sides exchanged opinions around a wide range of issues of mutual
interest. The high level of Iran-Armenia relations stimulating the
growth of trade-economic exchange and elaboration of joint programs
was mentioned. Highly estimating the balanced regional policy that
is carried on by Iran, Ambassador Nazarian expressed readiness to
strain every effort in development and extension of relations.

AND THEY SPOKE FOR A LONG TIME
A1+
25-03-2005
The today’s meeting Kocharyan-Putin lasted longer than anticipated.
The journalists waited for the Presidents for about two hours.
The press conference anticipated at 11.30 a.m. started at 1:30 p.m.
Robert Kocharyan informed that the meeting took place in a friendly
atmosphere, and the length of the conversation was conditioned by
the wide range of themed for discussion – political, economical,
cultural and other issues. The main stress was put at the necessity
of boosting investment programs.
RF President Vladimir Putin thanked Robert Kocharyan for the invitation
and for the friendly conversation. He noted that the negotiations
were very fruitful and immediately voiced hope that the Russian days
in Armenia will pass actively and all the 200 events will be realized.
The RF President found the enhancing of mutual trust important. Also he
mentioned the importance of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of
the victory in the Great Patriotic War, and said the two nations must
celebrate it together. On this occasion on March 8 Robert Kocharyan
will leave for Moscow.
There has also been a reference to the Karabakh conflict; Vladimir
Putin informed that they will do everything possible to settle the
conflict, but he sets hope on the meetings and negotiations between
the two Presidents.
By the way, Vladimir Putin noted that today the Russian-Azerbaijani
relations in the CIS frames have been discussed. Possibly he meant
the Russian-Armenian relations, and it was a slip of the tongue.

‘Mein Kampf’ a Best Seller in Turkey
Associated Press
Thursday, March 24, 2005
BY JAMES C. HELICKE, Associated Press Writer
ISTANBUL, Turkey – Turkish bookshops have a best seller, but some of
them are hesitant about giving it too much display.
It’s “Mein Kampf.”
The popularity of Adolf Hitler’s book, filled with anti-Jewish
diatribes and dreams of world domination, is puzzling some Turks. Does
it reflect rising anti-Semitic or anti-Western sentiment in Muslim
Turkey? Or anger over Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians and the
war in Iraq? Is it a backlash against the country’s moves to join
the European Union? Or does it simply offer a cheap thrill?
At least two new Turkish-language versions are out in paperback and
selling for as little as $4.50, but they could run into legal trouble.
They were printed without the permission of the Finance Ministry
of the German state of Bavaria, which was given control of Hitler’s
estate after World War II and is keen to suppress the book.
German diplomats in Turkey have been told to explore court action. “The
book ‘Mein Kampf’ should not be reprinted,” says Bavarian Finance
Minister Kurt Faltlhauser. “The state of Bavaria administers the
copyright very restrictively to prevent an increase of Nazi ideas.”
Last month the ministry said it was seeking legal action to stop the
book’s publication in Poland.
“Mein Kampf” ~W meaning “My Struggle,” was written in the 1920s and
has long been widely available in Arab countries, but no increase
in sales has been noted there lately. So Turkish analysts are hard
put to explain why tens of thousands of copies have been sold here
in recent months.
Lina Filiba, executive vice president of Turkey’s 25,000-member Jewish
community, called it “disturbing.”
She said price and media attention were major factors, but also
pointed to a “worrying trend” of anti-Semitic publications such as
“The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” being sold even in bustling
department stores.
“Metal Storm” by Orkun Ucar and Burak Turna, a novel imagining
a war between Turkey and the United States, is Turkey’s top
seller. Conspiracy theory books sell well and the press is extremely
critical of the United States and Israel.
Filiba tied the phenomenon to the European Union’s Dec. 17 decision
to open membership talks with Turkey, a move long sought by Turkish
governments but unpopular among those who fear it will expose their
country to permissive European influences.
“I think there’s an increase in anti-Semitic, anti-American, and
anti-foreigner feeling that has paralleled Dec. 17,” Filiba said.
Umit Ozdag, writing in the daily Aksam, worried that Turks feel
ill-treated by the West and are anxious as ethnic Kurds in Turkey and
neighboring Iraq are increasingly assertive. Some Turks, he wrote,
are finding comfort in Hitler’s claims that Germany lost the first
world war because of the Jews.
“Turks think they are being exploited. They are angry with the demands
of the European Union and United States. But those who anger them the
most are Kurdish nationalists,” he wrote. “Turks who think they’re are
being stabbed in the back read Hitler. That is a … very dangerous
development.”
At least two publishing houses, Emre and Manifesto, have released
cheap versions of “Mein Kampf.”
Oguz Tektas of Manifesto said it had sold at least 25,000 of its
print run of 30,000.
“It has nothing to do with anti-Semitism. Our only aim was commercial,”
Tektas said.
Esin Aka of the D and R bookshop chain said Thursday that the Emre
book, released five weeks ago, was No. 2 this week, after “Metal
Storm.” Senol Bilginan of the Bilgi store in Ankara said it was No. 3.
“The price is of course low. And the fact that it has been ordered
confiscated in some countries also helped,” he said. “Everyone is
buying it … Young people have an intense interest.”
Still, it’s not always easy to find. One D and R shop in Istanbul
buried it on a low shelf. The Dost bookshop in Ankara put it on a
high shelf, where the cover featuring a saluting Hitler couldn’t
be seen. The manager said he was selling about five books a day and
added he deliberately didn’t put it on the best-seller shelves.
“I saw the book on TV and got curious about Hitler’s life and decided
to buy it,” said Asli Ugur, 20, a university student.
She also bought a book about Che Guevara.
Associated Press writer Matt Surman in Berlin contributed to this
report.
;cid=487&ncid=487&e=4&u=/ap/20050324/ap_en_ot/turkey_hitler_s_book

esctoday.com, Netherlands
Dutch interest Eurovision Song Contest high
Thu 24 Mar 2005 13:40:29
Source: esctoday.com
Written by: Sietse Bakker
The Dutch interest in Glennis Grace and her Eurovision Song Contest
participation is almost unusually high. While contestants usually
have to fight for some attention, Glennis Grace her agenda is almost
completely full. Meanwhile, the amount of Dutch journalists will be
higher than recent years.
Charts and polls
My impossible dream is likely to enter the charts around the 10th
position, which is unusually high for a Dutch Eurovision Song
Contest entry. The single of My impossible dream contains the
song, the instrumental version and an uptempo remix. Meanwhile,
the Netherlands tops the esctoday.com BigPoll 2005 (semifinal vote)
with Iceland closely behind. The website ESC Statistics placed the
Netherlands second, with Greece as top favourite.
Busy agenda
The past weeks, Glennis Grace already appeared in several television
programmes. The popular lifestyle programme Life & Cooking
pays attention to Glennis and the Eurovision Song Contest every
week. Tonight she will record the Dutch edition of Top of the pops,
tomorrow she can be seen on the kids channel Nickelodeon. On the 4th
of April she will fly to Kiev for a sneak preview of the preparations,
on invitation of magazine Privé. 25th of April Glennis will perform
on the Rainbow Experience Amsterdam, a gay event for more than 20,000
visitors. During the football match Netherlands-Armenia she will sing
the Dutch national anthem acapella.
Draw
During Tuesday’s draw for the running order, the Netherlands came
out of the bowl as ninth. “I wouldn’t have mind a 22nd start position
(…) but the ninth spot was also my position in the Dutch final. At
the end, it’s just like a marathon”, Glennis wrote on her official
website. “No matter the position, to win, you have to run faster than
the others”. Glennis considers Greece to be the favourite for victory.
–Boundary_(ID_KXGnpjAthmu/xttcKj8tsQ)–

Russia concerned over situation in security partner Kyrgyzstan
Agence France Presse — English
March 23, 2005 Wednesday 2:03 PM GMT
MOSCOW March 23 — Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said
Wednesday that Moscow was concerned over the situation in Kyrgyzstan
and reminded the opposition that Bishkek was a member of a collective
security agreement with Moscow.
“Kyrgyzstan is our ally in the agreement on collective security,”
Ivanov said in televised comments.
“I think that the so-called opposition will have enough brains to
find the strength to calm down and turn the situation into a political
dialogue,” he said.
“In all, we are concerned about the development of the internal
situation in the country,” he said. “What is happening in the south
of the country has long been outside a lawful framework.”
Supporters of Kyrgyzstan’s disjointed opposition have been staging
demonstrations since the results of an election held on March 13
were announced, virtually shutting the opposition out of the nation’s
parliament.
The opposition charges that President Askar Akayev’s administration
had helped fix the vote in order to pack the 75-seat chamber with
supporters ahead of presidential elections in October.
Russia signed a collective cooperation security treaty with five
ex-Soviet republics in 1992 — Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan
and Tajikistan. The treaty calls for a united effort by its members
in the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime.
Kyrgyz authorities have on several occasions charged that the protests
that have roiled Kyrgyzstan’s south over the contested legislative
poll were linked to criminal and radical Islamic groups.