Author: Kanayan Tamar

IRAQI KURDS LEADER MEETS EXXON MOBIL HEAD

January 23, 2013 – 14:33 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Iraq’s Kurdish regional government says its
president has held talks with the head of Exxon Mobil amid signs that
the energy giant may be exploring new options with the Kurds’ rival,
the central government in Baghdad.

According to The Associated Press, the Kurds said late Tuesday, Jan
22, that regional President Massoud Barzani met with Exxon Chairman
and CEO Rex Tillerson in Switzerland and discussed company activities.

It gave no further details.

Exxon infuriated Baghdad in 2011 by signing a deal with the Kurds to
hunt for oil in their region and in nearby disputed territories.

Tillerson’s talks followed a rare meeting Monday with Iraqi Prime
Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Exxon had planned to sell a key stake in Iraq’s south and focus instead
on the Kurdish contract, though Monday’s talks prompted speculation
it is reconsidering those plans.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA: LEADERSHIP OF AZERBAIJAN HAS LOST A SENSE OF REALITY

ARMINFO
Monday, January 21, 12:00

“I strongly believe that in the long term it does not suit anybody
to leave the issue unsettled. First of all, it is not suitable
for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, then the Republic of Armenia,
and I am also sure for Azerbaijan. Because living in conditions
of a constant threat of war is not that pleasant. And since 1988,
already for 25 years, the population of Nagorno-Karabakh has been
living in conditions of this threat. Consider that there is such a
threat for children, for young people, for everyone,” President of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview with RFE/RL’s Armenian
Service ahead of the presidential election of Feb 18.

“Therefore, I am absolutely convinced that the people of
Nagorno-Karabakh want the problem to be settled as soon as possible.

And Armenia has additional problems. Unfortunately, we are not rich in
natural resources and naturally have no easy inflow of investments. We
have no other means to be able to develop our economy. That is,
the more open our economy is, the more developed our communications
are, the easier it will be for us to do. And the situation of the
unsettled conflict is a constant impediment to these circumstances,”
the president said.

There is also another problem, he said. “From its scarce resources
Armenia has to allocate a large share for security and defense. We
simply have to do it. We have to have the army that is disproportionate
by its size to the size of our state. I will tell you more. It does
not correspond to the dimensions of our state also in terms of its
combat readiness and armaments. But we have to have a combat-ready
army with modern armaments in the amount that will enable it to
fulfill the tasks set to it,” Sargsyan said.

“Why should we be interested in having the problem linger on? I
have repeatedly said — and was frequently criticized for that – but
today, too, I consider that a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem
achieved as soon as possible will be only positive for the development
of Armenia. But as they say, it takes two hands to clap. Azerbaijan’s
agreement is also needed for the problem to be resolved.

But in my opinion, the leadership of Azerbaijan has lost a sense
of reality. In my view, easy money, the petrodollars, do not have a
positive effect on the leadership of this country and their appetites
increasingly grow to the degree that they no longer limit themselves
to regarding only Nagorno-Karabakh as theirs. They already think that
Armenia, too, was created on Azerbaijani lands and that Yerevan is a
historically Azerbaijani land. And this is said by the president of
a country which got its name only about 100 years ago. Soon we will
mark the 2,800th anniversary of the foundation of Yerevan,” he said.

He believe it is simply unrealistic to expect in these conditions
that tomorrow or the day after tomorrow Armenia will achieve a
result, create a document by some miracle, and ensure a peaceful
coexistence of the two peoples. “But on the other hand, I think that
the leadership of Azerbaijan cannot be as shortsighted as to attempt a
new gamble. After all, only 20 years separate us from the blunder of
Azerbaijan when it seemed to that country that very easily it could
capture Nagorno-Karabakh and thus ultimately solve that problem.

There is also another circumstance: It is clear that today’s means
[in Azerbaijan] are the result of the sales of fuel resources, and
these fuel resources are sold to the international community. And
lately the international community on more than one occasion has
proved that the presence of fuel resources does not always play a
crucial role in making different decisions,” Sargsyan said.

“But since we, as I already said, have to deal with a country that
has lost the sense of reality, or, as they say, with an irrational
country, we should always be prepared to defend our people — first
of all the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, then the population of
the border regions of Armenia, and Armenia in general. Therefore,
we will continue to strengthen our armed forces. We will continue to
be constructive. We will always be ready to continue the negotiations
because the alternative is war. And as I said we do not want a war.

But if we are forced to wage a war, then I think we will never fail
the work of our companions, our perished heroes,” the president said.

ARMAN MELIKYAN DOES NOT EXCLUDE RESIGNING

12:36, 22 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. In respect of political, economical,
and social issues presidential candidate Arman Melikyan will not start
his election campaign until the Central Electoral Commission of the
Republic of Armenia does not call into life to his demands. Among
other things Arman Melikyan stated that he applied to the Central
Electoral Commission of the Republic of Armenia to find out the
exact number of the Armenian citizens, who had recently left the
country. As reports “Armenpress” during the press conference held on
January 22 Arman Melikyan noted: “To my opinion the number of voters,
which has already been publicized, is not accurate and participation
in the elections seems to be meaningless, if the Central Electoral
Commission of the Republic of Armenia does not provide the number of
the citizens, who left the country.”

Notwithstanding Arman Melikyan did not exclude the possibility of
resignation and mentioned that he will choose the most efficient
option.

The election campaign launched on January 21 and will last until
February 16. The deadline of submitting resignations to the Central
Electoral Commission of the Republic of Armenia is 18:00 o’clock,
February 8. The electronic votes will launch at 08:00 o’clock on
February 9 and last until 20:00 o’clock February 13. The votes will
kick off on February 18 at 08:00 and will last until 20:00 o’clock.

Final results of the presidential elections will be announced on
February 25, 2013.

27 JANVIER : L’UNESCO REND HOMMAGE A LA MEMOIRE DES VICTIMES DE L’HOLOCAUSTE

Publie le : 22-01-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
invite a lire cette information publiee sur le site de l’UNESCO.

UNESCO

Journee de commemoration de l’Holocauste

L’histoire de ce genocide perpetre pendant la seconde guerre mondiale
n’appartient pas qu’au passe. C’est une histoire vivante, qui nous
concerne tous, quelles que soient nos differences d’origines, de
cultures ou de religions. Après l’Holocauste, d’autres genocides ont
eu lieu, sur plusieurs continents. Saurons-nous enfin en tirer les
lecons ?

Irina Bokova, Directrice generale de l’UNESCO

” Avoir le courage d’aider : le sauvetage pendant l’Holocauste ”

Chaque annee, autour du 27 janvier, l’UNESCO rend hommage a la memoire
des victimes de l’Holocauste. Cette date marque l’anniversaire
de la liberation – en 1945, par les forces sovietiques – du
Camp de concentration et d’extermination de l’Allemagne nazie,
Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Le regime nazi et ses collaborateurs ont assassine environ six
millions d’hommes, de femmes et d’enfants juifs pendant la Seconde
Guerre mondiale. Leur objectif etait l’annihilation systematique des
juifs d’Europe.

Animes par une ideologie raciste, ils ont egalement persecute et tue
des millions d’autres personnes, notamment des Roms et des Sintis, des
handicapes, des opposants politiques, des homosexuels et d’innombrables
membres d’autres groupes.

En 2013, le thème choisi par les Nations Unies pour cette Journee
internationale est : ” Avoir le courage d’aider : le sauvetage pendant
l’Holocauste “. Il fait reference aux actions exceptionnelles de
personnes ou de groupes qui ont contribue a sauver des juifs de
l’emprise de l’Allemagne nazie. En reaction a l’indifference de
la majorite, ils ont refuse de rester la sans rien faire alors que
des innocents etaient assassines, et ils sont passes a l’action en
depit de l’immense danger. Ces recits de sauvetage sont rares mais
apportent la preuve eclatante que l’action est toujours possible face
a l’injustice et aux violations flagrantes des droits de l’homme.

L’education a l’Holocauste

Enseigner et apprendre l’Holocauste attire l’attention sur des
questions qui sont au c~ur de la mission de l’UNESCO visant a
construire la paix et promouvoir les droits de l’homme. De concert avec
ses Etats membres, l’UNESCO elabore des programmes educatifs visant
a enseigner aux jeunes generations les lecons de l’Holocauste et,
conformement a la resolution 60/7 de l’Assemblee generale des Nations
Unies et a la resolution 61 de la Conference generale de l’UNESCO sur
” la memoire de l’Holocauste “, a contribuer a empecher que ne se
reproduisent des actes de genocide.

Activites

L’UNESCO presente des expositions illustrant la partie des etudes sur
l’Holocauste plus specifiquement consacree aux actions de ” sauvetage
” des juifs. Deux expositions s’interesseront respectivement aux cas
particuliers de la Bulgarie et du Danemark, où des segments importants
de la population ont reagi et protege des juifs contre la deportation.

Une autre exposition, specialement preparee a l’occasion de la Journee
par la Fondation de la Shoah de l’University of Southern California,
presente des temoignage video de survivants qui ont ete sauves pendant
l’Holocauste.

Le 28 janvier, une ceremonie speciale reunira d’eminentes
personnalites, notamment le ministre francais de l’Education, M.

Vincent Peillon, et l’avocat, historien et traqueur de nazis,
M. Serge Klarsfled.

Le President de la Bulgarie, M. Rossen Plevneliev, est l’invite
d’honneur de cette journee speciale et s’exprimera pendant la
ceremonie.

L’Organisation et le Conseiller special des Nations Unies pour la
prevention du genocide organisent par ailleurs un debat de haut niveau
sur l’education a l’Holocauste et la prevention du genocide, avec le
soutien du Royaume de Belgique. La conference se tiendra au Siège
de l’UNESCO le 28 janvier. D’eminents specialistes de l’Holocauste
et du genocide debattront des defis a relever pour favoriser le
developpement de l’education a l’Holocauste et y integrer la prevention
du genocide. Le Secretaire general adjoint des Nations Unies, M. Adama
Dieng, participera a cet evenement public et soulignera l’importance de
la sensibilisation des jeunes et des responsables de l’elaboration des
politiques au danger que le genocide represente, encore aujourd’hui.

Par ailleurs, l’UNESCO organisera le 21 janvier une videoconference en
partenariat avec le Memorial de la Shoah reunissant des journalistes
et d’autres professionnels des medias dans les bureaux hors Siège de
Bujumbura, Dakar, Kinshasa, Libreville and Yaounde. M. Yves Termon,
specialiste du genocide, ouvrira le debat, et la videoconference
presentera le temoignage de Mme Ginette Kolinka, survivante de
l’Holocauste.

——————————————————————————————-

Evenement

Maison de l’UNESCO, Paris France

Lundi 28 janvier 2013 | Conference

De l’enseignement de l’Holocauste a la prevention des genocides :
qu’avons-nous appris du passe ? Salle IV, de 15h30 a 18h30

Avec la participation de :

Irina Bokova, Directrice generale de l’UNESCO ; Adama Dieng, Conseiller
special de l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour la prevention du
genocide ; Edward Kissi, Professeur, Departement des etudes Africana
de l’Universite de Floride du Sud (Etats-Unis/Ghana) ; Dan Michman,
historien, Directeur de l’Institut international pour la recherche
sur l’Holocauste, Yad Vashem, Professeur a l’Universite de Bar-Ilan
(Israël) ; Karen Pollock, Directrice du Holocaust Educational
Trust (Royaume-Uni) ; Samuel Pisar, ecrivain et avocat, rescape de
l’Holocauste, Ambassadeur honoraire et Envoye special de l’UNESCO
pour l’enseignement de l’Holocauste.

Conference organisee en partenariat avec le Bureau du Conseiller
special de l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour la prevention du
genocide et avec le soutien de la Delegation permanente du Royaume
de Belgique auprès de l’UNESCO

*****************

Lundi 28 janvier 2013 | Ceremonie

Commemoration dediee a la memoire des victimes de l’Holocauste,
Salle I, 19h30

Projection du film Les Justes d’Emmanuel Finkiel ; Allocutions de
personnalites : – Irina Bokova, Directrice generale de l’UNESCO ;
– Eric de Rothschild, President du Memorial de la Shoah ; – Nimrod
Barkan, Ambassadeur, Delegue permanent d’Israël auprès de l’UNESCO ;
– Vincent Peillon, Ministre de l’Education nationale de la Republique
francaise ;

Invite d’honneur :

– Rossen Plevneliev, President de la Republique de Bulgarie ;

Lecture d’un texte de Jean-Claude Grumberg par Guila Clara Kessous,
Artiste de l’UNESCO pour la paix, et le comedien Francis Huster ;
Temoignage de Serge Klarsfeld, historien et avocat, President de
l’association des Fils et filles des deportes juifs de France ; Pièces
musicales interpretees par Pascal Amoyel (piano) et Emmanuelle Bertrand
(violoncelle) ; Prières par Adolphe Attia, ministre officiant.

********************

Du 28 janvier au 4 fevrier 2013 | Expositions

Resistance et sauvetage au Danemark Photographies de Judy Ellis
Glickman, Salle des pas perdus

L’histoire de la Shoah au Danemark est une exception dans l’histoire
europeenne : 99 % de la population juive a survecu a l’occupation
allemande, la majorite des Juifs du Danemark etant parvenue a
s’evader vers la Suède avec l’aide de la resistance danoise et de
nombreux citoyens du pays. Ceux qui ont ete deportes sont restes a
Theresienstadt et ont finalement ete transferes en Suède avant la
fin de la guerre. En outre, la plupart des Juifs ont retrouve leurs
maisons et synagogues intactes a leur retour en 1945 car il n’y a
pas eu de pillages organises au Danemark.

L’exposition presentee a ete preparee au debut des annees 1990 par la
photographe Judy Ellis Glickmann et par la fondatrice et directrice
de Humanity in Action, Judith Goldstein, puis confiee au Memorial
de la Shoah (Paris) pour assurer sa circulation en Europe. Depuis,
de nouvelles recherches sur le Danemark et la Shoah ont ete publiees
et une version remise a jour du texte a ete preparee par le Memorial
de la Shoah pour la version francaise.

Le sauvetage : proteger l’humanite pendant l’Holocauste, Salles Miro

Exposition multimedia presentee par l’Institut de la Fondation pour
la Shoah de l’Universite de Californie du Sud (USC) : programmation
de temoignages diffuses en boucle sur cinq thèmes – Sauvetage
communautaire, Diplomates et sauvetage, Sauvetage des enfants,
Religion et sauvetage, Reconnaître le sauvetage. Ces temoignages,
qui rassemblent des voix et experiences diverses sur le sauvetage
pendant l’Holocauste, racontent l’histoire de survivants ainsi que
les strategies et decisions difficiles qui ont dû etre prises pour
mener des actions de sauvetage. Ils nous replongent egalement dans
l’histoire de la Seconde Guerre mondiale et rendent hommage aux
personnes qui ont participe a des sauvetages.

L’Institut de la Fondation pour la Shoah de l’Universite de
Californie du Sud a ete cree en 1994 par Steven Spielberg pour
collecter et preserver les temoignages des rescapes et autres temoins
de l’Holocauste.

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : UNESCO

HRANT BAGRATYAN: I DID NOT QUIT HAK

05:32 pm | January 21, 2013 | Politics

Presidential candidate Hrant Bagratyan kicked off his campaign rallying
his supporters in Verin Artashat village in Ararat marz (province).

During the meeting, the country’s former prime minister presented
his economic program entitled “Only 100 Steps to Social Justice.”

Later on, the candidate answered the attendees’ questions concerning
the gas tariffs, land tax, deposits and bank loans.

Asked why he had left the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK),
Mr Baghratyan said, “I have not quit the opposition alliance. Some
people simply think that I should not have nominated my candidacy
for February’s presidential election. But I must say that I am
determined to continue my struggle even if I know that the election
will be rigged.”

At the end of the meeting, the candidate said, “This is not our last
meeting: the snowball is getting bigger.”

GEORGIAN ARMENIANS TO SUPPORT SERZH SARGSYAN

03:27 pm | January 21, 2013 | Politics

Georgian-Armenians connect Armenia’s future development and attention
towards Javakhk with Serzh Sargsyan, Tatchat Vardapetyan, the president
of the Georgian-Armenian Unity NGO, told a news conference on Jan. 21.

He made the statement on behalf of the NGO.

While Vardapetyan reminded that Georgian-Armenians do not have the
right to vote and cannot back the incumbent with their participation
in February’s vote, he added that there are many Georgian-Armenians
who have RA citizenship and can go to the polls on the Election Day
(February 18).

Speaking about the problems of Georgian-Armenians, Mr Vardapetyan said,
“We should try to curb migration and open more workplaces as Javakhk
is one of the largest Armenian communities and is closely linked to
the homeland.”

Regarding Armenian-Georgian relations, he said ‘the age-old fraternity
is binding.’

“I am thankful to the Georgian Prime Minister [Bidzina Ivanishvili]
who began implementing his campaign pledges.”

Javakhk, an Armenian enclave, is the most underdeveloped and
impoverished region in Georgia, with the highest rate of unemployment
and the lowest rate of state investment.

PRE-ELECTION VIDEO OF SERZH SARGSYAN “TOWARDS SECURE ARMENIA” HAS BEEN PRESENTED

19:08, 21 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: Pre-election video of incumbent
President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has been already presented to the
public. Armenpress reports, the author of the song is Albert Abgaryan,
chairman of “Harmony” NGO. Serzh Sargsyan has noted the song is full
of hope, belief and warmth. “I want to believe that the song will be
brig us luck and words of your heart will support us,” he noted.

Presidential candidate informed they launched a new pre-election
struggle and the new video would be performed in the villages and
cities of the republic.

“There is still much work to do for holding successful elections. Our
pre-election struggle is not aimed against someone it is for the vote
of the nation, for ensuring the excitement and belief,” he said,
noting that the country had to be changed with the joint efforts.

In Sargsyan’s words they respect the position of every person, discuss
it and suggest the way leading to the top.

Election campaign has launched on January 21 and will last until
February 16.

IPA CIS OBSERVERS ASSESSMENT OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS TO BE OBJECTIVE

17:40, 21 January, 2013

YEREVAN, JANAURY 21, ARMENPRESS. On January 21 the Deputy Chairman of
the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Edvard Sharmazanov
hosted the members of IPA CIS long-term observation group, which
visited Armenia to follow the upcoming presidential elections.

The Department of Public Relations and Media of the National
Assembly of the Republic of Armenia informed “Armenpress” that Edvard
Sharmazanov welcomed the observers and underscored the significance
of their mission. He assured that the Armenian authorities are firm
in their decision to hold fair and transparent elections, as the
democratic elections of the president of the Republic of Armenia are
of a certain importance for the stability and progress of the country.

Among other things the Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly of
the Republic of Armenia Edvard Sharmazanov touched upon the issue
of legitimacy of putting forward and recording candidacies, the
necessity of realization the theses envisaged in the election code
of the Republic of Armenia and asked the observers to focus on the
fact that the present stage provides equal conditions to the whole
presidential candidates.

Chairman of the Committee on National Security, Public Order and
Defense Issues of the Moldovan Parliament, IPA CIS Observation Group
Coordinator Alexander Stoyanoglo and IPA CIS Secretary General Aleksey
Sergeev highly appreciated the democratic developments Armenia has
recorded during the previous years.

PROSPECTS DIM FOR TURKEY’S TIES TO ISRAEL

Supporters of Hamas’ Gaza leader, Ismail Haniyeh, shout slogans
against Israel in front of the cruise liner Mavi Marmara in Istanbul,
Jan. 2, 2012. (photo by REUTERS/Osman Orsal )

By: Semih Idiz for Al-Monitor Turkey Pulse. posted on January 20.

The current woeful state of the once mutually beneficial Turkish-Israel
ties resembles Humpty Dumpty after his proverbial fall.

None of the king’s horses or of the king’s men have been successful
so far in putting these ties back together again. This has not,
however, stopped Israel from trying to come up with formulas aimed
at appeasing Turkey. Ankara’s position nevertheless remains firm,
with its preconditions for normalized ties almost writ in stone.

posted on : January 20 2013 Categories : Originals Turkey

Relations between the two countries, already strained over Israel’s
“Operation Cast Lead” against Gaza in December 2008, plummeted after
Israeli forces killed nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists in May
2010. The Turks — one of them a US citizen also — were shot in
international waters in the eastern Mediterranean by Israeli soldiers
raiding the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish aid ship that was part of an
international flotilla trying to force the Israel blockade of Gaza.

Turkey continues to wait for Israel to formally and unequivocally
apologize over the incident, and is also demanding compensation
for the killed Turks, as well as the raising of the siege of Gaza,
before it considers improving ties with the Jewish state.

Israel, for its part, argues that the Turks on the Mavi Marmara were
armed and hostile; a charge vehemently denied by the organizers of the
international flotilla and Turkey. Not surprisingly, the right-wing
government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to meet
Turkish demands.

Israel has nevertheless sent out feelers, mostly through members of the
Turkish media, for improved ties. The latest attempt came a few days
ago from Israel’s deputy foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, who told daily
Hurriyet that the manner in which the US and Pakistan had resolved a
similar dispute provided a convenient blueprint for Israel and Turkey.

He was referring to the letter sent by the US to Pakistan after
American jets mistakenly killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November
2011 in an air raid. “I could consider resolving this problem by
using the text of the US-Pakistan agreement,” Ayalon was quoted saying.

When asked if the letter he was proposing on the basis of the US
letter to Pakistan contained an apology Ayalon said, “Yes. If you read
the text of the (US) letter it is very clear to everyone.” Turkish
diplomats sounded out by Al-Monitor, however, are not so sure.

They argued that Washington’s letter, while expressing regret over
the Pakistani soldiers killed, nevertheless fell short of a full
apology that could bring legal liability with it.

They also pointed to the fact that although former Israeli Foreign
Minister Avigdor Lieberman has endorsed the US-Pakistani model, he has,
nevertheless, said that this would not amount to a formal apology.

Ayalon, who is key a member of the Knesset for the nationalist “Israel
Our Home” party, has insisted in the past — together with Lieberman
— that the Turks on the Mavi Marmara were armed and dangerous and
so there is no need to apologize to anyone over the incident.

Ayalon also gained notoriety among Turks for contributing personally
to damaging Turkish-Israeli relations, after he insulted the Turkish
ambassador in 2010 by inviting him to the foreign ministry, to be
informed of Israel’s displeasure with Turkey, and seated him in a
low chair, in front of reporters, while he took the high chair.

The move was widely considered to be a setup planned by Ayalon to
willfully belittle Turkey, and was also criticized in Israel where
many felt it was Israel’s image, and not Turkey’s, that had been
harmed by a serious lack of diplomatic finesse.

What Ayalon is proposing now, however, is not good enough for Turkey,
according to government sources, who say Ankara’s demands should be
met without any ambiguity. Diplomats in Ankara say Israel is reluctant
to provide the apology Turkey demands because this would amount to an
admission of guilt, which could expose members of the Israeli armed
forces to international court cases.

Meanwhile, a court in Istanbul began a trial in absentia in October
2012 against former Israel army Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi,
ex-naval chief Eliezer Marom, former head of military intelligence
Amos Yadlin, and former head of the air force Avishai Lev, who are
accused of masterminding the Mavi Marmara raid.

Israel has dismissed this as a “kangaroo court,” while Western
diplomats in Ankara say the trial, whose legal basis is questionable,
poses no risk for Israel given the September 2011 findings of a panel
of inquiry commissioned by the UN Secretary General.

According to the “Palmer Panel,” Israel’s blockade of Gaza is “a
legitimate security measure.” The panel also maintained that Israeli
troops faced “significant, organized and violent resistance” on the
Mavi Marmara, even though it added that boarding the ship and the
use of substantial force was “excessive and unreasonable.”

Turkey, however, rejected these findings, arguing that the inquiry that
counts is the one conducted by the UN’s Human Rights Council in 2010,
which found Israel guilty on almost all counts. And there the matter
rests today, with neither the US, nor any other country interested in
resolving this dispute, having had any success in trying to normalize
Turkish-Israeli ties.

What makes a settlement difficult is the fact that there is an
asymmetrical situation in hand. Israel needs improved ties with Ankara
much more than the other way around. The importance of improved ties
with Turkey was also admitted to by Ayalon in his remarks to Hurriyet.

“Economically, strategically, and for other reasons, it is very
important for Turkey and Israel to cooperate” he said pointing to
the turmoil in the Middle East, and expressing his hope that 2013
will see Turkish-Israeli ties set on the right course.

However, a rapprochement with Israel, and especially one in which
Ankara’s demands are not met, would be a political liability for
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, not just at home, but also in
the Middle East where his reputation among Sunni Arabs is running high.

Put another way, there is no incentive for the Erdogan government to
improve ties with Israel at the moment.

Meanwhile, the fact that Turkey recently lifted its objection to
Israeli participation in certain NATO activities in 2013 appears to
have raised hopes among Israeli officials for improved ties. Many
Israelis see this resulting from a trade-off between Turkey and NATO
after Ankara requested Patriot missiles against any missile attacks
from Syria.

Officials in Ankara sounded out by Al-Monitor disagreed. They argued
that there was no such trade-off, since NATO would have harmed
its image as an alliance if it failed to respond to a request by a
strategic ally in order to please a non-member country.

They also emphasized that Turkey has not given NATO a carte blanche
in its dealings with Israel.

Even if Turkey’s NATO allies are keen for a rapprochement between
Turkey and Israel, it seems unlikely that this will come about until
Ankara’s demands are met by Israel. Given Israel’s hard-line stance,
despite its search for a formula that might appease Turkey, it is
not difficult to see that Turkish-Israeli ties will remain in the
doldrums for the foreseeable future.

But even if Humpty Dumpty could be put together somehow, it appears,
from today’s perspective, that the cracks will continue to show,
the shell having been broken once.

Semih Ä°diz is a contributing writer for Al-Monitor’s Turkey Pulse. A
journalist who has been covering diplomacy and foreign-policy issues
for major Turkish newspapers for 30 years, his opinion pieces can be
followed in the English language Hurriyet Daily News, he can also be
read in Taraf.

Read more:

COMMEMORATION OF THE 1990 ARMENIAN MASSACRES IN BAKU TOOK PLACE

On January 20 the commemoration events dedicated to the massacres to
Baku on 1990 took place in Batumi “Saint Savior” church. Press and
information department of Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs
about this. The commemoration was led by Bishop Ararat Gumbalyan.

After the commemoration the people went the cross-stone which is
situated in the yard of the church.

Armenian consular to Batumi Aram Grigoryan delivered speech and spoke
about the massacres in Baku, about their preconditions and underlined
the importance of the unification of Armenian nation.

21.01.13, 18:27