Author: Karabekian Emil

‘POLICE, GENDARMERIE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY IN DINK MURDER’

Zaman Online
July 24 2008
Turkey

Both the Trabzon police and the gendarmerie are culpable in not
preventing the assassination of ethnic Armenian journalist Hrant Dink,
a subcommittee of Parliament’s Human Rights Commission announced
yesterday.

Dink was gunned down by a teenager outside his newspaper’s Ä°stanbul
office in January 2007, but the ensuing investigation has been highly
controversial. The investigation made it obvious that the young man
hadn’t acted alone but was in fact driven by a group of people whom
he called older brothers who had plotted for more than a year. One of
these men, a former police informant, allegedly tipped off the police
on more than one occasion about the assassination plan. Another
witness during the trial testified that he too had been informed
about the plan to kill Dink by a gendarmerie colonel. In addition to
shady links between the suspects and security institutions, lawyers
representing the Dink family at various times have accused the police
of destroying vital evidence and concealing crucial information from
the court and the prosecution.

In a 180-page report on their investigation, head of the subcommittee
on the Dink murder Mehmet Ocaktan said on Tuesday that the commission
has reached the conclusion that "there has been negligence, fault
and bad coordination both on the part of the police department and
the gendarmerie."

Ocaktan and other commission members — Justice and Development Party
(AK Party) Bingöl deputy Kazım Ataoglu, Nationalist Movement Party
(MHP) Ä°zmir deputy Å~^enol Bal and Democratic Left Party (DSP)
Ä°stanbul deputy AyÅ~_e Jale AgırbaÅ~_ — held a press conference
yesterday to announce the findings of their months-long investigation.

Currently, two Turkish security officials, identified as Col. Ali Oz
and Capt. Metin Yıldız, are facing an investigation over suspicions
of "hiding information and failing to act" on reports Dink was in
danger. However, attempts to start an inquiry into Ä°stanbul Police
Chief Celalettin Cerrah and seven other police officers were prevented
by an Ä°stanbul court on Tuesday.

Highlights from the report

The report noted that in cases of prior information about a clear
and real danger the authorities must do whatever is in their power
to prevent the threat from being carried out.

It also stated that although members of the police force and the
gendarmerie were aware of the danger Dink was in, they had failed
to properly investigate the intelligence they had on the murder plot
and fend off the murder, costing Dink his life.

The report noted that under Turkey’s Provincial Administration Law,
local authorities have the highest responsible for ensuring the
security of districts. "This is why they should share information
from security forces with each other. Local authorities should not
allow illegal activity in their area of responsibility and should not
allow security forces to operate outside of the coordination network
by utilizing inspection mechanisms," the report said.

The document recommended that the necessary regulations be put in
place for recording information necessary to intelligence units of
the country in a common database, which would allow these units to
easily exchange information.

It also proposed new rules to regulate recruiting and firing of
civilians for the position of assistant agent. Erhan Tuncel, one
of the key suspects in the Dink murder, was an ex-police informant
who was fired but nevertheless maintained his relationship with the
police department. "Rehiring of a helper agent who has been fired
by another security force should be prevented," noted the report. It
also suggested setting up a database accessible to all intelligence
units on such individuals. Increasing the number of police officers
in Ä°stanbul was another recommendation in the report.

—————————————– ——————————-

Report: Gendarmerie officer afforded special honor

According to a report published in Birgun yesterday, Trabzon Governor
Nuri Okutan, who refused to grant permission for the launch of an
inquiry into a gendarmerie officer Col. Ali Oz over the Hrant Dink
murder, once awarded the officer a plaque.

In the second hearing in the trial of gendarmes Okan Å~^imÅ~_ak and
Veysel Å~^ahin, the two testified that they knew about the plot to
kill Dink six months before the murder and recounted that they had
informed Gendarmerie Intelligence Director Capt. Metin Yıldız who,
in turn, informed Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Col. Oz. The two
officers testified that Oz did nothing upon receiving the information.

Oz is now being investigated, but Trabzon Governor Okutan had initially
denied permission for an investigation, in May of last year. Birgun’s
report said the governor also awarded Oz with a plaque after a sports
event in August, at a time when the memory of Dink’s murder only a
few months earlier was fresh and the investigation was revealing new
and strange connections between certain gendarmerie officers and the
murder every day. Ä°stanbul Today’s Zaman

–Boundary_(ID_K1D+IGxnwgObJOicrvfgDg)–

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

THE SECOND PAN-DIASPORAN EDUCATION CONFERENCE DISCUSSES
THE TEACHING OF ARMENIAN LANGUAGE, HISTORY AND RELIGION

The second pan-diasporan education conference organized under the auspices
of His Holiness Aram I continued its sessions on July 17, featuring heated
discussions on issues related to the Armenian Language, History and
Religion.

Vahe Ghazarian chaired the first session, during which representatives of
the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s Dioceses spoke about activities at the local
level and the teaching of these three subjects in their respective
communities.

The participants in the conference discussed and debated these presentations
during the second session chaired by Anahit Nersisian. The discussions were
enriching particularly with regard to the exchange of viewpoints and the
recounting of individual experiences. The third session focused in depth on
the imperative of re-organizing the teaching of the Armenian Language,
touching on such issues as textbooks, structure of classes and methodology.
Jirayr Tanyelian chaired the session, which featured presentations by Clara
Aghakhanian, Keghani Etyemezian and Bebo Simonian.

Garo Hovhannessian chaired the following session, which discussed the
presentations made previously. The discussions featured not only comments
but also proposals and collective efforts for arriving at solutions to the
problems presented. The preparation of good textbooks and adequate teachers
was considered more important than methodology and a common pan- diasporan
approach to these issues was considered essential.

The fifth session chaired by Armine Vahramian looked at re-organizing the
teaching of Armenian history. The presenters included Ani Fishenkdjian,
Zaven Meserlian and Vicken Avakian. The participants stressed the need to
pass beyond textbook teaching to convey the spirit of Armenian History and
the significance of the high points in the nation’s
contemporary history with a special focus on the Armenian Genocide. The
sixth session discussed the same topic under the chairmanship of Houry
Ghougasian.

The last two sessions of the second day were dedicated to the teaching of
religion and they were chaired by Jirayr Reyisian and Bishop Shahe Panossian
respectively. Presentations were made by V. Rev. Krikor Chiftjian, Father
Mesrob Kerkezian and Violet Haroutyounian.

The discussions of this topic stressed the important role of the church and
the imperative for preparing an effective manpower towards this goal. The
participants also emphasized the need for a professional approach to the
teaching of this topic, which will contribute to the formation of the future
Armenian generations.
The conference will conclude its session on July 19.

##

View the photos here:
tos/Photos288.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the conferences
held in Antelias, you may refer to the web page of the Catholicosate,
The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

SERZH SARGSYAN: REFORMS LAUNCHED IN ARMENIA ARE START OF HARD AND GREAT WORK

NOYAN TAPAN

JU LY 21

"It is still early to speak about the results of the reforms in
the tax, customs, and traffic police spheres that started during
the 100 days of my tenure," RA President Serzh Sargsyan stated at a
press conference dedicated to the 100 days of his tenure. He said
that all that is a start of hard and great work. "We have started
from spheres, which are significant and important for our people and
were among my program’s priorities, and that work will become more
and more active. We will speak about the results in several years,"
S. Sargsyan mentioned expressing satisfaction with the fact that
there are positive responses in society.

S. Sargsyan advised the oppositionists, who consider that "the reforms
are of imitation nature and will return to their usual course in a
month or two" to wait a month or two and see "whether they return
to their usual course or we advance." At the same time he expressed
confidence that passport sphere and many other new spheres will
be joined them. "Even when many and many people are content with a
sphere’s work, it does not mean that the President should satisfy
himself with that and not show strictness to that sphere," S.

Sargsyan said.

The RA President on the whole considers not completed the
rearrangements in the government, but it is a fact that the main
appointments have been done.

Nevertheless, he promised that the state officials, who do not fulfil
the tasks set before them will be replaced by other ones. "It is
important that the result of a state official’s work be measurable,
serving society be the new approach to the work," the President
said. According to him, there are many honest people in the system,
who are completely for reforms, who are ready to work honestly. "I
clearly realized that new discontent people having levers, funds,
etc. will join those discontent with the results of the reforms, on the
other hand, I am sure that the majority supports us, I am sure that
this work will be a success," the President said. He also mentioned
that he is completely sure that his team’s program is realistic, some
problems will be solved in a shorter time and some in time mentioned
in the preelection program. "We will achieve higher results than it
is mentioned there," the RA President said.

In response to a journalist’s question the RA President said that the
reforms have a goal to create more favorable conditions for small
and medium-sized business, but the problem is that meny people
avoid tax commitments under the guise of small and medium-sized
business. "Imagine that 80% electronics, clothes, and other goods
sold on our Armenian market is circulated at fairs, and I do not think
that their 70-80% is imported to the country by small and medium-sized
business representatives. We should act so as to regulate our market,
the tax sphere. When we have sufficient means we will attend to the
rates of some kinds of taxes to lower them," the RA President assured
those present.

The RA President does not think that the steps being taken at present
are retarded. "In general, I think that many good acts have been done
in the past, as well, and I am absolutely against mentioning the
past only for a bad purpose. The times are different, the problems
and environment are also different, any issue can receive a complete
solution when it matures," he said.

PanARMENIAN.Net

PACE President to arrive in Armenia July 22
19.07.2008 14:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Lluis Maria de Puig, President of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), is to make an official visit
to Armenia from 22 to 25 July to deepen cooperation between Armenia
and the Assembly and to promote implementation of the Assembly’s
Resolutions 1609 and 1620.

Following on from the recent visit of the Council of Europe
Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr de Puig intends to assess, in
particular, the credibility of the enquiry into the events on 1-2
March, and will urgently raise the issue of people detained in
connection with these events. Following his recent visit to
Azerbaijan, he will also discuss the latest political developments
concerning the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the CoE communication unit
reports.

Meetings are foreseen with the President of the Republic, the Speaker
of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister,
among others, as well as Armenia’s Human Rights Defender and the
members of the ad hoc committee looking into the causes of the events
in March. Mr de Puig will also meet representatives of parties in the
parliament, including the Heritage faction, and former President Levon
Ter-Petrossian.

US READY TO HELP ARMENIA CONTINUE DEMOCRATIC REFORMS

ArmInfo
July 16 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 16 June: The USA is ready to provide the necessary assistance
to the Armenian government in continuing the democratic development
of the country, US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human
Rights and Labour David Kramer said at a meeting with Armenian Foreign
Minister Edvard Nalbandyan yesterday.

Kramer said that the USA, as a friend of Armenia, wants the republic
to overcome the post-election difficulties as soon as possible, and
continue its democratic development on a more solid basis. During the
meeting Nalbandyan and Kramer discussed steps to overcome obstacles
in the process of implementing democratic reforms. The Armenian
foreign minister introduced steps taken by the Armenian government
to implement provisions of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe resolutions 1609 ad 1620 [which recommend democratic reforms
in Armenia in connection with the post-election situation].

"Democratic reforms are the conscious choice of the Armenian people
and the national government resolutely aims to continue and develop
this process not only due to commitments undertaken before European
entities and appeals from friendly states, but first of all, in the
interests of our own country and people," Nalbandyan said.

Nalbandyan added that the Armenian government realizes that much
remains to be done and intends to move forward resolutely in this
direction.

RUSSIA’S SUKHOI SIGNS OVER USD 1 BLN CONTRACTS FOR SUPERJET-100 PLANES

ITAR-TASS
July 16 2008
Russia

Russia’s Sukhoi Civil Aircraft company signed over one billion
U.S. dollars worth of contracts at the Farnborough air show for the
supply of Sukhoil SuperJet-100 regional planes.

The company will supply 49 planes and signed an option for the delivery
of another 16 planes.

Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCA) signed an agreement on the main terms of
supply of 24 planes to the leasing company Avialiasing. It provides
an option for another 16 planes. The overall price of the deal exceeds
630 million U.S. dollars.

According to unofficial reports, the planes will then be lease to
the Russian airline UTair.

In addition, the joint venture Superjet International, created by the
Sukhoi Holding Company and Italian Alenia, has signed an agreement
for the supply of 20 SuperJet-100 planes to an unnamed company. The
overall value of the agreement is 600 million U.S. dollars.

The company also signed a 150 million U.S. dollar contract with the
Swiss leasing company AMA for the supply of five planes intended for
five different airlines in Europe and Asia.

All contracts and agreements signed at the air show are expected to
be implemented in 2010-2011.

Prior to the Farnborough air show, SCA had 73 firm contracts for
Sukhoil SuperJet-100 planes and 31 options. SCA also had firm contracts
with Aeroflot (30 planes), AirUnion (15 planes), DalAvia (6 planes),
Italian airline ItAli (10planes), and the Armenian company Armavia
(2 planes).

With the approximate cost of one plane being 26 million U.S. dollars,
the combined value of the contracts exceeded 50 billion roubles.

Sukhoi SuperJet-100 is a regional plane that is to replace the Tu-134
planes currently in use.

The SuperJet-100 project is a family of regional passenger aircraft
developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau in cooperation with major
American and European aviation corporations, including Boeing, Snecma,
Thales, Messier Dowty, Liebherr Aerospace, and Honeywell. Prior to
certification testing, the plane has to undergo a series of preliminary
flight tests at the aircraft manufacturing plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur
in Russia’s Far East. The airliner made its first test flight in May.

Sukhoi SuperJet-100 integrates the world’s best industry practices
and solutions. All aircraft will be certified in accordance with
both Russian and international requirements. SSJ100’s technical and
operational performance make the product fully marketable and capable
of taking a solid share in the highly competitive global market. Thus,
Sukhoi expects to sell 800 aircraft until the year 2024, while the
global demand for the aircraft of this class totals 5,400. So far
the company had secured 73 solid orders for the aircraft.

The SuperJet-100 was formerly referred to as the Russian Regional Jet,
or "Sukhoi RRJ." The name was changed on 17 July 2006.

The aircraft will be equipped with two Saturn/SNECMA PowerJet SaM146
turbofans.

The Superjet-100 is intended to compete against the Antonov An-148,
Embraer E-Jets and the Bombardier CSeries programs. Sukhoi’s director
general Mikhail Pogosyan claims the SSJ will have 10-15 percent lower
operation costs than its Embraer or Bombardier counterparts and its
wider cabin will offer more comfort; at the catalogue price of 27.8
million dollars, it should also be cheaper by 18-22 percent. On the
other hand, both Embraer and Bombardier offer much more comprehensive
after-sales and maintenance network.

SuperJet-100 will in the future provide the basis for a whole family
of planes, including transport and special purpose planes. However now
the main goal is the certification of the plane and serial production
of 60-70 planes annually.

The project is implemented by Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company created in
2000. Experts say that the SuperJet-100 project will secure Russia’s
leadership on the market of regional planes. Sukhoi Civil Aircraft is
a subsidiary of the famous Sukhoi combat aircraft manufacturer. It
was created to implement the latter’s civilian projects. The chief
task of the company is to develop a regional Superjet-100 plane that
will replace Tu-134 liners that are now in use.

The Sukhoi SuperJet-100 family consists of two types of aircraft of
basic and increased flying ranges with the carrying capacity of 75
and 95 passengers respectively.

The company is trying to make the two types of plane as universal as
possible in order to increase the number of potential buyers.

The design of the plane meets the requirements applicable in Russia,
the Commonwealth of Independent States and the West.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Abkhazia, Karabakh and South Ossetia are Russia’s allies
12.07.2008 15:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ South Caucasus is one of the hottest zones in the
post soviet territory, says a report issued by Russian Strategic
Culture Foundation.

`Russia’s passive role in the Caucasus has predetermined strengthening
of West’s positions, especially in 1990-ies. As result, Georgia has
become a U.S. outpost; Azerbaijan is facing the same fate. Attempts to
gain Armenia are still undertaken.

Against the background, unrecognized republics ` Abkhazia, Nagorno
Karabakh and South Ossetia appear as Russia’s allies. Under
U.S.-subordinate Saakashvili’s rule, Georgia continues to aggravate
the situation,’ the report says.

`If Georgia and Ukraine are invited to NATO the situation will worsen
even more. Russia’s geopolitical potential will weaken considerably,’
it says.

MAKING ASSESSMENTS

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 11, 2008
Armenia

As announced by Mr. Bourak Ozyugueren, Spokesman of Turkey’s Foreign
Ministry, Ankara has received Armenian President Serge Sargsyan’s
official invitation to Abdullah Gyull for watching the Turkey-Armenia
qualifying football match together and is now making assessments. The
match is to take place on September 6.

B. Ozyugueren said that they admitted President S. Sargsyan’s
characterization on the absence of any other alternative to
establishing normal relations between the two countries. "The letters
exchanged between the two countries right after the presidential
elections of Armenia also contained elements with similar contents. We
accept S. Sargsyan’s statement with satisfaction."

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 10 2008

Bernard Fassier to discuss Nagorno Karabakh conflict with Armenians
living in Vilnius

[ 10 Jul 2008 16:10 ]

Baku. Tamara Grigorieva`APA. OSCE Minsk Group French Co-Chair Bernard
Fassier will meet with Armenian Diaspora in Vilnius, Lithuania next
week, sources at the Fassier’s Office told APA.

They will discuss the Nagorno Karabakh conflict at the meeting. The
sources at the office said that there was nothing strange in the
meeting of the co-chair with Armenian community of any
country. `Bernard Fassier’s main duty is the discussion of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict with everyone.

Kavkaz.memo.ru , RUSSIA
July 9 2008

Surveys point to increased trust in NATO in Armenia

by Lilit Hovhanissyan – Kavkazskiy Uzel website

The questionnaires of national surveys conducted in Armenia in the
recent years constantly include questions regarding the attitude
towards NATO.

In order to find out the dynamics of the changes in the public mood
over this issue, the Kavkazskiy Uzel correspondent decided to turn to
the previously published results of the polls that are carried out
regularly by the Armenian Sociology Association/ASA (president
G. Poghosyan) and the Armenian Centre for National and Strategic
Studies (ACNIS).

The ASA polls were funded by the USAID. Those studies were prepared,
coordinated and analysed by the Baltic Surveys/The Gallup
Organization.

In order to find out the dynamics of the changes in the public mood
the results of three national surveys held in 2006 (May, August,
November) and four surveys held in 2007 (March, July, October,
December) were studied; 1,200 respondents aged 18 years and over were
interviewed in all regions of Armenia, the margin of error does not
exceed 3 per cent.

The results of the three national surveys conducted in 2006 indicate
that in average, 47.7 per cent of the respondents expressed a positive
attitude towards NATO as an international institution; 41 per cent had
a negative attitude; and 11.3 per cent had no opinion.

According to the results of the survey held in the first half of 2007
(March, July), the confidence rate in NATO as an international
institution had grown, making 52 per cent; with 35 per cent having a
negative attitude, and 13 per cent having no opinion. In the second
half of 2007 (the surveys were conducted in October and December), 55
per cent had a positive opinion towards NATO; 36.5 per cent had a
negative opinion, and 8.5 per cent had no opinion.

Thus, over a two-year period, a stable trend of a growth in confidence
in NATO is observed. Accordingly, the percentage of the respondents
with a negative opinion or no opinion has reduced.

A different picture is seen when a direct question "Should Armenian
join NATO?" is asked.

In 2006, only 8.7 per cent said "definitely yes", and 31 per cent
"probably yes", while 10.5 per cent said "definitely no", 30 per cent
said " probably no", and 16.5 had no opinion.

The two national surveys conducted in the first half of 2007 revealed
the following picture: "definitely yes" 11 per cent; "probably yes" 35
per cent; "definitely no" 13.5 per cent; "probably no" 28 per cent; no
opinion 12.5 per cent.

A non-significant growth in staunch supporters of joining NATO is
observed along with a slight decrease in the number of moderate
opponents and a stable number of staunch opponents.

Nevertheless, if the abovementioned data is compared with the surveys
of previous years, a trend of growth in the number of the supporters
of joining NATO is quite obvious. A survey conducted among 1,500 by
ACNIS in July 2005 seems to be the most reliable one among all the
others conducted previously. To the same question "Should Armenia join
NATO?" 34.7 per cent said yes; 33.9 per cent said no; 31.4 per cent
had no answer. When the same question was asked to 40 experts three
years ago, 52.2 per cent said yes, 30 per cent said no; 17.5 per cent
had no answer.

The supporters of joining NATO have interesting motives: NATO is the
most reliable security system – 43.3 per cent; Armenia cannot joint
the European Union without first joining NATO – 17.8 per cent; it is
reasonable for all three countries of the region to be in the same
security system – 33.9 per cent; other answers – 0.8 per cent; did not
know – 4.2 per cent.

The motives of the experts who supported the idea of joining NATO is a
little different: NATO is the most reliable security system – 31.8 per
cent; Armenia cannot joint the European Union without first joining
NATO – 4.5 per cent; it is reasonable for all three countries of the
region to be in the same security system – 63.7 per cent.

The motives of the opponents of Armenia’s joining NATO are as follows:
since Armenia’s problems with Turkey, a NATO member, have not been
settled – 24.9 per cent; Armenia should stay a member of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization member and rely on Russia in
terms of its security – 52.9 per cent; Armenia is not welcome in NATO
and should not think about it – 21.4 per cent; other answers – 0.2 per
cent; did not know – 0.6 per cent.

The motives of the experts who oppose joining NATO are also different
from the regular people: since Armenia’s problems with Turkey, a NATO
member, have not been settled – 22.2 per cent; Armenia should stay a
member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization member and rely
on Russia in terms of its security – 0 per cent; Armenia is not
welcome in NATO and should not think about it – 77.8 per cent.

Overall, it can be said that the number of those in favour of Armenia
joining NATO (the total number of staunch supporters and moderate
supporters) has grown from about 33-34 per cent to 45-46 per cent over
the past three years.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandyan has said that Armenia is
not discussing the issue of joining NATO but plans to further
cooperate with it. Armenia wants to develop its relations with NATO
but is not going to join it, Armenian former President Robert
Kocharyan said in July 2007. He said that joining NATO "would not
raise the security" of the country and will spoil its relations with
the neighbours.