Author: Karakhanian Suren

U.N. DECISION ON KOSOVO NEARS AFTER RUSSIA TALKS

Sabah, Turkey
July 20 2007

The United States and Germany made one last appeal to Russia on the
future status of Kosovo before deciding on Friday whether to shelve
a U.N. Security Council resolution Moscow has threatened to veto.

At issue is a European-American sponsored draft resolution that Moscow
says will lead to Kosovo’s independence from Serbia, which it opposes
without Belgrade’s consent.

Few expect Russia to change its mind and allow the resolution to
be adopted.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke to Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov in Lisbon on Thursday. Lavrov visits Berlin on
Friday for talks with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The sponsors of the resolution decided to wait for a decision until
after the Berlin talks.

Anticipating the result, Britain’s U.N. ambassador, Emyr Jones Parry,
told reporters: "I can only conclude that we are not going to progress
in the council (so) we are looking energetically at the different
options."

Kosovo, where 90 percent of the 2 million people are ethnic Albanians,
has been run by the United Nations since 1999, when NATO bombs forced
out Serbian troops that were killing and expelling Albanians in a
two-year war with guerrillas.

Under the draft resolution, the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia would
resume negotiations for 120 days. After the talks, the United Nations
would hand over the administration of the province to the European
Union, removing the issue from Russia’s influence. NATO troops would
stay on.

But such a process is expected to be a long one and there appears to
be no unity on what to do aside from conducting more talks between
Pristina and Belgrade, which have so far failed.

Rice told reporters en route to Lisbon for a meeting of the quartet
of Middle East mediators: "We are committed to an independent Kosovo
and we will get there one way or another."

But she did not say how that would be achieved, with agreement of
the European Union, which provides the key financial and political
assistance.

‘LIGHT THE FUSE’

The head of the Russian Duma, Boris Gryzlov, said in Montenegro on
Thursday that Russia would use its veto against a resolution not
backed by both Belgrade and Pristina.

He said such a resolution would set a precedent and "light the fuse" of
separatism in many places around the world: Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh,
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Spain, Britain and some African states.

One probable scenario is that the Contact Group of advisers on the
Balkans, composed of Britain, France, Italy, Germany, the United
States and Russia, would facilitate 120 days of renewed negotiations
between Belgrade and Pristina.

No resolution is needed for holding such talks but the Security Council
would have to approve any withdrawal of the United Nations from Kosovo,
which would need Russia’s consent.

Another way ahead was for Pristina to eventually declare independence,
ask the United Nations to leave and invite the Europeans into the
province. Independence depends on how many countries would recognize
Kosovo as a nation.

While the United States would extend some recognition, the position
of the EU is unclear.

One sign of hesitation is that Slovakia, a council member, withdrew
its name as a sponsor to the resolution but told colleagues it would
vote in favor. Its parliament is reluctant to be identified with
action promoting an independent Kosovo.

Kosovo leaders, disappointed no date was set for independence, have
hinted strongly they would separate from Serbia unilaterally. But
they could lose EU support if they do so.

UN STARTS CLOSED-DOOR CONSULTATIONS ON KOSOVO

Azat Artsakh Tert, Nagorno Karabakh Republic NKR
July 18 2007

The UN Security Council has started closed-door consultations on the
new draft resolution on Kosovo. The issue was put on the agenda by
request of the authors, namely the U.S., France and UK. The document is
based on Martti Ahtisaari’s plan which supposes granting independence
status to Kosovo irrespective of Serbia’s position. 120 days are set
for talks between Pristina and Belgrade. However, the provision, which
calls for independence status upon expiration of the negotiation terms,
has been withdrawn from the new draft resolution.

The U.S., France and UK describe the draft as compromise and expect
concession from Russia. Nevertheless, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov said last week that Russia will not back a decision taken
without Serbia’s consent. Western diplomats give to know that if
Russia imposes veto it will thus complicate relations with the West
while the process of Kosovo’s secession will go out of the UN control,
the UN communication unite reports.

TurkishPress.com
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Did Turkey Make A Stake Against The U.S.?
BY IBRAHIM KARAGUL

YENI SAFAK- Why did the US oppose the natural gas agreement between Turkey
and Iran? To understand Turkey’s position in this geopolitical energy chess
game and see how such an agreement could affect regional policies, we have
to evaluate the issue within the framework of general trends of the 21st
century.
This is the first comprehensive international project between Turkey and
Iran. It is set to be completed in five months. It envisages the transit of
Iranian and Turkmen gas to Europe, gives Turkey the right to have 30 billion
cubic meters of gas, and includes an extensive partnership between Ankara
and Tehran, despite all contrary winds.
With this cooperation, the two countries are in fact implementing a European
Union project. Ankara is not only helping Europe reach Iran’s resources but
is bringing Iran to Europe. Nor is this project against the interests of
Russia, contrary to popular opinion. This initiative may even aid Russia in
the `great game’ it’s playing in the axis of the Middle East and the
Caspian.
The US opposes this project, and for serious reasons: The new global balance
is being shaped by the struggle for energy centered on the Middle East and
Caspian. This is why the US invaded Afghanistan, and then Iraq, and wants to
reshape the Middle East. The political project it’s implementing from
Lebanon to Pakistan and its efforts to stake out Central Asia aim at
controlling these resources. But Gazprom’s tentacles spreading all over the
globe frustrated the US. While the US was staking out the Middle East,
ambitious projects started to be implemented in Central Asia by Russia,
China, Iran and other countries of the region.
Up to now, Turkey has generally determined its position according to the
energy projects of the US. The Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline is the most striking
example of this. But this project for Iran’s natural gas and the Blue Stream
project with Russia have been out of the US initiative, and both got harsh
reactions from Washington.
The EU, distant from the energy resources of both the Middle East and
Central Asia, meets most of its needs from Russia. As the energy crisis
between Russia and Ukraine impacted Europe last winter, the EU had to look
for new routes. The Turkey-Iran project is one of these.
Turkey undertook to be the crossroads between the Middle East, Central Asia
and Europe in order to have influence in 21st century energy struggles. But
partnering with the US only and being distant from the countries controlling
the resources isn’t enough for this. Hence, Turkey has never hesitated to
seek cooperation between the US and Russia when necessary, and continues
this policy. Stances will stiffen in the days to come, and we’ll see in the
near future that that unilateralism doesn’t yield good results for a
country.
In sum, the US’ Greater Middle East Initiative (GME) and the great Eurasian
project led by Russia are clashing, and Iran and Turkey are playing their
own games.

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Salt Lake City, Utah

Woman Accused of Stabbing Boyfriend to Stand Trial
July 18th, 2007 @ 11:39am
(KSL News) Police say a woman accused of killing her boyfriend confessed to
the crime.

A Weber County Sheriff’s deputy testified Monika Dilmaghanian said in a
written statement, "I killed Nathan Daniel Harris."

Prosecutors say Dilmaghanian stabbed Harris in front of her kids in April
during an argument over a pagan ritual. Dilmaghanian’s attorney says his
client didn’t know she had stabbed him until after it happened.

Dilmaghanian is charged with first-degree murder. She’ll be arraigned August
1.

STATE SHOULD ASSIST THOSE PROVIDING TESTING SERVICES, AEPLAC’S ARMENIAN DIRECTOR CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Jul 16 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 16 NOYAN TAPAN. Such testing and certification bodies,
the work of which will be recognized by the EU, should be created
in Armenia for extending the export of Armenian foodstuffs and other
goods to the European Union countries. Tigran Jrbashian, the Armenian
Director of AEPLAC, expressed such an opinion at the July 13 press
conference.

In his words, though the testing services sphere is liberalized
in Armenia, the state should make large expenditures for the
purpose of assisting private testing laboratories and certification
bodies. T. Jrbashian also attached importance to entrance of well-known
foreign companies of the sphere to Armenia, adding that negotiations
with the respective companies of Slovakian and Baltic countries over
that issue have already started.

The AEPLAC Director also considers that the process of harmonization
of Armenian standards and technical regulations with the European
normative field should be accelerated.

It was mentioned that the European Union remains Armenia’s main trade
partner: nearly 44% (43.7m USD) in the total volume of export from
Armenia fell to the EU in 2006, and import made 31% of the total amount
(629m USD).

The above mentioned tendencies of Armenia-EU trade relations have
been also preserved in the first five months of this year.

It was also mentioned that the investments of EU countries to Armenia
are also large: in 2006, the EU’s share in the total amount of foreign
investments made in Armenia amounted to 30%. In the period of 1988-2007
March, 440m USD out of the total amount of foreign investments made
in Armenia, 1b 470m USD, falls to the EU.

NEW DETAILS DISCLOSED IN A CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST EX-FOREIGN MINISTER

arminfo
2007-07-16 09:29:00

New details have been disclosed in a criminal case against ex-foreign
minister Aleksander Arzumanyan.

To recall, according to the investigation data, in April of the current
year, in Moscow having arranged in advance with the wanted by Armenian
law-enforcement agency businessman Levon Marcos, ex-minister Aleksander
Arzumanyan and ex-deputy defence minister Vahan Shirkhanyan received
from Converse Bank totally $178 200 with a help of 9 false names. They
were detained and accused of "money laundering". Arzumanyan has been
in custody since 10 May.

On 4 May Armenian Prosecutor General’s office applied to the Russian
one to assist holding investigation at the territory of Russia. For
this reason two representatives of investigation group left for Moscow.

As ArmInfo correspondent knew from the source from law-enforcement
agencies of Moscow, representatives of the investigation group have
already returned to Yerevan and brought the interesting information. In
particular, they managed to find all nine false persons and examine
them. All of them were aware that money was transferred to Armenia
on behalf of them. It became clear that one person was transferring
this money. The known Aleksander Agazaryan (Aleksabder Arzumanyan’s
friend) took responsibility for this. He said that Arzumanyan had asked
him to transfer money for some material problems resolving>. As for
Vahan Shirkhanyan, that allegedly the money was necessary for this
daughter’s wedding party, this testimony was confuted.

Agazaryan told the investigator that he does not know Shirkhanyan
and sent no money to him. Some machinery of the money transfer were
also disclosed.

It is not ruled out that one more investigation group will be directed
to Moscow soon.

NEW YORK’S MHER MKRTCHIAN COMPANY OF ACTORS TO PERFORM ON TOUR IN OCTOBER IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
Jul 12 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. New York’s Mher Mkrtchian company of
actors will perform on tour in Yerevan within the framework of the
events to be held in October in Yerevan on the occasion of the 60th
anniversary of the Tekeyan Cultural Union’s foundation. As Vardan
Hovhannisian, the head of the company of actors, said at the July 12
press conference, "The Eastern Dentist," "Taxi, Taxi," and " Trap"
performances will be shown in Yerevan.

The company of actors founded in 1997 on the initiative of actress
Tamar Hovhannisian, in V. Hovhannisian’s words, promotes rather a
successful activity. In his words, young actors have been included
in the group in the recent years, therefore, not only Armenian,
but also foreign youths go to see the performances.

V. Hovhannisian also said that during his visit an agreement has been
reached with the Tekeyan company of actors (former Nork theater)
on performing on tour in New York. The Tekeyan company of actors
will present the performance "Don’t Look at the Mirror" of Perch
Zeytuntsian in New York, as well as Hrant Matevosian’s "Autumn Sun"
staged very successfully. Aghun’s brilliant performer, RA People’s
Artist Violeta Gevorgian, who currently resides in the U.S., is likely
to take part in that performance.

GAZPROM’S ARMENIAN UNIT PLANS IPO

The Moscow Times, Russia
july 10 2007
Bloomberg

Gazprom’s Armenian unit, ArmRosGazprom, plans to issue shares on a
foreign exchange in an initial public offering as early as this year.

The company may sell $1 billion in shares, Shushan Sagaryan, a
spokeswoman for the firm, said by telephone Monday from Yerevan.

Haik Papian, CEO of Yerevan-based Cascade Investments, which is
advising ArmRosGazprom on the sale, said the final figure had not
been set and would probably be less.

"One billion dollars may be the long-term figure" for the total share
sale, Papian said. "At the beginning, I think we’re talking about
something closer to $100 million."

ArmRosGazprom, Armenia’s only gas distributor, buys fuel from Gazprom
at a price of $110 per 1,000 cubic meters. Gazprom charged its European
customers an average of $260.70 per 1,000 cubic meters in 2006.

ARFD IS AN ALTERNATIVE BOTH FOR AUTHORITIES AND OPPOSITION, RUBEN HOVSEPIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Jul 10, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The general development of the state
depends not only on the policy carried on by the government and the
laws adopted by the parliament, but also on development of society’s
civil consciousness.

Ruben Hovsepian, a writer, an ARFD member, expressed such an opinion at
the July 10 dispute with Andranik Hovakimian, a member of the Armenian
National Movement party Board. In his words, for the formation of a
democratic state the laws should be understandable not only for the
authorities, but also for the people.

R. Hovsepian said that currently the ARFD is an alternative both
for the authorities and the opposition. "Our position of being
an alternative to the authorities will become evident in several
years. And we are an alternative to the opposition, as the opposition
is very weak in Armenia and failed to unite those "sound forces"
and to come up with an alliance," he said.

In A. Hovakimian’s opinion, it is difficult to demand that a citizen of
Armenia observes the law unless the authorities observe that very law.

"First of all the power should be changed today, as in the dynamically
developing world we have no progress and are happy that the situation
in Armenia is stable and no rallies are held. After all, we should
understand that this "dead" situation is too dangerous for us,"
he said. In A.

Hovakimian’s words, a new force, people having a new energy should
come to power in Armenia today, as these "authorities have spoiled
everything, the value system of youth has been lost, and many people
rather think of hanging around the authorities to achieve something."

WHO IS ALIYE OZTURK?

CollectifVAN.org, France
July 9 2007

One of Us…

Aliye Ozturk, born in 1966 in Uskudar, Istanbul, depicts with her
personality and interesting life-story the very rich cultural
differences characterizing Turkey. Her grandfather, a Kurdish
Naksi sheikh from Urfa, reached to martyrdom at the Battle of
Dardanelles. Her father was born in Istanbul and he married the
daughter of an Alevi Turkish family that migrated from Salonika to
Sivas during the Balkan Wars. Aliye Ozturk traveled all over Turkey
with her teacher parents, attending public primary and middle schools
in various cities of Turkey. When her father was dismissed from his
post after the September 12 military coup d’etat, Ozturk completed her
high school education in Istanbul. During a recent search about her
family genealogy, she found out that her maternal grandmother was an
Armenian orphan adopted by a family in Trabzon. As such Aliye Ozturk’s
life-story is in fact the story of Turkey. Ozturk graduated in 1988
from Middle Eastern Technical University’s Political Science and Public
Administration Department as the valedictorian of her class. She
received her M.A. from Columbia University with a thesis titled
"Presidential Elections in Turkey" and her Ph.D. from Leiden University
with a thesis titled "Official Ideology and Civillian-ization: Coup
D’etats in Turkey". In the aftermath of the February 28th coup d’etat,
Aliye Ozturk was removed from her position at the university because
of her headscarf. She however found part-time teaching positions at
Leiden University in Netherlands, Columbia University in the United
States, Al-Azhar University in Egypt, Muin University in Iran and
Tubingen University in Germany.

Aliye Ozturk managed the UNICEF projects in South Africa and was
granted by Nelson Mandela a distinguished service medal for her
contribution to the eradication of the racist remnants of the
Apartheid regime.

Currently Aliye Ozturk is actively involved in various local and
international NGOs such as Young Civilians (Genc Siviller), Political
Horizon Movement (Siyasi Ufuk Hareketi), Encounters Forum (Bulu?ma
Forumu), Amnesty International and Greenpeace. She is married and a
mother of four kids. Ozturk speaks Kurdish, Zazaki, English, German,
Arabic and Persian. She has published in different languages various
articles and twenty books, including a poetry book titled "Innocence"
(Masumiyet). All of these publications dwell upon political and social
problems. In addition to being interested in various sports such as
football, equestrianism, track and ice-skating, Ozturk is an avid
movie-buff and also an music enthusiast who takes a strong interest
in Turkey’s traditional stringed instruments, particularly kanun and
baglama, as well as reed flute.

ALIYE OZTURK’S PROMISES ABOUT….

Democratization: I will not let through the gates of Cankaya Residence
anyone who has in his/her life engaged in any sort of coup d’etat
attempt and supported in any way one of the four military coup
d’etats. To find out such individuals, I will despatch Nazl? Il?cak
to the gates as a special envoy.

I will fight against the habit of keeping files about one’s fellow
citizens, a habit that the people of beautiful country are being
hooked onto at schools. I will disband all sorts of filing, whether it
takes the form of a reading card, police intelligence file, or sales
receipt. Only electric jacks will remain. With Allah’s blessing, we
will find a new name for it, eliminating its linguistic references
to files and filing.

I will put together a gang to fight the counter-guerilla and the
mafia. Soon I will need another gang to eliminate the first one,
and will seek help from another gang to eliminate the second one,
and then another one to …

I will not look for "the deep state" in the depths far away. I will
always keep in mind that the members of the deep state may be very
close to me, even on the other side of the phone line or in the garden
of my residence. If necessary, I will have special forces with K-9s
search every inch of the state for the members of the deep state.

I will put an end to the commemorations held in stadiums on May 19th
and April 23rd, commemorations that one can nowadays only find in
underdeveloped Third World countries. Doing as such, I will save the
sanity of my country’s children and youth and also myself who will
be forced to stand up throughout the commemoration.

Secularism: When I move to the Presidential Residence, I will put
an end to the habit of saying "have a secular day" instead of "have
a good day" and also "secular evening" instead of "good evening". I
will economize the usage of the word secularism.

I will tell Mr. and Mrs. Sezer to take their public sphere and leave.

In every sphere, whether it is a public sphere or not, I will sing
along Emel Say?n’s "what an ordeal, my love, what an ordeal" and then
cry out "Allah" with everyone present there.

In my public messages about the Eid, I will not warn about the threats
to secularism and thereby disturb anyone’s comfort and serenity
of mind.

Foreign Policy: I will not be one of those Turkish Presidents tha
equate Turkey with Cankaya and Turkey’s neighbors with Kecioren
and Mamak.

I will not reprimand my country’s ministers when meeting with the
leaders of other countries. Even though I do not like pursuing the
state business with a dead solemn face, I will not slacken off as such.

I will not feel the need to consult with Do?u Perincek before signing
the UN treaties on international human rights.

When Palestinians are in such a dire situation, I will not go to
Israel, singing "we are the blossoms of the same rose sapling".

After being elected as the President, I will spit on Bush’s face at
our first encounter. To prevent a consequent crisis between the two
countries, I will pretend as if I sneeze.

I will invite Talabani and Barzani to Ankara. During the reception
organized in their honor, lahmacuns from Tatlises Restaurants will
be served and music will be performed by Aynur Dogan and Rojin.

When I go to Iran, I will take off my headscarf to protest the
obligatory veiling in that country. As a person of responsibility,
I will try to conceal my resentment against Angela Merkel, despatching
Nur Yerlita to take care of her terrifyingly miserable attire and also
recommending her to talk to Ender Sarac especially about losing her
love handles. I will give a CD of Janissary marches to the European
leaders that are against Turkey’s accession to European Union.

Appointments and Patronage Politics: I will try my best to pursue
the principles of patronage politics in appointing new officials. In
making bureaucratic appointments, I will not consult to the files kept
in secret vaults but to the star maps used in fortune-telling. If the
astrological sign of the minister supervising the state institution
with the vacant position is congruent with the astrological sign of
the nominee, I will sign the decree of appointment.

I will commission the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund to liquidate the
Turkish Council of Higher Education. Until the council is liquidated,
I will appoint Serif Mardin as its chairperson. I will also appoint
well-known personas, such Murat Belge, Mehmet Altan, Ahmet Insel, and
Huseyin Hatemi, as council members. I will appoint Perihan Ma?den as
the Chairperson of Radio and Television Supreme Council and Arma?an
Caylayan as the Director of Turkish State Radio and Television.

I will appoint Mustafa Erdo?an as the Chairperson of the Constitutional
Court and ?anar Yurdatapan ve Abdurrahman Dilipak as the members of
the Constitutional Court.

Social Relations in a Civilized Manner: I will be a modern, civilized
President who communicates with all segments of the society. I will not
forget that I am a human being, I will not behave as a space alien,
and I will not think that I am a feudal lord just because I live at
the palace-like Residence.

When I speak on TV, I will not put on the face of someone that suffers
from hemorrhoid. I will always smile. At the end of my speech, I will
either tell a joke or read a poem about the issue under discussion. I
will request Cem Y?lmaz to perform at the Residence in order to help
politicians as well as the military and civil bureaucrats enhance
their sense of humor. Again, to help politicians as well as the
military and civil bureaucrats, this time to soften their hearts,
I will organize a special screening of "My Father and My Son" (Babam
ve O?lum). I will give a minus grade to those who do not cry.

As a democrat, I will respect the Chairperson of the Turkish Grand
National Assembly, regardless of his/her party affiliation and
political views. Like any civilized person, I will not grimace while
shaking his/her hand.

I will grant the state medal Ya?ar Kemal, Sezai Karakoc and Fikret
Ba?kaya of Turkey, as well as Noam Chomsky and Cindy Sheehan.

I will invite Orhan Pamuk to the Residence, congratulate him on his
Nobel Award even though it is too late, and give a feast in his
honor. To this feast I will invite only the members of the state
protocol that have read his books.

I will participate in the commencements and inaugural ceremonies
organized only by the Fishery Faculties. I will not participate
in any other ceremonies organized by the military schools and the
universities affiliated with the Turkish Council of Higher Education.

I will not wait in line at the supermarket. I will find out how much a
kilo of tomatoes cost at the farmer’s market. I will quarrel with any
seller that will not allow me to select before buying his/her product.

The Cankaya Residence and Receptions: First off, I will clean and
wipe every corner of the Cankaya Residence three times.

I will change today’s prevalent perception that "the citizens
inundated the Residence so much so that the populace cannot get in
Cankaya". To this end, I will open up the Cankaya Residence to the
populace. On the last day of each work-week, I will give a tea party
for citizens in groups of 15 as selected by Turkish National Lottery
Administration. Depending on the state of the national economy,
we may also organize gold- or dollar- days.

Once during my tenure, my husband and I will stop doing our own work
for a day and work over-time to determine male parliamentarians whose
wives are not covered. We will then send them "invitations with no
company" so that they can empathize with their peers whose wives
are covered.

I will eliminate at the Residence the concept of working hours. I
will sign the documents that arrive after 5:30 pm. I will not
tell my Minister of Foreign Affairs that "I cannot do it today,
come tomorrow". On Azure Day, I will cook a boiler of a?ure and
distribute it to all my neighbors. During the month of Muharrem,
I will organize cem sessions at the Residence.

At the Residence there will be Friday Prayers that only women may
attend. I will not kill time from my presidential tenure by gluing
myself and my husband to the TV and watching the boring debates on
Kanalturk. If I have time, we may watch, just like all my normal
citizens, TV series such as "The European Coast" (Avrupa Yakas?) or
"Remember My Darling" (Hat?rla Sevgili)

I will make Ataturk’s documents public, the documents that are kept
under lock in the Museum of Cankaya Residence. I will organize a
gathering to commemorate the memory of Latife Han?m, the first First
Lady of the Residence.

In the Residence’s garden, I will practice "throwing the Constitution
like a dart". I will undertake extensive endeavors to have this
eminent sport to be included in the Olympic Games. I will preach
about throwing the Constitution further away and also about adding
many new articles in order to case the utmost suffering to the rivals.

watch Utube ;id =11231