Author: Khondkarian Raffi

CATHOLIC IRANIAN GETS RUNAROUND FROM GEORGIAN OFFICIALS ON REFUGEE STATUS, FEARS RETURN TO IRAN

Daily Georgian Times
July 28 2008
Georgia

Esmaeil Ebrahimi Pashabaig, an Iranian citizen first requested
political asylum in Georgia over a year ago. However, the ministry for
refugees and accommodation rejected his request. He has not yet decided
whether he will stay in Georgia or ask another European country for
political asylum. He is currently appealing the ministry’s decision.

Pashabaig first came to Georgia from Armenia in February 2006. He has
lived in the USA, Turkey, and Armenia. In February 2006, he visited
Georgia because he hoped to go to Azerbaijan, which he could do only
via Georgia. Azeri border guards prevented him from entering Azerbaijan
and Pashabaig had to return to Georgia.

"Georgian border guards detained him. According to our legislation,
border violation is not considered a crime. The border guards
contacted us and asked to render legal assistance to the Iranian
citizen," says Manama Kobakhidze, the head of the NGO "Article 42
of Constitution". She is now working to protect the interests of
Pashabaig in Georgia.

According to Pashabaig, when Georgian border guards detained him
on February 15, 2006, they deprived him of his passport and all
documents. His lawyer Kobakhidze states that Georgian border guards
handed the documents over to the Embassy of Iran in Georgia.

Later Pashabaig, who says that his conversion to Catholicism make
at risk of facing serious punishment upon returning to Islamic Iran,
asked Georgian authorities for refugee status.

"I’d like to return to my country but I cannot, because my life will
be under threat there. For over two years I have been asking Georgia
for refugee status and temporary residential area but in vain,"
Pashabaig says.

Currently he lives in a hostel in Bagebi. Although he says that is
fine living there, he resides there illegally.

Pashabaig says that if Georgian authorities do not grant refugee
status to him and make their decision on deportation his life will
be under serious threat.

He also claims that he cannot return to Armenia either. Pashabaig
spent four years in Armenia where he married an Armenian
citizen. Nevertheless, he claims that, because relatives of his wife
robbed and persecuted him, he was forced to leave Armenia and he
found shelter in Georgia. According to him, his family in Armenia
works along side the Armenian police, and if he returned, his life
would be in danger.

However, Pashabaig’s arguments are not enough for the Georgian Ministry
for Refugees and Accommodation to grant refugee status to him.

According to a letter to Pashabaig from the Georgian ministry for
refugees and accommodation his "documents do not prove" that he faces
a serious threat in Armenia, where lived for a few years: "Considering
this, the ministry reckons it unreasonable to grant refugee status."

Pashabaig has addressed the ministry several times but in
vain. Finally, with the help of Kobakhidze’s NGO, he prepared a
lawsuit and an appeal on the decision of the ministry at Tbilisi city
court. Based on the suit filed by Pashabaig on July 10, 2008, the
administrative board of the Tbilisi City Court abolished the rejection
from the Ministry for Refugees and Accommodation and returned the case
to the ministry for another consideration. The court also required
that a suitable residential place be granted to Pashabaig during the
consideration process.

Kobakhidze declares that her client has already practically won the
process. The administrative act issued by the ministry that rejected
Esmaeil’s request for registration as an asylum seeker and refugee
status, was annulled by the court.

"The court instructed the ministry to study factual reasons of the
case and make final decision respectively," says Kobakhidze.

According to the lawyer, the ministry can still reject Pashabaig’s
request, but this decision must be based on a thorough study of the
factual situation.

Kobakhidze says that when the ministry did not satisfy Pashabaig’s
request for registration as an asylum seeker it did not understand
that the Iranian citizen could not return to Armenia, where he lived
before arriving in Georgia or Iran, his native land, as he would be
under serious threat in those countries.

On July 17, 2008, Pashabaig was informed that his request for refugee
status will still not be considered and the decision of Tbilisi City
Court Administrative board to allocated residential are for him will
also not be satisfied until the Appeal Court completes consideration
of the ministry’s suit.

Pashabaig’s lawyer believes that he should have already received
refugee status but the process is being prolonged due to both objective
and subjective reasons.

She explains that one time the court had to interrogate a witness,
an Azeri citizen and head of a religious organization in Azerbaijan
who spent many years in Iran and knew about Iranian fundamentalist
religious organizations.

"The witness was to speak about the threats that Pashabaig would face
in Iran considering the Islamic faith. The witness needed a Russian
language interpreter. It took a year for the city court to find two
interpreters for Pashabaig."

Kobakhidze states that the ministry was eligible to appeal the court’s
decision. "It means that the decision of administrative board will
not come into force. It will be postponed and we’ll have to wait for
the Appeal Court’s decision," says Kobakhidze.

She says that Pashabaig asks for the refugee status because
he will face torture and inhumane treatment if he returns to
Iran. If the ministry satisfies his request, Pashabaig will stay in
Georgia. However, he will have the right to move to another country,
a right he has no chance to take advantage of because he has no
official paper.

HRANT DINK’S APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO CARRY A GUN HAD BEEN TURNED DOWN

armradio.am
26.07.2008 15:23

Hrant Dink, the prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist who was shot
to death in 2007, had applied for permission to carry a gun after
receiving threats.

However, officials turned down his request, said a police informant
with an Armenian name, according to a report issued by the
parliamentary sub-commission examining Dink’s murder, the Turkish
daily News reported.

An important detail, not previously mentioned, was revealed in the
report by the parliamentary subcommission, daily Hurriyet wrote. An
individual, who was believed to be from the close circle Dink traveled
in, is thought to have Armenian roots because of his name and is
believed to have been following Dink. He has now been identified in
the report as a police informer. This information was obtained from a
report by inspectors Å~^ukru Yıldız and Mehmet Ali Ozkılınc, who
had investigated possible official negligence in Dink’s murder. The
informer was referred to as H.A in the daily’s story.

Dink had sought a licensed gun but did not receive permission, the
informer, H.A., said, according to the report. The informer also
said he did not know to which authority Dink complained about not
receiving permission. Erdal Dogan, the lawyer representing Dink’s
family, said it was also revealed that Dink was aware that he=2 0was
being pursued. "An individual who was saying that he is under threat
applied for a gun and he was rejected, this violates human rights,"
Dogan said.

–Boundary_(ID_8M7lyq+Je/peJLMvGzDVmw)–

RAILROADS AND PIPELINES INTEGRATE THE CAUCASUS
Sedat Laciner

Journal of Turkish Weekly
July 28 2008
Turkey

The Caucasia is such a small region to fight for. Having a bloody
history, the region faced with numerous tragedies partly because of
being on crossroads. All these sorrowful events should remind us that
no nation can provide stability and security to the region without
co-operation of the other regional countries. In this framework,
the railroad that connects Kars, Tbilisi and Baku is a big step for
being hopeful for future. Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan is gradually
but in a confident manner attaining regional cooperation may be
even integration in the region that previously known with bloody
conflicts. First, Baku-Tiblisi-Ceyhan Pipeline (BTC) connected
these three countries; later, the gas pipelines solidified this
connection. The pipeline coming from Azerbaijan and Georgia was added
to the pipeline coming from Iran. Turkey and Georgia merged their
regional air traffic and now the railroads are on the way.

Thus, these three states are integrating with each other with long-term
common interests. Therefore, the railroads are bringing these three
countries in a non-separable manner.

Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railroad project includes development of 183 km
of existing railroad and construction of new railroads as 76 km in
Turkey and restoration of 26 km in Georgia. The estimated cost of the
project is $ 422 million. However, this cost probably will reach to
$600 million with the additional development projects. The railroad
line will have the yearly transportation capacity of 15 million tons
of goods.

This project may be seen as a small-range project for Turkey with its
length and cost. However, the function of the project is for Turkey and
the region is far more over its cost. First of all, a less developed
region of Turkey will be integrated to Azerbaijan and Georgia. In
addition, this project will ease the trade and transportation
with Azerbaijan and her open hinterland that reaches to the Middle
Asia. As we know the trade and social relations are highly relied on
the transportation lines. It is certain that the relations between
the people in the region and with Georgia, Azerbaijan, Russia and
middle Asia will prosper.

Secondly, this line will bring a rapprochement between Turkey,
Georgia and Azerbaijan and their interests will be structurally
similar. With tightening of relations and bridging of the interests
cooperation will be intense and as an outcome of this process first
the economy of these three states then their politics will be closer
as we see in the process of the European Union. Thus, in the middle
of a region whose name seems to be equal to instability there will
be an island of political and economical stability. Hopefully, this
island will expand through the other states in the region.

Another advantage of the line is to increase the capacity of
the land routes which is highly sensitive to the local security
problems. With more security the cost of transportation in the region
will dramatically decreased.

Fourth contribution of the line is directly connecting the homeland
Azerbaijan to its far West province Nahcivan. As we know there is
Armenia between homeland Azerbaijan and Nahcivan, and Armenians do
not allow transition of people through their lands. Airlines are
highly expensive compared with the railroads. There were problems
of security, high costs of money and time about using Georgia lands
for transit passage. The railroads will make vital contributions on
the solution of all these problems. Thus, Azerbaijan will develop
faster and connection of Nahcivan and Azerbaijan will bring important
material benefits to Turkey too.

Another benefit is having an incessant railroad from London
to China. As we know the construction of a tube line that connect
Istanbul Bosphorus under the sea. Thus, in the near future one will
be able to directly go to the coasts of China from London by just
getting on a train. Thus, Caucasia and Turkey will connect Europe to
Asia with tighter bonds. This is why the countries such as China and
Kazakhstan endorse this project.

Armenia

It was a wish for the Turkish statesmen that at least a small portion
of the line pass through Armenia because Armenia has so many advantages
about both energy and transportation projects. However, obstinacy of
the country caused her to be by-passed from the project. Erivan tried
to block the projects that she is not included but failed. Armenia
and Armenian Diaspora spent a great deal of effort in order to
create difficulties for the railroad project. Nevertheless, all
these attempts failed. Day by day, Armenia has been isolated in the
region and excluded all these economic cooperation. On contrary to
the expectations Iran and Russia can not stop this isolation. Despite
having borders with Iran, Iran does not have the ability to integrate
Armenia to the rest of the world. Actually, Iran has also so many
problems in integration to the rest of the world. Armenia does
not have borders with Russia, even if she had borders, and Russia
does not have any positive significant effect to development of
the countries that she supports. Russia has a different style in
international politics. Russia made Armenia economically dependent
to her with loans until now. Russia for example has the monopoly of
energy supplies in Armenia. In other words, Armenia pays high costs
for not cooperating with Turkey but only Russia. Staying as an invader
on the Azerbaijani soils and turning 1915 incidents to a major problem
is cornering Armenia. Yerevan does not recognize national borders of
Turkey and tries to harm Turkey’s interests around the world. As a
consequence of these problems, Armenia’s border with Turkey is closed
and of course the one with Azerbaijan. However, if only Armenia could
withdraw from the occupied Azerbaijani territory, recognize Turkish
borders and stop using genocide claims as a weapon against Turkey and
Turkish people, there would be no reason to exclude Armenia from the
regional integration.

Especially, the genocide claims have an emotional aspect for the
Armenians. The 1915 incidents are being kept fresh as it happened
yesterday and the parties that benefit from the genocide (genocide
industry) prevent wounds to heal. Of course Diaspora has a great
contribution on this situation. Since, Diaspora is not affected by
the problems of the region they do not understand the significance
of the problems that Armenia faced and how it troubles Armenia to
raise the tension.

There is an open government in Turkey that even can debate the genocide
claims. Moreover, there is not a solid hatred among Turkish people
against Armenia. Turkey is ready to speak any issue. Turkey is ready
to cooperate on every issue with Armenia. However, if one wants to
cooperate with his/her neighbor, he/she should show respect to the
neighbor’s home.

Zaman Online, Turkey
July 28 2008

The way we were or the way we will be?

by CHARLOTTE MCPHERSON [email protected] Expat Zone

Many nations, including Turkey, face challenges in finding the way
forward in the management of cultural diversity and racial and
religious intolerance. Every nation has members of society who
represent disenfranchised or otherwise marginalized groups — their
interests, needs and perspectives. If you live in Turkey, you can give
this some thought and identify for yourself who you think these groups
would be.
I had the privilege of living in Australia for two years in the early
1990s. Granted, I lived in the least multicultural part of the country
— on the island of Tasmania. I must admit this was my first real
exposure to a nation that took pride in being multicultural and was
taking steps to make it work.

Let’s just look at how Australia qualifies as a multicultural
nation. It is a young nation compared to most Western nations, but it
has been a multicultural society, encompassing within the breadth of
its ethnic diversity historical moves to incorporate indigenous
peoples, the highly visible Anglo-Celtic ethnic groups, immigrants
from Europe, Australians with Asian backgrounds, refugees from world
wars and sojourners from many other places.

Australia truly is a multicultural society. It has gradually developed
certain laws, institutions and policies for giving ethnic minorities
and national indigenous groups (specifically, Aborigines and the
peoples of the Torres Strait Islands) a voice in the society,
supporting the cultural conditions they need to exercise freedom and
protecting them from social vulnerability and economic disadvantage —
in accordance with its obligations as a democracy.

Perhaps other nations, including my homelands, could learn from the
Aussies. After all, Turkey is facing serious challenges these days and
the United States has to rethink immigration issues. After all, New
York City, Los Angeles, Houston, Seattle and Chicago are home to large
and diverse ethnic groups.

Here is just a glimpse of the land: Chicago has many ethnically
diverse neighborhoods. Just the other day I was driving up Milwaukee
Street in Chicago and watched the neighborhood turn from Hispanic to
Polish in less than two blocks. Devon Street goes from Indian and
Pakistani to Eastern European Jewish (mostly Russian). Albany Park has
a sizable Korean and Middle Eastern population. Rumor has it that in
Albany Park alone, over 40 languages are spoken in the public
schools. There are also large pockets of Puerto Ricans and fairly
large Armenian and Romanian populations.

The US must review some of the main barriers to enhancing social
cohesion in a multicultural nation and revise its policies.

How about Turkey? It may not have so many different nationalities
represented, but it has minorities and special interest groups who
need representation and a voice. Perhaps individuals need to set aside
their strong opinions and explore the interrelated issues of enhancing
national cohesion and, of particular importance, the problem of racial
and religious intolerance.

It is normal for most nations to have some degree of racism and
patriarchal or class-based social structures in which racial
intolerance is the norm. Sadly, prejudice, bigotry, sexism and hatred
still exist in the world.

The lyrics of the song "The Way We Were" describe the thoughts someone
tends to have going through a breakup. The lyrics go something like
this:

We’ve fallen out of grace again could be the beginning of the end

I can’t believe we’d give up so easy,

Don’t you miss the way we were?

Don’t you wish we made that turn?

Many situations are like a broken record repeating itself. We get
stuck in the past, the way it was. Isn’t it better to find a way to
make relationships or situations work? Make some progress? I have
always been under the impression that democratic values help build the
nation and show concern for those who are vulnerable in society.

A lot of nations have much to learn. Australia has in many ways made
it work. They made the turn. The nation has a long-standing commitment
to a pluralist, diverse, democratic society based on freedom,
equality, tolerance and peace.

Well done, mates!

Let’s hope other nations will make that same turn — for the better.

Note: Charlotte McPherson is the author of `Culture Smart: Turkey,
2005.’ Email: [email protected]. Please keep your questions
and observations coming:

28.07.2008

Heritage party pretends to leading positions at the parliamentary
election 2012 and presidential 2013 in Armenia, RPA representative
thinks

2008-07-25 14:46:00

ArmInfo. Heritage party pretends to the leading positions at the
parliamentary election 2012 and presidential 2013 in Armenia, member of
the RPA parliamentary faction Armen Ashotyan told journalists, Friday.
"The Heritage party pretends at the role of the main opposition force
in Armenia. The party and the political forces behind it do not want to
blend into the policy of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, if the latter does not
give strict guarantees that the party will inherit his 350,000
electorate>, – he said.

Ashotyan thinks that "This party (Heritage) uses the fruits of Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s policy and it would be logical if joins Armenian
National Congress so that later to privatize electorate of the first
president". To note, press-secretary of the Heritage party Hovsep
Khurshudyan has recently said he does not rule that
the Heritage party will not join Armenian National Congress.

Heritage is the only opposition faction of the Armenian parliament and
consists of 7 deputies.

ENERGY TRANSFORMATION LAW IN POLITICS
GEVORG HARUTYUNYAN

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 26, 2008
Armenia

Judging from all Armenian National Congress, at least by Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s format, won’t be formed. If the members of
`Hanrapetutyun’ and the Social-Democratic Hnchakyan party staffed with
the former members of Armenian Pan National Movement have made up their
minds to become congressmen, People’s Party of Armenia and `Heritage’
party have no similar intentions, because they say they will never take
a step that jeopardizes their existence.

In particular Chairwoman of `Heritage’ administration Anahit Bakhshyan
announced yesterday that they would not be part of Armenian National
Congress but they can cooperate `in all the possible forms’.

Taking into consideration this situation yesterday MP belonging to RPA
Armen Ashotyan expressed an opinion in the National Press Club that
even in this heat `the energy of the post-election developments didn’t
extinguish, instead it transforms into different phenomena and
initiatives.’

The MP considers the transformations taking place in the
pro-governmental domain the guarantee of the settlement of the problems
faced by the country and the people.

`We have a new pro-government logic. The new government, in the person
of the President and the Prime Minister are trying to use new tools
to
give the best settlement to the problems faced by the country. All this
has been planed in Serge Sargsyan’s pre-election program and is in the
process of implementation. As for the post election developments, I
must confess, they gave additional necessity for making swifter
reforms. The impatience of the society and the post election apathy
requires from the ruling power to make more efforts.’

Armen Ashotyan states the pro-oppositional camp also needs `energy
transformation’. `Of course we shouldn’t take seriously the rumors
about the velvet revolution of August 1. Those who intend to stage
revolution never make similar announcements. Thus it is evident that
the opposition reveals its plans to make advocacy effect.’

And the collection of the signatures initiated by the opposition
against Robert Kocharyan is nonsense, according to the speaker.

Hague International Criminal Court can consider the cases of those
countries that have ratified Rome status and are considered territories
under the competence of that court. Armenia hasn’t ratified that
document. Only by the decision of UN Security Council is it possible to
start a criminal procedure against our country or the citizens. `This
circumstance makes the initiative of the radicals more absurd. And from
the political point of view it is difficult to imagine a worse harm for
Armenia. Our neighbors are yearning to mislead20the international
community by similar methods.’ Armen Ashotyan underscored.

The Republican MP welcomed the initiative of the radicals to form
Armenian National Congress but expressed regret saying: `They march on
the same spot because the problems are not changed. There is a
requirement for a liberal, strong political force. But the
disagreements among Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s supporters, especially the
personal disagreements regarding the issue of being Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s successor hamper this process.

Here especially `Heritage’ party stands out. They have personal plans
and they will never merge in Armenian National Congress, in case they
don’t promise Raffi Hovhannisyan that he will be the successor.
`Heritage’ will never yield; they are getting prepared for 2012 and
2013 elections.

The speaker also touched upon March 1-2 developments and the activity
of the temporary committee investigating the reasons of those events.
`The criticism has got two delicate points. Firstly no one criticizes
the working style and the activity of the committee. They are based on
their personal thesis. The second delicate point is that the Human
Rights Defender and some pro-governmental figures have also started to
criticize the works of the committee.’

Similar manifestation, according to RPA representative is explained by
their attempts to purify their political-social past. And if these
=0
Apeople are concerned about our country’s democratization, they can
resign and as a result we can have an Ombudsman nominated by the
pro-oppositional political forces.

NaharNet, Lebanon
July 24 2008

Fire at Bourj Hammoud Garbage Dump

Fire broke out in piles of used rubber tires deserted at the Bourj
Hammoud garbage dump on Beirut’s northern edge Thursday, but rescuers
managed to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby butane storage
facilities. A Civil Defense Directorate official said rescuers and
firefighters managed to "besiege" the fire and were achieving progress
in efforts to extinguish it.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the fire
as "localized" and said there was no immediate threat of it spreading.

The problem, he added, is with the "thik-black smoke billowing from
the burning rubber. This causes respiratory problems to residents" of
the densely populated suburb and most of Beirut’s eastern sector.

Beirut, 24 Jul 08, 21:42

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT DECIDES TO ENLARGE OUTFLOW FROM LAKE SEVAN TO 197 MILLION CUBIC METERS

ARKA
July 25

On Thursday, Armenian Government decided to enlarge the outflow from
Lake Sevan intended for irrigation from present 170 million to 197
million cubic meters.

At its previous meeting held a week earlier, the Government decided
to enlarge the outflow from 150 million to 170 million cubic meters.

Andranik Andreasyan, chairman of State Water Committee, said then
that natural outflows from Harzdan River dwindled recently while
water consumers’ demand grew. That is why the Government decided to
increase the outflow.

He said that 240 million cubic meters will be taken from Sevan
throughout this irrigation season.

He also said that the volumes of let-out water were 108.65 million
as of June 27. M.V.

PRESIDENT OF OSCE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY PERSONALLY ENGAGES SETTLEMENT OF ‘FROZEN’ CONFLICTS

ArmInfo
2008-07-24 17:43:00

President of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Joao Suares told APA he
intends to personally engage settlement of ‘frozen’ conflicts.

PA OSCE President said the Parliamentary Assembly will continue working
to settle ‘frozen conflicts’. The issue will be among key tasks of
the OSCE PA during my presidency. J. Suares said he relies on the
members of PA OSCE who have useful knowledge on similar conflicts.

The former president of OSCE PA Goran Lenmarker is appointed special
representative of OSCE PA President for Nagorny Karabakh conflict
since he is well informed of the conflicts in the region.

SITUATION CONTAINING ELEMENTS OF PUBLIC CRISIS
Kima Yeghyazaryan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 24, 2008
Armenia

The ARFD Armenian office convened its 14th Supreme Assembly in
the town of Vanadzor from the 18th till the 20th of July. With the
purpose introducing the issues discussed during the assembly, MP
ARMEN ROUSTAMYAN, representative of the ARFD Supreme Body of Armenia,
yesterday organized a press-conference in the National Press Club.

According to the speaker, the Assembly held a thorough discussion on
the country’s current situation and made certain confirmations.

"According to our estimations, Armenia’s current situation contains
elements of a public crisis," A. Roustamyan mentioned.

One of the reasons of the country’s tense situation is that "the paces
of development in general trends are unsatisfactory. Democracy, a rule
of law country and a social state: these are the trends the activities
of which the Supreme Assembly estimated as unsatisfactory. That’s to
say, Dashnaktsutyun is required to sharply speed up the paces of the
development of Armenia, by implementing its programs and investing
its direct potentials."

At the same time, A. Roustamyan noted that the slow paces of the
country’s development are conditioned not only by internal but also
external factors. "We should bear in mind that we have a neighboring
country the relationship with which cannot, mildly speaking, be
characterized as friendly. We are all the time faced with the threat
of war. And the indexes of the development of that republic are within
the limits of 25 percent.

Naturally, this stipulates our future plans. And this is really a
serious threat to us."

The next confirmation of the Supreme Council concerned the tense
situation resulting from the post-electoral developments. Another
element of the public crisis is this, and it is possible to overcome
this situation in case the NA interim committee dealing with the
investigation of the March 1-2 developments manages to justify and
satisfy the expectations of the public.

"The committee is required to do its best to make its conclusions
acceptable to the public and arouse trust in its activities. And last
but not the least, the committee should be consistent in its efforts
towards disclosing all the events that occurred on March 1-2," the
MP underlined.

Answering the questions of the journalists, A. Roustamyan mentioned
that Dashnaktsutyun estimates the cooperation with the coalition
partners as positive, and the Supreme Council confirmed that "the
party’s decision to form part of the coalition is justified."

As regards the issue of the Armenian-Turkish relations, the attitude
of the ARFD remains unchanged. According to the representative
of Dashnaktsutyun party, 0Turkey’s preconditions for establishing
bilateral relations are unacceptable; these are ultimatums rather
than preconditions.

As to the issue of the Genocide, it mustn’t become a subject of
discussions and speculations.

And in case the Turkish President’s possible visit to Yerevan becomes
a reality, Dashnaktsutyun will profit by the occasion and raise the
intricate issues between the two countries in a "civilized manner"
(rallies, protest actions).