Author: Khondkarian Raffi

THE SESSION OF THE EURASEC INTER-STATE COUNCIL TO BE CONDUCTED TODAY IN MINSK

ARMENPRESS
Nov 27, 2009

MINSK, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS; The session of the EurAsEC
Inter-State Council will be conducted today in Minsk on the level of
presidents. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan is also participating
in the event.

During the session it is expected to approve joint customs fee of
the Customs Union to be set up within the framework of the EurAsEC
which will be applied from January 1, 2010. The heads of states are
planning to adopt an agreement on the customs codex of the Customs
Union which will enter into force from July 1, 2010.

Members of EurAsEC are Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan. Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine have status of observers.

REGIONAL CENTER FOR CRISIS MANAGEMENT TO BE ESTABLISHED IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.11.2009 16:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A meeting of inter-department working group on
November 27 chaired by the secretary of the National Security Council
(NSC) of Armenia Arthur Baghdasaryan decided to develop a national
concept of civil defense in accordance with the RA National Security
strategy and Armenia – NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP).

The concept will be presented to the National Security Council until
May 2010.

The Secretary of the National Security Council, emphasizing the
importance of the concept, particularly said the adoption of the
concept is important for further implementation of reforms in the
field of civil protection.

Regional Center for Crisis Management will be established in Yerevan
with branches in regions, press office of the National Security
Council of Armenia reported.

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT APPOINTS JUDGE TO DEAL WITH RA-TURKEY PROTOCOLS

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.11.2009 18:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Judge Vladimir Hovhannisyan was charged with the task
to study the Armenian-Turkish protocols and submit his conclusion on
the documents’ compliance with the RA Constitution to Constitutional
Court (CC) Chairman within 15 days, CC Spokesman Hovhannes Papikyan
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Thereafter, the court will convene a session to appoint a hearing
date and elect a judge rapporteur.

"16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER VIOLENCE" CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
25.11.2009 16:52

A campaign "16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence" aiming to
increase public awareness on gender-based violence was launched today
in Yerevan.

The campaign is carried out jointly by Armenian authorities, the UN
Resident Coordinator a.i., UNFPA, UNDP, UNDPI, UNHCR, as well as by
civil society organizations and media.

Ms. Lala Ghazaryan, the Head of family, women and children issues
department within the Armenian Ministry of Labor and Social Issues
presented the current challenges and results achieved by the government
in the field of combating gender based violence. Also, the message
of the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, on the International Day
for the Elimination of Violence Against Women was read out to the
audience. "In every country, women and girls continue to be plagued
by violence, causing tremendous suffering. Such violence undermines
development, generates instability, and makes peace that much harder
to achieve. We must demand accountability for the violations, and
take concrete steps to end impunity. We must listen to and support
the survivors." UN Secreatary-General, Ban Ki Moon.

Ms. Jina Sargizova, UNFPA National coordinator of "Combating Gender
Based Violence in the South Caucasus" project and "16 Days" campaign in
Armenia talked about various activities, such as press conferences,
public hearings, public service announcements broadcasting, film
screenings, roundtable discussions with participation of refugees,
rural women and local government representatives, youth and journalists
in Yerevan and throughout Armenia. UNFPA is organizing these activities
together with governmental and non-governmental partners.

The planned activities focus on cultural and national aspects of
violence against women, including domestic violence, trafficking and
HIV/AIDS twin pandemics, men’s participation and role in combating
gender-based violence and the importance of the youth involvement.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is an international
campaign that runs from November 25, the International Day for the
Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 10, International
Human Rights Day and symbolically links gender violence and human
rights issues.

This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including
December 1, World AIDS Day, December 2, International Day for the
Abolition of Slavery and December 6, the anniversary of the 1989
"Montreal Massacre".

TURKISH POLITICAL SCIENTIST SAYS ARMENIANS WILL LEAVE AZERBAIJAN’S LANDS

news.az
Nov 25 2009
Azerbaijan

Arif Keskin "Negotiations on Karabakh will be effective if pressure
is imposed on Armenia.

In this sense, yesterday’s meeting of President Ilham Aliyev with
Russian leader Dmitri Medveyev and the upcoming meeting of Turkish
Premier Erdogan and US President Barack Obama will be important",
said Arif Keskin, analyst of the Turkish Center of International Ties
and Strategic Analysis and professor of the 21st century University.

According to the political scientist, Turkey should use all
opportunities to attain progress in the Karabakh issue at the upcoming
meeting between Erdogan and Obama.

"Erdogan should explain to Obama that stability in the Caucasus is
impossible without progress in the Karabakh issue. If Erdogan is
able to bind the processes of border opening with Armenia, return
of a part of the occupied lands of Azerbaijan, I think it will be
an appropriate variant. Everyone including Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Turkey would benefit. But time will show whether Armenians are ready
to such developments. Azerbaijan is important for Turkey and I think
Ankara will not risk its relations with Baku and by results of the
Washington meetings we will witness certain progress. If Moscow,
Washington and Brussels impose pressure on Armenia in this issue,
by the beginning of 2010 we will witness the opening of borders and
withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied lands of Azerbaijan",
he said.

"Ilham Aliyev’s statement before the Munich meeting must make western
leaders think over their further policy in the region. If West and
Russia really want peace and do not want instability in the region,
they should persuade Armenia that continued occupation of Azerbaijani
lands will cause harm to it", Keskin said.

DIFFICULT TO FRIGHTEN SERZH SARGSYAN WITH BELLICOSE STATEMENTS: PSYCHOLOGIST

Tert
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

Military actions can resume between Armenia and Azerbaijan "in the
case of the presence of two factors," which were named today by
military psychologist Davit Jamalyan.

"One of the factors [is] if our state government for whatever reason
drastically weakens and our country becomes vulnerable to foreign
aggression. The second reason is geopolitical, if resuming the
war is advantageous for the so-called power centres of the world,"
Jamalyan stated.

Commenting on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s statements that
the war may resume if no progress is made in negotiations wth Serzh
Sargsyan, the psychologist stated the aim of the bellicose statements
is to bring about a mess on Armenia’s population, "which will compel
the leadership to make concessions in the negotiation process."

According to the psychologist, it is difficult to frighten Sargsyan
with such statements. "Alieyev’s statements aim to frighten the
Armenian public," Jamanlyan stated.

"We must be prepared that Azerbaijan will decide to settle the
issue sooner or later through military action," Jamalyan emphasized,
stating that Azerbaijan has been preparing for that for years already.

Besides, he stated, the time passed long ago, when war began with
making announcements. "If one of the parties really decides to wage
a war, he wouldn’t announce it in advance."

One shouldn’t underestimate one’s rival, believes Jamalyan, while
stating the opinion held by numerous analysts, which is that
"Azerbaijan is not prepared for war."

‘IN SOME AREAS, PROGRESS WAS MADE,’ OSCE CO-CHAIRS ON SARGSYAN-ALIYEV MEETING

Tert
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Ambassadors Yury Merzlyakov of Russia,
Bernard Fassier of France, and Robert Bradtke of the United States,
released the following statement today:

"President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Armenia Serzh
Sargsyan met on November 22, 2009, at the residence of the French
Consul General in Munich at the initiative of OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov (Russian "Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian also participated in the talks, as well as the personal
representative of the OSCE Chair-in-Office Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk.

"During this meeting, the sixth such meeting this year, the two
presidents engaged in a detailed and in-depth discussion of the most
important unresolved points in the co-chairs’ proposals. The talks,
which lasted almost four hours, were constructive. In some areas,
progress was made. At the same time, some issues still remain open.

Federation), Ambassador Bernard Fassier (France), and Ambassador
Robert Bradtke (United States).

"The presidents instructed their foreign ministers to continue working
with the co-chairs on these matters. As a next step, the co-chairs
are organizing a working session with the two ministers in advance
of the OSCE Ministerial Council, which will take place December 1-2
in Athens."

YERKIR UNION ESTIMATES BREAK -DOWN OF ARMENIAN CHURCH IN TBILISI AS GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES’ CRIME

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.11.2009 16:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yerkir Union estimates break-down of Armenian Church
in Tbilisi as Georgian authorities’ crime and discriminative policy
towards Georgian Armenians, Yerkir Union reported to PanARMENIAN.Net.

By deliberately dragging out the resolution on legal status of
Armenian Eparchy in Georgia and return of Armenian churches, the
Georgian government is openly ignoring numerous requests of Armenian
Eparchy, Holy Echmiadzin, Armenian authorities, RA and Diaspora NGOs
as well as international organizations’ recommendations, throwing
out an open challenge to Georgian Armenians, as well as the states
and international structures, interested in preservation of peace
stability and democratic development in the region.

Georgian authorities’ policy of ignoring Armenian population’s issues
will lead to increase of disappointment and discontent among Georgian
Armenians.

Yerkir Union joins the appeal of the Supreme Spiritual Council of
Armenian Apostolic Church to Georgian authorities and Georgian Orthodox
Church to undertake immediate steps for granting legal status to the
Georgian Eparchy of Armenian Apostolic Church and returning Armenian
churches for normal organization of Georgian Armenians’ spiritual
lives and safekeeping of Armenian relics.

Tehran Times
Nov 23 2009

Azerbaijan threatens Armenia over Nagorno Karabakh

Azeri President Ilham Aliyev has warned he is ready to use force to
wrest control of a disputed enclave from Armenia if last-ditch peace
talks fail.

He said talks starting on Sunday in Munich were the final hope of
settling the Nagorno Karabakh issue peacefully.

A fragile ceasefire has been in place in the region since it was the
scene of a brutal war between the two countries in the 1990s.

Both nations lay claim to the enclave, currently under Armenian control.

In comments broadcast on Azeri TV on Saturday, President Aliyev said
that if the Munich talks failed to reach agreement he would be `left
with no other option’.

`We have the full right to liberate our land by military means,’ he said.

Western diplomats attended the talks, the latest in a round of
internationally mediated meetings on the dispute, have said they hope
the situation will not reach that point.

Some 30,000 people died in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, which
erupted after the mountainous region declared independence in 1991.

The region and seven surrounding Azeri district have been under
Armenian control since the Russian-brokered ceasefire in 1994.

Azerbaijan has never ruled out military action to take back the land
and has spent billions on dollars on building up its military.

The BBC’s Tom Esslemont, in the South Caucuses region, said Aliyev is
using stronger language than ever before because the talks come at a
critical time.

The meeting will be the first since Armenia and Turkey — an ally of
Azerbaijan — normalized diplomatic relations after a century of
hostility.

That move has left Azerbaijan feeling isolated, said our correspondent.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Nov 22 2009

Journalist Ã?elik says Turkey is more assertive, respected in world
despite domestic hurdles

Hakan Ã?elik, a journalist who specializes in Turkish foreign policy,
has said Turkey has been going through painful times domestically in
its democratization process but that its assertiveness in the world is
paying off as it is able to gain respect.

`Turkey is in a process in which it is facing up to its taboos.
Following each step taken in the process, there is an increase in the
quality of democracy even though there are painful times. This fact
has been recognized by the world,’ he said as a journalist who visited
more than 100 countries.

Ã?elik pointed out that there is growing curiosity and respect for
Turkey and its culture almost everywhere he has been to.

As a prominent journalist who has been working for media organizations
which usually stand at the opposite ends of the political spectrum,
Ã?elik also shared with us the intricacies of his position, not so
usual in Turkey.

You work in media organizations which have been in involved in public
scuffles. How is it possible for you to work, for example, for both
Kanal 24 and Posta, which seem to stand at almost opposite ends?

When political tension rises, groups or representatives of those
groups use a harsh style against one another. They even accuse each
other of not having similar views. And as you said, I work for media
organizations that are distinguished by their different owners, who
usually stand at politically opposite ends. There are difficulties
related to that, but the guests who come to my television or radio
programs do it because they believe in my journalistic integrity. They
probably don’t say that Hakan Ã?elik is the man of the DoÄ?an Group or
Hakan Ã?elik works for a television channel which is sympathetic to the
ruling party’s policies. The question is: Do you evaluate a news story
from the viewpoint of your engagements with a certain media group? Or
do you evaluate a news story from the viewpoint of universally
accepted standards of journalism?

The second option, indeed, is what needs to be preached and practiced
by journalists.

Our job is to search for the truth and listen to different voices and
opinions, and communicate those different views to the public. After
presenting facts, sides and the background information, we also need
to leave room for the public to make a decision about their choices.
Speaking for myself, I don’t like to direct viewers or readers to
support a certain idea because they are intelligent enough to do it
themselves. But instead, readers or viewers are manipulated to support
certain ideas.

Is this a result of the polarization that the society faces?

This is an important factor. I have been a journalist for 22 years and
the society has been polarized at times. But I have never before seen
the media, society and politics as polarized as now. Looking for the
truth is a hard task in today’s polarized environment. This is like
trying to stay inside your lane while trying to make a turn on the
road. You have to be an excellent driver in order to do that.
Otherwise you will naturally skid off the road. In our profession, we
constantly face challenging turns. Journalists have been pressed to
take a side and if not, they face elimination. So it is difficult to
concentrate on the requirements of journalism under those
circumstances. But there are some principles like sticking to the
norms of a pluralistic, democratic and free society in which
minorities can live their lives freely as well as the majority. In
that regard, having the European Union as an anchor for Turkey is
important.

`Turkey isn’t moving away from the West’

What do you think about the recent discussion over whether Turkey is
moving away from the West?

We entered this discussion at a time when Turkey became dismayed by
the EU. Had this not been the case, we would not have had such a
discussion since Turkey’s opening to the East would not attract this
much attention. Almost no day goes by without leaders from the leading
countries of Europe, such as France and Germany, making disappointing
statements on Turkey. In this environment, Turkey’s long-lost interest
in its immediate neighborhood has begun to draw attention even though
Turkey has been late in approaching the countries in its immediate
neighborhood. And this does not mean that Turkey is changing its
direction. There is no change of direction. Turkey’s basic principles
are same. But Turkey is more assertive today in its region. In
addition, Turkey’s economy is the world’s 15th largest economy with
regard to purchasing power parity. When you look at direct foreign
investment in Turkey, you see that it has reached more than $20
billion annually in the last few years. When this is the case, it is
not realistic for Turkey to put all its eggs in one basket, namely
that of the EU, whose economic activity has been decreasing. Indeed,
Turkey’s increasingly good relations go beyond its neighborhood.
Turkey has been opening consulates in Africa and Latin America.

You travel a lot as part of your job. How many countries have you been to?

More than 100.

What do you see when you go out of Turkey?

Turkey’s image abroad is much better than the impression we get here
in Turkey. Personally, I feel better about Turkey when I go abroad. In
some places, people are quite curious about Turkey. In other places,
people admire Turkey. And in some other places, there is concern about
Turkey’s growth potential because Turkey might be a serious
competitor. This is how the EU sees Turkey. In France, for example,
they see a future Turkey which is a partner but at the same time a
rival.

What strikes you most regarding perceptions about Turkey when you go abroad?

I was in Turkmenistan with President Abdullah Gül and came across
children in a desert-like land. They talked about Turkish series on
television. In a pizza shop in Italy’s narrow streets, an Egyptian
pizza parlor owner told me about Turkish soccer players in detail.
Turkey is now present in many areas of the world with its cultural
exports. This is also the case not only in the Middle East and in Arab
countries but also in Africa, the Caucasus and in the Balkans. This is
also due to Turkey’s changing role in the world. Turkey used to be an
introverted country with an inward looking economy. This has been
changing. Turkey started to play the role of mediator in the
international arena and it has been producing solutions. It was not an
easy task to be a mediator between Russia and Georgia. But the Turkish
prime minister did it. Turkey gained Russia’s trust and has become a
respectable country in the eyes of Russia, which comes from the Soviet
tradition.

Facing up to taboos

You go to Israel, too. Do you think this is a dominant view in Israel as well?

The number of Israelis who view Turkey suspiciously has increased
recently. We should remember that a hard-line government is in power
in Israel. When there was an Israeli government which was more
integrated with the world, we saw in the past that it was able to
cooperate with Turkey without prejudice. We should remember that
President Gül brought together Israeli President Shimon Peres and
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ankara [in 2007]. That was very
important. Turkey has this potential because Turkey is trusted in this
region. Current tension in Turkish-Israeli relations should not
persist.

Do you find Turkey’s democratization process an issue that is
speculated on abroad?

Especially in the past, Turkey’s problems with its Kurdish population
were questioned a lot. In the most recent period, Turkey has been
doing a good job of communicating that it is going through a sincere
democratization process, and that involves not only Turkey’s Kurdish
population but also its minorities. Turkey is in a process in which it
is facing up to its taboos. Following each step taken in the process,
there is an increase in the quality of democracy even though there are
painful times. This fact has been recognized by the world. That’s why
I feel on top of the world when I go abroad as opposed to feeling
demoralized while in Turkey. We should remember that some European
countries won’t sell Turkey arms, fearing they’ll be used in the
Southeast against the Kurdish citizens of our country. Sweden used to
campaign against Turkey in Europe. Today, the strongest support in the
EU for Turkey comes from Sweden and Finland. This shows that Turkey’s
bad record in the area of human rights has been fading away.

What do you think could stop the democratic initiative?

Everyone should be aware of the responsibility falling upon their
shoulders. The opposition should not fall into the trap that the
initiative of the ruling party could win them votes if they oppose it.
This is an important period in Turkey and it requires societal
consensus. Even Diyarbakırspor (which is viewed by some
ultranationalists as synonymous with the PKK) has a responsibility.
They should not say that they would withdraw from their next match in
the wake of racist slogans chanted by rival Gaziantepspor supporters
because they are one of the teams in the Republic of Turkey. What they
should do is seek legal ways to protect their interests. And the
(pro-Kurdish) Democratic Society Party (DTP) should not raise the
Kurds’ expectations on issues which would not have not much chance to
be realized.

`Insidious plans are alarmIng for non-Muslims, Turkey’
You attach great importance to recognizing the rights of minorities
and non-Muslim Turkish citizens of the country. You also say the
Heybeliada seminary should be reopened. Please elaborate.

I am ashamed of the fact that the seminary is still closed. There are
only 2,500 Greeks left in Turkey. They cannot educate their future
religious leaders without having such schools. They have to bring
religious leaders from Greece to Turkey. Turkey should realize that if
the Ä°stanbul-based Greek Orthodox Patriarchate loses ground, other
Orthodox patriarchates in the world would gain power, and there could
be related political developments which would not please Turkey. And
there is an ongoing debate in Turkey about the ecumenical status of
Patriarch Bartholomew. He has been recognized as ecumenical by other
patriarchates and that means he is ecumenical. This is an interfaith
issue that Turkey should not have a debate on. Plus, Patriarch
Bartholomew is a respected member of Turkish society. He is a Turkish
citizen who served in the Turkish military. He has been received by
respect and honored in every country he goes to. It is a big plus for
Turkey to have him as the ecumenical patriarch and to have the
patriarchate in Ä°stanbul. Turkey should promote that in the world with
ongoing campaigns.

As part of an ongoing investigation into Ergenekon, a clandestine gang
whose suspected members are currently standing trial on charges of
having plotted to overthrow the government, it has been revealed that
an alleged anti-democratic formation within the Naval Forces Command
planned to destroy the government by assassinating prominent
non-Muslims in Turkey and putting the blame for the killings on the
ruling party. What do you think?

These are quite startling news. It is scary for Turkey. Recalling the
past killings of Armenian-Turkish editor Hrant Dink, Catholic priest
Andrea Santoro and three Christians in Malatya, and even before, the
assassination attempt of Pope John Paul II by Mehmet Ali AÄ?ca, we see
that Turkey comes into the international limelight when there is an
attack on non-Muslims. This is not the Turkey which turns its face
toward a bright and modern future. These are insidious and
bloodthirsty plans which are alarming for non-Muslims and Turkey. It
is even more important for the government to emphasize not only with
its words but also its actions that non-Muslims are citizens of this
country. Again, there are only 2,500 Greeks left in Turkey. It is very
concerning that there are still some anti-democratic formations which
can have organic ties to the state. This is inexplicable and quite
frankly very embarrassing.

Hakan Ã?elik, award-winning journalist who knows the world

Hakan Ã?elik has been the Ankara representative of the Posta daily for
the last five-and-a-half years. He has been a columnist for the
newspaper since 1997. Ã?elik’s `Weekend’ show on the Habertürk TV
station was among the most widely viewed weekend shows in Turkey. He
now has a similar show on Kanal 24. In addition, his TRT-3 radio music
show `Tren YolculuÄ?u’ (Train Ride) takes listeners on a smooth journey
on Sundays. A graduate of Ä°stanbul University’s School of
Communication and Political Science, he has been a journalist since
1988 and has received many awards.

22 November 2009, Sunday
YONCA POYRAZ DOÄ?AN Ä°STANBUL