Author: Khoyetsian Rose

MINORITY REPORT: LACK OF POLITICAL REPRESENTATION

BIA, Turkey
Dec 12 2007

The Minority Rights Group International has published a new report on
the status of minority rights in Turkey. It has criticised the high
electoral threshold and the ban of minority languages in political
life.

Minority Rights Group
12-12-2007

In a report entitled "A Quest for Equality: Minorities in Turkey",
the Minority Rights Group International says that there is still a
ban on minority languages in political life and public services and
that school books reinforce stereotypes about minorities.

In the press release announcing the publication of the report, the
group further says:

Millions of ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities remain
unrecognized by the Turkish state, face discrimination and are now
increasingly under threat as a result of a growing wave of violent
nationalism, Minority Rights Group says in a new report.

International standards not met

The report says that whilst the accession process to become a EU member
state has forced Turkey to make significant strides in minority rights,
much more remains to be done. The report titled "A quest for equality
– minorities in Turkey" is the most up-to-date analysis available on
the situation of all minorities in Turkey.

"Turkey is a country where a centuries-old mix of languages, religions,
cultures and traditions is practiced within its borders, but minority
protection still falls far short of international standards," says
Ishbel Matheson, MRG’s Head of Policy and Communications.

"Turkey’s multi-cultural heritage is one of its biggest assets. But
this positive aspect is not embraced at the highest level. Instead,
mention of minorities and minority rights triggers nationalist
reactions by certain sectors of society," she adds.

Lausanne Treaty limited to some religiously defined minorities

The only protection for minorities in Turkey has been set out in the
1923 Treaty of Lausanne but in practice its scope is limited only to
Armenians, Jews and Rum (Greek orthodox) Christians.

But Turkey is home to a vast number of minorities including ethnic
Kurds, Caucasians, Laz and Roma. The country’s other religious
minorities include Alevis, Assyrians, Caferis and Reformist Christians.

These groups are legally not recognized as minorities and simply
referring to their minority status, let alone working for their rights,
could lead to a jail sentence.

Linguistic and religious rights limited

According to the report, minorities excluded from the Treaty of
Lausanne are very limited in their rights to use their languages in
schools and in the media. Their religious rights are also curtailed.

The report also says a 10 percent electoral threshold prevents minority
pro-Kurdish parties from getting elected to parliament.

These parties have repeatedly failed to surpass the national threshold
despite having received the highest percentage of votes in some of
the Kurdish populous southeastern provinces.

Minorities have also increasingly becoming victims of a rising trend
of nationalism in the country. In January 2007, journalist and Armenian
human rights activist Hrant Dink was shot dead in Istanbul.

The suspect told police that Dink was Armenian and had "insulted
Turkishness".

The report says that the EU accession process and the proposed new
constitution in 2008 give plenty of opportunity for Turkey to make
legal changes to protect minorities.

"We recommend speedy legal reforms – this is crucial, but to bring real
change to Turkey’s minorities there has to be radical transformation
of the prevalent mentality towards minorities of both the state and
society," Matheson says.

Some events concerning minorities in Turkey:

1934: Mass attacks on Jews in Thrace, northern Turkey

1949: Law changing non-Turkish village names into Turkish names passed

1955: Mass attacks on non-Muslims in Istanbul

1982: New constitution which limited basic freedoms and rights was
passed. Obligatory religious education (Sunni Islam).

1991: Kurdish MP Leyla Zana spoke in Kurdish in parliament; she and
three other MPs were imprisoned for 15 years.

1992: 20,000 Turkish soldiers entered the security zone in Northern
Iraq in operations against the PKK.

1994: The Constitutional Court closed the pro-Kurdish Democracy Party
(DEP).

2003: Laws passed which relaxed restrictions on freedom of expression
and the use of Kurdish. However, mostly children are still not
allowed to be given Kurdish names. The Constitutional Court closed
the pro-Kurdish People’s Democracy Party (HADEP).

2004 The first private Kurdish language course was opened, and a
state channel began its weekly half-hour broadcast in Kurdish.

2005: It was decided to nationalise the Roma areas in Istanbul. The
Roma were not fairly treated.

27 April 2007: The Chief of General Staff said in a press statement,
"Whoever cannot say ‘How happy I am to be a Turk’ is and will remain
an enemy of the Turkish Republic."

2007: Because mayor Abdullah Demirbas of the Sur municipality in
Diyarbakir offered multilingual municipal services, he was taken from
office by the State Council and the municipal council was dissolved.

MEL GIBSON’S MOVIE DENIAL

The Celebrity Truth, Australia
Dec 11 2007

A story has appeared on a Turkish news website claiming that a group
has starting an email campaign against Mel Gibson and his new movie,
a claim his rep is denying.

According to todayszaman.com, The Foundation for the Struggle Against
Baseless Allegations of Genocide (ASIMED) has targeted Gibson to
attempt to dissuade him "from playing a role in a film that underscores
claims of an alleged genocide of Anatolian Armenians by Ottoman Turks
during World War I."

A Professor at Ataturk University told the website that, "We have
begun sending documents about the truth of the situation to Gibson.

We started an e-mail campaign to urge him to decline the role and to
not allow this film to be shot at his production company."

The ‘Lethal Weapon’ star’s representative has denied any such
involvement with the production, telling TMZ that, "We don’t know
where that started. He doesn’t know anything about the project. Never
heard of it."

-s-movie-denial/00602

I’M NOT A POLITICIAN, I’M A JOURNALIST

Azat Artsakh Tert
Dec 11 2007
Nagorno Karabakh Republic

Interview with the chief editor of the newspaper of "Aravot" Aram
Abrahamyan

– Mr Abrahamyan, you prefer politics for about 15 years. Is it vocation
or simply activity?

– I’m not a politician, I graduated from conservatoire, I was a state
official in the war years, now I’m a journalist – Nevertheless, how
do you explain the return of the first president into public politics?

– I think he feels high responsibility for our country and the
settlement of Karabakh question. He tries to prevent our country from
dangerous tendencies.

– After 10 years of silence the appearance of Levon Ter Petrosyan
on political scene as "the first attacker" was unexpectedness for
many people.

– I’m not agree with the formulation. The power and its propaganda
is the "first attacker" criticizing the first president for 10 years.

– There’s opinion that our public life is too politicized, don’t you
think the Press plays important role in it?

– I don’t think so. The people think about their daily bread, incomes
and it is quite natural. Those, who are insatisfied, they complain
of the authorities.

– We always appeal to the word of democracy, even we try to explain
today’s situation by the thesis – I don’t know how the others
understand the sense of the word.

The democracy means the power of the people. When the people elect
their authorities and the minority is given the chance to express
their point of view.

– Mr Abrahamyan, which of many candidates have chances to be in 2nd
tour, whose chances are more real?

– I can’t predict anything yet. If all remains as it is, Serge Sargsyan
will win. But it’s possible some will change for next 3 months.

– But the first president is aware the authorities’ candidate has
much resources than others have.

– I don’t know what the first president is thinking about, I don’t
see the perspectives that he ‘ll be in second tour. But, perhaps,
I’m not right, there can be the situation which is not predictable now.

– In his speeches the first president hints that Karabakh must be
the part of Azerbaijan – It’s impossible. No politician in Armenia
even if he wants can not do it against the will of Karabakh people,
I think Karabakh must participate in the elections and Karabakh status
definition must be postponed for indefinite time. In the question
of the status armenian and azeri approachings are so different that
it’s senseless even to discuss them – Do you consider the political
confrontation is possible in Armenia judging by situation?

– No I don’t want to think about it. Certainly, preelection campaign
will be intense but I am sure noone will provoke the confrontation. The
majority of the people will not go on the barricades for any candidate
– The opinion exists that your newspaper is steady and informationally
objective in editor’s words but there’s subjectiveness on the rest
pages of the newspaper.

– I don’t agree . The parity is kept between authorities’ and
opposition’s views. I’m sorry if there are people who notice
subjectiveness in our newspaper.

– Mr Abrahamyan, don’t you think that under the cover of pluralism
too many parties appeared ? If it’s not correct to unite them on the
basis of political ideology?

– It would be right because 70-80 parties for 3mln Armenia is
innatural. At last, there can not be 70-80 ideologies and programs
for the people. From the point of view, enlarging, unification of the
parties is affirmative process – What will you wish to the peole of
Artsakh and the employees of the newspaper of "AA"?

– Patience and unity, will to withstand the victory. Creative power
and energy to the reporters of "Azat Artsakh". I congratulate chief
editor Mourad Petrosyan on the occasion of appointment.

ARMENIA NOT LIMITED TO THE THEATRICAL SQUARE
Haroutyun Gevorkyan

Hayots Ashkharh Daily
Dec 11 2007
Armenia

Interview with GEVORK POGHOSYAN, Chairman of the Armenian Sociological
Association

"Mr. Poghosyan, to what extent is the nomination of 9 presidential
candidates consistent with the political domain? " "Georgia is also
in store of presidential elections in the near future. 13 candidates
have been nominated there, and this is too much even for a country
like Georgia; especially considering that Sahakashvily has greater
chances to be re-elected.

As to our country, 9 candidates have been nominated here, but I am
convinced that 2 or 3 pretenders will have their candidacies removed
by January 20, the deadline for the registration of the candidates,
or by February 9, the deadline for withdrawing the candidacies. In
other words, they will have satisfied their pretensions, together
with getting back the electoral pledge of 8 million Armenian Drams.

At this point, some clarifications are needed too. If the candidate
is not backed by some ponderous political force or organizational
structure or people capable of participating in all the electoral
processes in a proper manner, why is he nominated? It is also
conceivable that the rating, political argument and ideological
aptitudes are not enough for attaining a more or less tangible
political result. It is also required to have enormous financial
means and a team capable of working.

The pre-election campaign is a money-consuming process requiring
efforts. Each pretender has to consider whether he has relevant
means. If he is nominated without having such means, he will clearly
withdraw his candidacy sooner or later. Simply, politics is also a
game pursuing some goals, and the people nominating their candidacies
admit those game rules. Then, they try to add their 0.3 per cent to
the 40 or 50 per cent of votes received by somebody else and gain
some dividends. This is the reason that January 20 and February 9 are
marked as specific dates. This game becomes especially clear after
publicizing the results of numerous social polls."

"All the social polls reveal the same picture. What does it testify
to?"

"As shown by the analysis of the social polls, among the 9 candidates
running for presidency there are only 3 people capable of serious
electoral rivalry, with Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan, leader of the
Republican Party, being the undisputed top figure. He is followed
by Arthur Baghdasaryan, Head of "Rule of Law" party, and Artashes
Geghamyan, leader of "National Unity", both of them having a rating
twice as smaller.

Considering that Raffi Hovhannisyan was not nominated, this list
can, with great reservations, include the name of L. Ter-Petrosyan,
whose rating does not go beyond the limits 3 per cent. However, due
to various propaganda tools and press publications, there is such an
impression as though Levon Ter-Petrosyan were the chief rival of the
pro-Government candidate Serge Sargsyan. Whereas, in the rating list
the ex-President ranks as the fifth or sixth candidate.

The thing is simply that the first President’s return after the
9-year absence has aroused a certain interest. This is the intrigue,
since nothing new is expected from those ranking as second or third
candidates, i.e. Arthur Baghdasrayan or Artashes Geghamyan.

L. Ter-Petrosyan is currently the most active figure represented in
the pro-Opposition camp; this is why the press focuses on him.

However, interest in this particular candidate does not imply that he
enjoys an equivalent rating. In this respect, the invasion of social
culture in the political domain is quite natural. It is welcome that
this tool of measuring public opinion is being used effectively,
despite the fact that sociologists are constantly "bombarded" by
those political figures and forces that enjoy a low rating.

ARMENIAN LAW-ENFORCERS ARREST CAR THEFT RING

ARMENPRESS
Dec 11, 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS: Armenian law-enforcers have arrested
a criminal group that was engaged in car thefts.

A press release disseminated today by the National Security Service
said the ring stole expensive cars and then negotiated their return
to owners in return for a round sum of money.

When owners denied the ‘deal’ their cars were often destroyed and
burnt. The press release said the ring stole 24 cars in Yerevan in
2006 and 2007. The investigation into the case is being handled by
the National Security Service.

WHAT WILL THE "MOST COMPETITIVE" CANDIDATE DO?

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 10 2007

"Most probably the administration will decide in one of its upcoming
meetings on the mechanisms to detect the individual whom the Heritage
Party will support," stated the secretary of the Heritage Party Vardan
Khachatryan on December 10 at the Pastark Club.

Vardan Khachatryan thinks there is little probability of not
supporting anyone because the country is at a turning point, and in
such a crucial period it is wrong to keep away. "Keeping away at
this turning point may lead to a Dante ending. According to Dante
Alighieri, the hottest parts of the hell are reserved for those who
kept away from the society at turning points," Vardan Khachatryan says.

He says as opposition the Heritage Party cannot support the
government. The reporters asked if the ARF Dashnaktsutyun is
opposition, and Vardan Khachatryan said they have never had common
approaches with the government, as well as the ARF Dashnaktsutyun on
important issues.

"In the current process we have never seen that we are the same or
we view all the possible issues from the same aspect. There were
negotiations with the ARF Dashnaktsutyun but we cannot say that we
reached agreement on any issue. In this stage I cannot insist that
the Heritage and the ARF Dashnaktsutyun are coming closer," Vardan
Khachatryan said.

He also said in the recent meeting of the Heritage Party which
decided not to nominate a presidential candidate leaving the issue
of supporting a candidate up to future, Vazgen Manukyan and Levon
Ter-Petrosyan were considered. They are now negotiating with Vazgen
Manukyan but it does not mean that they are about to make a decision.

As to the appeal of Jirair Sefilyan and Vardan Malkhasyan to Raffi
Hovannisian, Vardan Khachatryan says they respect their appeal as
opinion of people who are their friends, but it is not correct to
say that it will determine the stance of the Heritage Party.

"Our stance will be determined by the reaction of the first ranks,"
Vardan Khachatryan says. He also stated that since Raffi Hovannisian
is not eligible, the most competitive candidate is not running in
the race.

TURKEY’S AUTOMATIC ACCESSION QUESTIONNED

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Brussels, 10 December 2007

The European Armenian Federation calls upon the citizens of Europe
to demonstrate on December 14 in Brussels

The Permanent Representatives of the 27 Member States didn’t succeed
last week in reaching an agreement on the draft conclusion that must
be adopted by the conference of their Ministries of Foreign Affairs
on Monday, December 10th.

The French request to establish a "Council of Wise Men" was accepted
by the 27 representatives, under the guise of a ‘Reflection Group,’
dedicated to considering the future of the Union. The sub-text however
dissipated into argument over whether the ultimate goal of negotiation
concerning Turkey should include the term ‘accession’. France, who
openly opposes use of the term and Sweden, who is greatly in favour,
clashed and as a result discussions regarding consumer protection and
trans-European networks may be postponed despite plans to hold them
with the Turkish minister of Foreign Affairs on the 18th of December.

It is important to note that despite these disagreements, a conclusion
must be reached prior to the European Council meeting on the 14th. The
European Armenian Federation is of the view that by altering the
basic essence of these negotiations from one of automatic accession to
"accession or privileged partnership," is a positive move. It reopens
the political debate on the key issue of whether Turkeys uniting
with the Democracies of Europe is indeed a natural progression for
the Union itself.

"Even if today, the Europeans have not yet defined the clear content
of what would be the ‘privileged partnership’, we know however
that Turkey will try to obtain a maximum of privileges from the EU
and that it will confer it exorbitant leverages and that it will
reinforce its economic and military power" commented Hilda Tchoboian,
the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.

The Federation recalls that the Second Convention of European Armenians
(15-16 October 2007, European Parliament) expressed in its final
declaration the Armenian position on relations between Turkey and
the EU. The forthcoming demonstration on December 14 in Brussels,
will provide the opportunity for European citizens to restate their
attachment to the moral value of Justice without which the European,
will be unable to stand.

"Whatever the final outcome, accession or privileged partnership,
the Council will have to take the responsibility to set Union ethics
at the very heart of its relationship with Turkey. We must voice our
concerns to the European leaders so that they set forth the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide among their demands," concluded Tchoboian.

The European Armenian Federation calls upon the citizens of Europe,
as well as the NGOs and Armenian associations in Europe to come en
masse to Brussels on December 14 to take part in this demonstration.

ARMENIAN TV COMPANIES MENTION NAME OF LEVON TER-PETROSIAN IN OBVIOUSLY NEGATIVE CONTEXT

Noyan Tapan
Dec 10 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The attention of the broadcast mass
media towards the two candidates running for presidency, that is Levon
Ter-Petrosian and Serge Sargsian, considerably increased in November.

However, the name of the first President of the Republic of Armenia
is mentioned in an obviously negative context in the programs of the
Public Radio and a number of Armenian TV companies, a thing, which has
not been observed with regard to any other political figure. This was
mentioned in the intermediate report of the observation conducted
jointly by the Yerevan Press Club and the Team research center,
which was introduced on December 10.

As Boris Navasardian, the Chairman of the Yerevan Press Club,
mentioned, at present, an unprecedented phenomenon is being observed
in the Armenian air: even neutral coverages concerning one of the
political figures of Armenia are yielding to negative ones in terms of
quantity: there are 196 neutral and 10 positive coverages. According
to him, only "Yerkir Media" TV Company remained neutral to some extent
in the programs concerning Levon Ter-Petrosian and Serge Sargsian.

It was mentioned that in comparison with October, the editorial
coverages concerning Gagik Tsarukian, the Leader of the Bargavach
Hayastan (Prosperous Armenia) party, have been almost two-fold more
frequently broadcast by the H2, Kentron and ALM TV Companies.

According to Boris Navasardian, Tigran Karapetian, the Chairman of
the People’s Party, takes first place, according to the gross indices
of the broadcast time among the observed mass media. However, his
priority has been provided due to one TV company: the ALM TV company,
which belongs to him.

Besides the above-mentioned TV companies, the Public and Shant TV
companies as well have been subject to observation.

A1+

`THE MAN WENT MAD BEFORE MY EYES’
[05:02 pm] 07 December, 2007

more images `When we reached Spitak, the city was already lying in
ruins. Everything was destroyed and leveled to the ground. The earth
was still shaking,’ producer Anahit Movissian told A1+.

In 1988 Anahit Movissian worked as a producer in the information
department of the Television and Radio State Committee. She visited
different plants to shoot films.

On December 7, 1988, the shooting group was going to the `factory of
lifts’ of Spitak which was in a tight plight.

On the way I felt that the car was now slowing down then speeding
up. I wondered what the matter was. After checking the wheels the
driver said everything was all right.

On getting to Spitak we were paralyzed by fear. Everything was
ruined. The earth was quaking under our feet.

`Eventually, we hadn’t felt the quakes in the car because of the
speed,’ Anahit Movsissian says. There was a hustle and bustle in
Spitak: people were at a loss. They were rushing to and fro. The first
man I met had lost his family. He went mad before my eyes. Every time
I hear the word `Spitak’ I recall the man.’

I asked our cameraman to shoot the man but the latter refused.

`Anahit, I cannot do it. My hands are trembling.’

Nevertheless, he braced up in a few minutes and obeyed my
instructions.

Curfew had been announced in Spitak the day before. Russian soldiers
were marching through the city all day long.

Our cameraman and editor-in-chief Vahan Harutiunian set to work. I
couldn’t see anything as I was standing a long way from the
buildings. `Watch Out! The earth is shaking,’ the boys warned me all
the time.

Òhe shooting group was stopped by soldiers. The soldiers drove them
into a corner with submachine guns. They called us `saboteurs’ and
wondered where we came from. `You are breaching the law on curfew,’
they shouted at us.

Under the law on curfew the boys may have been shot dead but for the
director of the garment factory.

The shooting group had taken a 7-year-old boy under wreckages. They
took the boy to Aparan on their knees. After receiving the first
medical aid the boy was taken to a Yerevan hospital where he underwent
an operation. We knew neither his name nor his surname. After
learning that the boy was already safe and sound we hurried to the TV
Station.

At that time it was rumoured that an earthquake had occurred in
Yerevan. Nobody could imagine its consequences. The administration
doubted whether we were still alive as there was no means of
communication then. We were the first to shoot a film about the
earthquake. After getting permission from Moscow, the film was shown
by a Russian informative programme.

Shortly afterwards the dreadful events were televised by an Armenian
TV Channel without mounting.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT STATED THAT "ALL THE POTENTIAL REVOLUTIONISTS ARE POLITICAL BANKRUPTS"

Mediamax
December 6, 2007

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated that
"all the potential revolutionists are political bankrupts".

Mediamax reports that the Armenian President said this, answering
the questions of the readers of "Golos Armenii" newspaper.

"The struggle is not for power, but for the chair of the President. If
the leader of the parliamentary majority wins, we will have a strong
president, who will be able to make decisions and be responsible
for them.

If anyone else wins, the state will get a President with the status
of the English Queen. Read the Constitution: the executive power in
the country belongs to the government. What concerns revolutions,
the parliamentary elections have already answered this question. All
the potential revolutionists are political bankrupts. Our people is
wise and pragmatic. It will not follow babblers and adventurers",
Robert Kocharian stated.