Author: Madatian Greg

PRIME MINISTER OF TURKEY AVOIDS ANSWERING QUESTIONS ON REGULATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 12, 2008

MUNICH, FEBRUARY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. On February 9-10 Vardan Oskanian,
the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, took part in the 44th
Munich Conference on Security Policy.

The conference was presided over by Horst Teltschik, the former
National Security Adviser of Germany. Leaders of different countries,
40 Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence, about 500 guests, that
is to say, mass media, research centers, experts of international
relations, who discussed the existing and future security challenges
in a straightforward atmosphere, were present at the conference.

Recep Taiip Erdogan, the Prime Minister of Turkey, delivered a
speech on the foreign policy and security of Turkey under the main
title of the conference: "The world in chaos – change of forces –
lack of strategies".

After his speech Vardan Oskanian made commentaries and touched upon
the viewpoints voiced by Prime Minister Erdogan with regard to Turkey’s
being a democratic and main strategic performer contributing to peace
and stability in the regions and beyond its borders.

Taking into consideration the fact that the Prime Minister of Turkey
is proud of the democratization process and the strategic role of
Turkey in establishing peace and stability both in the region and
beyond its borders, Vardan Oskanian said: "Mr. Prime Minister, you
also affirmed your distinct position concerning becoming a full and
equal member of the European Union and we in Armenia are for that. We
want to have that kind of neighbor.

However, as you know, at present, the border between our countries is
closed by Turkey. We have often raised this question mentioning that
we would like to have normal relations with Turkey: open borders and
diplomatic relations.

Armenians would like to be direct beneficiaries of the vision
introduced by you today. However, we heard you distincly and clearly
repeating the two main motives or excuses for keeping the border
closed. The first of the voiced reasons is Armenia’s involvement in
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the second is the fact that Armenia
is after the recognition of the Genocide.

However, the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is proceeding between Armenians
and Azerbaijanis and the recognition of the Genocide is our moral and
historical obligation. Mr. Prime Minister, our countries are not at
war at this moment and under these circumstances, when we are not at
war, are the reasons you brought enough to justify the fact that the
borders between our countries is closed?

You can help us to quickly regulate the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
with your positive involvement. The establishment of normal relations,
the opening of borders and the establishment of diplomatic relations
will allow us to discuss the differences of our approaches with regard
to the Genocide problem.

Interesting processes are proceeding and Turkey can become a natural
bridge between the Caucasus and the European Union and NATO. And I
wonder, do not you think that with a more positive involvement in the
region, with the establishment of equal and neutral relations with
everybody Turkey will play a more positive role in the regulation
of our relations with regard to the abolition of the obstacles you
mentioned?"

The Prime Minister of Turkey did not answer the questions of
Vardan Oskanian concerning the perspectives of the regulation of
the geopolitical situation and relations. Instead he repeated the
suggestion on creating a commission of historians and said that the
1915 massacres have not been historically proved, on the one hand
suggesting historians and archeologists studying the problem, on the
other hand rejecting the possibility that the Genocide is a part of
the Turkish culture.

According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the Press
and Information Department of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
within the frameworks of the conference Vardan Oskanian had bilateral
meetings with Petras Vaitiekunas, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Lithuania, and Volker Stanzel, the political director of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of Germany.

MILLI MEDJLIS INVESTIGATING OCCUPATION OF AZERBAIJAN’S HISTORICAL LANDS BY ARMENIANS

Today
/43055.html
Feb 11 2008
Azerbaijan

Milli Medjlis will undertake a political decision on the Armenian
state, which emerged on the historical lands of Azerbaijan.

The due information has been provided by vice speaker of Azerbaijani
Parliament Bahar Muradova, Novosti-Azerbaijan reports.

"This is not an issue of the return of the historical lands of
Azerbaijan, including Yerevan (Irevan). We aim to draw attention of
the world community to the previous establishment of the Armenian
state on the historical lands of Azerbaijan", Muradova noted.

She said the commission created under Milli Medjlis investigates
issues and will reveal documents, proving that these lands belonged
to Azerbaijanis and were occupied by Armenians and will undertake a
due decision on the said issue.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Feb 9 2008

US senator: Passage of Armenian Genocide resolution to harm
US-Turkish relations

[ 09 Feb 2008 14:47 ]

Washington. Husniyye Hasanova-APA. The passage of Armenian Genocide
resolution (H.Res. 106) may harm US-Turkey relations and erode the US
positions in Middle East and Central Asia, said United States Senator
Saxby Chambliss of Georgia in his reply to a protest letter send by
an Azerbaijani through United States Azeris Network (USAN).

The senator replied that Resolution 106 will do nothing to improve
Turkish-Armenian relations.
According to him, Turkey offered his hand to the United States in
Iraq operation and counter-terrorism. He said the two countries-
Turkey and the United States – need to continue cooperation in the
strategic issues.

TO VIMA, Greece
Feb 8 2008

Turkey’s full EU membership is Greece’s interests

Following the example of Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy, [former
Greek Prime Minister] Kostas Simitis announced recently that he now
favours a special relationship between Turkey and the European Union
rather than full membership. This has effectively, and without any
warning, completely overturned the policy that he had so pressingly
promoted in the past. It was the policy that led to the improvement
of our relations with Ankara and allowed Cyprus to join the EU as a
member.

Is there any new or urgent development that can explain Simitis’s
sudden change of heart? Turkey still occupies the same geographical
position since the time (in the 1950s) when all the Western countries
invited it to join a number of European organizations, such as NATO,
the OSCE and the Council of Europe. Moreover, the West approved of
the Treaty of Association between the EU and Turkey, which recognized
the latter’s right for full membership and this ultimately led to its
reward in Helsinki.

Turkey’s demography has not changed either. The phenomenon of Turkish
emigrants is nothing new. It is not now that the Turks became Muslim.
When negotiations for membership began, everybody knew about the
Armenian genocide, the invasion of Cyprus, the problems with the
Kurds and the issue of the Aegean. The only thing that has changed
over recent years is that (thanks to a large extent to Europe) Turkey
is now a more democratic country, and at the same one where the
influence of the military has been reduced.

Something, however, has changed in Europe and, mainly, in France.
Sarkozy wanted to secure the votes of the extreme right-wing and the
latter did not want the Turks, whom it described as "Asians with a
foreign religion." Sarkozy managed to win their votes and he has to
thank the extreme right-wing for having played a major role in his
success. To achieve this, however, the French President had to give
in to some of their despicable demands, including measures against
immigrants and introducing so-called "security" measures.

Now that his popularity has begun to plummet, Sarkozy has been given
yet another reason to kick the Turks out of Europe. To a large
extent, the same reasons apply in the case of Merkel. Thus, there is
a need to change our own stance as well. Turkey’s EU membership is a
very difficult objective and demands many years of negotiations and
vast efforts. It will take many more years than the duration of the
political life of either Sarkozy or Merkel. Although this may still
change, negotiations between the EU and Ankara have not been
interrupted despite Ankara’s – allegedly temporary – inability to
move forward with its programme of modernization and democratization,
at least to the desired extent. All the negotiating chapters
currently under discussion do not provide for full membership, while
the remaining chapters are on hold.

It is natural for the Greek side to want to protect its interests,
whether Turkey moves towards full membership or a special
relationship. It should be said, however, that this special
relationship is largely a myth. This relationship already exists and
includes a customs union. In the future it will encompass political
cooperation although, through NATO and the wider network of
cooperation between Western countries, to a large degree such
cooperation already exists. If there is something missing, this is
joint responsibility and the rules of the game for reaching a
consensus, which at the moment can only be found among full EU
members, despite the occasional difficulties. For all the above
reasons, Turkey’s full EU membership is in the interests of Greece.

The Simitis statement gave a boost to many "Turk haters," although
they are the same persons that, until recently, were among his bitter
enemies. Other anti-Simitis groups are trying to detect self-centred
personal motives behind Simitis’s statement, rather than trying to
find the reasons why he changed his mind. If I were in Simitis’s
shoes – and I am not – all the above would have been a source of
concern. I would be even more concerned by the doubts expressed by
all those that, until now, were among the staunchest supporters of
his policies.

[translaed from Greek]

Jose Lello: NATO advocates a peaceful solution for the unresolved
conflicts

armradio.am
09.02.2008 13:09

`Finding a solution to the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as
other territorial conflicts in the South Caucasus, is vital to the
security, stability and economic growth of the region. The Alliance has
repeatedly expressed its support for the independence, sovereignty and
territorial integrity of the countries in the South Caucasus. But it
has to be stressed that the mandate to resolve the regional conflicts
rests with other international organisations, such as the OSCE and the
UN. NATO advocates a peaceful solution for the unresolved conflicts but
does not seek to assume a direct role in finding them,’ President of
the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Jose Lello said in an interview with
Trend agency.

`The NATO PA, for its part, has kept the issue of the unresolved
conflicts in the South Caucasus, and in particular the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, on its agenda and is determined to continue acting as a forum
for all relevant parties to exchange views. We will also work to
facilitate confidence- and consensus-building measures. We are
concerned with the rise of military budgets in the region and strongly
plead against a military solution to the conflict that could only lead
to further instability,’ Jose Lello said.

RUSSIA, ARMENIA MUST DEVELOP NOT JUST TRADE, BUT CULTURAL …

Interfax
Russia & CIS Presidential Bulletin
February 6, 2008

Russia and Armenia must develop their relations not only in the
trade and economic sectors, Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov
said at a meeting with Armenian President Robert Kocharian in Yerevan
on Wednesday.

"I would like to support Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan,
who said that our nations are getting closer. We must live not just
on trade, we must develop cultural and educational relations," Zubkov
said at talks with Kocharian.

"The Russian people do like Armenians a lot, we are going to develop
human contacts, and there is a lot that can be done about this.

we are very positive and we will develop our relations," the Russian
prime minister said.

As far as trade and the economy are concerned, the figures are quite
good, he said. "In the near future, we will make sure trade turnover
reaches $1 billion," Zubkov said.

"Chances are good [for Armenia] in securing contracts in building
Olympic facilities in Sochi," he said. "We would like to ask you to
make sure that your companies work well on this," Zubkov said.

Russia and Armenia must achieve trade turnover of at least $1 billion
turnover, the Russian prime minister said.

"$1 billion is the least we achieve," Zubkov said.

He relayed to Sargsyan President Vladimir Putin’s greetings and thanked
him on behalf of the Russian president for the dynamic development
of relations between the two countries. "The president wished you to
keep relations as they are and make them even better," Zubkov said.

Sargsyan, for his part, agreed that the two countries have a good
chances to develop their relations. Trade in 2007 soared 65%, though
it has yet to hit the $1-billion mark.

Trade between Armenia and Russia has reached $700 million, Sargsyan
said later at a press conference after the talks. "Soon we will pass
the threshold of one billion," he said.

"We talked with Mr. Zubkov about investment into Armenia," the Armenian
Prime Minister said.

It was noted at the meeting that the main area of Russian-Armenian
relations is transport, he said. An agreement has been signed on
a concession of the Armenian railways to the Russian railways,
Sargsyan said.

"This signing will affect the entire range of Armenian-Russian
relations, primarily, construction ahead of the Sochi Olympics,"
the Armenian Prime Minister said.

"Armenia is interested in friendship with Russia. And Russian capital
feels comfortable in Armenia," Sargsyan said. "We will continue to
strengthen our relations further," he added.

"We must also develop and expand our cultural ties, which requires
taking care of today’s relations," the Armenian Prime Minister said.

TURKEY CRAFTS LAW TO RETURN PROPERTY CONFISCATED FROM RELIGIOUS MINORITIES
By Selcan Hacaoglu, Associated Press Writer

The Associated Press
February 7, 2008 Thursday 5:13 PM GMT
Ankara Turkey

Turkey’s parliament is considering a law that would allow properties
confiscated by the state to be returned to Christian and Jewish
minority foundations.

The reform appears designed to meet conditions set by the European
Union for Turkey’s membership in the bloc, but critics say the
measure would not go far enough. Parliament is expected to vote as
soon as next week on returning property to religious minorities,
and the ruling party of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has the
majority required to approve the law.

Parliament first approved it in November 2006. But the president
at the time, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, was a secularist who was often at
odds with Erdogan’s Islamic-rooted government, and he vetoed it. The
country’s population of 70 million, mostly Muslim, includes 65,000
Armenian Orthodox Christians, 23,000 Jews, and fewer than 2,500 Greek
Orthodox Christians.

The law would allow foundations to recover confiscated properties,
but it was not clear if they would be allowed to reclaim property that
has been sold or whether they would be compensated for the loss of
such properties. President Abdullah Gul, a close associate of Erdogan,
is expected to approve the measure.

The Istanbul-based Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation, an
independent research center known as TESEV, predicted that Turkey would
face more criticism from Europe if the law "does not ensure the return
or indemnification of the seized assets of non-Muslim foundations."

Religious minorities have often complained of discrimination in Turkey,
which has a history of conflict with Greece, which is predominantly
Christian, and with Armenians, another mostly Christian group. Many
Armenians accuse Turkish authorities of trying to exterminate them
early in the last century, but Turkey says mass killings at that
time were the result of the chaos of war, rather than a systematic
campaign of genocide.

The law allows foundations to reclaim properties, including churches,
school buildings and orphanages, that are registered under the names of
saints. The law does not address some types of confiscated properties,
such as cemeteries or minority school properties.

The proposed bill said authorities shall consider "the international
principle of reciprocity" in implementing it, in an apparent reference
to Turkish demands that similar measures are implemented in Greece
to expand rights of the ethnic Turkish minority there.

Luiz Bakar, the spokeswoman for the Armenian Patriarchate, an
Orthodox Christian group based in Istanbul, expressed concern over
uncertainities about how the law would be implemented.

"We are ethnic Armenians, but we are Turkish citizens, we are not
foreigners. So, applying the principle of reciprocity to us would
amount to discrimination," Bakar said.

"The inclusion of this provision in the draft law shows that the
state is still not regarding non-Muslim citizens as equal citizens,"
the TESEV report said.

Turkey seized some properties owned by minority foundations in 1974
around the time of a Turkish invasion of the island of Cyprus that
followed a coup attempt by supporters of union with Greece.

THREE TRADITIONAL ARMENIAN PARTIES ISSUE JOINT STATEMENT

Yerkir
06.02.2008 14:16

Yerevan (Yerkir) – The three tradition Armenian political parties –
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the Ramkavar Azatakan Party
and the Social Democrat Hnchak Party – have issued a joint statement.

The call says in parts: The Artsakh Self-determination movement began
on February 20, 1988, and Azerbaijan responded with massacres in
Sumgait, Baku and Kirovabad to peaceful demonstrations. The rightful
fight, at the expense of sacrifices by thousands of Armenians,
resulted in a victory and today’s Nagorno Karabakh Republic. But
Azerbaijan continues its anti-Armenian crimes and policies.

The Bureau of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the Central Board
of the Ramkavar Azatakan Party, and the Central Board of the Social
Democrat Hnchak Party have resolved to mark the 20th anniversary of
the Artsakh movement jointly in the Homeland and in the Diaspora, and
to jointly protest against the anti-Armenian crimes and policies, and
to jointly raise the issue of the rights of Armenians before Turkey.

Twenty years after the commencement of the Artsakh movement,
we now face new challenges. The legal recognition of the factual
liberation of Artsakh, the protection of Artsakh’s current borders,
the resettlement of the liberated territories are the priorities
that all the Armenian should unite for. A secure and strong Artsakh
is essential for Armenia’s existence.

Another example of a pan-Armenian cooperation is the issue of
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by
Turkey. There are serious achievements today thanks to the joint
efforts.

We are calling on all Armenians:

To announce 2008 the year of the 20th anniversary of the Artsakh
movement and jointly celebrate it;

Join efforts for an international recognition of the Armenian Genocide
until the Republic of Turkey recognizes it and assumes full reparation;

Announce February 28 a day symbolizing the massacres of Sumgait and
Baku and inform the international community and world countries of
all criminal policies carried out by current and former governments
of Azerbaijan; and

Do whatever possible to support the development and strengthening of
the Armenia-Artsakh government.

PROVIDES ASYMMETRICAL MILITARY ASSISTANCE

KarabakhOpen
05-02-2008 14:06:07

Spending Plan Calls for $24 Million in Economic Aid to Armenia,
Washington, DC – Given Armenia’s support in the global war against
terrorism as well as the ongoing attempts by Turkey and Azerbaijan
to isolate Armenia, the Armenian Assembly of America today expressed
its opposition to the Administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Budget.

As in years past, the Budget proposal calls for asymmetrical military
assistance to Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Administration’s spending
plan recommends $3 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to
both countries, but Azerbaijan is slated to receive $600,000 more
than Armenia ($300,000) in Military Education and Training (IMET)
assistance.

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev recently proclaimed that "Armenia
did not win the war. The war is not over. Only the first stage of the
war has been completed." He added that Nagorno Karabakh will never
be independent.

"Given Azerbaijan’s increased war rhetoric, I have strong concerns
with giving any military aid to Azerbaijan, and we definitely should
not give them more than we’re providing Armenia," stated Armenian
Caucus Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI).

"I will work with my colleagues to ensure that Armenia has the
resources needed to continue to strengthen its democracy as well as
ensure its security," continued Knollenberg.

The FY 2009 Budget also calls for $24 million in economic assistance
to Armenia, the lowest request to date made by the Administration. The
figure represents $34 million less than what Congress approved last
year, and $11 million less than the Administration’s request in
FY 2008.

Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny echoed Congressman
Knollenberg’s concerns, stating: "President Bush missed an important
opportunity to demonstrate that his Administration is serious about a
policy of regional cooperation and economic integration in the region."

"Azerbaijan’s continued threats to resume war, undermines
U.S. objectives in the region and I am confident that Congress will
reject this approach," Ardouny added. "In a budget that calls for
over $39 billion in the International Affairs account, $24 million
for Armenia is woefully inadequate. Rather than reduce funding to
Armenia, we urge the Administration to work with Congress to end the
dual blockades imposed upon her by Turkey and Azerbaijan."

Today’s announcement is the first step in a lengthy budget process. The
next step is for the House and Senate to review the Administration’s
request through committee hearings.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

SERZH SARGSYAN ABOUT ARMENIAN THIRD PRESIDENT

Panorama.am
20:24 04/02/2008

"Our project is not a pre electoral promise, but numbers, real data
which we got from calculations," said Serzh Sargsyan in the meeting
with the people from Nor Nork. He said that they over exceeded the
budget by 2 billion in 2008.

Serzh Sargsyan said that the president’s authorizations are limited
according to the new constitution, thus Armenia needs a leader,
a responsible leader who could carry out the work and be account to
the nation. The new president should know country’s problems.

"The new president should have a past history in the executive body
of RA. He should give lessons taking from his past not talk from
platforms," he said.

Sargsyan added that asking for a vote from people is not a begging.