Author: Maghakian Mike

UPCOMING APRIL 14 RALLY MARKED BY ‘UNOFFICIAL’ INVOLVEMENT BY CHP
HabÝb Guler Ankara

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
April 11 2007

Despite announcements from the main opposition Republican People’s
Party (CHP) that it has not been involved in helping to organize the
upcoming April 14 "Cankaya Rally" sponsored by the Ataturk Thought
Association (ADD), serious efforts are being made by the ADD to
encourage participation by CHP members.

While CHP leader Deniz Baykal has opted to take a decidedly background
role in the organization of the Cankaya Rally, Baykal’s first cousin
CHP Denizli deputy Mehmet Uður Neþþar has sent out 23,000 invitations
to the rally. Neþþar, who has reiterated the close ties between the
ADD and the CHP, sent out the invitations to the Cankaya Rally through
90 Internet groups.

The CHP leadership is denying allegations such as those leveled by
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) parliamentary group chairman
Salih Kapusuz that "the CHP is involved as a shield for the ADD."

Instead, while underlining that they are not part of the "anti-AK
Party member becoming president" meeting, the CHP has said openly
that any of their party members who wish should participate.

At the same time, Neþþar sent out an e-mail invitation to thousands of
CHP members titled "Don’t let your children ask you ‘Why weren’t you
there?’" The letter sent out by Neþþar also contained these lines:
"I will march on April 14 at 11.00 in Tandoðan Square, in Ataturk’s
memory. I will do my national duty to save this country from the
approaching nightmare. What are you going to do? Are you going to be
able to say to your grandchildren with pride, years from now, ‘Yes,
I was there.’ Or will you have to bow your head downwhen your children
ask you later ‘Why weren’t you there?’ I am aware of the danger, and
thus I choose to be in Tandoðan Square on April 14. I await you there."

Neþþar, commenting on the e-mail invitation, which went out to
an estimated 23,000, said it called on everyone to be aware and
sensitive to the matters at hand. Neþþar also noted that the CHP had
elected not to participate on an official, institutional level so
as not to give the meeting a "political image." Despite this though,
many CHP deputies and party members are in fact planning on attending
the ADD meeting. Underscoring the ties between the ADD and the CHP,
Neþþar noted that the current head of the ADD in Denizli is a former
CHP executive.

While the ADD is hoping to involve university students in the
upcoming Ankara protest, voices from within the ranks of the ADD are
already rising in protest at some of the methods being used by the
ADD leadership. ADD Þanlýurfa President Sadettin Gursoz said that
he had received faxes from ADD headquarters urging him to support
participation by local university students in the April 14 protests.

Gursoz, however, said that in principle, he was opposed to any such
"encouraged" inclusion and that participation in the meeting had to be
entirely voluntary. Gursoz also noted that while students from Harran
University could attend the Ankara meeting on an individual basis, no
one would be pressed into going. Gursoz also underlined that, as with
Inonu University in Malatya, university vehicles would not be used to
bring the students to Ankara on the day of the protest rally. Said
Gursoz, "There might be some who want to criticize this situation,
but it is just not right for universities to take part in this."

Meanwhile, parties representing socialist and communist stances in the
Turkish political spectrum have also announced that they will not be
at the ADD’s upcoming Cankaya Rally. The Freedom and Solidarity Party
(ODP), the Turkish Communist Party (TKP) and the Labor Party (EMEP)
have all said they will not be in Ankara for the protest. Only the
leftist Workers’ Party (IP) is officially supporting the protest,
though it has expressed reservations about what it characterizes as
gaps in the philosophy backing the rally. Also, any IP participation
on April 14 will take place without IP leader Doðu Perincek, who
will be in Paris on the same day attending a protest against Armenian
allegations of genocide.

–Boundary_(ID_OhbE5f3sdpnP2O7tRCpuHg)- –

INTERNATIONAL KARABAKH FORUM OF WORLD AZERBAIJANIS CONDEMNS ARMENIA’S EFFORTS TO RECONSTRUCT SHUSHA

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
April 11 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend S.Ilhamgizi / The International Karabakh
Forum of World Azerbaijanis condemns the fact that the Armenians
are working out the "general plan" of the occupied Azerbaijani city
of Shusha and are involving an American company in their illegal
activities. The protest statement of the Karabakh Forum says that
the separatists are preparing reconstruction works in connection with
the 15th anniversary of the occupation of Shusha City.

"The USA should ensure the respectful attitude of its companies
towards international law and territorial integrity of states.

Armenia’s actions of destroying monuments and samples of the village
culture and falsifying the history are acts of vandalism," mentioned
by the statement.

The International Karabakh Forum calls on the international community
and co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group to express their attitude
towards these events, and Government of Azerbaijan to take measures
to release occupied territories.

ANCA DOESN’T BELIEVE IN SINCERITY OF DAVID PHILLIPS’ INITIATIVE

Yerkir
11.04.2007 15:44

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – "Here we go again. If there’s one thing we
learned about David Phillips during the past seven years – through
his involvement in the discredited Turkish Armenian Reconciliation
Committee (TARC) enterprise, including the ICTJ study and a variety
of other incarnations – it’s that he will use any means – honest or
dishonest – to prevent U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide,"
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian has said when commenting on
the initiative signed by 53 Nobel Prize winners, who called on Armenia
and Turkey to reconciliation.

"The International Center for Transitional Justice – a group tied
closely with the U.S. State Department. ICTJ was asked by TARC to
prepare a report on the Armenian Genocide. ICTJ asked someone to write
this report. They will not say who. Very likely the U.S. government
was deeply involved. The report concludes that the Armenian Genocide
is a true historical fact.

This is not new. The whole world already knows this. The report
also says that the Armenians have NO rights to reparations under the
Genocide Convention.

This is not true. Clearly, the people behind TARC in the U.S. and
Turkish governments used the ICTJ report to try to create the false
impression that Armenians cannot legally regain their rights," Aram
Hamparian said.

WWF-ARMENIA ANNOUNCES ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM CONTEST ON ‘BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS IN ARMENIA’

Arminfo
2007-04-09 16:40:00

World Wide Fund for Nature Armenian Branch (WWF-Armenia) is pleased to
announce environmental journalism contest on the topic of "Biodiversity
Hotspots in Armenia."

The WWF-Armenia office told ArmInfo that the major threats to
biodiversity in Armenia are: mining, illegal logging; poaching and
illegal wildlife trade; overgrazing; overfishing; infrastructure
development; pollution of rivers and wetlands. These threats lead to
habitat degradation, decline of species populations, and disruption of
ecological processes – all contributing to overall loss of biodiversity
in the region. According to the Ministry of Health, over the past
ten years the suspended materials concentration and the emission
of toxic substances into the atmosphere have increased the number
of patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis. The submitted works
by the journalists will be reviewed and evaluated by the jury based
on the following criteria: presentation and exposure of the topic;
timeliness and sensitivity of the issue (a hot issue); journalistic
professionalism. The winners of the contest will be awarded money
prizes and WWF certificates. Eligible and interested journalists are
kindly requested to submit their works along with CV to WWF-Armenia
office or e-mail to [email protected]. The application
deadline is August 25, 2007.

RUSSIAN FIRST DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA WITH A WORKING VISIT

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.04.2007 17:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Sergey
Ivanov will arrive in Armenia with a working visit April 10-11,
the PanARMENIAN.Net journalist was told in the Press Office of the
RA Government. Sergey Ivanov’s meeting with RA Prime Minister Serzh
Sargsyan is scheduled for April 11. In the framework of Ivanov’s visit
also a meeting is scheduled with RA President Robert Kocharian. The
Russian First Deputy Minister will also visit the secondary school
N21, where study children of Russian servicemen, who serve in the
102nd Russian military base stationed in Armenia.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Armenian MFA delegation to participate in 16th session
of BSECO Foreign Ministers’ Council
09.04.2007 12:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Delegation will participate in the 16th
session of BSECO (Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization) Foreign
Ministers’ Council, which will be held April 19 in Belgrade. The
PanARMENIAN.Net journalist was told in the RA MFA Press Office that
currently consultations are on the way over who will head the
delegation. `Most likely RA Acting Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian or
Deputy Foreign Minister will head the delegation,’ representatives of
MFA said.

Several issues are included in the agenda, particularly the current
stage of cooperation in the framework of BSECO will be discussed, as
well as participants of the session will sum up results of Serbia’s
chairmanship in the organization. At the Foreign Ministers’ Council
session in Belgrade BSECO chairmanship will be passed to Turkey, which
will hold it from May till the end of October 2007.

Delegations from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece,
Georgia, Russia, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine and Serbia will participate
in the session.

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO DISCUSS OSCE REPORTS ON FIRES IN KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.04.2007 15:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The OSCE reports on fires in Nagorno Karabakh and
adjacent territories will be submitted to the UN General Assembly,
Azeri government’s envoy to the UN, Ambassador Agshin Mehdiyev said. He
assured the report will be discussed till end of April in accord with
the fixed terms.

Upon consideration of the document the UN General Assembly will put
forth proposals on the issue.

Mehdiyev also informed that the issue of ‘frozen conflicts’ in GUAM
space will be put for discussion in the UN till the end of the session
fixed for August, APA reports.

ARMENIA’S CHOICE
by Vyacheslav Nikonov, president of the Politika Foundation
Translated by Elena Leonova

Source: Izvestia, April 5, 2007, p. 6
Agency WPS
What the Papers Say Part A (Russia)
April 5, 2007 Thursday

Armenia’s vital elections: maintaining Russia’s influence; Armenian
Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, a true political heavyweight who
held that office for seven years, has died of a sudden heart attack.

Armenia is going into what will be one of the most significant
elections held in the former Soviet Union in 2007.

The sudden death of an Armenian political leader – Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian, a true political heavyweight who held that office
for seven years – is certainly a profound loss for Armenia.

The situation is particularly acute because Margarian, who also led
the ruling Armenian Republican Party (ARP), had his heart attack
in the lead-up to parliamentary and presidential elections. Such
a dramatic turn of events has not only complicated the domestic
political situation in Armenia, but also served to draw attention
to Armenia and the processes under way there. The general public in
Russia clearly fails to appreciate the importance of these processes.

Armenia is going into what will be one of the most significant
elections held in the former Soviet Union in 2007. The outcome of
this election will be very important for Russia.

Armenia is our most reliable partner in the Trans-Caucasus. It is
the only Trans-Caucasus country that hasn’t joined the GUAM alliance
– which is known to be a project aimed at restricting Russia’s
influence in Eurasia. Armenia is one of Russia’s most reliable
allies in the former Soviet Union; it’s a core member of the CIS,
the Euro-Asian Economic Community, and the CIS Collective Security
Treaty Organization. What’s more, it is a sincere partner and ally –
a country where anti-Russian sentiments have never had much public
support. The Armenian diaspora, larger than the actual population
of Armenia, is an influential factor in Russia and many other key
countries – from Iran to the United States.

It’s an open secret that the Trans-Caucasus is becoming a field of
increasing geopolitical rivalry for the world’s leading players. The
United States, which has entrenched itself in Georgia and is building
up its position in Azerbaijan, is becoming a significant factor in
Armenian politics as well. The Trans-Caucasus is gaining importance for
the United States, in light of the long-drawn-out military operation
in Iraq and preparations for other potential military operations
in the Greater Middle East – against Iran, for example (which is
Armenia’s major trade partner). America also considers it important
to promote the interests of its regional allies, primarily Turkey. The
Trans-Caucasus dimension is also clearly increasing in the policies of
the European Union and other European institutions which primarily pay
attention to Georgia, but aren’t ignoring Armenia either. The interests
of Russia and its Western partners aren’t necessarily different,
but they do diverge on the key issue: definitions of policy success
in the former Soviet Union. For Moscow, success means creating a belt
of friendly countries that want closer cooperation with Russia; for
Western countries, success means weakening Russia’s influence in the
CIS and making Russia’s neighbors less inclined to seek integration
with Russia.

In this increasingly complicated situation, it’s very important for
Russia to see certain kinds of political forces in power south of the
Caucasus: forces that welcome constructive cooperation with us. It’s
a dangerous delusion to hope that such forces will win automatically.

Not everything is that simple in Armenian politics.

In a sense, the parliamentary election on May 12 will serve as
primaries for the presidential election. President Robert Kocharian –
a sincere proponent of positive relations with Russia – has served
two terms and cannot seek re-election. The elite and ordinary citizens
alike regard Serge Sarkisian as Kocharian’s successor.

Sarkisian studied philology before the whims of fate made him a
commanding officer in the Karabakh army, and in recent years he has
headed the Defense Ministry and the Security Council. Opinion polls
indicate that most Armenian voters expect Sarkisian to become the
next president. Russia is also satsfied with Sarkisian. A strong but
flexible politician, he has established firm contacts within Russia’s
ruling circles. He is justifiably regarded as a politician who wants to
reinforce cooperation with Moscow. What’s more, the West doesn’t find
him objectionable either. But before Sarkisian can run for president,
the ARP needs to demonstrate its superiority in the parliamentary
election. Sarkisian now leads the ARP.

The election campaign is fast-paced, its outcome is by no means
certain, and the death of Andranik Margarian has added to the suspense
by affecting the configuration of political forces in Armenia.

The ARP won’t find it easy to hold its ground, given the accumulated
weariness of voters, even against a background of rapid economic
growth. It should be acknowledged that to a certain degree, the ARP’s
problems in Yerevan are linked to its support for close partnership
with Russia – due to evident disillusionment with the results of
this partnership.

How can we help Armenia? First of all, by treating our partner
responsibly and attentively, taking note of Armenia’s concerns at
the political level and even the level of daily life. Russia should
uphold the rights of Armenians who are living and working in Russia,
prevent any discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity or citizenship,
and ensure their safety. Ethnic hate crimes must be unequivocally
condemned.

It’s also important to solve the investment problem as soon as
possible, and launch actual production at the Armenian industrial
enterprises which have been acquired by Russian companies as a result
of foreign debt repayments or privatization. Otherwise, this situation
could have a negative political effect as well as a negative economic
effect.

Russia’s move to raise natural gas prices has led to obvious
disillusionment in Armenia. A transition to free-market price formation
was inevitable, of course, but Russia might have considered providing
some compensation to its allies for their financial losses.

This year, for the first time, Russia is allocating funding for
foreign aid; in my view, Armenia should be regarded as one of the
chief recipients of this aid.

If all this is done, we will be helping pro-Russian forces in Armenia –
and thus helping ourselves as well.

And let’s not forget the power of words. Armenians still think well
of Russia, and a great deal depends on the words Russia chooses to use.

FRENCH AND GERMAN COLLEAGUES CONGRATULATED S. SARGSYAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.04.2007 13:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin
has sent a message of congratulations to Serzh Sargsyan on his
appointment as the Prime Minister of Armenia, the RA Government Press
Office reports. Dominique de Villepin’s message in particular says,
" I congratulate you on your appointment as the Prime Minister of
Armenia. I am sure you will strengthen the work of your predecessor and
continue to direct Armenia through the way of economic and political
reforms with the same determination."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also has sent a message of
congratulations. The message says, "Dear Mr. Prime Minister, I
congratulate you on your appointment in this higher post from the
bottom of my heart and wish you all the best and success. I am sure
Armenia will continue reforms in democracy, formation of jural state
and strengthening market economy. The German government will assist
Armenia in this way as much as possible."

RUSSIA IN FIRST PLACE BY AMOUNT OF INVESTMENTS MADE IN ARMENIA IN 2006

Noyan Tapan
Apr 05 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2006, the foreign investment
inflow into the Armenian economy (including those through the state
governance system and the banking system) made 604.3 mln USD, which is
more by 18.9% compared with the previous year. The inflow of direct
investments made 305 mln USD (6.3% growth), of other investments –
289.6 mln USD (31.7% growth), of portfolio investments – 9.7 mln USD
(8.6fold growth).

According to the RA National Statistical Service, in 2006, the
outflow of financial resources from Armenia in the form of investments
(without interest and dividents paid and credits re-paid) amounted
to 27.9 mln USD.

In 2006, foreign investment inflow into the real sector of the
Armenian economy (without those through the state governance system
and the banking system) grew by 10.9% on the previous year and made
444 mln 120.4 thousand USD, with direct investments making 250 mln
727.5 thousand USD (2.6% growth).

The total amount of foreign investments in the real sector (without
privatization resources) grew by 24.8% in 2006 on 2005, the total
amount of direct investments – by 25.4%.

Russia was in first place by the amount of investments made in Armenia
in 2006 – 87 mln 454.1 thousand USD. The amount of investments from
Russia increased 1.3fold compared with 2005 whwn Russia was in third
place by the amount of investments in Armenia. By results of 2006,
Lebanon is in second place by this index (64 mln 753.8 thousand USD –
3.7% growth), and Argentine – in third place (62 mln 603.5 thousand
USD – 5.6fold growth).