Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

TURKEY NEEDS NEW CONSTITUTION, SAYS BABACAN

Dec 2 2008
Turkey

Turkish foreign minister said on Tuesday that Turkey could not proceed
on its way with the current constitution.

Turkish Foreign Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU Talks Ali Babacan
arrived in the Belgian capital of Brussels to attend the NATO foreign
ministers’ meeting.

Holding a press conference in Brussels, Babacan said Georgian-Russian
relations after the recent clashes in Georgia as well as NATO
membership processes of Georgia and Ukraine would be on the agenda
of the two-day meeting.

Commenting on Turkey’s EU negotiation process, Babacan said chapters
on the "free movement of capital" and "information society & media"
were expected to be opened to negotiation during France’s rotating
presidency of the EU.

"Our reform process does not depend on the opening or closure of
chapters," Babacan said, stating that reforms improving the life
standards of the public would be implemented step by step.

Babacan said there were currently 30 draft laws on EU, all waiting
to be discussed by the Turkish parliament.

Babacan also said that the EU process was "essential" for the Turkish
economy and macro-economic stability. "EU reforms are the guarantee
of Turkey’s long-term political stability," he said.

Upon a question on the studies for the preparation of a civil
constitution, Babacan said that Turkey needed a comprehensive
constitutional amendment.

"This is the truth and we should accept it. Turkey cannot proceed on
its way forever with the current constitution. If we try to continue,
there will be frequent accidents and problems," he said.

Commenting on the rising tension between India and Pakistan after
the recent terrorist attacks as well, Babacan said "more attention
should be paid" to the relations between the two countries in the
upcoming period.

Following the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting, Babacan is expected
to meet with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn.

Babacan, who will later proceed to the Finnish capital of Helsinki
to attend the ministerial meeting of the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), will also hold separate talks with
his Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts.

111TH ANNIVERSARY OF MARSHAL BAGHRAMYAN’S BIRTHDAY

Panorama.am
15:49 02/12/2008

Today 111th anniversary of Marshal Baghramyan’s birthday has been
celebrated in Yerevan. Baghramyan’s memory has been commemorated by
the veterans, military officers, officers of Monte Melqonyan College
who put wreath under his monument.

Arthur Baghramyan, the commander of Marshal Baghramyan military unit of
the Defense Ministry said that Baghramyan’s memory is inseparable from
our past and present; he is a moral compass for future generations. "It
would not be exaggerated if we say that Baghramyan devoted his life
to his country and officers. He was awarded 50 medals," he said.

President of Armenia met with CSTO Defense Ministers

armradio.am
28.11.2008 13:41

President Serzh Sargsyan today received the Defense Ministers of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states, who are
in Armenia to participate in the sitting of the Council of Defense
Ministers of CSTO countries. CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha
was present at the meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting the CSTO Defense Ministers
congratulated the President of Armenia, President of the Armenian Chess
Federation, Serzh Sargsyan, on the occasion of the brilliant victory of
the Armenian chess team.

The President of Armenia said that as head of the country presiding
over the CSTO he is satisfied with the level of cooperation within the
framework of the organization.

Prioritizing the military-political and military-technical cooperation,
reinforcement of the military component of the collective security,
President Sargsyan attached importance to making full and effective use
of the existing potential. According to Serzh Sargsyan, the
military-political situation in the region requires serious
coordination of efforts and raise of the level of cooperation.

The President said he intends to discuss those issues with his
counterparts during the sitting of the Council of Heads of State
expected in December.

CSTO Defense Ministers meet in Armenia

armradio.am
28.11.2008 17:33

The sitting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the member states of
the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) took place in
Yerevan today. The participants signed an agreement on bilateral
cooperation.

According to the Defense Minister of the Russian Federation, Anatoly
Serdyukov, the document will provide an opportunity to raise the level
of military preparation of the member states.

The issue of creating a `Common anti-aircraft defense system’ was
discussed. It has been raised many times, but has remained unsettled.
The Russian Federation wants the `Common anti-aircraft defense system’
to be in Russia. Perhaps this is the reason why the issue has not yet
been solved. The question has long been on the CSTO agenda.

The Defense Minister of Armenia, Seyran Ohanyan, informed that during
today’s sitting the Defense Ministers came to the conclusion to
instruct the coordinating committee to discuss a number of issues,
which are peculiar to every region to be able to make a decision later.’

During the meeting of the OSCE Foreign Ministers in Helsinki on
December 4 the participants will discuss Russia’s new initiative of
preparing a new security agreement of Europe.

Secertary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
Nikolay Bordyuzha informed that the CSTO member states have approved
this
initiative of the Russian President: `High level consultations
were held recently on the initiative of preparing a new security
agreement in Europe. All Russia’s partners, the CSTO member states have
approved the idea and agreed to work together to develop it.’

NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT TO BE REGULATED IN HAGUE COURT

Panorama.am
15:10 27/11/2008

"Five years ago Armenian Liberal Democratic Party (ALDP) made
announcements stating that OSCE Minsk group co-chairing countries
follow their own interests and that we see no future in this respect,
especially they are not authorized to make compulsory decisions,"
says Harutyun Arakelyan of ALDP, answering to Panorama.am reporter’s
question whether he shares the opinion of ALDP member Samvel Babayan
who has criticized Moscow declaration on NKR conflict.

ALDP highly recommends to raise the question in Hague international
court. "In 1988-94 genocide was organized in the territory of
Azerbaijan by the initiative of Azeri authorities and we insist on
the point that NKR conflict should be solved in Hague court. We do
have enough facts to gain the case in Hague and we think that those
territories should be compensation for genocide," says H. Arakelyan.

EBRD FORECASTS PRECIPITOUS SLOWDOWN IN ECONOMIC GROWTH IN 2009

ARKA
Nov 26, 2008

YEREVAN, November 26. /ARKA/. European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development forecasts that economic growth in the EBRD-embraced
countries would precipitously slow down in 2009.

In its report, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
urges those countries where it sends its investments to make every
effort to support their banking system, since now everything will
depend on the situation in region’s banking system.

The EBRD predicts growth slowdown to 6.3% (7.5% in 2007) and further
three-percent slowdown in 2009.

Erik Berglöf, the bank’s chief economist, said that continuing
economic growth at the initial stage of the crisis showed how
successful the reforms were.

But now the region found itself in more complicated foreign economic
situation.

Bergl öf thinks that transition economies will go through new trials,
such as outflow of capital from developing markets and insufficient
readiness for risks and recession in member countries of Organisation
for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The expert also thinks that quick slowdown will weaken impacts of
inflation factors.

He said that developed and transition countries should coordinate
their stabilizing measures.

Berglöf said that considerable reduction of outside financing may
make impact the slow down as well.

He said that some countries suffer from payment balance deficit ami
d accumulating foreign debt.

As a result, these countries may face considerable output reduction,
if inflows of capital reduce.

The report points out that deterioration of the situation in financing
can lead to decline in credit expansion.

This can have devastating consequences on transition economies.

The report also points out certain factors that can help the region to
avoid such a negative scenario or at least resist heavy consequences.

Fore example, state debt reduction that began in 2000 will enable
governments to make large interventions more flexible.

The authors of the report say that in recent years, investment
environment improved, and flexibility of labor market will make it
possible to go out of recession under growth resumption.

The report says market reforms were being steadily implemented in
Southeast Europe, some CIS countries and Mongolia in the past year.

Some countries such as Belarus and Turkmenistan singled out for
sluggish reformation have taken positive steps for opening markets
and lowering the role of the state.

Considerable progress is seen in Balkan countries seeking EU
membership.

Taking into account close connection between reforms and economic
growth, the EBRD experts believe that the region can stand the
short-term market volatility and see prospects of long-term
growth.

–Boundary_(ID_jAth3zgzJMlYIACs XvOF0w)–

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT HAILS STEPS FOR TURKISH-ARMENIAN RECONCILIATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.11.2008 15:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ European Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee
member and the accompanying delegation held a news conference in
Ankara after the reception hosted in their honor.

MEP Hannes Swoboda said Tuesday that they observe a halt in the
reform process in Turkey. Speaking at the news conference Swoboda
said they have a very clear message for Turkey: "Please, continue
the reform process".

If Turkey truly wants to become an EU member, it should carry on the
reforms with determination, said Swoboda.

He praised Turkey’s foreign policy and the steps taken for
normalization of relations with Armenia.

Also speaking at the press conference, EP’s Turkey rapporteur Ria
Oomen Ruijten said she will submit the first draft of the Turkey
report to the EP next week and it will be open to debate next Tuesday.

She said the report is well balanced and unbiased adding that it
could be more critical in certain areas compared to past, while more
positive in the area of foreign relations. Rujiten also said there
is a halt in the reform process and noted that political reforms are
more important than opening of the chapters.

She added that with political reforms she meant reforms about
individual, cultural and constitutional rights and also the judicial
reform, the Anatolian news agency reports

ARMENIANS FILMS IN "NEVSKI BLAGOVEST" FILM FESTIVAL

Panorama.am
20:57 25/11/2008

Three Armenian films are presented in "Nevski Blagovest" film festival
by Armenian Apostolic Church. The festival has been opened in Saint
Petersburg on 24 November.

During a week films by Christian community of Russia will be
shown. Round table meetings, conferences, exhibition will be organized
in the frames of the festival.

40 films from 11 countries are presented, in particular from Armenia,
Georgia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Belarus, Bulgaria, Serbia and
Australia.

TURKEY, ARMENIA DISCUSS GENOCIDE, MOVE TO OPEN BORDER (UPDATE2)
By Mark Bentley and Firat Kayakiran

Bloomberg
Nov 24 2008

Nov. 24 (Bloomberg) — Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian
said he saw no barriers to normalizing relations with Turkey before
talks with counterpart Ali Babacan.

The two men will meet in Istanbul tonight to discuss re- establishing
trade and diplomatic ties, as well as Armenian allegations of genocide
in 1915 by Turks against 1.5 million of its people. A border between
the two countries has remained closed since 1993.

"I don’t think there are any real obstacles to the normalization
of ties," Nalbandian told a news conference in Turkey’s largest
city. "We are ready to start diplomatic relations with Turkey without
any preconditions. This includes opening borders."

The U.S. and the European Union have welcomed closer contacts between
the two countries as a means to enhance political stability in a
region that includes Russia and Georgia, which fought a five-day war
in August over the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

Turkey shut the border to protest Armenia’s military incursion
into Nagorno-Karabakh, a majority-Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan
that declared independence in 1992. Turkey has called on Armenia to
resolve the dispute with Azerbaijan as a pre- condition for re-opening
the border.

Today’s initiative follows a trip by Turkish President Abdullah Gul to
the Armenian capital Yerevan two months ago, when he met with President
Serzh Sargsyan on the sidelines of a World Cup soccer qualifier. It
was the first visit to Armenia by a Turkish head of state. Gul said the
alleged genocide, denied by Turkey, wasn’t discussed during the trip.

Sargsyan has accepted an invitation by Gul to travel to Turkey next
October to watch the return leg between the two teams in World Cup
Group 5, Nalbandian said.

Nalbandian will meet with Babacan at 7 p.m. local time. The two leaders
won’t hold a joint news conference, the Turkish foreign ministry’s
press office said.

Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
Armenians won’t forget; neither should the world
November 23, 2008

I am an orchardist. I hope my new orchard fares better than my previous
efforts at growing fruit trees. Maybe they will, because I’m not actually
growing them. They aren’t even mine, when you get down to it.

They’re mine in name only, thanks to the generosity of Dr. Garabed Fattal
and his fellow parishioners at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in
Binghamton.
The trees, 10 of them, are planted somewhere in Armenia, which means I’ll
probably never get to see them. But I find comfort in knowing that they are
there and might someday mature and help beautify a land that has seen more
than its share of abuse.
Armenia was the first Christian state (you could look it up) which may
account for the fact that throughout history it has endured more than its
share of persecution. First known as Uratu, it came into existence as a
sixth century B.C. Persian province. It was later conquered by Alexander the
Great and subsequently by Byzantines, Huns, Khazars, Arabs and Turks.
For a brief period during the ninth to 14th centuries A.D., the Armenians
enjoyed independence, having divided into Little Armenia and Greater
Armenia. Then, in 1375, the Mamelukes conquered Little Armenia, and a decade
later Tamerlane took Greater Armenia and slaughtered a large part of its
population in the process. And so it went.
The trees I mentioned earlier were the church members’ way of thanking me
for writing about the 20th century Armenian genocide, which actually had its
roots in the 1890s but reached its peak in 1915. That was in the early days
of World War I, when the Ottoman Turks, allied with Germany, accused Armenia
of helping Russia.
Some 2 million Armenians were killed or driven into exile to Syria, Lebanon
and other Middle Eastern countries.
But not according to the Turks. They denied it then, despite eyewitness
accounts of Europeans and others, and they continue to deny it, officially,
to this day. And they are getting away with it, politically, in large part
because of Turkey’s strategic location.
Successive American administrations have gone along with the fiction,
especially during the Cold War and the Cool War that has followed the
dissolution of the People’s Paradise, otherwise known as the Soviet Union.
Even despite that accommodation, Turkey denied United States and other
coalition forces access to Iraq through its territory at the start of the
Second Bush Oil War. The United States, on the other hand, did not intervene
when Turkish forces subsequently attacked Kurds inside Iraq.
The inconsistencies hardly end there. There are countries in Europe where
you can be imprisoned for denying the World War II Holocaust that took the
lives of an estimated 6 million, Jews, gypsies and others. In this country,
we settle for pariahhood.
But in Turkey you can be jailed or worse, killed, for claiming publicly that
the Armenian genocide occurred.
And in American Academia, including Binghamton University, where political
correctness is the order of the day, the welcome mat is out to all things
Turkish, no questions asked.
Go figure.