Author: Nalbandian Albert

The Nation, Pakistan
Sept 8 2008

Gul upbeat after Armenia visit

ANKARA 2008 (AFP) – Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul returned from
Armenia with hopes of normalising troubled ties as Turkish newspapers
Sunday warned against squandering the opportunity presented by his
historic visit.

Gul became the first Turkish leader to visit Armenia when he flew to
Yerevan Saturday for a football match and talks with his Armenian
counterpart Serzh Sarkisian from which both leaders emerged with
pledges to overcome a history of enmity.

Speaking to reporters on his return flight, Gul sounded upbeat about a
possible breakthrough if the two estranged neighbours managed to build
up on his trip.

`I believe my visit has demolished a psychological barrier in the
Caucasus,’ Gul was quoted by the Anatolia news agency as saying. `If
this climate continues, everything will move forward and normalise.’

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic ties and their border has been
closed for more than a decade. Their relationship has been taken
hostage by deep differences over the World War I massacres of
Armenians under the Ottoman Empire, the predecessor of Turkey.

Armenians say Ottoman Turks systematically killed up to 1.5 million of
their people between 1915 and 1917 as their empire fell apart, a claim
supported by several other countries.

Turkey rejects the genocide label and argues that 300,000-500,000
Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife when
Armenians took up arms for independence in eastern Anatolia and sided
with invading Russian troops.

But Gul said neither the dispute nor the closed border figured in his
meeting with Sarkisian, in a sign that the two leaders were careful to
avoid contentious issues. He said his Armenian host had made no
reference to `the so-called genocide claims’.

Analysts underlined that the visit would not be enough to solve the
deep-rooted problems between the two nations, but would serve to
accelerate efforts for reconciliation.

Gul’s visit is a `gesture that will leave its mark on people from both
sides. It will strengthen the desire to overcome problems and double
efforts on both sides for a creative solution,’ foreign policy
commentator Ferai Tinc wrote in the mass-circulation Hurriyet
newspaper.

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Sept 6 2008

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES EU TIES, CYPRUS, CAUCASUS WITH EU’S REHN

Avignon, 5 September: The Turkish foreign minister met a European
commissioner in Avignon, France on Friday [5 September].

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ali Babacan had a meeting with European
Commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn on the sidelines of a European
Union (EU) foreign ministers’ meeting in Avignon.

Babacan, who is also Turkey’s chief negotiator for the EU, and Rehn
discussed Caucasus crisis, full membership negotiations between Turkey
and the EU, and Cyprus problem.

During the meeting, Rehn appreciated Turkey’s policy in its region and
Babacan briefed Rehn about recent visits of Turkish officials to
Tbilisi and Moscow, and the visits of the officials of those countries
to Turkey.

Rehn welcomed Turkey’s "Caucasus Stability & Cooperation Platform"
proposal.

Also, Rehn expressed the union’s expectations from Turkey about some
chapter headings the EU wanted to open negotiations with
Turkey. Babacan informed Rehn about Turkey’s endeavours and reforms
planned to be made after the parliament re-opened on October 1st.

Rehn said that the European Commission was preparing the annual
progress report for Turkey which would be made public in November,
whereas Babacan said that the report should be encouraging.

On Cyprus, Babacan said that Turkey would maintain its constructive
attitude and support to Cyprus talks to be launched between leaders of
the two communities in the island.

Babacan asked the EU to support President Mehmet Ali Talat of the
[self-declared] Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and have
talks with him.

Also, the European commissioner expressed EU’s pleasure about the
visit Turkish President Abdullah Gul will pay to Yerevan, Armenia on
Saturday.

Turkish Press
Sept 6 2008

Turkish president hopes Armenia visit will mend strained ties

Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul said Saturday he hoped his historic
Armenia trip would pave the way for closer ties between the two
neighbours with a long history of animosity over Ottoman Empire
massacres.

"It is my wish that this match will help lift the barriers dividing
two people who share a common history and will contribute to regional
friendship and peace," Gul said before leaving for Yerevan where he
will watch Turkey and Armenia play in a World Cup football qualifier
match.

CSTO FOREIGN MINISTERS MAKE STATEMENT ON NECESSITY OF FURTHER MAINTENANCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF OFFENSIVE DISARMAMENT

ArmInfo
2008-09-05 13:18:00

ArmInfo. CSTO Foreign Ministers made a statement on necessity of
further maintenance and development of offensive disarmament, CSTO
Information Department Adviser Vitaly Strugovec told ArmInfo. The
statement says that Foreign Ministers of CSTO signatory-states attach
a great importance to further activation and deepening of partnership
within CSTO to foster global security and strategic stability, jointly
counterpart global challenges including international terrorism and
dissemination of mass destruction weapons.

‘We proceed from the necessity of maintaining and developing the
key offensive disarmament agreements that have been a basis for
maintenance of international stability and security for the last
years’, the statement says.

The ministers believe fulfillment of commitments under Offensive
Disarmament Treaty by the signatory- states as a big step in the way to
nuclear disarmament, a real contribution to implementation of the goals
under Article 6 of the Treaty on non-dissemination of nuclear weapons.

‘We are convinced that achievement of the given agreement would ensure
stability and predictability in the strategic relations of big nuclear
states, would allow more confident actions in full liquidation of
nuclear weapons in the world’, the statement says.

AZERBAIJANI FOOTBALL SPECIALISTS BELIEVE ABDULLAH GUL’S DECISION TO VISIT ARMENIA TO BE WRONG

TREND News Agency
Sept 4 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 4 September/ TrendNews, corr R. Ergun/ Football
specialists of Azerbaijan protest against Turkish Abdullah Gul’s
visit to Armenia to watch match between Armenia and Turkey within the
selection round of the World Cup 2010, said a opinion poll conducted
by TrendNews among football specialists.

Turkish President’s visit to Armenia is not a right move, Rasim
Kara, Turkish specialist and chief coach of Khazar-Lankaran club of
Azerbaijan said to TrendNews.

"Gul decided to go to Armenia after he thought over it for several
days. I think Turkish President’s decision to visit Armenia is a
wrong decision. Generally, FIFA and UEFA should not allow teams of
states with bad relations to clash," said chief coach.

A match of a selection round will be held on 6 September in Yerevan.

Agasalim Mirjavadov, former chief coach of Azerbaijani national
team and football specialist with Shohrat order said to TrendNews
that Turkish President’s visit to Armenia to watch a football match
is wrong.

"It would better for Turkish team to win over Armenian team in
Yerevan. This match could have been held in other country rather than
Armenia. But unfortunately, it is FIFA and EUFA who are dealing with
these issues," Mirjavadov said.

Though Azerbaijani and Armenian teams were included in the same group
within World Cup 2008, later UEFA decided not to hold this match.

PATRUSHEV: RUSSIA, U.S. AND EUROPE’S INTERESTS CLASH IN SOUTH OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.09.2008 17:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The interests of Russia, U.S. and Europe clash
in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Russian Security Council Secretary
Nikolay Patrushev told a news conference in Yerevan today.

Georgia’s aggression against South Ossetia give up for lost Georgia’s
image of "democracy stronghold."

"Saakashvili’s regime has proved that democracy and development
in Georgia is out of the question. Russia has never denied
territorial integrity of any state but we oppose certain ways
of its maintenance. Saakashvili perpetrated genocide against the
South Ossetian people and I think the International Court will give
assessment to this 5-day war," he said. "Georgia is armed by many
countries and we all know that U.S. ships supply Saakashvili with
arms but not humanitarian aid."

As to recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Patrushev said,
"Russia will never press on its allies to recognize independence of
Abkhazia and South Ossetia."

WORLD CONGRESS OF AZERBAIJANI YOUTH CALLS ON TURKISH PRESIDENT NOT TO VISIT ARMENIA

Trend News Agency
Sept 3 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 3 September/ TrendNews, I. Alizade/ The World
Congress of Azerbaijani Youth calls on Turkish President Abdullah Gul
not to visit Armenia and continue to take principal position. "We
protest against Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s visit to Armenia
and believe that the Turkish government should refrain from this move
which has been adopted under the influence of a number of states and
Armenian lobby as well," the statement released by the issued by the
World Congress of Azerbaijani Youth said.

The Armenian President Serj Sarkisyan invited Turkish President Gul
to Yerevan to take part in a football match of Turkish and Armenian
teams to be held on 6 September.

The Azerbaijani, Turkish and Armenian communities are observing
closely whether invitation of Armenian President will be accepted or
turned down.

There are no any diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey
with Armenia-Turkey border being closed since 1993 at the initiative
of official Ankara. Ankara calls on Armenia to give up the policy of
recognition of "Armenian genocide" allegedly committed during Ottoman
Empire on the international level, to recognize Turkey’s borders and
free occupied lands of Azerbaijan.

The Congress says Gul’s visit will affect millions of Azerbaijanis
who lost their relatives during war in Karabakh and. "The visit
will seriously affect our relations which have been maintained and
developed for years".

The statement said the aim of visit of Gul who is going to negotiate
with Armenians.

ARMENIAN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS DISCUSS KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS IN SOCHI

ARKA
Sep 3, 2008

YEREVAN, September 3. /ARKA/. Armenian and Russian presidents Serzh
Sargsyan and Dmitry Medvedev discussed the Karabakh peace process in
Sochi, the Press Service of Armenian President reported.

Russian President confirmed that the conflict should be solved through
peaceful negotiations and supported the peace process within the OSCE
Minsk Group format, the press service reported.

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict started in 1988 when Nagorno-Karabakh
with prevailingly Armenian population declared its withdrawal from
Azerbaijan.

On December 10 1991, a referendum was held in Nagorno-Karabakh in the
presence of international observers where 99.89% of the population
voted for full independence from Azerbaijan.

In response, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale war against
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Active operations were ceased on May 12 1994 by signing a cease-fire
agreement that has been maintained since then.

Since 1992 negotiations have been held on peaceful settlement of the
conflict under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by
the USA, Russia and France.

ARMENIAN DEPUTY STEPAN SAFARYAN: "THE ONLY TOOL OF PRESSURE ON GEORGIA FOR RUSSIA MAY BE JAVAKHETI, AS WELL AS THE REGIONS, SETTLED BY AZERBAIJANIS"

Today.Az
ews/politics/47340.html
Sept 2 2008
Azerbaijan

"Destabilization of the situation in Georgia is extremely undesirable
for Armenia", said secretary of the parliamentary faction of the
Heritage opposition party Stepan Safaryan, according to ArmInfo.

He said when necessary serious guarantees can be attained in
cooperation with Georgian powers regarding the resolution of existing
problems in the regions where Armenians are settled for them not to
worsen or turn into the subject of political speculations.

The deputy considers that today there is a threat of stimulation of
the Armenian side for a conflict with Georgia and public concerns
about taking advantage of the Javakheti region by a third country
are founded.

According to the Armenian deputy, by taking control over Abkhazia
and South Ossetia, Russia has fully exhausted the tools of influence
on Georgia.

"The only tool may be Javakheti, as well as the regions, settled by
Azerbaijanis. In the established situation, Armenia should be maximally
cautious about the developments in the regions of Georgia, settled
by Armenians, and take preventive measures", said Stepan Safaryan.

TO SEE OR NOT TO SEE: SERJ TANKIAN
By Mark Powell

Metro
Sept 1 2008
UK

Pro: Political activist, environmental campaigner and voice of
alternative metal band System Of A Down, Serj Tankian has never
followed a conventional rock career.

Con: Might that have contributed to the fact that he’s now effectively
a solo artist, following the announcement in 2006 that System Of A
Down were on indefinite hiatus?

Pro: He’s more likely to be found working alongside Rage Against
The Machine guitarist Tom Morello on behalf of Axis Of Justice, the
non-profit humanitarian organisation that the duo formed in 2002,
than falling out of a bar drunk.

Con: How the hell are you supposed to end up in Heat magazine behaving
like that? Come on, Serj! A paparazzi-courting week in rehab wouldn’t
kill you.

Pro: Last autumn, Tankian’s solo debut, Elect The Dead, was released
to positive reviews, expressing relief that the singer had abandoned
the obscure Armenian folk of previous side project Serart.

Con: Then again, if you’re not prepared for the odd dalliance into
orchestral jazz-noise-rock fusion, then you just don’t know Serj.

Pro: Although evidently keen to stretch himself artistically,
Tankian has not abandoned his rock roots, with this rescheduled UK
tour predominantly based around material from Elect The Dead.

Con: But System Of A Down were fascinating precisely because of those
fresh-sounding influences from the South Caucasus. Serj should’ve
continued boldly on in that territory.

Pro: Physically, he resembles a traditional depiction of Beelzebub
more closely than any other creature on the planet.

Con: If the Devil has all the best tunes, then Tankian, who evidently
prefers having the weirdest, is arguably the more evil of the two.

Tue Sep 2, Carling Academy, 11-13 Hotham Street, Liverpool. 7pm,
18.50 adv. Tel: 0844 477 2000.