Author: Nalbandian Eduard

MHP’S BAHCELI EXPRESSES DOUBT OVER ERGENEKON PROBE

Today’s Zaman
April 15 2009
Turkey

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli has expressed
doubt over the ongoing investigation into Ergenekon, a criminal gang
charged with plotting to overthrow the government.

"Doubts that the law is being used for political interests and that
justice is being used by the ruling Justice and Development Party [AK
Party] as a means to intimidate certain groups are becoming stronger
within society," Bahceli said yesterday while delivering a speech at
his party’s parliamentary group gathering.

Bahceli’s remarks came shortly after the detention of tens of people on
Monday as part of the Ergenekon probe. Former and current university
rectors as well as members of the Support for Modern Life Association
(CYDD) were among the detainees.

"Everybody has to trust Turkish justice and wait patiently till the end
of the judicial process. However, the fact that the judicial process
keeps extending its scope and is constantly on the agenda raises doubts
about social peace. Our expectation is that they will refrain from
any act that may damage the dignity of innocent people. … Otherwise,
people will lose their faith in justice under the shadow of politics
and ideology," Bahceli remarked.

The MHP leader accused the AK Party government of making concessions
to foreign states for the sake of joining the European Union.

"Pledges made, documents signed and impositions bowed to by the
AK Party will lead to a deep pain in the dignity of the Turkish
nation. … The government has recently been engaged in treachery
against its own nation in cooperation with lobbies in Arbil, Brussels,
Washington and Yerevan. The government is now suffering from the
consequences of developments it previously misinterpreted and is
being rapidly dragged to recognize the baseless claims of a genocide
of Armenians," Bahceli stated.

Bahceli also slammed the government for having amended the infamous
Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), under which several
intellectuals have been tried so far for allegedly insulting
Turkishness.

"What lies behind the amendment of Article 301 is the paving of a
path to garner greater support for the Armenian lie of genocide,"
he claimed.

The article in question, which the EU had previously been highly
critical of Turkey for not amending, was changed last May. A number
of intellectuals and activists, including Turkish Nobel laureate Orhan
Pamuk and Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, who was assassinated
in 2007, landed in court for "insulting Turkishness."

DELEGATION HEADED BY THE OSCE SECRETARY GENERAL TO TAKE PART IN THE "SECURITY IN CAUCASUS" INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN YEREVAN

ArmenPress
April 15 2009
Armenia

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS: Secretary of National Security Council
Arthur Baghdasarian received today the head of the office of OSCE
Secretary General Paul Fritch.

Press service of the Armenian National Security Council told Armenpress
that the interlocutors discussed issues connected with the "Security
in Caucasus" international conference which will be held in May
in Yerevan.

Arthur Baghdasarian informed that representatives of nearly twenty
states and international organizations will take part in the
conference. Paul Fritch noted that the representative delegation of
OSCE headed by OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut will
also take part in the conference.

Issues connected with signing a cooperation agreement between the
staffs of OSCE and Armenian National Security Council has also been
discussed.

AZERI DEPUTY FM TO ATTEND ARMENIA EVENT

AzerNews Weekly
April 15 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev is due to
leave for Armenia on Thursday. The visit is related to his country`s
assuming presidency in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization
(BSEC), which is currently chaired by Armenia, at a meeting of the
group`s foreign ministers.

Elkhan Polukhov, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, said the deputy
minister`s participation in the Yerevan event was important due to
the BSEC chairmanship being transferred to Azerbaijan.

Polukhov added that no meetings were scheduled during Mammadguliyev`s
one-day visit.

Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian said earlier that he had
invited the Azerbaijani and Turkish counterparts to Yerevan.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict for nearly two
decades.

PUBLICIST GEVORG YAZICHIAN: ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES CREATE BASES FOR A NEW ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 15, 2009

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, NOYAN TAPAN. In the opinion of Armen Yeghyan,
a member of the Consolidation of Armenian Volunteers initiative, the
Armenian-Turkish negotiations aimed at establishment of relations have
already entered into a stage dangerous for Armenia. As he mentioned at
the April 15 discussion, today the Armenian authorities have consigned
to oblivion the fact that Turkey has created its state on the most
part of the historic homeland of the Armenians. In his words, the
authorities take that step and other ungrounded steps for a single
purpose, to retain their own posts and to get some legitimacy.

Publicist, journalist Gevorg Yazichian, in his turn, said that the
Armenian-Turkish relations are a conflict and hostility. "However,
not we are disposed in a hostile way to Turkey, but that country
made hostile actions to Armenia by blockading it," the journalist
said. In his words, if after all that the RA authorities speak about
good-neighborly relations, they create bases for a new Armenian
genocide.

ROBERT GATES AND HILLARY CLINTON INTEND TO VISIT TURKEY

Noyan Tapan
Apr 15, 2009

Washington, April 15, Noyan Tapan: US Secretary of Defense Robert
Gates and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton intend to visit Turkey,
the Turkish press reports.

According to some information, the possible visit of Robert Gates to
Turkey can take place in late May this year or early in June. Hillary
Clinton’s visit to Ankara will take place several weeks later the
visit of the head of Pentagon, which will be the second visit of
the US secretary of state to Turkey. In Ankara Hillary Clinton will
discuss with Turkish side the Armenian-Turkish relationship and the
Cyprus problem among other issues.

Turkey’s prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and several ministers
might participate in the sitting of the Turkish-American council which
is scheduled to take place between May 31 and June 3 in Washington.

ANKARA REACHED AN ACCORD WITH AMERICAN LOBBING ORGANIZATION

Noyan Tapan
Apr 15, 2009

Washington, April 15, Noyan Tapan. To prevent the passage of a
new formula on the Armenian Genocide submitted to the US Congress
Ankara reached an accord with the former speaker of the House of
Representatives, Republican Denis Hastert, Turkish media report.

It was particularly due to the efforts of Denis Hastert, that during
the presidency of Bill Clinton the formula of the Armenian Genocide
had not been submitted for voting at the general assembly of House
of Representatives of Congress.

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN’S OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

President.am
April 15 2009
Armenia

At the invitation of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on April 13 the President of the Republic
of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan arrived on a two-day official visit
to Iran. This is the first visit of Serzh Sargsyan to Iran in his
capacity as President of Armenia.

At the Mehrabad airport of Tehran after the official welcoming ceremony
Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held a private
meeting, which was followed by the negotiations in the extended format.

The Presidents of the two states hailed the high level of bilateral
relations viewing them as promising, expressed satisfaction with the
current level of political dialogue, underlined their readiness to
further expand the interstate relations, noting that this kind of
visits and active contacts provide opportunities to discuss and find
solutions to different issues on the action-packed Armenian-Iranian
agenda.

President Serzh Sargsyan said that Armenia attaches special importance
to the dynamic development of its relations with Iran, viewing it as
a reliable and pivotal neighbor and a friend in need. He expressed
gratitude for friendly assistance in importing to Armenia via Iran’s
territory goods of first necessity not only during the first years of
Armenia’s independence but also during last August events. In his turn,
President Ahmadinejad assessed constant deepening of the relations
with Armenia as one of its country’s foreign policy priorities. "It
is necessary to maintain and augment our achievements," noted the
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad underscored
that centuries-long Armenian-Iranian relations contribute to the
strengthening of peace and stability in our region. "Consideration of
major infrastructure projects is the best evidence to our aspirations
for further expansion and deepening of our friendly relations. I
am confident that the reached agreements will become documents,
implementation of which will make our friendship even stronger,"
stressed the President of Armenia. The Presidents of Armenia and
Iran highlighted the importance of the Armenian-Iranian community in
strengthening bilateral relations.

At the high-level Armenian-Iranian meeting discussed were also issues
pertaining to further expansion of trade and economic cooperation,
increase of trade turnover, construction of the Iran-Armenia railroad,
joint construction of a hydropower station on Araks River, as well
as different programs in the areas of energy, transportation, and
trade. The parties discussed also regional issues.

At the request of the President of Iran, the President of Armenia
spoke about the latest developments in the Armenian-Turkish political
dialogue and the NK peace process. The two sides stressed the
importance of solving all problems through peaceful negotiations,
viewing cooperation, peace and security as important prerequisites for
the well being and prosperity of the peoples of the region. President
Sargsyan expressed gratitude to President Ahmadinejad for Iran’s
constantly balanced position toward the NK conflict resolution.

President Serzh Sargsyan and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expressed
satisfaction with the outcome of the negotiations.

Later that day, the President of Armenia had a meeting with Iran’s
Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani. The two sides praised the works of the
parliamentary group on the Armenian-Iranian friendship, highlighting
the importance of interparliamentary cooperation in strengthening and
promoting friendship between the two nations. Speaking about programs
discussed during the high-level meeting, the Speaker of Majlis noted
that they were realistic and doable. At the request of Ali Larijani,
President Serzh Sargsyan spoke about the anticrisis measures undertaken
by the Armenian Government. The parties exchanged views on a number
of regional and international issues.

Late afternoon on April 13, the President of the Islamic Republic
of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave an official dinner in honor of the
President of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan.

GAGIK BEGLARYAN AS ACTING MAYOR

LRAGIR.AM
11:08:23 – 14/04/2009

The Armenian National Congress (HAK) turned to the acting Mayor
of Yerevan with the following question: "It has been the 4th day
illegalities are taking place in the centre of Yerevan. Beginning
from the 18:00 o’clock the Police divisions, several hundreds of
rubber truncheons armed people, blockade the North Avenue and not
only forbid peace citizens being there and walking but also using
force they make the people go in the direction they like. It lasts
for 2-3 hours every day.

As acting Mayor of Yerevan you are responsible for the happening".

The HAK also informs that on April 14, Tuesday, people will again go
to the North Avenue, and it demands from the acting Mayor to secure
their elementary right to walk there.

SERZH SARKISIAN PAYS OFFICIAL VISIT TO IRAN

APA
April 13 2009
Azerbaijan

Yerevan – APA. President of Armenia Serzh Sarkisian has left
for a two-day official visit to Iran, APA reports quoting
Novosti-Armenia. The delegations of the two countries will hold
talks, President Serzh Sarkisian and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will have
one-on-one meeting during the visit. Following this, joint documents
will be signed.

Serzh Sarkisian will also meet with speaker of Iranian parliament Ali
Larijani, chairman of Supreme National Security Council Said Jalilee
and representatives of Armenian community.

Turkey refuses to accommodate a plane with Azeri journalists

2009-04-10 19:47:00

ArmInfo. Azerbaijani journalists are preparing protest actions in
Turkey against possible opening of the border with Armenia, however,
the Turkish party refuses to accommodate the airplane. As Bakililar.AZ
reports with reference to AHC, the Turkish party refuses to accommodate
the plane with Azeri journalists. The negotiations with Turkey are
still underway.