Author: nina hovnanian

ARMENIA’S 1ST DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS RENEWED WAR IN KARABAKH POSSIBLE

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 28, 2011 – 20:07 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia’s First Deputy Minister of Defense allows
for a possibility of a renewed war in Nagorno Karabakh.

As Davit Tonoyan stated in an interview with RIA Novosti, “given
current development of events, we consider it more reasonable to be
ready for a new war, rather than stay inactive and continue guessing.”

“High-level cooperation between Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh armies
has been established to provide coordinated strategic and operational
planning, as well as battle training,” Tonoyan said.

IN GOD’S NAME?: ANOTHER SUICIDE IN ARMENIA RAISES SPECULATION OF SECTARIAN INFLUENCE
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan

ArmeniaNow
28.09.11 | 14:46

Photolure

Priest Babken Hayrapetyan speaks about the number of suicides based
on religious affiliation

In Armenia a number of recent suicides have given rise to speculation
that they might be associated with the activities of what are often
castigated as religious sects.

The most recent such suicide in the country’s northwestern town
of Dilijan involving a woman and her 23- and 25-year-old children
(the mother who hanged herself eventually died, but doctors could
save the lives of the young man and woman who had cut their veins)
and the fact that torn images of Jesus Christ were found on the floor
of the family’s house only fueled the speculation about the religious
grounds and ritual nature of the attempted collective suicide.

Earlier, religious grounds were sought in two other cases – when a
mother killed her two sons in the central Armenian town of Ararat and
a young man committed patricide killing both his parents in the town
of Sevan.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses organization has heard accusations regarding
all mentioned cases, but its representative has denied the people
involved in the suicides and murders were members of this religious
organization.

At a press conference on Wednesday the pastor of the Arabkir community
of Yerevan Babken Hayrapetyan denounced any suicide regardless of
reasons as an anti-Christian act. He said that the Armenian Apostolic
Church considers suicide to be a sin as it believes that the soul is
immortal, but sects that believe a person’s soul is dead after the
death of the body prod people into committing suicide. The priest,
however, emphasized that no religious organization [functioning in
Armenia] encourages suicide.

The priest also said that the Church is engaged in active work in
the army (soldiers go to church, chapels are built at military units,
etc.). To ArmeniaNow’s question whether he thought the Church should
work more closely with soldiers and officers in preventing murders
and suicides and other abuse in the ranks, priest Babken said: “There
is a shortage of spiritual education in the army. If you raise a hand
against your brother or friend and there is no restraint inside you,
you will become a murderer and a suicide. But it is also obvious that
the Church is doing its work.”

ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS. PART 2. ONE-MAN SHOW

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 27, 2011 – 18:11 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Armenian-Turkish protocols have been brought
back to the agenda of Turkey’s parliament, what, however, was no
surprise for the Armenian side. Yerevan learned the news more than
calm, without any illusions and with knowledge that normalization of
relations with Armenia is anything but not Turkey’s intention.

Several versions are being debated. Some think that the protocols
were returned under the pressure of the West, which doesn’t give up
efforts to reconcile Armenia and Turkey.

On the other hand, protocols appear as a perfect leverage that can
first of all be used in relations with Azerbaijan. Actually, the
entire reconciliation process gives Ankara a good opportunity to
manipulate Baku.

Furthermore, the return of protocols coincided with Turkey’s call
on Azerbaijan to join the campaign against Israel. Ankara gave to
understand that Baku “should keep in mind the possibility of problems
with Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which conveys 10-20% of the
total of volume of oil imported by Israel. Although Azerbaijan and
Israel are strategic partners and the trade turnover between the
countries exceeded $2 billion in 2010, which is twice more than that
between Israel and Turkey, Baku will hardly say “no.”

In return, Ankara promises Azerbaijan to conduce to “return of occupied
Azeri lands.”

It’s worth noting that Azerbaijan, which was, to put it mildly,
indignant over the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation process, now keeps
silent: no single word was uttered to reproach the “elder brother”
this time.

Besides, Turkey tries to press on Armenia to prevent it from
withdrawing its signature from the protocols, as suggested by some
political forces. Recently, ARF Dashnaktsutyun and Heritage party
called on the parliament to remove the protocols from the agenda,
what would be an adequate response to Turkey’s decision.

There is an impression that the story with protocols is just a show
with one goal – to convince the international community that Turkey,
which is bombing Kurds in Iraq, pressing on Syria, conflicting with
Israel, imposing blockade on Cyprus and threatening it with war,
is actually a country striving for peace and “zero problems with
neighbors.”

This show, however, can’t deceive Armenia. Spokesman for the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Eduard Sharmazanov labeled Turkey’s
“gesture” as a cheap trick.

Meanwhile, Yerevan doesn’t rule out that Ankara drag out the
ratification process till 2015, the 100th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.

Anyway, experts and politicians are unanimous that Turkey is not
going to ratify the protocols in the near future and, consequently,
no normalization can be expected.

Marina Ananikyan / PanARMENIAN News

TURKEY, RUSSIA, IRAN CAN PROMPTLY RESOLVE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT – RUSSIAN JOURNALIST

Tert.am
14:47 28.09.11

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can be promptly resolved provided
Turkey, Russia and Iran open a clear dialogue, the well-known Russian
journalist Maksim Shevchenko told 1news.az.

As regards the principal mediators’ present role in the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, Shevchenko said: “If your home is
on fire, you will hardly go to put out the fire in another home. If
we speak of the European Union, it should be noted that Europe is,
figuratively, on fire now – Greece, Italy, Spain. Some of the EU
member-countries are stating their intention to secede from the EU.

“As regards the United States, I do not think it should poke its nose
into the region. I would like the United State to stop co-sponsoring
the peace process because the Caucasus will know no peace as long as
the United States is present there. Americans are among the principal
provokers of war in the Caucasus – including religious and interethnic
wars.”

Peace in the Caucasus must be established by the regional powers –
Russia, Turkey and Iran, he added.

“Magical dependence on America’s word and position is a hindrance to
us. There is an impression that we are unable to do without the US.

Iran is living happily without the US. And after Armenia, Azerbaijan
get rid of this trouble – agreeing everything with the West, USA
and Europe, which have nothing in common with the South Caucasus,
except for their oil interests – peace may be brought to this land.”

Russia, Turkey and Iran can have disagreements, which is natural. But
these countries have ties with the Caucasus. “Our relatives and friends
are living in the Caucasus. We have human interest, whereas the West
has selfish ends – oil and gas prices,” Shevchenko said.

As regards the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, it can be promptly resolved
provided Turkey, Russia and Iran open a clear dialogue. “The USA is
not interested in the conflict being settled in any way – either
in Baku’s favor or in Yerevan’s favor. It wants the situation to
remain uncertain.”

As to whether Russia will intensify its activity after the 2012
presidential election or positive changes in the peace process may
be expected before the elections, Shevchenko said:

“It has nothing in common with elections. Russia’s policy toward
Nagorno-Karabakh is known and has nothing to do with anything else.

Moscow is concerned with peace. We are concerned with a dialogue
between the two states.”

With respect to the Azeri drone shot down by the Nagorno-Karabakh
armed forces, Shevchenko expressed the opinion that they are drones
of US make.

“As far as I know they were transported to Georgia long ago. It is
the drones of unknown origin that fly over the Caucasus. They are
impossible to control. It is the way Americans are pouring oil on
the flames. They are concerned with it.”

REVUE DE PRESSE N2 – 27/09/11 – COLLECTIF VAN

Collectif VAN

27-09-2011

Le Collectif VAN [Vigilance Arménienne contre le Négationnisme]
vous propose une revue de presse des informations parues dans
la presse francophone, sur les thèmes concernant la Turquie, le
génocide arménien, la Shoah, le génocide des Tutsi, le Darfour,
le négationnisme, l’Union européenne, Chypre, etc… Nous vous
suggérons également de prendre le temps de lire ou de relire
les informations et traductions mises en ligne dans notre rubrique

Par ailleurs, certains articles en anglais, allemand, turc, etc,
ne sont disponibles que dans la newsletter Word que nous générons
chaque jour. Pour la recevoir, abonnez-vous a la Veille-Média :
c’est gratuit ! Vous recevrez le document du lundi au vendredi dans
votre boîte email. Bonne lecture.

Collectif VAN : l’éphéméride du 27 septembre 2011 Info
Collectif VAN – – La rubrique “Ephéméride”
du Collectif VAN a été lancée le 6 décembre 2010. Elle recense
la liste d’événements survenus a une date donnée, a différentes
époques de l’Histoire, sur les thématiques que l’association
suit au quotidien. L’éphéméride du Collectif VAN repose sur
des informations en ligne sur de nombreux sites (les sources sont
spécifiées sous chaque entrée). “27 Septembre 1915 — Empire ottoman
: les bouleversantes nouvelles des massacres, de la torture et de
la déportation des Chrétiens Arméniens sont autant d’appels a la
sympathie et a l’aide américaine. D’après des sources nombreuses
et fiables en Turquie, il paraît évident qu’il ne s’agit pas de
troubles locaux ou d’oppression insignifiante, mais d’un effort
systématique pour déraciner la race arménienne. Des milliers
de familles ont été arrachées a leurs maisons pour mourir sur
les routes. Les villes et les villages ont été privés de leurs
habitants. Beaucoup sont torturés pour les forcer a renoncer a leur
foi chrétienne. Les femmes sont enfermées dans les harems et les
enfants sont vendus comme esclaves”.

L’info vue par la TRT (3) Le Collectif VAN vous propose cet article
publié sur la TRT (Télévision & Radio de Turquie). Les articles
de ce site ne sont pas commentés de notre part. Ils peuvent contenir
des propos négationnistes envers le génocide arménien ou d’autres
informations a prendre sous toute réserve. “Le Premier ministre
Recep Tayyip Erdogan a répondu aux questions des journalistes qui
l’ont accompagné dans l’avion a son retour des Etats-Unis où il
s’était rendu pour la réunion de l’Assemblée générale de l’ONU.”

Une bagarre dans les couloirs de l’ONU fait polémique Un pugilat a
éclaté dans les couloirs de l’ONU pendant l’Assemblée générale
entre le service de sécurité des Nations unies et les gardes du
corps du Premier ministre turc Erdogan. L’incident fait grand bruit,
malgré les efforts de l’ONU pour minimiser cet incident qui a fait
au moins un blessé parmi les policiers de l’ONU.

Les minorités de Turquie condamnent ” le serment d’allégeance ”
Les représentants des minorités de Turquie sont critiques vis-a-vis
du serment d’allégeance récité chaque matin par des élèves des
écoles primaires mais hésitent a exprimer leurs avis sur la question,
selon des représentants des communautés.

M. Papandréou appelle a de la retenue et au calme en Méditerranée
orientale Le premier ministre, Georges Papandréou, a appelé a de la
retenue et au calme en Méditerranée orientale, lors d’un contact
téléphonique avec son homologue turc, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, lundi
a la mi-journée.

L’info vue par la TRT (2) Le Collectif VAN vous propose cet article
publié sur la TRT (Télévision & Radio de Turquie). Les articles
de ce site ne sont pas commentés de notre part. Ils peuvent contenir
des propos négationnistes envers le génocide arménien ou d’autres
informations a prendre sous toute réserve. “Le Premier ministre Recep
Tayip Erdogan a donné une interview a la télévision américaine,
CNN, lors de sa visite a New York.”

Un navire turc entamera l’exploration pétrolière en Méditerranée
orientale Un navire turc entamera lundi après-midi l’exploration
pétrolière sous les eaux de la Méditerranée orientale, a rapporté
l’agence de presse Anatolia, citant un responsable universitaire.

Sur Facebook, la Turquie chasse les soldats israéliens La Turquie
a publié lundi une liste de 174 noms de soldats et responsables
militaires israéliens, tous ceux qui sont soupconnés d’avoir
pris part a l’opération contre le Mavi Marmara, en mai 2010,
qui s’est soldée par la mort de neuf Turcs activistes de l’IHH,
une ONG islamique proche du gouvernement. C’est un nouveau pas de
franchi par la Turquie qui renforce sa pression sur son ex-allié
israélien depuis que ce dernier a refusé de présenter des excuses
pour le carnage du Mavi Marmara.

Conflit turco-kurde: Erdogan annonce la fin du dialogue avec le PKK et
la poursuite de la lutte L’ère des négociations avec le Parti des
Travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK) est terminée et la lutte contre les
rebelles kurdes va se poursuivre avec une plus grande détermination,
jusqu’a ce qu’ils baissent les armes, a déclaré le Premier ministre
turc, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

L’info vue par la TRT (1) Le Collectif VAN vous propose cet article
publié sur la TRT (Télévision & Radio de Turquie). Les articles
de ce site ne sont pas commentés de notre part. Ils peuvent contenir
des propos négationnistes envers le génocide arménien ou d’autres
informations a prendre sous toute réserve. “La question chypriote et
le processus de prospection de pétrole en Méditerranée orientale
étaient au menu lors de l’entretien téléphonique du Premier ministre
turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan avec son homologue grec Georges Papandreou.”

TPIR/Ntawukulilyayo – La Défense demande l’acquittement de l’ancien
gouverneur adjoint La défense de Dominique Ntawukulilyayo a demandé
lundi a la chambre d’appel du Tribunal pénal international pour le
Rwanda (TPIR) d’annuler la condamnation pour génocide de son client
au motif que les témoignages a charge recueillis dans ce dossier
n’étaient pas fiables.

L’accusation a de son côté demandé que le jugement de premier
instance, soit une condamnation pour génocide assortie d’une peine
de 25 ans de prison, soit maintenu.

Dépêche de l’APA [ 27 sept 2011 10:42 ] – Agence de Presse
d’Azerbaïdjan Le Collectif VAN vous propose un article de l’APA
(Agence de presse azérie) daté du 27 septembre 2011. Les articles
de ce site (écrits généralement dans un francais rudimentaire)
ne sont pas commentés de notre part. Ils peuvent contenir des
propos négationnistes envers le génocide arménien ou d’autres
informations a prendre sous toute réserve. “Le chef de la diplomatie
azerbaïdjanaise Elmar Mammadyarov fera un appel a la communauté
internationale. Il fera son discours a la 28e réunion planaire de
la session. Les officiels de 15 pays, y compris les ministres des
affaires étrangères russe, béninois, malawien et d’autres devraient
prendre parole.”

Retour a la rubrique

MOUVEMENT SOCIAL DANS LA CENTRALE NUCLEAIRE DE MEDZAMOR
[email protected]

armenews.com
mercredi 28 septembre 2011

ARMENIE

Plus de 140 employes de la centrale nucleaire armenienne de Medzamor,
a l’ouest de Erevan, ont menace d’abandonner leurs postes si la
direction de la centrale n’augmentait pas leurs salaires. Le directeur
de Medzamor, Achot Markosian, a confirme le fait le 23 septembre
devant la presse, en precisant qu’il avait recu des lettres en ce
sens de chacun des employes engages dans ce mouvement social. IL n’a
toutefois pas indique la suite qu’il comptait donner a ces exigences,
se contentant de souligner que la centrale n’avait pas les moyens de
proceder aux augmentations salariales exigees. M.Markosian a indique
que le salaire mensuel moyen des requerants etait de quelque 277 500
drams (750 dollars), soit plus du double du salaire moyen national,
a-t-il precise. Medzamor, qui produit environ 40 % de l’electricite
de l’Armenie, emploie plus de 1 700 personnes, dont le salaire
mensuel va de 145 000 a 277 500 drams. Interroge sur les risques que
pourrait faire courir au fonctionnement de la centrale le depart des
140 employes mecontents, le directeur n’en a pas minimise la portee,
affirmant que ” chacun des employes de la centrale a son importance ;
chacun d’entre eux peut affecter son fonctionnement d’une manière ou
d’une autre “. M. Markosian comme le minisère armenien de l’energie
et des ressources naturelles, ont souligne que ces menaces a ce jour
n’ont pas affecte la sûrete de Medzamor. “Malgre leurs revendications
salariales, les employes concernes poursuivent d’ailleurs leurs
activites comme a l’accoutumee”, a indique Lusine Harutiunian,
porte-parole du ministère. L’unique reacteur en activite de Medzamor
avait ete arete le 5 septembre mais dans le cadre des activites
maintenance habituelles visant a contrôler la sûrete de cette centrale
datant de la fin des annees 1970 et jugee dangereuse par les Europeens
notamment, qui avaient a plusieurs reprises recommande sa fermeture.

Le reacteur, qui doit aussi etre alimente en combustible nucleaire venu
de Russie, qui gère en grande partie le centrale, devrait redemarrer
a la fin octobre.

Le gouvernement armenien s’est engage a demanteler la centrale a
l’horizon 2017, le temps de construire une nouvelle centrale, plus
puissante, dans un pays a haute sismicite mais pauvre en ressources
energetiques. Le chantier de cet ambitieux projet doit etre lance en
2012, et meme si les moyens financiers requis sont enormes, et les
risques aussi, mis en lumière en debut d’annee par la catastrophe
de Fukushima au Japon, l’Armenie devrait garder le cap du nucleaire,
d’autant que son sous-sol recèlerait d’importants gisements d’uranium
non encore exploites. Mais devant l’ampleur du projet, certains
responsables armeniens avaient indique l’an dernier que la construction
de la nouvelle centrale pourrait etre reportee de plusieurs annees,
et l’esperance de vie de l’actuel reacteur prolongee d’autant. Les
inspecteurs de l’Agence internationale pour l’energie atomique (AIEA)
qui l’avaient visitee en mai dernier, avaient estime que la centrale
presentait un niveau de risque ” acceptable ” pour l’environnement
et pourrait, en principe, rester en activite au-dela de sa duree de
vie prevue.

VARDUHI YERITSYAN EN CONCERT

viaFrance
27 sept 2011

Pianiste surdouée.

Pianiste d’origine arménienne, Varduhi Yeritsyan fait ses premières
études à l’Ecole spécialisée de musique Tchaikovski pour enfants
surdoués avant d’entrer au Conservatoire national supérieur de musique
d’Erevan. Après son obtention du Diplôme de formation supérieure en
2006 au CNSM de Paris, elle est admise en cycle de perfectionnement
dans la classe de Brigitte Engerer et étudie parallèlement la musique
de chambre dans la classe de Claire Desert et Ami Flammer.

Révélation Classique de l’ADAMI 2007, elle se produit régulièrement en
tant que soliste, en musique de chambre et avec orchestre, en France
et à l’étranger.

Avec Varduhi Yeritsyan

Prix donné(s) à titre indicatif, susceptible(s) de variations selon
frais de location

Le vendredi 16 mars 2012 : – Vendredi de 21:00 à 23:00

MULTI-TALENTED MUSICIAN AND FILM MAKER COSMO JARVIS HEADS TO THE REGION

Northampton Chronicle & Echo
Sept 27 2011

SINGER, songwriter, actor, director, composer, producer and
multi-instrumentalist Cosmo Jarvis heads to the region next week.

With tracks about topics ranging from his alienation from religion
to the equal treatment of gay pirates, Cosmo is an extraordinarily
talented 22-year-old.

Born to an Armenian/American mother and a British father, Cosmo
Harrison Krikoryan Jarvis began his life in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

He moved to Devon as a young child and quickly developed twinned
passions for music and film. His heroes are consequently as varied as
the work he produces with John Lennon, Robin Williams, Frank Zappa,
The Crash Test Dummies and Elliot Smith to name a few.

His self-titled debut album Humasyouhitch/Sonofabitch was released
in 2009 and its follow up, Is The World Strange Or Am I Strange is
out on Monday.

If releasing his second album in two years wasn’t enough to be getting
on with, Jarvis is also in the middle of shooting his first full-length
feature film, which he has also produced and written.

He has already made more than 65 films, including Alley Way, which
was screened at SXSW Film Festival.

Cosmo Jarvis plays The Watershed in Milton Keynes on Wednesday,
September 28.

Doors open at 7pm

ANAND DRAWS WITH CARLSEN; ARONIAN EMERGES AS EARLY LEADER

Hindustan Times
Sept 27 2011
India

World Champion Viswanathan Anand could do little with his white pieces
as he settled for a draw with world number one Magnus Carlsen in the
first round of the fourth Bilbao Final Masters, in Sao Paulo.

World number three Levon Aronian of Armenia drew the first blood in the
tournament at the expense of Spaniard Francisco Vallejo Pons to emerge
as the early leader in the six-player double round robin tournament,
played with the soccer-like scoring system.

Also playing draw were Hikaru Nakamura of United States and Ukraine’s
Vassily Ivanchuk, who both fought hard but could not dispense with
parity.

With nine rounds still to come, Aronian leads the pack with three
points in his kitty while Anand, Carlsen, Nakamura and Ivanchuk trail
him on one point each. Vallejo Pons is at the bottom of the tables
yet to open his account.

The unique event which is split into two parts – Sao Paulo and the
final half at Bilbao in Spain – also has Sofia rules in place to
discourage draws but that hardly makes a difference with the advent
of Berlin defense as a regular in elite chess.

Anand has been employing the opening as black almost on a regular basis
and this time Carlsen used it against the Indian ace successfully to
get an easy draw.

It all started in 2000 when Vladimir Kramnik used the Berlin
successfully against Garry Kasparov in the Braingames world
championship match and over the years the analysis has proved that
despite slight deficiency in pawn structure, black has been known to
keep the balance ticking.

Anand could do little as pieces kept disappearing off the board and
soon enough the players were left with just the Bishops of opposite
colours with only a drawn result possible.

The peace was signed in 28 moves. Unfortunately for the spectators,
the foremost game of day one turned out to be the least exciting.

Aronian, however kept everyone interested with his blend of
uncompromising chess. Playing the white side of a Slav, the Armenian
was pleasantly surprised to see a relatively less known variation
and sacrificed a pawn early to gain space.

Vallejo Pons had to concede the extra material quickly as white
started to build a king side attack and it looked as if Aronian was
training his sights for an early finish after he came up with a piece
sacrifice to dismantle black’s king side.

Vallejo did not give up easily and reached piece plus endgame but
white’s handful of extra pawns were simply irresistible. Aronian won
in 53 moves.

Nakamura tried to prove some advantage in the Bogo Indian game against
Ivanchuk. The American exerted pressure in the center but Ivanchuk
was up to the task and once the position opened, the pieces changed
hands in tandem. A double rook endgame with four pawns apiece was
reached and the draw was agreed to in 28 moves.

Results round 1: V Anand (Ind, 1) drew with Magnus Carlsen (Nor,
1); Hikaru Nakamura (Usa, 1) drew with Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukr, 1);
Levon Aronian (Arm, 3) beat Francisco Vallejo Pons (Esp, 0).

The moves: V Anand v/s Magnus Carlsen 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6
4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7.

dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 h6 10. h3 Ne7 11. Be3 Ke8 12. Rad1 Bd7
13. a3 Rd8 14. Rfe1 a6 15. Ne4 Bf5 16. Nc5 Rxd1 17. Rxd1 Bc8 18. Nd3
Ng6 19. Nf4 Nxf4 20. Bxf4 Be7 21. Nd4 Bc5 22. Be3 Bxd4 23. Rxd4 Ke7
24. f3 Rd8 25. Rxd8 Kxd8 26. g4 h5 27. Kf2 g6 28. Bg5+ Ke8 draw agreed

TURKISH SHIP EXPLORES NEAR GREEK CYPRIOT GAS RIG

Today’s Zaman
Sept 27 2011
Turkey

Turkey said on Tuesday it was exploring for gas in an offshore zone
where Greek Cyprus started drilling last week, the latest step in a
battle over Mediterranean resources that overshadowed the resumption
of peace talks for the divided island.

On Sept. 23, Turkey dispatched its only research vessel, the Piri Reis,
to the eastern Mediterranean.

“Piri Reis, escorted by warships, has started research in the same
area where Greek Cypriots are exploring,” Omer Celik, deputy chairman
of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) who oversees
foreign affairs, said on Twitter.

“We have shown clearly to everyone that we will not allow the eastern
Mediterranean to become a Greek Cyprus-Israel goal,” Celik said in
another message.

The Turkish Cypriot prime minister had said overnight that the vessel
had begun exploring, but did not say precisely where. Greek Cypriot
sources have said the Turkish vessel is about 80 km (50 miles) from
where the Greek Cypriots are drilling.

The question of who has the right to tap what may be the world’s
biggest natural gas find of the past decade has added sudden urgency
to long delayed efforts to settle the conflict over Cyprus, divided
since 1974 into Greek and Turkish enclaves.

The internationally-recognized Greek Cypriot government says it has
a sovereign right to drill. Turkey, the only country to recognize
a separate Turkish Cypriot government in the north of the island,
says the island’s status must be resolved first.

In Nicosia, Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish
Cypriot leader DerviÅ~_ Eroglu resumed peace talks on Tuesday after
a 10-day break for UN General Assembly deliberations.

The two sides are racing to make progress on complex reunification
negotiations before a scheduled encounter with UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon at the end of October. The hydrocarbons controversy had
not come up in the talks, a source close to consultations told Reuters.

Last week, US-based Noble Energy started drilling offshore on behalf
of Greek Cyprus in an area termed Block 12, south of the island.

Turkey has pledged to drill for gas on behalf of Turkish Cypriots
unless the Greek Cypriots stop.

“If the Greek Cypriots agree to stop, we’ll stop too. But if they
insist on proceeding, they know very well Turkey’s attitude,” Turkey’s
minister for European Affairs, Egemen BagıÅ~_, visiting the Turkish
side of the island, said on Tuesday.

“We have to warn against Greek Cypriot provocation. The resources
are not going anywhere, so why are they being used to block [Cyprus
reunification] negotiations?”

BagıÅ~_ said the Greek Cypriots cannot unilaterally claim right over
“the island’s shared resources” and added: “Those who take unilateral
steps in this regard will get the response from Turkey.”

Last week, Turkey and Turkish Cyprus signed their own pact outlining
maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean, paving the way for
gas exploration. Turkey said it would protect any research vessel with
warships, raising the prospect of an armed stand-off on the high seas.

Turkey’s Navy has made no announcement regarding the deployment of
warships in the area. But captain of the research ship, Umut Yenice,
told the Anatolia news agency on Tuesday that the crew was “in frequent
contacts with the Turkish frigates nearby.”