Author: nina hovnanian

Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Oct 15 2012

Armenian plane takes off after search

Bursa, 15 October: A Syria-bound Armenian plane was allowed on Monday
to take off from Turkey after Turkish authorities concluded searching
the cargo of the aircraft for possible military equipment, Bulent
Arinc, Turkish deputy prime minister, told reporters.

The Antonov 12 aircraft of the Armenian cargo airline Air Armenia made
“a technical landing” in Turkey’s eastern province of Erzurum in what
the Turkish officials had called “a routine procedure.”

Turkish diplomatic sources have said the Armenian aviation authorities
had declared that the plane carried humanitarian aid bound for Aleppo,
Syria.

“The plane was grounded, its cargo was searched and it was let to take
off after it was understood that it carried humanitarian aid,” Arinc
said.

“We are taking this issue very seriously. We are very diligent on our
duty,” he added.

Turkish sources have said the Armenian cargo company filed last week
on Wednesday a request to use the Turkish airspace, and that Turkey
had granted the Armenian plane the permission only on the condition
that Turkish authorities searched the cargo.

Sources added that the grounding of the plane was a routine procedure
and it complied with the 1944 Chicago Convention on Civil Aviation.

Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Oct 15 2012

Armenian plane forced to land due to certain violations, says PM Erdogan

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday
[15 October] said that an Armenian plane made a “technical landing” in
eastern province of Erzurum today “due to certain violations”.

Speaking to reporters at Ankara’s Esenboga International Airport
before departing for Baku, Erdogan stressed that “the Armenian plane
landed in Erzurum due to certain violations. However, after a search
in the plane, Turkish officials did not find anything that would have
caused a problem and the plane was permitted for take off.”

Touching on a Syrian passenger plane that was forced to land in Ankara
last week, Erdogan stated that the equipment found in the cargo
department of the plane were “definitely equipment used in war”.

“The Syrian plane was carrying radar equipment that can be used in
war,” Erdogan also said.

Prime Minister Erdogan is on his way to Baku to attend the Economic
Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit on Tuesday.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Oct 16 2012

MHP leader slams government on Syria policy

16 October 2012 / TODAY’S ZAMAN, Ä°STANBUL

Leaders of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the
Republican People’s Party (CHP) have directed harsh criticism toward
the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government regarding
Turkey’s recent foreign policy on Syria, accusing the government of
dragging Turkey into dangerous territory.

Speaking at his party’s parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday, MHP
leader Devlet Bahçeli said recent tension sparked by Turkey forcing a
Syrian passenger plane to land in Ä°stanbul on the suspicion that it
had military equipment on board, and then confiscating a number of
boxes on the plane, was an indicator of everything that is wrong with
the government’s policy on Syria. `Whether any weapons were found on
the plane is the subject of another discussion,’ he said, adding: `It
has been suggested that perhaps only radar equipment was found. If
that is the case, the AK Party government has been misled. The efforts
to use Turkey as a pawn in a fight between other countries will not
succeed.’

He recalled that an Armenian cargo plane was also inspected by Turkish
authorities on Monday. `These interventions must be measured. Steps
that might provoke the other side should be avoided. The AK Party
government knowingly jumped into a pit of fire, and is feeding the
flames,’ he said.

Bahçeli said the government is dragging the Syrian affair into an
unmanageable situation. `Syria has now closed its airspace to Turkish
aircraft in retaliation, and the number of Syrian refugees in Turkey
has skyrocketed.’

He further criticized the government for its lack of action against
the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) bases in Kandil, northern
Iraq, while being dangerously active in Syria, saying, `Those who
won’t even speak of going to Kandil, only one hour from here, say
Damascus is only three hours away.’ The MHP leader said the nation
wants to see the Turkish flag raised in Kandil and not in Damascus.

Bahçeli also recalled that ErdoÄ?an has criticized the permanent
members of the UN, saying they have too much power to decide for the
rest of the world and that the organization is unjust and should be
reformed. `It is an embarrassment that the prime minister is saying
this,’ he said. Bahçeli noted that he found it odd that it was only
now occurring to the prime minister that the global political scene is
structured unjustly.

He also claimed that the prime minister is making plans in
anticipation of an overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria. `Turkey is
risking enormous harm. The AK Party is being used as an instrument for
ugly propaganda being carried out [regarding Syria].’

CHP leader Kemal KılıçdaroÄ?lu also addressed his party’s parliamentary
group meeting on Tuesday. He had harsh words for Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip ErdoÄ?an.

KılıçdaroÄ?lu claimed that ErdoÄ?an, unable to handle criticism, was
instead attacking the opposition and accusing the CHP of being
pro-Assad or pro-Baath. KılıçdaroÄ?lu said the prime minister’s
accusations were an attempt to deflect his own responsibility and
cover up for the government’s incompetence.

`We have never defended the Assad regime. We have criticized Assad,’
he said. `He [ErdoÄ?an] called us pro-Baath. We never defended the
Baath ideology. We have lost thousands of martyrs in the deserts of
Yemen and Africa. They paid a price, and now you want to make young
people pay the same price once again,’ he continued, addressing
ErdoÄ?an.

Echoing Bahçeli’s accusation that the government was being used in a
bigger plan for Syria, KılıçdaroÄ?lu said: `The US administration says
`we are working hand in glove with Turkey.’ There is an attempt to
drag Turkey into the mire of the Middle East.’ He also accused the
government of training and arming refugees to fight against the Syrian
regime.

Times of India
Oct 17 2012

Sleeping Armenian Grandmasters miss Round 2 of International GM Chess tournament

Amit Sampat, TNN

NAGPUR: Two Armenian Grandmasters missed their second round of
International GM Chess tournament after failing to turn-up at the
Naivedhyam Celebrations Centre on Tuesday.

Aware about the passion with which Armenians play their chess, the
organizers had a field day searching for the two GMs, who were found
sleeping in their hotel rooms, unaware about the second round of the
11-round event.

After an hour-long wait and confirmation from the grandmasters —
Davit Petrosian and Gevorg Harutjunyan — the chief arbiter awarded
the game to their lower ranked rivals, treating that the masters lost
the game by default.

When contacted by the organizers, the Grandmasters, who were
accommodated at a five-star hotel in the outskirts of the city,
initially denied about being aware of the second round for the day.

However, when they had a talk with the chief arbiter Anantharam
Rathinam both the GMs agreed to their mistake.

Both had recorded easy victories in their first round in the morning session.

AntiWar.com
Oct 16 2012

Turkey Orders Plane Full of Humanitarian Aid Diverted From Syria

Armenian Plane Allowed to Leave After Long Search

by Jason Ditz, October 15, 2012

Fresh off of last week’s embarrassment when Turkish warplanes forced a
civilian aircraft to land in Ankara only to find what Russia termed
`dual use’ radar parts on board, the Turkish government has ordered
another plane diverted from Syria, this time one full of humanitarian
aid from Armenia.

The move comes in the context not only of Turkey’s constant search for
new things to condemn Syria for, but also their ever-worsening
relationship with Armenia, a nation which Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu
blasted earlier today for resuming passenger flights into the disputed
Nagorno-Karabakh region.

As with last week’s downing, the hype around Turkey’s decision was a
lot more interesting than the cargo they actually found, which was
exactly what the manifest says was on the plane, a lot of humanitarian
aid heading to Aleppo, mostly rice.

Turkish officials defended the decision to force a planeload of rice
to land, saying it proved that they are `serious’ about monitoring
flights to Syria. Incredibly, Armenia actually asked for advanced
permission from Turkey to deliver the rice, and was given it, and the
plane was still forced to land in Erzurum.

Interfax, Russia
Oct 15 2012

Turkey doesn’t object to transit of relief aid for Syria – foreign minister

BAKU. Oct 15

Turkish authorities have examined an Armenian plane transporting
humanitarian aid to Syria for security reasons; the security search is
consistent with international legal norms, Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters in Baku on Monday.

“This step by Turkey is consistent with international legal norms,” he said.

Armenia asked Turkey for permission to send a plane to Aleppo across
Turkish airspace, he said. Turkey said the flight was possible on the
condition that the cargo be examined on Turkish territory. Armenia
accepted the condition, and the plane made a stopover in Erzurum.

“Turkey does not mind humanitarian aid to Syria. On the contrary, it
supports such relief aid,” he stressed.

Turkey said earlier on Monday that the Armenian plane had been
permitted to take off and continue its flight from Erzurum. The
announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc.

Turkish media said Armenia had informed Ankara about its plans to take
humanitarian aid to Syria. Turkey said it insisted on examining the
cargo.

TradeArabia, Bahrain
October 15, 2012 Monday

Turkey searches Armenian plane en route to Syria

Turkey ordered an Armenian plane flying to the Syrian city of Aleppo
to land on Monday and authorities were searching its cargo, as Ankara
steps up efforts to prevent its air space being used to supply the
Syrian military.

Turkey had previously been informed the plane, which was forced to
land in the eastern Turkish city of Erzurum, would be carrying
humanitarian aid and Armenian officials knew it would be searched, an
official from the Turkish prime minister’s office said.

The plane would be allowed to continue on its journey if nothing else
was found, a Turkish foreign ministry official said.

Turkey forced down a Syrian airliner travelling from Moscow last
Wednesday and said it was carrying Russian munitions destined for
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s military, infuriating Moscow and
Damascus.

Russia has said there were no weapons on the plane and that it was
carrying a legal cargo of radar. But it moved to cool friction with
Ankara – Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the incident would not
hurt “solid” relations.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said over the weekend Turkish
air space had been closed to Syrian planes. Syria has also banned
Turkish planes from flying over its territory. – Reuters

L’APCE demande l’abrogation de l’article 301 du Code pénal turc

Publié le : 15-10-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – Une version provisoire du
“Rapport sur l’Etat de la liberté des médias en Europe” préparé par la
Commission de la culture, de la science, de l’éducation et des médias
de l’APCE a été publié le 11 octobre 2012. Le Rapporteur en est le
suédois Mats JOHANSSON du Groupe du Parti populaire européen. “Turquie
: l’article 301 du Code pénal turc devrait être abrogé immédiatement,
la révision de 2008 n’ayant pas remédié à la possibilité d’appliquer
de manière indue cet article à des journalistes et d’autres personnes.
Par ailleurs, le nombre des enquêtes pénales ouvertes à l’encontre de
journalistes – en particulier pour leurs reportages sur la
conspiration d’« Ergenekon » – est en soi le signe qu’il y a eu « une
grave violation de la liberté des médias ».

Conseil de l’Europe

Strasbourg, 11.10.2012

Une commission de l’APCE appelle la Russie, la Turquie, la Hongrie et
le Bélarus à agir en faveur de la liberté des médias

Strasbourg, 11.10.2012 – La Commission de la culture, de la science,
de l’éducation et des médias de l’APCE, dans un vaste tour d’horizon
sur l’état de la liberté des médias en Europe, exhorte les Etats
membres du Conseil de l’Europe à enquêter véritablement sur les
attaques à l’encontre des journalistes d’investigation et des
personnes qui travaillent pour eux.

Le rapport, préparé par Mats Johansson (Suède, PPE/DC), approuvé la
semaine dernière par la commission et rendu public aujourd’hui,
contient des recommandations spécifiques à l’intention d’un certain
nombre d’Etats :

Russie : la commission d’enquête de la Présidence russe, créée en
2011, devrait poursuivre les travaux des précédents organismes
d’enquête, publier ses travaux et créer des règles relatives à la
surveillance judiciaire afin de lutter contre l’impunité des auteurs
de nombreux meurtres de journalistes et de militants des droits de
l’homme.

Turquie : l’article 301 du Code pénal turc devrait être abrogé
immédiatement, la révision de 2008 n’ayant pas remédié à la
possibilité d’appliquer de manière indue cet article à des
journalistes et d’autres personnes. Par ailleurs, le nombre des
enquêtes pénales ouvertes à l’encontre de journalistes – en
particulier pour leurs reportages sur la conspiration d’« Ergenekon »
– est en soi le signe qu’il y a eu « une grave violation de la liberté
des médias ».

Hongrie : les amendements apportés récemment aux lois sur les médias
adoptées en Hongrie en 2010 n’empêchent pas d’abuser de ces lois pour
restreindre la liberté des médias ; les changements demandés par le
Commissaire aux droits de l’homme en février 2011 devraient être
pleinement mis en `uvre.

Bélarus : la disparition en 2000 du journaliste et photographe Dmitry
Zavadsky et la mort en 2010 du fondateur du site internet « Charte 97
», Aleh Byabenine, devraient faire l’objet d’une véritable enquête ;
Ales Bialiatski et Anton Suryapin devraient être libérés immédiatement
et il faudrait lever les peines et abandonner les poursuites à
l’encontre d’un certain nombre d’autres journalistes.

La commission déplore aussi l’application excessive des lois pénales
sur la diffamation en Azerbaïdjan et en Turquie, ainsi que les
procédures judiciaires excessives en Arménie, Bulgarie et Moldova. Il
devrait être remédié à la partialité de l’environnement médiatique
constatée, en lien avec les élections, en Arménie, Azerbaïdjan,
Russie, Turquie et Ukraine.

Le précédent rapport est disponible ici :

Etat de la liberté des médias en Europe

Retour à la rubrique

TÉLÉCHARGER :
Rapport : Etat de la liberté des médias en Europe

Source/Lien : Conseil de l’Europe

Trend, Azerbaijan
Oct 15 2012

FM: Turkey to make efforts to restore stability in South Caucasus

Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 15 / Trend S. Agayeva /

Turkey supports Azerbaijan’s position on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Ankara will continue making efforts to restore stability in the South
Caucasus, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told media today.

“Turkey supports Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity,” he said. “Ankara
will continue trying to achieve stability in the South Caucasus
region.”

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France and the U.S. – are
currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

National Post, Canada
Oct 15 2012

Turkey intercepts Armenian flight bound for Syria as total ban on
Syrian aircraft begins

Angus MacSwan and Khaled Yacoub Oweis, Reuters

BEIRUT/AMMAN – Turkey has banned all Syrian aircraft from its air
space as it takes an increasingly firm stance against President Bashar
al-Assad, while Syrian rebels said on Sunday they had made more gains
in a key province near the Turkish border.

Human Rights Watch said Syrian government forces had dropped
Russian-made cluster bombs over civilian areas in the past week as
they battled to reverse rebel advances, an act which rights groups say
can constitute a war crime.

NATO-member Turkey has increasingly taken on a leadership role in the
international coalition ranked against Assad.

Turkey ordered an Armenian plane flying to the Syrian city of Aleppo
to land and searched its cargo on Monday, in the latest move to
prevent its airspace being used to supply the Syrian military.