Author: Toneyan Mark

IT WAS THE SAME IN 1915

Lragir.am
25/11/09

At the request of Lragir.am, Igor Muradyan comments on the comments
and expectations in connection with the meeting of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani presidents in Munich on November 22.

– The meeting of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Munich
in November 2009 shows little new in the processes of the region
and the Karabakh issue. Outrageous scene still occurs for outside
observers, when the president of Azerbaijan continues threatening by
military actions, and the Armenian president pretends that the real
negotiations are continuing.

First of all, it should be noted that the three centers of power are
the main actors in the South Caucasus – the United States, European
Union, represented by France and Russia – assess the likelihood of
renewed hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan solely on the basis
of certain agreements of Azerbaijan and Turkey and possible solutions
in this connection and nothing else. This is the reason why external
players do not take for serious Ilham Aliyev’s threats.

Serge Sargsyan is still trying to show himself as a flexible political
figure, receiving the signals from the West and the East as the only
guide to action. Sargsyan is still trying to gain time, to prolong the
period of imitation of the talks, realizing the approval of external
parties, but at the same time realizing that after the events of the
past year, the United States, Russia and the EU are unable to fully
guarantee the continuation of ceasefire in the Karabakh zone. These
power centers can significantly influence the behavior of both parties,
but they cannot also guarantee the continuation of the truce, just as
the U.S. failed to guarantee the continuation of the settlement of
the Armenian-Turkish relations after the signing of the "Protocols"
in Zurich.

If Turkey tries to demonstrate the seriousness of their "new" position
in the region, then Azerbaijan will give a signal on the beginning of
the war, not paying attention to the views of politicians, representing
the world’s centers of power. Another matter, that Turkey does not
yet need it and the value of the Karabakh province for Turkey is
equal to zero.

Alongside with this, Serge Sargsyan is little likely to play such
dangerous and vulnerable games only for the sake of imitation the
way he is quite determined in settling the Karabakh issue within the
provisions of the principles of Madrid. The Armenian president has
repeatedly stated over years, that territories are to be yielded, in
addition within the frameworks of the offered "scheme". He thinks that
it is better to yield a part than to lose the whole. It is quite logic
from the point of an Armenian bourgeois or an Armenian citizen who have
something to lose. (Wasn’t there such logic before 1915 and a thesis
which would say "Gentlemen we have to live adequately to the life"?).

Activities of the Armenian president are not politics and it cannot
be called politics, it is just behavior. In practice, negotiations
are continuing in terms of direct threats, after which the president
Aliyev went to Moscow, apparently, to strengthen these agreements. The
U.S. is currently trying to pretend that they continue to adhere to
the declared principles of indifference between the Karabakh and
the Turkish-Armenian settlement, but in fact, they hope for the
elimination of Azerbaijani influence on Turkey in this issue. Not
surprisingly, the direct threat of the president of Azerbaijan did
not receive proper evaluation of either the U.S. or Russia. I wonder
what the same superpowers would have done if the president of Armenia
had made such a statement.

Armenia recedes, more and more losing the previous benefits, continuing
the simulation at any cost. Perhaps this would make sense if the real
intentions of Mr. Serge Sargsyan in the Karabakh topic lacked. The
Munich meeting and the taken arrangement may demonstrate much to
Turkey from the point that the Karabakh settlement is moving forward
and it can decide whether to open the border or not according to the
"Protocols". But the main result was that, regardless of the assurances
of the U.S. and Russia, Turkey became an immediate and, perhaps, a key
member of the Karabakh process. At the same time, there is no hope for
a "lifeline" of the world’s centers of power. In any case, with regard
to the U.S., this issue becomes quite unnecessary among their concerns.

MEDIA ALLOWED TO USE KURDISH LANGUAGE BUT STILL FORBIDDEN TO DISCUSS KURDISH ISSUES FREELY

AZG DAILY
26-11-2009

Turkey

Reporters Without Borders hails the lifting of the last restrictions
on the use of the Kurdish language by the Turkish news media. "This
is an important and symbolically-charged step but its impact will
be very limited as long as the media cannot tackle Kurdish issues
without risking prosecution," the press freedom organisation said.

The government gazette published a directive on 13 November
indefinitely lifting all remaining restrictions on the broadcast
media’s use of minority languages. Use of Kurdish had been allowed in
the print media and the national public TV station TRT 6 since January
2004, but privately-owned radio stations were limited to five hours
of Kurdish programming a week while privately-owned TV stations were
limited to four hours.

Furthermore, all Kurdish-language TV programmes had to be subtitled
in Turkish, which made live broadcasts impossible. As a result, only
TV stations offered any Kurdish programmes, the local station Gun TV
and, in the past two months, the satellite TV station Su TV.

"What is the point of broadcasting in Kurdish if coverage of Kurdish
issues from an independent or activist viewpoint is banned in
practice," Reporters Without Borders said. "The lifting of language
restrictions must not be allowed to eclipse the fact that the media
are still the victims of intimidation and self-censorship when they
try to tackle sensitive issues."

The press freedom organisation added: "There will be no real progress
for free expression in Turkey until the repressive legislation has
been repealed and the media are finally allowed to tackle the subjects
that the Turkish state has declared off limits."

More than 15 journalists are currently being prosecuted under
Anti-Terrorist Law No. 3713 and criminal code article 216 (on inciting
hatred) just for referring to the demands of the outlawed Kongra-Gel,
also known as the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), or for quoting its
leaders, even in an article that criticises them.

The Turkish legislative arsenal – including criminal code article
301, under which "insults to the Turkish nation" are punishable by
up to two years in prison – imposes considerable restrictions on
democratic debate by defining the limits that cannot be crossed as
regards such subjects as the armed forces, police, judicial system,
torture, secularism and the republic’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

And in practice this legislative arsenal allows many local judges
and prosecutors to resist the government’s declared policy of making
Turkish society more open.

Around 20 charges of "PKK propaganda," condoning criminal activity and
membership of an illegal organisation have been brought against Vedat
Kursun, the editor of the only Kurdish-language newspaper, Azadiya
Welat. Although he has been detained since January, the first hearing
in his trial was not held until 10 September. And he will continue to
be detained until the next hearing, which has been set for 2 December.

His lawyer, Servet Ozen, told Reporters Without Borders, "he is in
prison for comments that his newspaper was the first to make, but
which are now being debated in all the Turkish media."

Pro-Kurdish publications are even silenced online. Access to the
website of the daily newspaper Gunluk was blocked on 18 November.

Gunluk itself, like the weekly Ozgur Ortam, has repeatedly been closed
temporarily under the Anti-Terrorist Law, while Gunluk’s owner, its
editor and one of its journalists are all currently facing possible
sentences of 7½ years in prison.

The newspaper Demokratik Acilim was closed in September, just a
few weeks after it had been launched to replace Gunluk, which was
itself closed at the time. On 20 October, the European Court of
Human Rights ordered the Turkish government to pay several hundred
thousand euros in damages to 26 journalists working for four other
pro-Kurdish newspapers that had been closed – Ulkede Ozgur Gundem,
Gundem, Guncel and Gercek Demokrasi.

Even media that show little sign of sympathising with Kurdish autonomy
demands are exposed to repression. Hasan Cakkalkurt, the editor of the
"Kemalist" daily Milliyet, and one of his journalists, Namik Durukan,
are facing possible 7½-year jail sentences and fines of 9,000 euros
for reprinting a local news agency interview with a PKK leader. The
next hearing in their trial is set for 26 January.

Hulya Avsar, a famous singer, and Milliyet journalist Devrim Sevimay
are being prosecuted on charges of inciting hatred because Avsar,
who has Turkish and Kurdish parents, said in an interview that the
government’s policy of openness should not "under-estimate or ignore
the rights of the Kurds" and that it would be "hard to convince the
terrorists of the separatist PKK to lay down their arms."

Aside from Kurdish issues, it is still very difficult for Turkish
journalists to criticise the behaviour of the judicial system, armed
forces or police. Haci Bogatekin, the editor of the fortnightly Gerger
Firat, was sentenced in absentia by a local court on 18 November to
26 months and seven days in prison under criminal code article 125
for allegedly libelling the former prosecutor and police chief of
the southeastern district of Gerger by accusing them of harassing
his newspaper and colluding with Islamists.

Worn out by a legal battle that has dragged on for more than a year,
Bogatekin did not attend the final hearing for health reasons. He
wrote a letter of apology to the court, but the court ignored it on the
grounds that it was not sent by recorded delivery, rsf.org reported.

AZERI STATEMENTS HAVE NEGATIVE EFFECT ON KARABAKH TALKS – YEREVAN

Interfax
Nov 24 2009
Russia

Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian has negative feelings
about the possibility of a regional war declared by Azeri President
Ilham Aliyev.

"Although these statements are targeted at the domestic audience,
they have a negative effect on the negotiations and regional peace
efforts," he said.

"Such statements display the Azeri destructive position on Armenia,
Karabakh and regional processes at large," Nalbandian said.

Aliyev said two days before his Munich meeting with Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan that a war might resume in the region if the meeting
failed to bring results.

"If the meeting fails, the hopes we pin on negotiations will be
crushed, and we will have no other way left. We must be prepared
[to free the occupied Azerbaijani lands with military force]," he
said while visiting the Goranboy district of Azerbaijan.

Yerevan took the statement as a challenge to Armenia, Karabakh and
the world at large.

Meanwhile, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen lauded the sixth round
of the Aliyev-Sargsyan negotiations held in Munich on Sunday.

GREEK PUBLIC TV TELEVISE PROGRAM ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH TIES

Panorama.am
15:14 24/11/2009

Politics

Greek "Antapokrites" TV show, public TV station of Greece, will
televise a program devoted to Armenian-Turkish protocols, "Azat or"
paper reports. The signing of protocols, the situation following
the signing ceremony, the further development of Armenian-Turkish
ties will be the highlights of the TV show. It’s reported that the
journalist made interviews in Armenia, Artsakh and Turkey.

Azerbaijani President’S Statements Made For Armenian Public, Not Authorities

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.11.2009 15:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijani President’s statements are made for
Armenian public, not authorities, a military psychologist said.

"Aliyev makes such statements to spread panic among the Armenian
population. A new war between Armenia and Azerbaijan is very unlikely,"
Davit Jamalyan told a news conference on Monday.

Military potential of both countries is equal, according to him.

"The attacking side never announces its intentions. If Aliyev wanted
to wage a war, he would do it without any warning," Jamalyan said.

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Nov 20 2009

Turkey eyes progress in Karabakh to move forward with Armenia

Friday, November 20, 2009
SERKAN DEMÄ°RTAÅ?
ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News

Armenian President Serge Sarkisian (R) shakes hands with his
Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev during their meeting in October.
AFP photo

Turkey has said it is hopeful that Armenia and Azerbaijan will make
progress toward resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
facilitating an imminent normalization of relations between regional
foes Ankara and Yerevan.

`The technical work was completed with regard to the corridors linking
Armenia to Karabakh. We are informed of the progress [regarding the
negotiations],’ a senior Turkish diplomat told the Hürriyet Daily News
& Economic Review.

The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Serge Sarkisian and Ilham
Aliyev, are expected to meet Sunday at the French consulate in Munich,
Germany. It will be the eighth presidential meeting since Turkey and
Armenia began reconciliatory talks.

In addition to this meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu
and his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian are also expected to
meet in Athens, Greece, on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting of
the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE.

Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols Oct. 10 but have not yet
initiated ratification of them at either parliament. Turkey submitted
the protocols to its Parliament, but Armenia is still trying to pass
them through the constitutional court. `I do not think that one could
press Turkey at this moment when Armenia has still not submitted them
to parliament,’ the senior diplomat said.

For Turkey, the condition to go ahead with the protocols is progress
in the Nagorno-Karabakh talks.

`There are important developments,’ the senior diplomat said, adding
that a technical delegation had completed an exploration of the Lachin
Corridor, a mountain pass within the official borders of Azerbaijan
that is the shortest route connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh.
`Its status and how to provide its security are important matters to
be solved.’

DavutoÄ?lu held a telephone conversation with his Azerbaijani
counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov last week and was informed about the
talks. The co-chairmen of the OSCE’s Minsk Group held meetings last
week in Yerevan and Baku. Mammadyarov is expected to pay a visit to
Ankara next month.

`The public is aware that there will be no further steps taken unless
there is progress on the Karabakh issue,’ DavutoÄ?lu said Tuesday at
Parliament while defending his ministry’s budget. `We are now
expecting concrete results [out of the negotiations].’

The three things Turkey expects are the withdrawal of Armenian troops
from the seven regions surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh province and
the return of the Azerbaijani people who were expelled from their
homeland; clearer definition of the status of the corridor and how its
security would be assured; and, lastly, the reaching of an interim
agreement.

For Turkish diplomats, there are no additional obstacles before the
two parties being able to shake hands in the near future. `Talking
about deadlines is not always productive, but everyone is aware of the
need to accelerate the process,’ another Turkish diplomat said.

`Who knows, maybe Armenia’s borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan will be
opened simultaneously,’ the diplomat added.

According to DavutoÄ?lu, simultaneous rapprochement between Turkey and
Armenia and Armenia and Azerbaijan would be the best formula for
reaching a comprehensive settlement in the southern Caucasus.

Focus News, Bulgaria
Nov 21 2009

Azerbaijan President threatens to use military force to return control
over Nagorno-Karabakh

21 November 2009 | 22:01 | FOCUS News Agency

Baku. Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev has threatened to use military
force to return control over Nagorno-Karabakh, RBK informed. In his
words he is planning very soon to hold talks on the issue with
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.
Aliyev warned that if they do not reach results at the meeting
Azerbaijan is ready to use its armed forces. He noted Baku wants
peaceful resolution of the conflict but it would not wait forever.

BUDGETARY GUARANTEE EQUIVALENT TO 0.5 MILLION DOLLARS TO BE GIVEN TO NORASHEN 2007 CONSUMERS’ COOPERATIVE

NOYAN TAPAN
NOVEMBER 20, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. By the decision taken at
the November 19 sitting of the Armenian government, a budgetary
guarantee equivalent to 0.5 million USD will be given to Norashen 2007
consumers’ cooperative with the aim of attracting credit resources from
Prometey Bank in order to complete the construction of an apartment
building. According to RA Minister of Finance Tigran Davtian, a pledge
agreement will be signed with the cooperative, with the area of the
apartment building being contructed by the company to be recognized
as a security. The minister stated that it is yet another budgetary
guarantee to revive the construction sector.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said this is one of those decisions
that are criticized by opponnets who say that the Armenian government
supports developers. "The impression is that the developers are enemies
of our nation," the prime minister said, adding that so far only 3.5
billion drams has been provided as a guarantee. "By allocating this
money, we are guaranteed that the construction of these facilities
will be carried to a conclusion. On the other hand, we have allocated
about 12 billion drams for mortgage lending in order to encourage
the demand. If we promote the development of the mortgage market by
providing 12 billion drams, naturally there should also be apartments
affordable to our citizens," T. Sargsyan said.

CHP SHOULD SUPPORT DTP’S DERSIM SUGGESTION

Hurriyet Daily News
Nov 19 2009
Turkey

The CHP will have to pass an important test changing back Tunceli’s
name to its former name Dersim.

Here is a great opportunity for Onur Oymen to repair what he broke
and get back votes he lost to the AKP.

Opposing DTP’s legislation proposal would mean shooting himself in
the foot.

Rejecting DTP’s proposal would add insults to injury and mean an
immense loss of prestige.

A change made in 1935 has deep meaning for the inhabitants of Tunceli.

Renaming it with its former name Dersim would create great relaxation
whereby the message given is very important.

This would mean that the Turkish Republic would show the courage to
confront its past mistakes which would leave deeper traces than any
other political decision.

The AKP seems to have noticed this. The prime minister’s style of
answering questions asked in Rome was a sign of him supporting the
DTP legislation proposal regarding the Kurdish Initiative.

Let’s see how the CHP will proceed.

Does Baku postpone Turkish-Armenian protocol?

The protocol between Turkey and Armenia regarding the opening of
borders has not been forgotten but seems to be frozen for the time
being.

The key for the protocol passing Parliament is in Aliyev’s pocket.

When Baku and Yerevan come to a consensus in respect to an end to the
Armenian occupation of seven regions and Aliyev is pleased as to give
green light, and then Parliament will approve the protocol.

But now the question is as to whether the Azerbaijani really wants
a solution or not.

Many have doubts in this respect. It is being questioned whether the
Azerbaijani in the first place want a "reasonable" solution for the
retreat of the Armenians from the seven regions rather than a final
solution to Karabakh.

Until last year Azerbaijani authorities from behind closed doors in
Baku answered this question always the same way:

"… Why should we hurry? We are getting richer by the day. And as
we become richer our power increases. But the Armenians become weaker.

And especially if the border to Turkey remains closed they will be
even weaker. That is why we are not in a hurry. We will wait. They
will fall down like a ripe apple from a tree."

This attitude lasted until August 2008 when Russia placed troops in
Georgia. This also scared the Azerbaijanis. This proved that Russia
has set weight on the region and would not hesitate to interfere
if necessary.

In other words, the reality that Armenian’s prime ally Russia would
"not let the Armenians fall into the lap of the Azerbaijani when ripe
like an apple" is what obviously scared Baku.

These days we don’t really know from which direction the winds blow.

The Azerbaijani on one side show they look for a solution but on the
other side they seem not to hesitate to speak the last word. Steps
not taken increase these doubts.

Within this frame, since there is no result obtained in these seven
regions, the protocol between Turkey and Armenia can’t come before
Parliament. If the Azerbaijanis continue with their attitude from
before 2008 we will have to wait for many years.

AMBASSADOR OF SWEDEN IN RA NA STANDING COMMITTEE

National Assembly of RA
Nov 20 2009
Armenia

On November 20 the Chairperson on NA Standing Committee on European
Integration Ms. Naira Zohrabyan received the Ambassador of the Kingdom
of Sweden to the Republic of Armenia Mr. Hans Gunab Aden. Ambassador
of Armenia to Sweden Mr. Ara Ayvazian attended the meeting.

Welcoming the guest in the parliament Ms. Zohrabyan highlighted
the relations with Sweden, as the most important country of the
European Union, which was also one of the initiators of the Eastern
Partnership format, and further cooperation. Touching upon the EU
Eastern Partnership, Ms. Zohrabyan reaffirmed the willingness of
Armenia in the implementation of the predetermined platforms in that
format. As a practical means of cooperation and European integration
Ms. Zohrabyan noted that the establishment of the parliamentary
cooperation between the two countries, saying that in the National
Assembly of the Republic of Armenia the Armenian-Swedish Friendship
Group already functioned. The Committee Chairperson also said that
during her visit in Sweden an agreement was reached in the Riksdagen
of Sweden to set up a parliamentary friendship group. In the future
in RA NA a number of deputies of Riksdagen of Sweden will be hosted.

During the meeting issues connected with EU association, free trade
agreements, as well as easing the provision of entrance visas to EU
countries were discussed. The sides also discussed regional problems
and issues concerning the future strengthening of Armenia’s democracy.

Touching upon the problem of the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations, Committee Chairperson Ms. Naira Zohrabyan once again
stressed that Armenia was interested in the establishment of
normal relations with Turkey, which could not be in the account of
our national ruling interests. Regarding the settlement of the NK
problem, the Committee Chairperson reaffirmed that the independence of
Artsakh had no alternative and sooner or later it should be accepted
by everybody.