Author: Tvankchian Parkev

VLADIMIR KARAPETYAN: TURKEY WILL NOT RATIFY PROTOCOLS

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Oct 22 2009
Armenia

Turkey will not ratify the Armenian-Turkish Protocols nor
will the border be reopened, Vladimir Karapetyan, International
Affairs Coordinator, Armenian National Congress (ANC), told a press
conference. Although Ankara can benefit from reopening the border with
Armenia, it benefits even more from friendly relations with Azerbaijan.

The present developments involving the Azerbaijani-Turkish relations
are, according to him, nothing but "masterly cooperation."

Azerbaijan is pressuring Turkey, which, in turn, is demonstrating this
pressure to those urging it to ratify the protocols. "It is under this
pretext that the ratification will be delayed," he said. Karapetyan
added that Ankara will start pressuring the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
into intensifying the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. He pointed out
that the Armenian side is entertaining secret hopes that Turkey will
not sign the protocols.

AZERI FLAGS BANNING WAS FIFA INITIATIVE

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Oct 21 2009
Armenia

A scandal broke out during the Armenia-Turkey football match in Bursa
between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Bursa Governor Sahabettin Harput made a
decision that no Azerbaijani flags should be waved in Araturk stadium,
Bursa. Even the T-shirts with Azerbaijani flag was banned, at that the
Turk police officers were throwing detected Azeri flags into garbage.

Commenting on this decision, the Governor stated that it was made by
FIFA. Nevertheless, there were over 200 Azeri flags in the stadium.

All the more, Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan also spoke of the
matter, outlining that the decision was made by FIFA.

AZERBAIJAN: OSCE HAS NOT DESIRE TO SETTLE ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJAN CONFLICT

Azerbaijan Business Center
Oct 21 2009

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Today Azerbaijani parliament (Milli Majlis)
has opened discussion about the protocols on normalization of
Turkish-Armenian ties signed on 10 October.

The MPs asked a question why the OSCE Minsk Group states’ foreign
ministers who participated in the protocol signing ceremony failed
to insist there on conflict settlement issues.

First vice speaker Ziafet Askerov claimed that unfortunately Milli
Majlis had not concrete levers to urge the MG co-chairs to change
their positions, but nevertheless, discussions with them should be
continued and they must at last to do their business and continue
exerting pressure upon Armenia.

"Everybody knows that Armenia is aggressor and has been occupying 20%
of our territory, but when it comes down to solution of the issue,
position on the occasion is lacking. What prevents Russia and the
United States in particular to tell Armenia – withdraw your troops
as you have occupied other country’s territory?," Askerov said.

The MP also emphasized involvement of the same FMs in signing of
Zurich protocols and pressure upon Armenia in a style "go and sign".

"They say that there is no relation between Garabagh matter and issue
of opening of borders between Turkey and Armenia. But if there is no
relation, then why MG foreign ministers were present at the ceremony?

It means that certain relation exists," Askerov said.

He noted that Azerbaijan is always ready to receive the Minsk Group’s
FMs for discussion of the conflict issue coverage.

"We invited them. 18 years have passed but they did not come. Come
at any moment if only there is a desire to solve the matter,"
Askerov said.

Following the conflict Armenian has occupied 20% of Azerbaijani
territory and 1 million people became refugees and IDPs.

FM DAVUTOGLU ASSURES NO POLICY CHANGE OVER KARABAKH DISPUTE

Hurriyet Daily News
Oct 19 2009
Turkey

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict continues to be a top priority for
Turkish diplomacy, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says in response
to reprehending remarks from Azerbaijan. ‘Even if the sky falls,
Turkey will not change its position,’ says Davutoglu

AA photo

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu once more affirmed that Turkey would
push for a solution to end Armenia’s occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh
after reprehending remarks came from Azerbaijan.

"Even if the sky falls, Turkey will not change its position,"
Davutoglu told reporters on Monday after his talks with Czech Foreign
Minister Jan Kohout. The comments were seen as an attempt to tone
down diplomatic rhetoric on Turkey’s part.

Turkish flags on Martyrs’ Lane in Baku were taken down last week
after Azerbaijani flags were not allowed in a World Cup qualifier
between Turkey and Armenia.

"Both Azerbaijani and Turkish flags belong to the same nation and are
deemed to hold the same degree of importance for Turkish officials
as well as 72 million citizens," Davutoglu said.

"Our flag, which the shadows of our martyrs rest under, has been
entrusted to Azerbaijan’s greatness and honor. I hope they will act
in accordance with this. I was told that the flags were taken down
due to restoration and would be hung again soon."

Stressing that the Karabakh conflict is at the top of the diplomatic
agenda, he said President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan recently highlighted the Karabakh dispute in the scope of U.N.

talks, as well as meetings with the U.S. administration.

"There is no doubt that our Azerbaijani brothers will give the best
response to those sowing discord. For all they may say, Turkey will
continue its efforts until a solution is reached. There is no change
in policy or attitude," he said.

Azerbaijani President Ä°lham Aliyev was also cited over the weekend as
saying, "no more cheap gas to Turkey," adding that they were looking
for alternative gas transportation routes bypassing Turkey. Asked to
comment on Aliyev’s remarks, Davutoglu said: "The negotiations were
underway between the Nabucco consortium and Azerbaijani officials. The
Caspian- Anatolia transport route is strategically important for all
of us."

Confirming that the reconciliation protocols will be submitted to
Parliament on Oct. 21, Davutoglu said, however, "Submission and
ratification are two different things."

Surrender of PKK members

Upon questions regarding a group of outlawed Kurdistan Workers’
Party, or PKK, members who left northern Iraq to surrender to
Turkish officers, Davutoglu said: "The Turkey-Iraq border will be
safe hereafter. I hope that these developments are striking signals
of that." He said counter-terrorism efforts continue in all fields and
the democratic move and the 48 agreements, recently signed with Iraq,
are parts of the same process.

Czech Republic to back Turkey’s EU bid against Cyprus obstacle

Davutoglu asked his visiting Czech counterpart Jan Kohout to back
Turkey’s European Union membership bid, which may come to a deadlock
because of Cyprus.

"I appreciate that the Czech Republic has principally supported
Turkey’s EU membership. We’re entering a new period in which we will
feel more need for this support," Davutoglu said at a joint press
conference with Kohout.

No settlement has yet been reached in Cyprus reunification talks,
Davutoglu said. "While the Greek side is prolonging the talks,
Turkey-EU relations come under risk. We’ve asked him to back us
against such a danger."

Kohout confirmed his country’s support for Turkish membership, saying,
"It has strategic importance for both Turkey and the EU."

Kohout and Davutoglu expressed their satisfaction for a strategic
bilateral partnership between Turkey and the Czech Republic to boost
economic, cultural and political relations as well as cooperation at
the international stage.

Asked if Czech President Vaclav Klaus is against the Lisbon Treaty,
which envisages new members to the union, contrary to the government’s
support for Turkey’s bid, Kohout said: "Mr. President is not legally
in a position to sign the treaty or finalize the ratification. The
Constitutional Court will approve it at a hearing scheduled on
Oct. 27."

BAKUR KARAPETYAN: AZERBAIJANIS – WHERE FROM AND WHERE TO?

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Oct 19 2009
Armenia

"As never before, the Azerbaijanis need an answer to the question:
where do they come from, and where are they going? This is the reason
for serious discussions of the people’s origin organized by the
Azerbaijani TV channels," Bakur Karapetyan, Chairman of the Shuhsi
charity fund told reporters.

According to him, a people unaware of its own roots and lacking
a national ideology has no right to lay any serious claims in the
Nagorno-Karabakh process. This is the reason for Azerbaijan’s wish
to resolve the historical dilemma facing it now.

Early this year Bakur Karapetyan addressed an open letter to
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Abdullah Gul,
putting the following question: Who are you, and where are you going?

He stressed that, although his letter remained unanswered, it
was circulated round the world. The most deplorable fact is that
Azerbaijan’s political elite are deceiving their own people by
claiming the Turkic origin of the Azerbaijanis, whereas the residents
consider themselves mere Muslims, not even Azerbaijanis. "Present-day
Azerbaijan, its people and language are artificial. They have a
serious self-identification problem," Karapetyan said.

ARMENIA MAY BECOME ALTERNATIVE TRANSIT ENERGY ROUTE BETWEEN CASPIAN BASIN AND EUROPE

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.10.2009 19:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As Europe now seeks to build new pipelines from the
Caspian, energy executives’ eyes are turning to Armenia as a possible
alternative to more pipelines through Azerbaijan and Georgia, says an
article published in The Huffington Post. A pipeline across Armenia
to Europe would be much shorter (and hence cheaper) than existing
or prospective routes through Azerbaijan and Georgia. Since Armenia
also has better relations with Moscow, a pipeline across Armenia would
face less political risk. The EU and its US allies thus have a strong
geopolitical interest in a deal," author of the article believes.

"Despite these opportunities, Russia has more often been an obstacle
than a facilitator of reconciliation in the region. It remains
skeptical of Turkey’s attempt to become a regional energy hub,
loathes the government of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili,
and has long benefited from instability that prevents the US and EU
from building new pipelines," publication goes on saying.

At the end of article, the author refers to Obama Administration’s
patient attitude, particularly, he states, "Obama’s patient outreach to
Moscow, coupled with Secretary Clinton’s intensive mediation between
the Turks and Armenians, were all necessary parts of the foundation
leading to last week’s agreement, as they will be to any future accord
on Nagorno-Karabakh."

ARAM I AND BASHAR AL-ASAD DISCUSSED RA-TURKISH RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.10.2009 21:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I
received Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. The meeting which lasted
over an hour focused on a range of issues. Catholicos expressed
gratitude to Syrian President for attention to his country’s Armenian
community. In his turn, Bashar Al-Asad emphasized Armenians’ positive
role in the development of social and economic life of Syria.

Parties discussed the situation in Middle East and dialogue between
Christians and Muslims.

They also touched upon Armenian-Turkish process and recently signed
Protocols. Catholicos stressed the importance of recognizing Armenian
Genocide, the press service of the Great House of Cilicia reports.

ArmInfo
2009-10-19 14:50:00

ArmInfo. The basic services of Ameriabank will be available for the
bank clients On-Line. As the bank’s press service told ArmInfo, the
clients will henceforth be able to make use of Ameriabank’s services
from any corner of the world and any time of the day.

According to the source, the bank will actuate the mechanisms, used
in foreign banks, for maximum security of this system. The data being
transferred are confidentially recorded in SSL. Identification devices
on a Digipass principle of VASCO Data Security Company are used to
close transactions and group the clients.

As the source reports, this system provides an opportunity of involving
several users by one legal person, distributing the authorities among
them, creating documents and models, as well as an opportunity to
work in Armenian, English and Russian.

To note, Ameriabank focuses on the investment banking and renders
the whole spectrum of universal banking services. Troika Dialogue
Group of companies, one of the biggest investment-banking companies
in Russia, is Ameriabank’s strategic partner. TDA Holdings Limited,
affiliated with Troika Dialogue Russian Investments Company, with 99,7%
equity share, is Ameriabank’s majority shareholder.

The Blade (Toledo, Ohio)
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News
October 17, 2009 Saturday

EDITORIAL: Burying old hatred

Oct. 17–LONG-TIME antagonists Turkey and Armenia have taken measures
to substantively improved their relations, although the line they
walked has to be seen as two steps forward, one step back.

Problems between the countries date to the time of the Ottomans, when
Armenian Christians were one of the minorities within the Turkish and
Muslim-ruled empire. The sharp point in Turkish-Armenian relations
occurred in 1915, when Turks killed as many as 1 million Armenians in
what some have called an act of genocide.

Being accused of genocide, even though it was under a very different
regime and occurred 94 years ago, is bad enough for Turkey. What has
been the most painful part, as the Turks have sought to modernize
their country, is that the charge has sometimes been an arrow in the
quiver of those in the European Union who oppose Turkish accession for
other reasons. These include its size, its relative poverty, and the
fact that it would be the first predominantly Muslim member of an EU
made up of at least nominally Christian countries.

Turkey has defended itself stoutly, not only because it wants to join
the EU but also because it feels strongly that it is no longer the
Turkey that carried out heinous acts against the Armenians almost a
century ago.

The most recent chapter in efforts to restore some normalcy to
Turkish-Armenian relations occurred last week when negotiations
between Armenia and Turkey were signed and sealed. The Swiss had
mediated; the accord had been encouraged by France, Russia, and the
United States, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was on hand for
the ceremony. Part of the agreement is that the border between the two
countries, closed since 1993, would be reopened.

The accord must be ratified by the parliaments of the two countries
before it goes into effect. Hardliners on both sides likely will
oppose it, even though it is to the economic advantage of both.

The United States has an interest in the matter since it bears on
routes for oil and gas pipelines and possible supply routes to
Afghanistan. Armenian-Americans, estimated at 1.4 million, are also
likely to oppose it, complicating U.S. policy.

In case anyone thought the route to agreement would be easy from here,
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that Armenia
must withdraw its troops from the disputed enclave of
Nagorno-Karabakh.

That quarrel is a hardy perennial, having resisted resolution for more
than two decades now. Two steps forward, one step back.

News.am

Film spoils Turkey-Israel relations
17:28 / 10/17/2009

As NEWS.am informed earlier, Turkey-Israel relations are tensed. The
situation was fueled by Turkish TV transmitting scenes of an Israeli
murdering a child.

The series where Israel Defense Forces (IDF) appear cruel infanticide
was the last drop that broke a camel’s back. In this regard, Israeli
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called for Ambassador of Turkey to
Israel. According to Lieberman these scenes would provoke hatred
towards Israel.