Author: Vanyan Gary

ARMENIANS AND TURKISH DISCUSS COMMON PERSPECTIVES

Panorama.am
20:06 01/10/2008

Armenian and Turkish historians, politicians, young people have
discussed the perspectives of Armenian-Turkish relationship in
a seminar organized by Armenian Center of Military and National
Investigation.

In the beginning of the seminar the participants have been introduced
to the results of recent studies done by the center that 24% Armenians
is pro to establish relationship with Turkey, and 33% is against,
while 43% has no definite attitude towards that issue.

And the poll results conducted among experts showed that 64% is ready
to establish communication with Turkey.

After the participants to the seminar made separate speeches covering
local situation in Armenia and Turkey.

SAROYAN AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
By Allen Pierleoni – [email protected]

Sacbee
Monday, September 22, 2008

Saroyan nonfiction prize for Folsom writer

Stanford University Libraries and the William Saroyan Foundation
announced the winners of the William Saroyan International Prize for
Writing. The winner in the fiction category is Nicole Krauss for "The
History of Love" (W.W. Norton, $13.95, 272 pages); for nonfiction,
it’s Kiyo Sato for "Dandelion Through the Crack" (Willow Valley,
$29.95, 416 pages). Each author will receive $12,500 in prize money.

Sato lives in Folsom.

"History" is an intricate story told over 60 years, featuring two
unusual characters whose lives are interwoven in myriad ways. Twists
and turns abound.

"Dandelion" follows the travails and triumphs of one Japanese family,
the Satos, through several generations.

The program was established to "encourage new and emerging writers,
and to honor the Saroyan literary legacy of originality, vitality and
stylistic innovation." Saroyan (1908-1981) was an Armenian American
novelist and playwright who was born in Fresno.

Finalists in the competition for fiction were Pamela Erens for "The
Understory" and Richard Lange for "Dead Boys." Finalists for nonfiction
were John Moir for "Return of the Condor" and Adam David Miller for
"Ticket to Exile."

ONE OF FRESNO’S LARGEST ARMENIAN FESTIVALS TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 26-28

Noyan Tapan

Se p 23, 2008

FRESNO, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The Second
Annual Grand Armenian Festival is taking place on September 26th
through the 28th at the California Armenian Home in Fresno. The three
day festival is one of Fresno’s largest Armenian-American cultural
events of the year. Some of the festivities include a traditional
Armenian dance performance by the Hamazkayin Nairi Dance Ensemble,
traditional Armenian "duduk" performance, Armenian dance lessons,
Saroyan Theatrical performance by the FSU Theatre Arts Department and
children’s entertainment. Traditional Armenian food will be served
all weekend long.

KAREN DEMIRTCHYAN WOULDN’T HAVE LED THE PEOPLE INTO ADVENTURISM

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
20 Sep 2008
Armenia

`The tragedy of March 1 was contrary to the principles of K.
Demirtchyan. He would never have led the people into adventurism. And
today, Stepan Demirtchyan has involuntarily become one of the
participants of the `March 1′ incidents.

I am sure that if Stepan Demirtchyan had known that there was going to
be a `March 1′, he would have never appeared next to L. Ter-Petrosyan.
In my opinion, the only reason the People’s Party of Armenia joined the
`pan-national movement’ was L. Ter-Petrosyan’s pre-election program in
which he had mentioned that he was going to disclose the details of the
`October 27′ tragedy.

On the other hand, I don’t think that this should have served as a
reason for him to join L. Ter-Petrosyan. Especially now, when
conducting an in-depth analysis, one arrives at the conclusion that the
October 27 tragedy was advantageous to the pro-Ter-Petrosyan team.

The physical absence of Karen Demirtchyan and Vazgen Sargsyan was first
of all advantageous to those forces,’ EMMA KHOUDABASHKHYAN said in an
interview with our correspondent.

Chairman of RA CBA to visit Frankfurt on September 20-24 and Sarayevo
on September 25-27

2008-09-19 19:21:00

ArmInfo. Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia Artur Javadyan will
participate in the session of the Supervisory Council of the
German-Armenian Fund (GAF) in Frankfurt on September 20-24. The CBA
press-service told ArmInfo that the session will cover issues related
to three credit programs: on financing micro-, small and medium-sized
entrepreneurship, on development of steady housing finance market, on
development of renewable power engineering. These programs are
implemented through GAF. During his stay in Frankfurt Javadyan will
also meet representatives of the European Central Bank.

According to the source, on September 25 Javadyan will pay a working
visit to Sarayevo to participate in the 20th session of the Club of
Heads of Central Banks of Balkan, Middle Asian and Black Sea countries
ob Sep 27. This session will cover the topics: `Consumers, transparency
and unsteady of financial sector’, `Liberalization of capital: tasks
and challenges’, `Financial stability reports: how to resist new
challenges’.

To note, 10 commercial banks and 2 universal credit organizations
participate in the specified programs financed by the German KfW Bank.
In particular, Armeconombank and Anelik Bank are involved in the
program on development of renewable power engineering; Armeconombank,
ARARATBANK,=2
0Cascade Bank, INECOBANK, Areximbank, Byblos Bank Armenia
(former ITB), Anelik Bank, ArmBusinessBank, Ardshininvestbank, UCO
First Mortgage Company and UCO Washington Capital are involved in the
program on development of steady housing finance market, and finally
ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank, Armeconombank, Anelik Bank, Converse Bank
and INECOBANK are involved in the program on financing micro-, small
and medium-sized entrepreneurship.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDER SHOULD BE OPEN

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.09.2008 14:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The president of the Liberal Group of the European
Parliament said yesterday that Turkey’s relations with the European
Union were on track, despite periodical ups and downs.

Graham Watson urged the government to take stronger steps in areas
of judicial reform and freedom of expression, which will undoubtedly
strengthen Ankara’s hand in negotiations with the 27-nation bloc.

Watson, and a group of parliamentarians from the Liberal Group,
met yesterday with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Parliament
Speaker Koksal Toptan and Ahmet Turk, the leader of the pro-Kurdish
Democratic Society Party, or DTP.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Toptan, Watson expressed
support for Turkey’s bid to join the EU. "We are closely following the
progress made in Turkey," he was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news
agency. Watson asked Toptan if the government would be able to live up
to its commitments in the national program, a roadmap for progress in
negotiations with the EU. In response, Toptan said Parliament passed
many reforms for alignment with the acquis and vowed the work would
continue when Parliament opens its fall session next month.

Meanwhile, Watson praised the Turkish president’s landmark visit to
neighboring Armenia early this month and suggested that the sealed
border between the two countries be reopened, the Turkish Daily
News reports.

ARMENIAN COMMISSAR CATANY

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
18 Sep 2008
Armenia

"I don’t hide that there have been attempts to put pressure on me,
by the same high ranking officials. In my view today’s session of
the council and the press conference is the answer. The whole system
needs cleansing. Both the President and the Prime Minister support
me in this issue. I must also inform you that three days after being
elected as the President of the Supervisory Palace I have quitted my
party activity in Bargavach Hayastan Party.

I consider it dangerous that the Supervisory Palace must please
any party or act against any party," President of the Supervisory
Palace Ishkhan Zakaryan said representing the results of the recent
inspection.

‘GOOD BASIS’ FOR SOLVING ARMENIA CONFLICT: AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT

Agence France Presse — English
September 16, 2008 Tuesday 12:06 PM GMT

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday said there was "a good
basis" for resolving a long-running conflict with Armenia after talks
with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev near Moscow.

"It seems to us that there is now a good basis for a resolution of
the conflict, which would fit with the interests of all states and
would be based on the principles of international law," Aliyev said.

"If the conflict is resolved in the near future, I am sure that there
will be new perspectives for regional cooperation," Aliyev said.

Aliyev also expressed his concern over the situation in the region
following Russia’s war in Georgia, saying that conflict "should be
resolved in a peaceful way, through dialogue, by finding common points
and based on mutual respect."

Aliyev visited Medvedev at his residence near Moscow for talks on
last month’s conflict in Georgia and on Azerbaijan’s conflict with
its neighbour Armenia over the disputed enclave of Nagorny-Karabakh.

Armenia and Azerbaijan remain in a tense stand-off over the enclave,
which ethnic Armenian forces seized in the early 1990s in a war that
killed nearly 30,000 people and forced another million on both sides
to flee their homes.

A ceasefire was signed between the two former Soviet republics in
1994 but the dispute remains unresolved after more than a decade of
negotiations, and shootings between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces
in the region are common.

TURKEY MOVING IN RIGHT DIRECTION, TOWARD EU
By Graham Watson

Today’s Zaman
Sept 16 2008
Turkey

Turkey has long wanted to enter the European Union, but this week
the European Union — or at least a little bit of it — is coming
to Turkey.

I am proud to be leading a delegation of senior members from my
political group to one of the most fascinating and culturally rich
countries on our continent. We are in Ankara for talks with President
Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and representatives
of Turkey’s political parties and civil society — and our message
will be clear and simple. Last month’s court ruling in favor of the
Justice and Development Party (AK party) has presented Turkey and
its government with a unique opportunity. The government has been
boosted, political certainty has been increased and the country has
the opportunity to pursue reform. Now is the time to press ahead
with the domestic changes necessary for integration with Europe,
and now is also the moment for Turkey to assume a firm and ambitious
foreign policy role in the region. These aims are not merely goods in
themselves — they are the best way to show those that doubt Turkey’s
European vocation that the union needs Turkey just as much as Turkey
would benefit from the Union. This is a modernizing country, a stable
actor and a true partner in the quest for peace and prosperity.

In foreign affairs, Turkey has taken a number of positive steps in
recent times. I look forward to personally congratulating President Gul
for accepting an invitation to attend the football match in Yerevan on
Sept. 6. This was a positive indicator that we all hope will lead to
improved relations between Turkey and Armenia. For Turkey’s friends
in Europe it serves as a valuable argument that Turkey is serious
about healing old wounds and finding a constructive way forward. I
hope that Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan’s reciprocal participation
in the next match in Turkey will lead to real diplomatic progress.

I also look forward to further discussing the Turkish initiative for a
"Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform." This should complement
the EU’s efforts to increase regional cooperation around the Black
Sea. The recent war in Georgia was a very clear illustration that
when unresolved conflicts are simply set aside, they may well boil
over into violence at short notice. Diplomatic and political methods
are essential, and it is pleasing that Turkey appears eager to help
find solutions to the ongoing tensions in that region. It will also
be interesting to hear more from the Turkish government about the
role that it is playing in the Middle East, following Prime Minister
Erdogan’s participation in the Damascus summit on Sept. 4.

Given its geopolitical orientation, a Turkey that is willing to
play an active and constructive foreign policy role in the Caucasus,
the Black Sea region and the Middle East is a Turkey that deserves
credit for its bravery and encouragement for its constructive stance.

Of course, no examination of Turkey’s foreign policy is complete
without consideration of Cyprus. The re-launching of talks aimed
at finding a solution to this long-running issue is yet another
encouraging development. An end to the division of Cyprus is the
ultimate goal and will, of course, greatly facilitate Turkey’s
relations with the Union. It would also bring to a final end a shameful
chapter in European history — divisions, walls and barriers should
be a thing of the past in Europe.

Regarding domestic policy, I hope that the Turkish government will
press ahead with a comprehensive modernizing agenda. Turkey would
benefit from compliance with the acquis and reform of the Constitution
and the penal code. The revision to Article 301 earlier this year was
a positive step, but its text continues to prescribe prison sentences
to those who insult the state and its organs of government. That is
troubling to other European nations and is incompatible with liberal
democracy. Mature democratic states should have the self-confidence
to absorb criticism from within. The Turkish state is legitimate —
it should be able to withstand peaceful expressions of opinion from
its own citizens.

Similarly, it would also be a positive development for the government
to encourage open, public debate on political issues. Wide-ranging
engagement with opposition parties and civil society organizations
can only energize society and strengthen democratic participation
within Turkey. It might also help to dispel the current tendency
to see plots and conspiracies behind what are actually innocent
political initiatives.

But the reform process in Turkey is not only about changing the law. It
also requires those who enforce it — the police and the judiciary —
to implement those reforms in the spirit with which they were intended.

After all, it is true that Turkey has taken welcome steps to improve
women’s legal rights, but those rights are not fully enforced in all
sections of society. Partly, it will require time for a new ethos
to take root, but that process would benefit from clear political
direction from the top. It must be clearly understood that government
reforms are real and meaningful, and not optional extras. The European
Union, after all, requires its members to both adopt and enforce
proper legal protection against discrimination for every one of its
citizens. If Turkey wants to join the European Union, it must show
that it understands and embraces that approach.

The Turkish accession process has been both long and difficult. But
21 years after Turkey’s formal membership application, I am optimistic
that there is now the will and the means to move swiftly in the right
direction. Certainly, the prize is worth the effort.

RUSSIA’S ARGUMENTS
by Dario Valcarcel

ABC Newspaper
Sept 11 2008
Spain

Let us return to the strange Georgian crisis. We recalled here ("Oil
and Gas Pipelines," 21 August 2008) the blunders made by Georgian
President Mikheil Saakashvili. On 7 August, he ordered his troops
to seize the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, by surprise. Russia
continues to be the world’s second largest nuclear power. This gift
from Saakashvili to Putin and Medvedev was not easy to understand.

Since 2000, Russia has been transformed. Within the Russian state,
there is a vile mob, which ordered the killing of Anna Politkovskaya
and many others. But it seems that this mob is not making any
progress. In fact, it is falling back. Russia is the world’s largest
natural gas producer and the third largest oil producer (although it
does not belong to OPEC). British Petroleum and the new consortium
of Russian businessmen, namely TNK, which have recently reached an
agreement, have control over Siberia’s large oilfields, which total a
fifth of BP’s total reserves. The agreement was about to collapse. A
new agreement has just been reached: BP has given up some seats
on the board, but it will not lose control of this venture. Peter
Sutherland, BP chairman and a former EU commissioner, was very clear:
Russia is in need of investment and technology to curb the fall in
its oil-pumping capacity. BP is benefiting from this crisis. Russia is
worried about some territories, such as Georgia, which are being used
as corridors for oil and gas exports to the Turkish Mediterranean (the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline). The Turkish president’s visit to Armenia
on 6 September did not go unnoticed. Neither in the EU nor in Moscow.

The Russians put some strong arguments on the table during the
conflict with Georgia. It was President Saakashvili who ordered the
Georgian troops to capture the South Ossetian capital by surprise,
breaking the agreements that had authorized Moscow to keep a so-called
peacekeeping contingent in South Ossetia since 1992. After the Soviet
Union collapsed, Russia proposed an agreement forbidding both states
to resort to force in Ossetia and Abkhazia. On 19 August, Eduard
Shevardnadze, the former Georgian president and the Soviet Union’s
last foreign minister, expressed reservations about Saakashvili and
added: "It is possible to maintain good relations with Russia. Georgia
needs them."

Russia has hastened to draw a parallel between Kosovo and South
Ossetia. We are once again witnessing the clash between two
contradictory principles of the international law: the territorial
integrity of sovereign states and the peoples’ right to decide
their future. Some people defend, not without reason, the wisdom of
provisional situations. To maintain the status quo without resorting
to war. Such temporary situations may last centuries. When there
are no real solutions in sight, is it so reprehensible to buy
some time? It is not respectable to defend a dream world in which
high ideals are imposed on interests. Those who defend that empty
altruism know that they are performing a comedy. Russia is not Holy
Russia. But, surprisingly, it has made great progress compared with
the misgovernment and looting of the Yeltsin years. Putin has led
many Russians to recover their national dignity.

The outgoing US vice president has just visited Georgia and
Ukraine. His message was: You will be able to join the Atlantic
Alliance. But, rather than the interests of Georgia and Ukraine,
it will be the NATO member countries’ interests that will determine
whether they will join NATO. Only the Baltic republics share borders
with the Russian Federation. Lithuania, the most powerful of the Baltic
countries, shares its southwestern border with Kaliningrad. Poland,
Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Romania, and Bulgaria have
no borders with Russia. To declare that NATO is a defensive alliance
does not help matters. Before starting NATO accession talks with
Georgia and Ukraine, we should talk to Russia. With his tendency to
play roles, President Saakashvili News, Most Recent 60 Days stated:
"If we do not stop Russia, if the world does not stop Russia, its
tanks will invade any European capital tomorrow." Perhaps he knew
that he was exaggerating.