Author: Vanyan Gary

Eurasia Daily Monitor

Wednesday, December 9, 2009-Volume 6, Issue 226

TURKEY-ARMENIA NORMALIZATION LINKED TO ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN CONFLICT
RESOLUTION

by Vladimir Socor

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has clearly reaffirmed
the linkage between normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations and early
substantial progress toward resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict. Ankara defines such progress as an agreement on withdrawal of
Armenian troops from occupied districts of Azerbaijan beyond Upper
Karabakh, pending a determination of the latter’s future status.

Erdogan reinforced this linkage during his December 7-8 visit to
Washington, despite U.S. and E.U. attempts in recent months to break
that linkage and to convince Ankara also to break it. That course of
action ignored and alienated Azerbaijan, playing into Russia’s
hands and jeopardizing Western strategic interests in the South
Caucasus. Washington and Brussels seemed to be guided primarily by
internal political considerations in adopting that policy. They will now
have to reconsider it, in the wake of Erdogan’s and Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s latest clarifying statements.

The U.S. agenda for Erdogan’s visit, as publicized ahead
of the event (White House website, December 4) included neither the
Karabakh conflict nor energy projects such as Nabucco among the issues
to be discussed by President Barack Obama with Erdogan.

The first omission reflected Washington’s attempts to
de-link the Karabakh conflict-resolution negotiations from
Turkey-Armenia normalization. U.S. policy (seconded by that of the E.U.
and Russia) pressed for Turkish parliamentary ratification of the
October 10 Turkey-Armenia protocols on establishing full diplomatic
relations and opening the land border between them, without conditioning
this on Armenian troop withdrawal from certain Azerbaijani districts.

The omission of energy transit issues from the U.S.-prepared
agenda remained without official explanation, but could be seen as
relegating Caspian and European energy security to a secondary level on
the White House’s list of priorities. This perception would ipso
facto reduce Azerbaijan’s importance to U.S. policy in this
administration, compared with preceding U.S. administrations of both
parties. Obama solicited Turkish support on Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq
as top U.S. priorities, while also urging Turkish ratification of the
protocols with Armenia.

Obama did not mention the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict or a
Karabakh resolution process at the concluding news conference. It was
Erdogan who reintroduced this issue into the equation: `We have
also discussed [issues] between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which are of
great importance in the context of Turkey-Armenia
relations=80¦because the normalization process between Turkey and
Armenia is very much related to those issues,’ Erdogan stated at
the joint news conference (White House press release, December 7; APA,
PBS, December 8).

In follow-up statements in Washington, Erdogan recounted that he
had `explained to him [Obama]’ that Turkey-Armenia
normalization is difficult without resolving the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict. The Turkish parliament is `conditioning’ the
protocols’ ratification on conflict-resolution, it
`feels strongly about this,’ and it `cannot be
dictated to,’ he declared. He called for Armenian troop
withdrawal from seven Azerbaijani districts and urged the "Minsk
Group’s" co-chairs (U.S., Russia, France) to promote that goal (APA,
December 8).

U.S. policy makers were still pressing as recently as last month
for de-synchronizing the two processes. On the eve of Erdogan’s
visit, however, the Turkish position had become clear. During the
OSCE’s year-end conference in Athens, Davutoglu stated that the
Turkish parliament can only ratify the Turkey-Armenia protocols after
the Karabakh issue is resolved (Trend, December 2).

Erdogan clarified–in an interview televised in
Azerbaijan–that `resolution’ means, in this
context, `reaching an agreement [between Azerbaijan and Armenia]
regarding the seven districts=80¦.We have told U.S. officials all
along: If you want to resolve the Turkey-Armenia issue, you should also
resolve the Karabakh conflict. Otherwise any resolution would be
impossible=80¦The Turkish-Armenian issue and the Karabakh problems
are closely related’ (ANS TV cited by Day.az, December 4, 5).

The Turkish parliament’s foreign policy commission
chairman, Suat Kiniklioglu, corroborated this view in a public debate in
Brussels. While Turkey-Armenia normalization has the potential to
dramatically improve the overall situation in the South Caucasus,
`it would be incomprehensible and illogical to normalize
relations on one side while maintaining a conflict on the other
side’ (Day.az, December 4).

Ankara was slow to clarify its position in recent months. For its
part, Washington put domestic politics ahead of strategic
considerations. To deflect pressures from Armenian advocacy groups and a
large part of the U.S. Congress, the Obama administration decided to
push for re-opening the Turkish-Armenian border before April 2010, when
the Armenian genocide resolution comes up for reconsideration in
Congress. Candidate Obama had promised to sign such a resolution, but
President Obama cannot do so. Instead, the White House decided in April
2009 (at the time of Obama’s visit to Turkey) to press for
re-opening the Turkish-Armenian land border, hoping to defuse the
explosive potential from the annual political debate on the genocide
issue.

This course of action, however, could only be pursued at
Azerbaijan’s expense and at the risk of fracturing the
Turkey-Azerbaijan partnership, instead of nurturing it. That partnership
largely accounts for the West’s strategic gains in the South
Caucasus-Caspian region over the past decade. Strained recently by
Russian advances in the region and a burgeoning Russo-Turkish
partnership, the West’s gains could be severely jeopardized by
policies that isolate Azerbaijan or sacrifice its interests.

Baku does recognize–as presidential adviser Novruz Mammadov has
put it (, December 6)–that the U.S. initiative to help
normalize Turkey-Armenia relations can generate positive dynamics for
regional cooperation, if this initiative is synchronized with Karabakh
conflict-resolution. But it would only exacerbate tensions in the
region, if the two processes are separated, instead of converging.

–Vladimir Socor

POINTLESS TO SPEAK OF PRECONDITIONS IN ARMENIA-TURKEY DIALOGUE: NALBANDYAN

NEWS.am
16:54 / 12/09/2009

Currently, it is pointless to speak of preconditions in Armenia-Turkey
dialogue, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan told NEWS.am, December
9, 2009.

According to him, the dialogue opened in the context of mutual
understanding and lay down of preconditions means to revert to the
initial endless circle.

"Whoever does it, will assume full responsibility. Both Armenia and
whole world speaks of it, and Turkey realizes this as well. According
to our data, U.S. President Barack Obama stressed the necessity of
Armenia-Turkey Protocols’ ratification without any preconditions at
the meeting with Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan," Nalbandyan
outlined.

Armenian Genocide recognition by Turkey will incite the intensification
of dialogue between the states, RA Foreign Minister concluded.

KINIKLIOGLU: ‘ANKARA REGARDS TURKISH-ARMENIAN NORMALIZATION FROM A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE’

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Dec 4 2009

The panel, "Turkey and Armenia: The Road Ahead," organized by the
German Marshall Fund was held in Brussels with the participation of the
Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Foreign Affairs Vice President,
Suat Kiniklioglu, and Chief Advisor of the Armenian President,
Vigen Sargsyan.

The panel was moderated by Ron Asmus, director of the German Marshall
Fund. During the panel, Kiniklioglu indicated the transformative
potential of the Turkish-Armenian normalization on the South Caucasian
region.

Kiniklioglu said, "Demanding normalization on one part of the
Caucasia while wanting the continuation of a problem just near you
is illogical".

Pointing out the progress made in the Karabakh issue, Kiniklioglu said,
"The ratification of the protocols by the TBMM is linked to Armenian
withdrawal from the 7 occupied regions of Azerbaijan."

After Vigen Sargsyan indicated that Turkey has until February to ratify
the protocols, Kiniklioglu said, "It is wrong to impose such time
tables on the normalization period. Today, Turkey as it was in the
past, is observing the regional developments closely and expects the
region involving Karabakh, to go under a comprehensive stabilization
and peace process.

Kiniklioglu further noted "The steps taken by Turkey in its
neighborhood policy go off the beaten track. Our groundbreaking
foreign policy is appreciated by the international community. We
will constitute security and stability in South Caucasia with the
participation of all regional countries. The situation between Armenia
and Azerbaijan will also be solved. Status quo is not sustainable. For
the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union, diplomatic
relations have been established between Turkey and Armenia, and an
opportunity for peace in South Caucasia has emerged. South Caucasia,
the Caspian Sea and Central Asia constitute a corridor leading to
natural resources. Therefore, the stability of the region is vital
for all countries. In Armenia however, there is an active Diaspora
and this is a sensitive issue for both countries. We have taken great
step towards the normalization of relations. Turkish-EU relations
and the process of Turkish membership will be a stabilizing factor
for Caucasia.

The international community has seen how fragile South Caucasia is
after the war during the Georgian crisis. The crisis was an important
lesson for us. Turkey is aiming to stabilize the region by creating
a Turkish-Armenian dialogue. Even if the protocols are not ratified,
this process cannot go backwards; we know which way we are supposed
to go now. The state of Turkish-Armenian relations is related to
the solution of the conflict right beside us. Aside from Karabakh,
7 other regions within Azerbaijan are also occupied by Armenia. From
the Turkish perspective, these protocols are not only about bilateral
relations between Turkey and Armenia but also about the stability of
the region as a whole, ranging from Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Georgia,
the Caspian Sea to the Central Asian oil reserves. The leaders of
Turkey and Armenia need to take bold steps and come to terms with it.

For us, these protocols are efforts for guaranteeing the stability
in the region. I am optimistic about this and I believe the protocols
will be signed. The Georgian, Azeri, Armenian and Turkish people are
not obligated to live within an unstable environment."

Vigen Sargsyan also commented on the issue by saying that "the
Turkish public expects support from the international community for
the ratification of protocols. Both countries know that there will
be certain hardships related to the opening of the borders. However,
in the long term, this process will be beneficial for both countries.

Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the last closed border
in Europe must be opened. There is a great chance for Turkey to take
its place in South Caucasia. Since the fall of the Soviet Union,
Turkey excluded itself from South Caucasia, now there is a window
of opportunity for Turkey to be actively involved in the region’s
politics again. If, however, Turkey wants ratification, it should
keep the matter of Karabakh off the protocols. These protocols do not
include the matter of Karabakh and Armenia is not ready to negotiate
with both countries at the same time. Armenia supports Turkish
membership into the EU. Turkey within the EU will be a more stable,
secure, and transparent neighbor. But the time limit that has been
given is also crucial. We have chosen January as the date for the
final decision. If a decision is not made by then, the process may
be interrupted due to political reasons. By normalization, it does
not mean becoming brothers over night; its meaning is to open the
borders and start a dialogue. Either we carry on with this process
without including the Karabakh issue or we call it. We do not want
to be used for other policy considerations."

ARDSHININVESTBANK REDUCES COMMISSION FOR MONEY TRANSFER THROUGH CONTACT SYSTEM

ArmInfo
2009-12-04 11:54:00

ArmInfo. Ardshininvestbank has announced reduction of commission for
money transfer through Contact international system to 2% instead of
the previous 3%. As Ardshininvestbank’s press service told ArmInfo,
the bank will carry out transfers by new commission started December 4.

According to Chairman of Ardshininvestbank Board of Directors Nerses
Karamanukyan, reduction of the commission on the Contact system will
become a pleasant Christmas surprise for the clients. The bank has
been cooperating with the Contact since 2003, carrying out transfers
in rubles, US dollars and Euro. Along with it, N. Karamanukyan said
the bank also cooperates with other authoritative international and
Russian money transfer systems providing the clients with an option.

To note, started December 4, 2009, Contact Russian money transfer
system reduces the commission for transfers inside Russia to 1,5%, to
the near abroad countries – to 2% of the transfer amount. Moreover, the
Contact introduces a fixed size of a commission fee for big transfers,
due to which money transfer may cost less than 1%. At present, the
system’s geography covers 90 states, where CONTACT has over 40,000
points for transfer service. RUSSLAVBANK JSCB is the system’s organizer
and clearing center. To recall, Ardshininvestbank carries out money
transfer through such systems as MoneyGram, Migom, RIA, Quick Mail
and the Russian Promsvyazbank, Sotsgorbank, Forabank and Sberbank.

RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN RECEIVED NEWLY APPOINTED GEORGIAN AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY TO ARMENIA GREGORY TABATADZE

We dnesday, 2 December 2009

Congratulating the Ambassador on the start-up of his diplomatic mission
in our country, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that he will
bring about further progress in the Armenian-Georgian relationship
during his tenure of office. Tigran Sargsyan highlighted the need
for expanding economic cooperation by stressing that bilateral trade
turnover is still far from being satisfactory.

The Prime Minister said that the reopening of Kazbek-Upper Lars
international automobile checkpoint would have a positive impact on
economic developments in the region and will strengthen Georgia’s
role as a transit country.

With reference to the status of Armenian churches in Georgia, Tigran
Sargsyan emphasized the importance of making efforts to restore the
Saint Gevorg of Mughni Church in Tbilisi.

The interlocutors further discussed the activities of the
Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation,
which is scheduled to hold its eighth sitting in Yerevan early
next year.

During the meeting, reference was made of the planned Georgian Culture
Days in Armenia. The Armenian Prime Minister said to be hopeful that
the next year’s Armenian Culture Days in Georgia will be held with
as much enthusiasm.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER SAYS OPENING OF BORDER CROSSING ON GEORGIAN-RUSSIAN BORDER WILL HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON REGIONAL ECONOMY

ARKA
Dec 2, 2009

YEREVAN, December 2, /ARKA/. Armenian prime minister Tigran Sarkisian
said the opening of a border crossing on Georgian-Russian border will
have a positive impact on Armenian and regional economies.

"The possible opening of Kazbegi-Upper Lars border crossing for traffic
will have a positive impact on the regional economy and will reinforce
Georgia’s role of a transit country,’ the prime minister said during
a meting with Georgian ambassador Grigory Tabatadze.

Russia closed the border crossing, the only overland conduit for
Armenia to connect with Russia and other countries, in 2006 under
the pretext of repair.

In May Russia said it completed the repair of the border check point,
which still is closed due to complicated relations between Georgia
and Russia.

The government press office said while speaking about the issue
of Armenian churches in Georgia, Tigran Sarkisian emphasized the
importance of taking measures to restore the Saint Gevorg of Mughni
Church in Tbilisi.

It said the two men discussed also the activity of the
Armenian-Georgian Intergovernmental Cooperation Commission, which is
scheduled to hold its next sitting in Yerevan at the beginning of 2010.

During the meeting reference was made to the successful conduct of the
Georgian Culture Days in Armenia. The Armenian Prime Minister said
he hopes the Armenian Culture Days will pass with the same success
in Georgia next year.

ARMENIAN PARLT DELEGATION TO VISIT LATVIA THIS WEEK

Baltic News Service
November 30, 2009 Monday 11:55 PM EET

A delegation from the Armenian National Assembly will visit Latvia
on Dec. 2-6, the Latvian parliament presidium representatives told BNS.

The delegation headed by the chair of the Armenian parliament committee
on protection of human rights and public affairs, Volodya Badalyan,
will arrive in Riga on Wednesday, Dec. 2. On Thursday the delegates
will meet with officials from the Latvian Investment and Development
Agency and the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Later in the day, the delegation will visit the Armenian genocide
monument in downtown Riga and meet with Latvian parliamentarians.

On Friday, the Armenian delegation will meet with parliament
vice-speaker Solvita Aboltina, the Latvian parliament cooperation
group with Armenia, as well as representatives from the Transport
Ministry and the state-owned Latvijas Dzelzcels railway company. The
delegates will also visit the Old Town, the Occupation Museum and
the Latvian National Opera.

On Saturday, the Armenian parliamentarians will participate in
the opening of an exhibition and meet with the head of the Latvian
Armenian Society, Rafi Haradzanjans. On Sunday, the delegates will
attend a service in the Armenian Apostolic Church in Riga.

EIF CHAIRMAN PROPOSES TAX EXEMPTION FOR COMPUTER SALE

news.am
Nov 30 2009
Armenia

Armenian IT companies are among leaders on the world market,
while Armenia is among outsiders in terms of computer users, Bargat
Yengibaryan, Director of the Enterprises Incubator Foundation (EIF),
stated at the forum "IT leaders’ casual meeting" in Aghveran, Armenia,
on November 28-29.

This is evidence of the Government’s erroneous steps in developing the
Armenian IT sector, Yengibaryan said. He pointed out that the gaps can
yet be filled. Specifically, he proposes exemption of computer sale
from the value-added tax (VAT). "The measure will stimulate demand
and make computers affordable for socially vulnerable sections,"
Yengibaryan said.

He also reported the commencement of a pilot program "Computers for
everyone" in Armenia, which has already produced impressive results –
1,000 computers on average are sold a month.

Greater achievements can be expected if computers are exempted from
VAT. Yengibaryan proposed two ways of resolving the problem: exempting
computer sale from the VAT or channeling the tax revenues to social
problems in this field. The latter option will enable the Government
to provide more effective selective aid to socially vulnerable
families. "Our aims is to bring the percentage computer-literate
population from the current 5% up to 70% by 2018. It is an ambitious
task, which is impossible to accomplish without radical changes,"
Yengibaryan said.

KYIV’S GOLOSEYEVSKY DISTRICT COUNCIL CALLS FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.11.2009 13:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Echoing the address of Arthur Martirosyan, the
head of the Armenian community of Goloseyevsky district of Kyiv, the
district council called on the Ukrainian President and Supreme Rada
to recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire.

Mr. Martirosyan thanked his counterparts for support and said that it
is an important decision for the entire Armenian Diaspora of Ukraine,
Analitika.at.ua reported.

EXPERT SAYS NKR TALKS HALTED, THEY SHOULD RESUME

Panorama.am
16:02 25/11/2009

NKR talks are halted, they should resume, Alexander Manasyan, Head
of the Philosophy and Logics Chair of the Yerevan State University
told a press conference today.

The talks will resume when Nagorno-Karabakh becomes a negotiating
party, as the OSCE approved the format in 1992, he said.

Manasyan expressed dissatisfaction over the French Co-Chair Bernard
Fassier’s statement as if Baku should give consent over NKR becoming
a negotiating party.

"The talks are halted; bilateral meetings do not meet the format
criteria, determined by the OSCE since Budapest Summit in 1990ies. The
format has been infringed now and the meetings should be seen as
consultations over resuming the talks," the politician described.