Author: Vardanian Garo

EXCHANGE OF EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC INNOVATIONS CONTRIBUTES TO DEVELOPMENT

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 25 2007

YEREVAN, October 25. /ARKA/. Exchange of educational and scientific
innovations contributes to the political and economic development of
the Commonwealth of Independent State (CIS), Byelorussian Minister
of Education and Science Alexander Radkov stated at the 20th meeting
of the CIS Council for Educational and Scientific Cooperation.

"We must ensure the development of the education systems in our
countries, which will shape personalities and train specialists,"
the Minister said. According to him, the CIS member-countries should
coordinate their achievements, identify problems that are often common
to all.

"Developing the national education systems, we see the necessity
for coordinating many positions, particularly the development of
IT technologies, education of children in present-day information
environment, creation of electronic, audio and CD text-books,"
Radkov said.

He pointed out that the Council’s meetings facilitate the elaboration
of a common educational development strategy, which will allow the
countries to reach a proper quality.

"We will discuss issues of accrediting and certifying various
educational institutions. We recognize certificates of comprehensive
and higher education and want to know the degree of correspondence
between a certificate and the higher school that issued it," Radkov
said.

He also pointed out the importance of exchanging scientific
achievements, without which higher education cannot exist.

Delegations from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan,
Tajikistan and Moldova are participating in the 20th meeting of the
CIS Council for Educational and Scientific Cooperation.

The 13th conference of the CIS Ministers of Education is to open in
Yerevan on Friday.

Washington Post
Online Discussion

Turkey and Iraq

Turkish Planes Bomb Kurdish Rebels Along Iraqi Border

Soli Ozel and Amar Bakshi
Professor of International Relations, Istanbul Bilgi University and
PostGlobal Blogger/Reporter

Thursday, October 25, 2007; 11:00 AM

Turkey has ramped up military operations along its southern border
with Iraq, with aircraft reportedly bombarding the mountainous terrain
on Wednesday, part of a growing confrontation that threatens to open a
new northern front in the Iraq war.

Relations between Turks and Kurds are strained by recent events in
Hakkari and along the border from where Amar Bakshi, PostGlobal
blogger/reporter, recently filed reports.

Soli Ozel, professor of International Relations at Istanbul Bilgi
University, and Bakshi were online from Istanbul on Thursday, Oct. 25,
at 11 a.m. ET to discuss policies and perceptions in Turkey.

A transcript follows.

____________________

Amar Bakshi: Sorry for the delay. We just had some internet problems.
I’m here with Soli Ozel, Turkish journalist and PostGlobal panelist.
He’s going to help us talk through some of the big issues facing
Turkey today, and look at perceptions of America as well.

I’m currently traveling around the world looking at how America is
perceived. Right now I’m in Turkey. Just arrived 5 days ago, and have
been posting at It’s an important time
to look closely at Turkey, and figure out its internal dynamics, and
Soli is a great person to get us going. I’ll be throwing in some
questions, and if you have any questions about How the World Sees
America feel free to throw them in as well.

_______________________

washingtonpost.com : How the World Sees America

_______________________

Princeton, N.J.:1. We invaded Iraq on the premise that they ‘might’
engage in terrorism at some time in the future. Turkey is right now
experiencing terrorism. Why don’t they have the right to invade
Kurdistan?

2. We designated the part of the PKK attacking Turkey as terrorist.
Why haven’t we done the same with the part attacking Iran?

3. Even if the PKK are stopped, will Turkey take the part of the
Turkish people being ethnic cleansed in Kirkuk?

Soli Ozel: If we look at the first two questions obviously there is
aquestion of double standards, yes. We know the PKK has an Iranian
branch fighting the Iranian governmetn and nobody calls them a
terrorist organization but they are presumably the same branch of the
terrorist organization. Making Turks suspicious of whether they are
being taken on a ride. As far as Turkey’s right I do think they
present a case for self defense under UN rules because they are being
attacked by a force being stationed within a neighboring country.
However there is a debate within this country on whetehr moving
massively insdie northern Iraq would be a wise decison esp. given the
mess the US found itself in in IRaq proper. So the debate continues.
Turkey believes it has a legal right to pursue those attacking it
through cross border operations. Unless US forces (which Turkey
considers to be the masters of the situation) and Northern IRaq
collaborate to bring this under control things might really get out of
hand. And they may bring in ground forces. As for Kirkuk the Turks are
concerned about the fate of the Turkeman. The Turks have changed the
demographics of the sitaution. The UNited States did the right thing
by persuading the Kurds not to push the isue of the referenedum which
has been pushed to an uncertain time in 2008 and it may not stll take
place. Trying to annex Kirkuk through a rigged referendum would make a
lot of trouble for a currently trouble free zone and that is currently
the Kurdish regional government zone.

_______________________

Detroit, Mich.: Although most Americans are opposed to terrorist acts
and groups, I think people are conflicted about Turkey’s fight with
Kurdish rebels. What we read in our newspapers here in the U.S. is
that Kurds do not have the equal rights to express themselves that we
expect minorities in countries to have. Turkey’s reaction to the
proposed Armenian genocide bill in the U.S. House of Representatives
made many Americans feel that Turkey does not want to acknowledge the
past treatment of minorities and thus may not want to have equal
rights for them at this time.

Soli Ozel: Well, again it’s a way of reading things which I think is
not correct. To put it in the starkest possible terms this is not
apartheid South Africa. Kurds don’t have separate bodies of
legislation. They do vote for the Turkish national assembly and many
Kurds are elected into Turkish national assembly and since the reforms
of the past 6 or 7 years things have gotten much better regarding
citizens and currently there exists a party that represents the
Kurdish. The opening of the political space for the Kurds in recent
times is precisely why many Turks do not understand or are worried
about what goes on becasue in a democratic system you try to get what
you want through debate, reason adn parliamentary motions. If you use
violence and do it indiscriminately, this is not something any
democratically run government could accept. It has no legitimacy in
that case at all. This is why when some observers of the Turkish scene
try to legitimize or justify terrorism or acts of terror, the Turks
are bewildered and they don’t accept the reasoning.

_______________________

Newark, N.J.: How much of what’s happening now can you attribute to
Resolution 106 to recognize the events of 1915 between Armenians and
Turks as genocide? And what do you think the implications will be if
this resolution passes when it is put to a full House/Senate vote?

Thank you

Soli Ozel: I really dont think there is a conneciton between
resolution 106 and what the PKK had been doing. Let’s recognize the
fact that the PKK affiliated parties candidates received a lower
percentage of the votes nationally in the 2007 elections than they did
in 2002. There was almost a 3% drop which is perciptious. Second, the
ruling AKP party acheived more votes in the Kurdish area. This shows
the PKK civilian movement was certainly retreating in terms of its
political pull or attraction. Under those circumstances, any violent
organization would try to bring back the bad old days of the violence
of the olden days.

I see their activities as blatant provocation which is why I would not
want to see Turkey going into a massive invasion of Iraq which would
be falling into the trap the PKK set up for it.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: Is this Kurdish conflict Turkey’s opportunity to
acquire an interest in the northern Iraqi oil fields?

Soli Ozel: There may be some people who fantasize about that but it is
not part of the debate. The Turkish oil company is bidding as a
legitimate bidder to develop northern IRaqi oil feields but thats
basically it.

Soli Ozel: The oil bill that the US wants enacted in Iraq is being
blocked by the Kurds so looking at the timing of certain things there
are Turks who believe the PKK is attacking Turkey and drawing the rage
of Turkey against Barzani in particular because the UNited States
wants to punish the Kurds for blocking the oil bill. IN that case you
assume the PKK is on the pay roll of the US and it really gets too
complicated. But it does fit a certain chain of thought pattern.

_______________________

Freising, Germany: I’ve read that a concern of the Turkish government
regarding Iraqi Kurdistan, is that if it becomes independent, then
Kurds in Turkey will want to separate from Turkey and join the new
Kurdish state.

But I’m confused about the actions of the PKK. By attacking Turkey and
provoking the Turkish government into attacking Iraqi Kurdistan,
aren’t they just going to weaken and destabilize Iraqi Kurdistan, and
destroy any chance at a Kurdish nation?

What are the locals’ opinions their Iraqi brethren and on the PKK?

Soli Ozel: Excellent reasoning. Yes the Turksih fear an independent
Kuridstan will be irredentist. Barzani expressed irrendist views many
time. It would be an attraction for Turkey’s own Kurds. The argument
against this, taht people who favor Turkey’s further integration with
the EU, if we become a country with a 15000 income, there would be no
reason for Kurds to desire to be citizens of a Kurdistan which may or
may not become stable or democratic in the near future. As for PKK’s
actions, I think Turkey may be attacking Iraqi Kurdistan and that
would mean Turkey getting involved in the United States and that’s
number one.

The reasoning of the PKK for porovking Turkey to enter Northern Iraq,
US is displeased so US-Turkey relations are harmed and Turkey’s own
Kurds are going to feel their Iraqi brethren are being hit by the
Turkish government on ethnic basis. This could return repression to
the region and cause a resurgence of separatism, serving PKK’s
interests.

_______________________

Princet on, N.J.: To further the consporacy theory you mentioned. PKK
terrorists in Turkey have been found with modern American weapons.
"Some people believe" that these were given to them to use in Iran (by
the CIA, etc.), but found their way to Turkey instead.

Soli Ozel: You have the same organization on the same mountain. On
what side there are the "good guys" attacking Iran and on the other
side of the mountain they are PKK and they are a terrorist
organization. How do you distinguish the two? TUrks find it
incredible. If the US gives it to one side of the mountain what
prevents it from putting it on the other side. IT’s absurd. You’d be
hard pressed to convince the Turks there isnt something fishy there.
The US has not been credible or persuasive in getting the Turkish
public to actually see the US side which says it did not have any
contacts with the PKK. I see no reason why the US would prefer the PKK
to Turkey but the entire situation is a bit absurd.

_______________________

Fairfax, Va.: What is the target of Turkey? The PKK terrorists or
preventing a Kurdish entity there in the long run? And do you think
the military operation is in the interest of Both Turkey and the
Region?

There is nothing clear about the length and specific objectives of the
military operation. As a Kurdish origin Turkish citizen I do not
beleive that an intervention will solve the problem but rather it will
deepen the current cleavages among the people of the Turkey….

Soli Ozel: First of all there has not been an order for a massive
incursion of ground troops therefore it is unreasonable to expdect the
timetable and objective and all the rest. There are undoubtedly people
in this country who would like to do away with the Kurdistan political
entity. I am not convinced that this is the majority. I think the
primary aim is to get the PKK. The Kurdistan regional gov and mr.
barzani become targets of ire when they seem to be protectin the PKK
and they defy Turkey to do anything. Under those circumstances things
get really out of hand. In the long run this is the wrong calculus.

_______________________

Amar Bakshi: Hi all, sorry for not answering any questions so far. I’m
typing away for Soli who isn’t too fast at this, so he can get his
thoughts out there. I’ll answer your questions directed to me at the
end. Thanks for being here!

_______________________

San Francisco, Calif.: This question is for Soli. Turks are famous for
their nationalism. How does the average Turk view the possibility of
getting more involved in this war?

Soli Ozel: The public mood is very very attavistic, and militarized,
and that in my view is unfortunate. The media are adding fuel to this
fire and that’s I said earlier I hope cooler heads will prevail and
that the US will step in and do something other than just give us talk
and the tempers subside. If there is another PKK attack or any harm
done to the hostages, the flood will destroy whatever damns are put
before it and I don’t think any governmetn could stop the public cry
out for a vengeful military incursion.

_______________________

Istanbul: Do you know difference between Terrorists and Rebels? Please
take responsibility for international rules. USA and England
government recognized PKK, PEJAK and so on as a Terrorist. You have to
take responsibility for people who read your newspaper. They can take
this knowledge in different way.

Soli Ozel: In all of the conflicts we know of we have this problem of
definition. Someones terorrist is someone elses freedom fighter. But
for me the bottom line is anything that harms civilian lives is
terorrism period. And secondly, wehn there are democratic means
availble I dont see any justification for a resort to violence.

_______________________

Stockholm, Sweden: It did not take more than a few months for
Indonasia and the representatives of Aceh to solve the "Aceh Problem,"
but it has taken more than 80 years for the Turks to recognize the
very existence of the Kurdish people. Turkey wants to become a member
of the EU, but the behavior of Turkey is far from that of civilized
Europe. The Turks don’t even recognise the Iraqi Constitution and
refuse nogtiating with any Iraqi delegation with representatives of
the Kurdistan Regional Government in it. If you don’t negotiate with
the constitutionally recognized Kurdistan Regional Government, then
how can you expect them to solve your problems?!

Soli Ozel:

Turkey did have a period when it refused to recognize Kurds and they
were not mountain Turks. Those idiocies are behind us. Speaking the
Kurdish langauge was also banned for a period of eight years but that
is over too. We can go back and dispute a lot of dirty history and
that will be done I’m sure but I dont see the point of it when you can
actually look forward. We first have to establish all the liberal and
democratic credentials and then we can look back and see what to retel
in history.

The AKP, then the foreign minister, Mr. Gul, now our president was
going to meet Mr. Massoud Barzani’s nephew and two weeks prior to the
meeting the chief of staff in a talk indicated that he did not really
favor such a meeting and stopped it cold.

Refusal to recognize the Kurdish parliament is part of the struggle
between the Turkish military and the AKP or has become so.

_______________________

Falls Church, Va.: Amar, it seems from your writing like you’ve been
right in the thick of things over there. Can you tell us a little bit
more about what exactly the Kurds you talked with are afraid will
happen? How will a military offensive affect them?

Amar Bakshi: I’ve met Kurds with many different points of view. In
Van, I spent a day with a teacher who loosely sympathized with Kurdish
rebels, but I also heard stories of people repulsed by PKK violence,
committed to distancing themselves from it, and using the democratic
process to acheive their ends. PKK terror also affects Kurds, who are
anxious to get rid of the guns on either side of the. An escalation in
tensions frightens everyone I spoke to, who hope Turkey does not
invade Northern Iraq, and also hope PKK violence stops so another
mechanism, be it international intervention or more internal
negotiation can lead to resolution. But times are tense, and what
people say on the surface and act upon are different. But the
impoverished Kurds I met are between a rock and a hard place, looking
for a safe way out. And that means talking and moving forward rather
than stewing on old resentments. I say this, but there is lot of
nationalist feeling to. It is still hard to parse it all out for me as
clearly as Soli does, but I will keep trying to do so day by day.

_______________________

Amar Bakshi: Thank you Soli for talking with us. You helped me think
through some of this, and I’m sure our readers as well. Readers, you
can follow Soli at PostGlobal () and
you can follow my travels through Turkey day-by-day at
Many thanks for talking through this
with us.

_______________________

Editor’s Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and
hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third
parties.

Source: ssion/2007/10/24/DI2007102402182.html

US RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS INEVITABLE, RA FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS

armradio.am
25.10.2007 16:30

RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian is confident that the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide is inevitable.

Asked about the situation with the famous House Resolution 106,
Vartan Oskanian reminded that Armenia has welcomed the adoption
of the measure by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House
of Representatives, considering it an important step on the way of
restoration of historical justice.

"We really expect that the issue will be brought to a vote at the
plenary session and will be adopted. After all, the decision must
be taken by the US Congress, and we cannot influence it. They say
it’s not the proper time now. We can agree with that, but it’s their
choice. However, I’m confident that recognition is inevitable. The
US Congress will once recognize the Armenian Genocide," the Foreign
Minister said.

According to Mr. Oskanian, there is one positive factor in today’s
situation: even pro-Turkish Congressmen and public representatives
do not deny the fact of the Armenian Genocide. "The question is
considered exceptionally from the security perspective. I have not
met any statement denying the Genocide," the Minister noted, adding
that Turkey has serious reasons to worry.

SPIRITUAL JOURNEY COMES TO CHICAGO
By Margaret Ramirez and Karoun Demirjian | Tribune staff reporters

Chicago Tribune, IL
menians_weboct25,1,698192.story
Oct 25 2007

Armenian patriarch urges a return to faith

Robed in gold and black vestments with a jeweled cross over his
forehead, His Holiness Karekin II, patriarch of the worldwide Armenian
Apostolic Church, anointed a Chicago Armenian church Wednesday and
urged his people to remain on the path toward faith.

Outside St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church on the Northwest
Side, old and new generations of Armenians sang hymns of their
nation as Karekin climbed onto a stepladder and blessed the new,
bronze doors. As the crowd watched, he dipped his thumb in holy oil
and traced a cross above the entry. Inside, Karekin told more than
200 worshipers the anointing of the doors was a symbolic gesture to
remind Armenians to continue living their Christian faith.

"My exhortation to you all . . . is to walk always in the ways that
are leading you to the church," Karekin said. "With God, we have
stayed together. . . . Faith in God has helped us survive."

As Catholicos of all Armenians, Karekin is the spiritual leader of the
world’s 7 million Armenian Orthodox Christians, including 1 million
in the United States and about 10,000 in the Chicago area.

This pontifical trip is Karekin’s second visit to the U.S. and his
first to Chicago.

"I’m overwhelmed by this visit by His Holiness," said Raelene
Ohanesian, 33, who wept after the patriarch blessed her. "He represents
our heritage, our conversion to Christianity. We have such a long
history of struggle and it’s our faith that has gotten us through."

Before the blessing at St. Gregory, Karekin met with Chicago’s Roman
Catholic archbishop, Cardinal Francis George. On Wednesday night,
the Armenian patriarch also attended a public prayer service with
ecumenical leaders at a Greek Orthodox church in Glenview.

Karekin’s trip has taken him to New York, Boston, and Washington to
spread a message of "Bringing Faith Home." He has stressed efforts
to remember faith and culture and to bring back Armenians who have
left the church.

Karekin’s visit comes on the heels of an explosive debate in Washington
regarding a painful piece of Armenian history. Earlier this month, a
congressional committee approved a nonbinding resolution that condemns
as genocide the killing of 1.5 million Armenians in Turkey nearly
a century ago. The resolution, though largely symbolic, unleashed
an international furor that offended the Turkish government, a key
supporter of the American presence in Iraq.

President Bush opposed the resolution, saying it could damage efforts
to end the war in Iraq.

At an interview in his hotel suite at the Four Seasons, Karekin said
the recognition of the killings as genocide is necessary to prevent
further atrocities. He expressed disappointment that the resolution
had faced opposition in Congress due to Turkey’s logistical importance
in the war.

"The best way to prevent similar kinds of atrocities is through
recognition and condemnation," Karekin said. "Values such as these
should never be sacrificed for political interests.

"Our people are a Christian people. . . . In spite of all the crimes
committed against Armenia, our people have never been filled with
hate toward the Turkish people."

Though Karekin did not speak of the genocide resolution at St. Gregory,
it was on the minds of many. Karekin offered a special blessing to
100-year-old Helen Polaian, a survivor of the genocide.

"It happened," said Diane Abezetian, "regardless of the resolution
or what anyone says. We know it happened."

Although the community is united politically, the religious identity
is strained by division within the Armenian church. The church became
divided administratively about 50 years ago as the former Soviet
Union curbed religious freedom. Some Armenian churches broke off
and switched allegiance to the Lebanon-based See of Cilicia. Others
remained loyal to the Armenia-based church.

Today, Armenia is an independent republic, but the split in the church
remains. One branch is headed by Karekin and based in the Armenian
city of Etchmiadzin. The other is led by His Holiness Aram I and
based in Lebanon. As supreme patriarch, Karekin is pre-eminent.

The division means there are two Armenian archbishops in the United
States-Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, who reports to Aram, and Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, who is under Karekin.

When asked if there was any hope for reconciliation, Karekin said
church leaders have formed committees to discuss healing the rift.

"You cannot have two bishops. I am hopeful we will one day have a
solution," he said.

Those tensions were clear even in Chicago’s small but vibrant Armenian
community. Armenian churches in Chicago that are not under Karekin
felt snubbed by the visit, saying they had not been invited to attend.

"We were hoping that the diocese church would officially invite us
to this important event, but what can we say?" said Archpriest Zareh
Sahakian of Armenian All Saints Apostolic Church in Glenview. "Since
we have not received any official invitation, how can we ask people
to attend from the altar? . . . Everyone is free to go. But I’m not
excited because I’m not invited."

But those tensions could not overshadow the joy felt Wednesday by
those in the presence of Karekin.

"It felt personal, like he was speaking directly to me," Nancy
Berberian said. "He says you have a choice in life and you should
always choose the walk of faith."

MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS ARRIVED IN ARMENIA

armradio.am
24.10.2007 10:52

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza (US), Bernard
Fassier (France) and Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) arrived in Armenia today.

Issues concerning the current stage of the negotiations on the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement will be discussed during the meetings
with the leadership of the country.

During the one-day visit the Co-Chairs will have meetings with RA
President Robert Kocharyan and Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian.

DAVID NALBANDIAN BECOMES WINNER OF "MADRID MASTERS"

Noyan Tapan
Oct 22, 2007

MADRID, OCTOBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Argentinian-Armenian
tennis player David Nalbandian defeated Roger Federer, the World
Racket I, with the following scores: 1:6, 6:3, 6:3 in the final of
the Madrid Masters tournament.

David Nalbandian became the third tennis player, who managed to defeat
the three strongest tennis players of the world in one tournament:
in the quarter final Nalbandian defeated Rafael Nadal, the World
Racket II, and Novak Djokovic, the World Racket III, in the semi-final.

Specialists say that this is the greatest success in the sporting
career of Nalbandian. Winning in the Madrid tournament, this tennis
player received 100 rating points and moved to the 22nd place from
the 33rd in the clssification table.

As Radio Liberty reported, Roger Federer is in the lead of the
classification table of the strongest tennis players of the world.

ARMENIAN HIGHTECH VIRTUAL COMMUNITY PORTAL OF UITE TO BE PUT INTO OPERATION IN MID NOVEMBER

Noyan Tapan
Oct 19, 2007

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian High-Tech Virtual
Community Portal of the Union of Information Technology Enterprises
(UITE) will be put into operation in mid November, the executive
director of UITE Karen Vardaian told NT correspondent.

In his words, the portal will provide about 200 companies and
5 thousand specialists of the Armenian IT sector, as well as 7
thousand students with the opportunity to communicate in a single
environment. The portal will have four sections: "Education and
Certification", "Industry", "UITE" and "Advisory and Voluntary
Services". "What is important is that any member of IT community may
receive and provide services via this portal," the UITE executive
director noted.

According to him, the work on creation of the portal is being done in
cooperation with the USIAD-financed Compeitive Armenian Pricate Sector
(CAPS) program.

IRAN-ARMENIA HIGHWAY THROUGH MEGHRI PASS TO OPEN OCTOBER 26

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.10.2007 18:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "A highway connecting Armenia and Iran through
the Meghri pass will be put into operation October 26. This event
will prove development of relations between our states," Armenian
President Robert Kocharian said at joint news conference with Iranian
leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"Both sides are entering a new stage of bilateral relations, which
includes cooperation in banking sphere, protocol on construction of a
water power plant on Araks River, construction of heat power plants,"
he said.

"Iran attends to cooperation with Armenia," the RA President said.

DEFENDING SOUTHERN KURDISTAN
By Martin Zehr

Kurdish Aspect, CO
Kurdishaspect.com
doc102207MZ.html
Oct 22 2007

Now that Turkey’s Parliament has sanctioned military action against
the Kurdish Autonomous Region there is an immediate need to address
appropriate responses regarding international response to such
actions. The political leadership of the Kurdistan Regional Government
(KRG) is facing an historic moment in the history of the national
project of the Kurdish peoples. It options in addressing the reality
extend beyond simply military responses.

The response of Syria supporting the Turkish resolution is an
unwarranted intrusion into the current situation. The Islamic Republic
of Iran has notably opposed a military intervention by Turkey and this
may represent a significant counterbalance for Kurdish forces in the
region in dealing with this one particular issue. Internationally, the
United States has issued a statement that is singularly disconnected
from the very real threat of Turkish military actions. There is
precedent to this in the US government’s actions after the Persian
Gulf War when it stood by as Saddam Hussein murdered Kurds fighting
for freedom. Recently, neo-con columnists in the US have been adamant
in opposing the PKK’s presence within the Kurdistan Autonomous Region
and posing it as a provocation to Turkey.

One does need to keep in mind that the long war within Turkey against
the PKK has never been accompanied by ANY political concessions
regarding Kurdish cultural rights or national autonomy by the Turkish
government. One might give them some credit for repealing penal codes
that had resulted in the imprisonment of thousands after they had
been implemented following the military coup of 1980 in Turkey. One
could even applaud the repeal of the 1983 law outlawing the Kurdish
language. But what was given up in 1991 was taken back with the
"Anti-Terror Law" in 1992.

Never has Turkey been called to task for the forced displacement of
thousands of Kurdish villages in Turkey or its use of emergency rule
against Kurdish provinces. Never has it acted to repeal Article 301 in
the Turkish Constitution making it a crime to "insult Turkishness" that
provides the legal pretext for subjugation of the Kurdish culture and
political rights. Never has it addressed the disappearing of over 3,000
Kurds between 1992 and 1993 or the torture and murder of hundreds of
PKK and other Kurds. Now, the Turkish military moves are removed from
the context of its thirty years of military repression against Kurds in
Turkey. Clearly, the US is focused more on Turkey’s role as a conduit
for US military supplies to its occupation forces within Iraq than
it is in the real impact of a few thousand guerillas in the mountains.

The issue at stake remains the sovereignty of the Kurdish Autonomous
Region and its right to implement Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution
through the Kirkuk Referendum. It is evident that Turkey has not
succeeded in its attempt to manipulate the Turkmen population within
Kirkuk in a manner that could successfully defeat the vote to include
Kirkuk within the Kurdish Autonomous Region. Violations of the border
appear to be as lightly considered as human rights to the Turkish
governing party and the military elite.

Clearly, Turkey is presenting itself as a nation that is NOT prepared
to join the EU as a full partner through its continued denial of
human rights and its efforts to undermine the KRG. Turkey’s actions
now will demonstrate whether it can ever adopt policies required to
meet the standards established by the European Parliament for full
membership in the European Union. There is no "clear-and-present
danger" that can truly be documented in regards to the PKK that can
justify a Turkish invasion.

But, what can the international community do now in the face of
Turkish determination to intervene in the affairs of another nation?

Security Council Resolution 688 stands as a precedent for recognition
of Kurdish grievances. But the issue in this case is not the one
addressed previously about refugees fleeing from Saddam Hussein. Now
the issue is clearly one of whether a member state of the United
Nations is entitled to violate the territorial boundaries of another
nation. The issue needs to be posed in the context of the impact of
this invasion on the right to vote on the inclusion of Kirkuk and
not simply accept undocumented accusations regarding the role of the
PKK’s forces within the Kurdish Autonomous Region in attacks within
Turkey. It needs to be presented in the context of the fundamental
denial of Kurdish rights within Turkey.

In its resolutions on the Armenian genocide and the support of a
federal system within Iraq the US Congress has shown that it is willing
to confront the "uncomfortable" issues within the region without the
current administration’s prevarications acting as its guide. It would
be advised that Turkey take note of this as well. It is all very well
to be indignant when it comes to a non-binding resolution concerning
a crime not committed under its government’s auspices. It is quite
different to disregard international opinion regarding actions that
would further de-stabilize the region and incite not only domestic
opposition but profound international repercussions as well.

It needs to be said that such an incursion is by no means a first
for Turkey into Iraq, including a 1992 bombing raid of President
Barzani’s campaign office. The air attack within Turkey following
the 1992 Newroz New Year Kurdish demonstrations shows the resolve by
the Turkish General Staff to attack any and all signs of resistance,
whether peaceful or violent, whether in their own country or outside
of their national boundaries. The Turkish General Staff’s impulse to
attack its political opposition is not simply reserved for the PKK.

The Iraqi government needs to come to grips with its responsibility
towards the defense of its Kurdish residents if it is to continue to
present itself as the legitimate government of the Kurdish peoples
living in northern Iraq. There is too long a record of others within
Iraq standing by in the face of mass murders of Kurds for anyone
to accept the good intentions of a Baghdad government on faith. We
should all pay attention to how President Talibani is personally
delegated in addressing these matters, as well as how the refusal
of Turkey to recognize the KRG and President Barzani is addressed
in negotiations. How can a central government obscure or deny the
right of elected representatives of an autonomous region to represent
their people in any and all negotiations that involve the welfare and
future of Kurdish people? And how can that central government ever
earn the trust and loyalty of the Kurdish people by acting in a way
as to sacrifice them in the face of threatened aggression from without?

About the author :

Martin Zehr is an American political writer whose article on the Kirkuk
Referendum has been printed by the Kurdish Regional Government, PUK ,
Kurdishmedia.com, and Conservative Voice He is a Contributing Writer to
Kurdish Aspect where his articles have appeared on line and in print.

AZERBAIJAN BOOSTS DEFENCE BUDGET, WARNS ARMENIA

Reuters, UK
Oct 22 2007

BAKU, Oct 22 (Reuters) – Azerbaijan will increase its defence
spending by nearly one third next year to build up its strength in a
long-running territorial dispute with its Caucasus neighbour Armenia,
President Ilham Aliyev said on Monday.

He told a government meeting that the military budget will grow by
$300 million to $1.3 billion in 2008.

"The country will allocate funds to buy new hardware, weapons and
ammunition, to create a powerful military-industrial complex and
improve the professionalism of the military," Aliyev said. "We are
creating a powerful army."

The message of the 45-year-old president was primarily targeted
at Armenia, the main backer of Azerbaijan’s breakaway region of
Nagorno-Karabakh.

"The insincere behaviour of Armenian occupation forces, dragging out
the negotiation process, forces us to devote greater attention to
military issues," Aliyev said. "Azerbaijan must be ready to liberate
its lands by any means."

Predominantly Armenian Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan around
the time the Soviet Union collapsed in late 1991. Tens of thousands
of people died in a war before a shaky truce was reached in 1994.

International attempts to negotiate a solution to Karabakh, which says
it will accept nothing less than full independence, have led nowhere.

The loss of Karabakh and a large swathe of territory around it has
become a major humiliation for oil-rich Azerbaijan, whose economy
has been one of the world’s fastest-growing in the past few years.