Author: Virabian Jhanna

BRYAN ARDOUNY: IRREVERSIBLE TREND COMMENCED IN TURKEY

De Facto
Dec 18, 2008

YEREVAN, 18.12.08. DE FACRTO. "An irreversible trend has commenced
in Turkey," said Bryan Ardouny, Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly) Executive Director. DE FACTO received the information
at the Assembly. "Over 12,000 people in Turkey want history to
be recorded truthfully, having already signed the internet-based
petition apologizing for what they call the ‘Great Catastrophe’
that befell the Armenians of Ottoman Turkey in 1915. This public
apology is a first step in that direction and will inevitably
lead to Turkey coming to grips with its genocidal past." To note,
this movement arose in response to the January 2007 assassination
of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, a strong advocate of
Turkish-Armenian reconciliation, who publicly spoke in Turkey of the
"Great Catastrophe" that Ottoman Armenians suffered in 1915, as the
Armenian Genocide. Dink was prosecuted under Article 301 of Turkey’s
Penal Code for "insulting Turkishness" by raising the issue. As a
first step on the path toward affirmation of the Armenian Genocide,
these intellectuals have asked the public in Turkey to sign a petition
stating, "My conscience does not accept the insensitivity showed to
and the denial of the Great Catastrophe that the Ottoman Armenians
were subjected to in 1915. I reject this injustice and for my share,
I empathize with the feelings and pain of my Armenian brothers and
sisters. I apologize to them." News accounts report that Turkish
President Abdullah Gul has not opposed the campaign, while Turkey’s
Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that he will not join
the group of Turkish intellectuals who issued the apology, adding "if
there is a crime, then those who committed it can offer an apology. My
nation, my country has no such issue." However, momentum is building
and support continues to increase dramatically. Within a few hours
of the apology’s release, over 2,500 people added their signatures
and made encouraging comments. Cengiz Aktar, professor at Istanbul’s
Bahcesehir University said that it was "our aim to empathize with the
grief of our Armenian brothers," calling on all Turks to "think and
talk openly about how, and why, the Armenian people disappeared from
a land they inhabited for 4,000 years." This process was encouraged
in 2003 by the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ),
which concluded that "the Events [of 1915], viewed collectively,
can thus be said to include all of the elements of the crime of
genocide as defined in the Convention, and legal scholars as well
as historians, politicians, journalists and other people would be
justified in continuing to so describe them." Noting the inauguration
of President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joseph
Biden next month and Obama’s statement from October which read, "Joe
Biden and I believe that the Armenian Genocide is not an allegation,
a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented
fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence," Ardouny
said, "They are both on record as supporting Turkey’s reconciliation
with its past, and affirmation of the Armenian Genocide. Coupled with
Obama’s recent selection of Senator Hillary Clinton as Secretary of
State, the Obama-Biden Administration has an opportunity to clearly
affirm the Armenian Genocide and, at the same time, help Turkey reverse
its policy of denial. It will also send a message that the U.S. will
no longer shelter Turkey from criticism if it continues to persecute
leading intellectuals by invoking Article 301 of its Penal Code."

ARMENIAN, IRANIAN MINISTERS SIGN COOPERATION ACCORDS, DISCUSS ENERGY PROJECTS

Public Television of Armenia
Dec 16 2008

Armenian Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisyan has
wrapped up his visit to Iran. As part of the visit, Armenian and
Iranian officials signed numerous cooperation accords on energy and
other sectors. Iran will allocate 75m euros for the construction of
a high-voltage power line in Armenia. The following is text of report
by state-owned Armenian Public TV on 16 December

[Presenter] Armenia will continue to implement large-scale projects
with Iran. The Armenia-Iran gas pipeline will be tested soon. Iran will
allocate 75m euros for the construction of a third high-voltage power
line. A terminal will be constructed in Yeraskh [town in Armenia’s
Ararat Region close to the border with Iran], where Iranian fuel will
be stored. This is only one point of the 71-point memorandum signed
with our southern neighbour. Energy and Natural Resources Minister
Armen Movsisyan has returned from Iran in a good mood and promising
projects. Mher Arshakyan reports details from Tehran.

[Correspondent over video of meeting between Armenian and Iranian
delegations] Armenia and Iran are friendly countries, the Iranian
foreign minister and chairman of the Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental
commission, Manuchehr Mottaki, said yesterday [16 December]. Before
meeting journalists Mottaki and Armenian co-chair of the commission,
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisyan signed a 71-point
memorandum on cooperation, which covers the energy system, oil, trade,
banking system, agriculture, healthcare, education and other issues.

[Mottaki speaking at a news conference in Persian with overlaid
Armenian translation] Relations between the two countries are in
important stage and we are happy about this.

[Correspondent over video of news conference] Movsisyan assesses the
two-day work as satisfactory. He believes that the Armenian side’s
achievements are tangible. In particular, the construction of the
third high-voltage power line will start in Armenia next year, and
this will require 75m euros.

[Movsisyan speaking to microphone] Loan resources, which were provided
by the Iranian government, will be used for this line’s construction.

[Correspondent over archive footage] The testing of the Armenia-Iran
gas pipeline will be accomplished in two or three weeks and the
arrangements for the provision of electric power in exchange for gas
will be carried out by means of two high-voltage power lines. Movsisyan
added that a terminal would be constructed in Yeraskh and Iranian
fuel would be stored there.

[Movsisyan speaking to microphone] The terminal envisages a pipeline,
which will stretch from [Iran’s] Tabriz to Yeraskh. Refined oil and
oil products – petrol and diesel fuel- will be pumped to Armenia’s
Yeraskh from the Tabriz oil refinery via the pipeline.

[Correspondent speaking over video of news conference] The construction
of the terminal is also planned for the next year. Mottaki attached
importance to the railway, which is under construction in East
Azerbaijan [Province of Iran]. According to the preliminary plan, it
will enter Armenia from the section of Culfa [town in the Azerbaijani
exclave of Naxcivan].

[Mottaki speaking at news conference in Persian with overlaid Armenian
translation] If we succeed in constructing the railway, this will be
one of our best work.

[Correspondent] The Iranian foreign minister spoke about the global
financial crisis and said that already many countries had incurred
losses. Mottaki believes that Iran-Armenia economic cooperation
has the capacity to withstand the crisis, but this will require
serious efforts from both sides. Movsisyan said that the financial
scheme of constructing a hydroelectric power plant on the River Aras
will be prepared in a month or six weeks. According to preliminary
estimations, its construction will require 240m dollars. A tender
will be announced for its construction and a contractor to carry out
the construction. Mher Arshakyan, Tehran, "Haylur".

MUSHEGH SHOUSHANIAN AND HIS DEFENCE LAWYERS FILE COMPLAINT TO CRIMINAL APPEAL COURT

Noyan Tapan

Dec 19, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Ara Zakarian, Tigran Atanesian and
Arthur Grigorian – the defence of lawyer Mushegh Shoushanian – filed a
complaint to the Criminal Appeal Court on December 19. They disputed
the decision of the court of general jurisdication of Yerevan’s
Kentron and Nork-Marash communities (Judge Gayane Karakhanian) on
rejection of their petition for appealing to the Constitutional Court
and suspending the case, NT was informed by the press service of the
RA Cassation Court.

To recap, lawyer M. Shoushanian is accused of showing a disrespectful
attitude to the court. According to the charge, while acting as a
defence lawyer in one of the March 1 cases, he left the courtroom
without permission of the presiding judge Arshak Petrosian.

WONDERFUL TOP TEN

Hayots Ashkharh Daily
17 Dec 2008
Armenia

For the 50th time the Armenian sports journalists came to a decision
regarding the 10 best sportsmen. By the overwhelming majority of
votes Gabriel Sargsyan was recognized the leading sports hero of 2008.

1. Gabriel Sargsyan (chess, the winner of the World Chess Olympic
Games and the best participant) 313 units.

2. Tigran V. Martirosyan (weigh-lifting, champion of Europe, bronze
prize – winner of the Beijing Olympic games) 289

3. Tigran G. Martirosyan (weigh-lifting, champion of Europe, bronze
prize – winner of Beijing Olympic Games) 276

4. Levon Aronyan (chess, the winner of the World Chess Olympic Games
and international big tournaments) 245

5. Yuri Patrikeev (Greco-Roman wrestling, European champion, bronze
prize – winner of Beijing Olympic Games) 241

6. Vladimir Hakobyan (chess, winner of World Olympic Games) 208

7. Roman Amoyan (Greco-Roman wrestling, European vice-champion,
bronze prize – winner of Beijing Olympic Games) 195

8. Gevorg Davtyan (weigh-lifting, bronze prize – winner of Beijing
Olympic Games) 164

9. Hrachya Javakhyan (boxing, bronze prize – winner of Beijing Olympic
Games) 117

10. Tigran L. Petrosyan (chess, the winner of the World Chess Olympic
Games) 116

VOTING RIGHTS OF ARMENIAN DELEGATION SHOULD BE SUSPENDED, OPPOSITION ACTIVIST SAYS

Lragir.am
14:46:56 – 17/12/2008

The Armenian government is facing innumerable problems in external
policies, which are the consequence of the illegitimacy of the
government, the society rejects the present government, said the
representative of the Armenian National Congress who was hosted at
the National Press Club on December 17.

With regard to the state of external policies, Davit Shahnazaryan
pointed to the developments relating to the improvement of the Armenian
and Turkish relations, which is determined by the Karabakh conflict, he
says. Besides, according to the ANC representative, a new situation has
emerged in the region, determined by the August events. According to
Davit Shahnazaryan, this situation enables Armenia to gain importance
but the government is not able to do this, using the new opportunities.

Davit Shahnazaryan says the government is having a lot of problems at
the Council of Europe, which is the consequence of crimes: election
fraud, March 1, political prisoners, and restraints on political
and civil freedoms. At the same time, the representative of the
opposition stated that they do not rely on the Council of Europe, and
the opposition thinks only it can deal with the issues of democracy and
constitutional order in Armenia. Davit Shahnazaryan stated that Europe
may continue to ignore the repressions by the Armenian government, but
as soon as a government shaped by people is established in Armenia,
that government will perhaps discuss whether it is worthwhile to be
a member of that organization.

Davit Shahnazaryan also stated that political rather than economic
sanctions should be applied to the Armenian government. The opposition
activist said the voting rights of the Armenian delegation to the PACE
should be suspended because together with its head Davit Harutiunyan
the delegation is busy making the attitude of the CoE towards the
repressions of the Armenian government, meanwhile the Azerbaijani
initiatives for the settlement of the Karabakh issue are pending,
jeopardizing the interests of Armenia and Artsakh.

Another foreign political issue, according to Davit Shahnazaryan,
is the global economic crisis. He says to fear that the oligarchic
economy of Armenia is unable to tackle the consequence of the global
crisis. Summing up, Davit Shahnazaryan said if earlier this year
Armenia faced a deficit of democracy and violation of human rights,
at the end of the year the issue of Karabakh, the international
economic crisis and the new situation in the region added.

As to the possible developments, Davit Shahnazaryan stated that the
government will pursue its wrong policies until it final collapse.

HAMMARBERG’S REPORT WILL BE ADEQUATE

A1+
[05:09 pm] 16 December, 2008

"The "Case of the Seven" trial will come crashing on administration,"
said today representative of the Armenian National Congress Levon
Zurabyan and called on everybody to participate and follow-up on
the trial.

As far as the ANC forum is concerned, for which the Congress has
appealed to the Government session hall and received a denial,
Zurabyan assured that the ANC can always find a small area without
the control of the administration.

Levon Zurabyan considered the government’s rejection as nonsensical
and didn’t go into details.

"We will hold our forum on those days and distribute the DVDs to the
people because we have very important things to say," said Zurabyan.

The ANC is not concerned about the size of the hall.

"The administration is afraid that 2-3,000 people will show up,
who will feel the spirit of the meeting and they will try to create
obstacles."

According to him, today the ANC needs a hall that will seat 20,000
people. "Today, we are the only political party that can fill a hall
with supporters."

Zurabyan also informed today that the ANC is not planning on holding
its congress in Georgia because that is connected to additional
technical and financial issues and after all, the administration may
also close the border.

Since tomorrow the EU Commissioner for Human Rights must present the
situation in Armenia and has publicly stated that his evaluation
is going to be critical, Zurabyan touched upon the efforts of the
members of the Armenian delegation to soften the report.

"To tell you the truth, we still don’t know what Hammarberg has
prepared to say, but taking into account the fact that he is a man of
principle, we are sure that he will present an adequate report. As
to what our delegates may do, unfortunately, all their efforts will
be aimed at keeping the regime."

As far as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is concerned, especially
the Madrid principles, Zurabyan stated that the ANC has already
declared its stance on the principles and after the release of the
principles, everyone will be convinced that the ANC, in particular
Levon Ter-Petrosyan, was right.

According to Zurabyan, the administration’s only concern is to have
the Council of Europe continue to close its eye on issues relating
to democracy in Armenia, not use the term "political prisoners"
and apply sanctions against our delegation.

Levon Zurabyan is sure that the efforts of the Armenian delegation will
be in vain. In response to journalists’ questions, Zurabyan recalled
that on May 2, Ter-Petrosyan had declared that he was against freezing
funding for Armenia by the "Millennium Challenges" Corporation,
had appealed to the U.S. government to not apply sanctions to Armenia.

Let us recall that the Board of Directors of the "Millennium
Challenges" Corporation has decided to discuss the issue of conceding
6 million 811 thousand 305 dollars for restoration of rural roads
and improvement of irrigation network in Armenia in March 2009.

AFTERMATH OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL MEETING: TURKEY – EU RELATIONS

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Dec 16 2008
Turkey

The European Council meeting was held on 11-12 December in
Brussels. Nicholas Sarkozy who is in preparation to pass the Council
Presidency on the Czech Republic in January, presided the meeting. The
European Council conclusions were critically important for both the
future of the European Union and the relations between the EU and
Turkey in forthcoming year.

The official document released by the External Relations Council on 8
December provides the latest remarks of the EU about the negotiation
process over the year just passed with the two candidate countries,
Turkey and Croatia. It draws the general framework of the enlargement
strategy and reiterates its commitment to the basic values of the
Union which are accompanying the enlargement process.

With respect to the Turkey, the Council welcomes the government’s
commitment to advance the necessary reforms. However, it also expresses
its disappointment about the limited progress in political reforms
during the previous year. It especially points out the slowing pace
of reforms in the fields of the judicial reform, anti-corruption
strategy, protection of citizen’s rights, zero tolerance of torture
and ill treatment, freedom of expression and religion in law and in
practice, property rights, protection of minorities, strengthening of
cultural rights, women’s rights, children’s rights, trade union rights
and the civilian supervision over the military. Besides, it promotes
the decision of the government to complete the South Eastern Anatolia
economic development plan. The Council stresses on the need for action
to improve the economic, social and cultural conditions in the region.

Furthermore, the Council welcomes the decision of the Constitutional
Court which forestalled a serious political crisis. However, it refers
to a necessary revision of the constitutional rules, especially the
ones about the functioning of political parties. The political parties
are invited to establish a political dialogue based on compromise to
resolve their differences.

One of the striking points that the Council stresses on is the
current relations between Turkey and the two EU countries Greece and
Cyprus. The Council, as in its previous declarations, expects Turkey
to normalize the relations with Cyprus, to fulfill its obligations
under the Additional Protocol to the Association Agreement and abstain
from any kind of threat or action to harm the relations with its
neighbors. It reiterates its conclusions of 11 December 2006 and
awaits progress on the issues covered by the declaration of the
European Community and its member states of 21 September 2005.

The enlargement conclusions also consist of "welcomes" on the issues
related to the latest attempts of Turkey in its external relations. The
Council applauds Turkey’s constructive and compromising role in the
region which is based on delicate balances. It encourages the newly
emerging diplomatic dialogue between Turkey and Armenia. At this point,
Turkey’s strategic importance is once more emphasized.

To summarize the overall Presidency Conclusions, The Council, alike
the Commission, has a more critical stance towards Turkey’s current
position in the negotiation process. In the Commission’s Progress
Report on Turkey, the emphasis was much more on the limited progress in
the political reforms rather than the Cyprus issue. It can be said the
reactions from the Greek Cypriots worked out and the Cyprus problem was
put forward for the determination of the pace of the negotiations. 2009
will constitute one of the headstones in the Turkey-EU relations. A
comprehensive solution on the island and the intention to carry the
reforms forward will determine the future of the negotiations.

ARMENIA INTERESTED IN EXPANDING THE FRAMEWORK OF COOPERATION WITH THE OSCE

armradio.am
16.12.2008 15:25

President Serzh Sargsyan today received the OSCE Secretary General,
Marc Perrin de Brichambaut and his delegation.

Highly appreciating the constant support of the OSCE to the reforms
implemented in our country, the President noted that as a member
state Armenia is interested in expanding the framework of cooperation
by embracing new spheres and issues. Serzh Sargsyan stressed the
importance of cooperation with the OSCE, taking into consideration
that the process of settlement of the Karabakh issue is underway
within the framework of that organization.

The interlocutors talked about the opportunities of resolution of the
Karabakh issue and the role of the OCE in the settlement process. Serzh
Sargsyan and Marc Perrin de Brichambaut attached great importance
to the declarations on Nagorno Karabakh adopted by the OSCE Foreign
Ministers and the Foreign Ministers of the Minsk Group co-chair
countries. They agreed in their opinion that the militant statements
cannot contribute to the solution of the existing problems, and the
August events once again demonstrated the dangerousness of solving
conflicts via force.

The parties turned to the political and economic reforms implemented
in Armenia. Noting that during his tenure in office President
Sargsyan has taken daring and large-scale steps in the direction
of implementation of refo rms, the OSCE Secretary General displayed
interest in the spheres the Organization could be useful. The leader of
the country said the authorities are resolute to continue the reforms,
consolidated in the President’s pre-election platform and are in line
with the priorities of the political coalition.

During the meeting reference was made to the issue of persons detained
as a result of the events of March 1-2.

ACCORDING TO LEVON ZURABIAN, TRIAL MADE BY AUTHORITIES ON "CASE OF SEVEN" WILL TURN JUST AGAINST THEM

Noyan Tapan

Dec 16, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. In response to Armenian National
Congress’ (ANC) application to provide the RA government sitting
hall to them on December 19 "the authorities said some inarticulate
sentences to ANC representatives," from which oppositionists only
understood that they are refused. And as ANC Coordinator Levon
Zurabian said at the December 16 press conference, it was impossible
to understand the reason of refusal from those sentences. Mentioning
that they have also applied to the authorities to provide a hall to
them some day between December 20 to 23, L. Zurabian stated that if
they are again refused, ANC conference will be held in some small
hall, to find which will be comparatively easy. According to him,
for the present, the Congress excludes the variant of leaving for
Georgia and holding the conference there. According to L. Zurabian,
taking into consideration the circumstance that the number of people
wishing to take part in the conference will reach thousands and they
all cannot take a seat in a small hall, all conference speeches will
be videod and will be given out to the people in an unprecedented
number of DVD copies.

L. Zurabian said that the day of holding the conference has not
been clarified finally yet. However, according to him, opposition
activists are glad that it will not be held on December 19, when the
first court sitting on the "case of seven" is fixed. "Now we will
completely concentrate on the trial," the ANC Coordinator said. He
called everybody, "who values the future of Armenia and Armenian
children," for taking part in the court sitting on that day and
supporting the political prisoners. "The case of the seven has been
made with violation of many criminal-judicial norms. Indeed the regime
tried to lay its own crimes, seizure of power and organization of
mass disorders on the opposition," L. Zurabian said. He gave assurance
that the trial made by the authorities will turn just against them.

BAKO SAHAKYAN: KARABAKH PEOPLE COMMITTED TO FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY PRINCIPLES

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.12.2008 17:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On December 9, NKR President Bako Sahakyan delivered
a welcoming address to participants of the Human Rights Protection in
the Practice of Constitutional Justice conference, held in the NKR
National Assembly, the central information department of the office
of the NKR president told PanARMENIAN.Net

The President said:

"Dear participants of the conference,

I welcome holding in Stepanakert the authoritative conference in
connection with the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights and the Day of the NKR Constitution. It is very important
that the event is organized on a very high representative level and
is academic in its nature.

The people of Nagorno Karabakh have been always committed to the
principles of freedom and democracy as well as to creating such a
jural state where the dignity and freedom of the human being and the
citizen are of utmost value. The adoption of the NKR Constitution has
confirmed once again the irreversibility of this process, the will and
aspirations of our people to realize the right to live in free and just
society that secures equal development opportunities for everybody.

This conference is a good opportunity to value the achievements of
the NKR in protecting human and citizen rights and freedoms as well
as in forming democratic and civil society. The state as the most
important guarantor of human and citizen rights protection will keep
being consistent and will further activate its efforts in this field."