Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

‘TALKING TURKISH’ WITH THE SYRIANS
by Herb Keinon

The Jerusalem Post
September 11, 2007, Tuesday

There is something ironic in Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan’s
protest Monday over Israel’s alleged flyover of Syrian territory
last week.

"This is an unacceptable development he said during a joint news
conference with his Syrian counterpart, Walid Moallem.

All countries in the region must show respect to all countries’
sovereignty and carefully avoid acts that lead to tensions Babacan
said. Otherwise tensions would be fueled and peace and stability in
the region might be harmed."

Interesting words from the foreign minister of a country that
just nine years ago amassed thousands of troops on its border with
Syria and rattled its sabers to get Syria to end its support for the
separatist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and to cough up its leader
Abdullah …calan.

Indeed there are those who believe that Israel’s alleged foray into
Syrian airspace was an attempt to "talk Turkish" with the Syrians
and use Turkish methods – saber rattling – to get Damascus to end
support for Hamas and to disgorge Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal.

If Syria ended its support for the PKK and eventually got rid of
…calan then – this logic goes – maybe similar methods can be used
to get it to end its support for Hamas.

According to this reasoning Thursday’s alleged overflight had to do
with Hamas.

Consider the following timeline. Last Monday a Kassam rocket slammed
into the courtyard of a day care center in Sderot sending a dozen kids
to the hospital to be treated for trauma. Two days later the security
cabinet met pledged to "continue intensive military operations against
all those involved in launching rockets and in perpetrating other
terrorist actions. Nobody among those responsible for terrorism will
be immune."

And then on Thursday the IAF allegedly in what seems to be an obvious
attempt to draw attention to itself broke the sound barrier over Syria.

If indeed Israel was doing little more than "talking Turkish" with
the Syrians then why the Turkish Foreign Minister’s sharp tone and
why demarches registered with Israeli diplomats in Ankara and demands
for clarification of what happened?

While some are suggesting that Turkey’s tone is a manifestation of its
anger at the Anti-Defamation League’s decision to reverse its stand
on the massacres of Armenians during World War I and refer to them
as genocide the more plausible explanation has more to do with Iran.

According to this reasoning Turkey needs to protest loudly and clearly
the possible violation of its airspace now because it is thinking
that at some point Israel might attack Iran’s nuclear facilities.

In that eventuality Turkey does not want to be blamed for letting
Israeli planes use its airspace. And therefore it may now just be
building deniability.

SUCCESSION IN DEVELOPMENT OF RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN RELATIONS WILL BE MAINTAINED AFTER 2008 ELECTIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.09.2007 14:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Succession in development of the Russian-Armenian
relations will be maintained after 2008 presidential elections in
both states, Russian Prime Minister Victor Zubkov said when opening
talks with his Armenian counterpart Serge Sargsyan.

"I see our common task in development of allied ties, first of all
in economic and humanitarian fields," PM Zubkov said.

Today’s negotiations will result in signature of some agreements,
according to him.

For his part, the Armenian Prime Minister said, "Bilateral relations
between our states are developing dynamically. For the initial six
months of 2007 the commodity turnover has exceeded 70%. It’s a good
index," ITAR-TASS reports.

ON EMPIRES AND THEIR DESTINY
By Fehmi Koru

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Sept 24 2007

Wherever I go in Washington and whoever I talk with, I hear that
Congress will certainly pass the Armenian resolution, regardless of
possible reactions from all the pertinent bodies and personalities,
including President George W. Bush. The Armenian lobby is going to be
successful this time around; so my sources tell me. But I also hear the
opposite: that the Congress will not give way to the Armenian lobby’s
demand in a time the US is in dire need of Turkey’s assistance in a
region beset with problems that the US has a huge stake in. As it was
the case many times previously, the president will write a letter to
the Congress as well as place a call to Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the
house, giving a detailed account of Turkey’s importance and asking
to postpone the proposed resolution. "Don’t worry," people in the
know say, "The resolution will not pass."

Now you hear it, now you don’t.

I have never seen the Turks living in the US capital so gloomy. The
Armenian resolution is an issue taking up all the energies and
efforts of Turkey’s representatives in a country where there are
higher objectives to achieve for the benefit of both sides. Turkey
can easily adapt itself for a mandate which would be a tremendous
help to the US in its endeavor to reach a workable status in the
Middle East. Turkey, with its highly respected democratic government,
can also show the US how to handle the problem of its constant image
deterioration in the eyes of the Muslim world.

I have great doubts about the resolution of historical events with
modern political tools. The Armenian resolution will do no good to any
of the parties involved, apart from the satisfaction it would bestow
to fanatics and bigots. What did happen in 1915 can not be undone
with a resolution passed by a third party’s parliament. How can the
misery and tribulations of the Armenians who suffered badly during
a war which also caused the extinction of the lives of millions of
other people be rectified by a simple declaration of parliamentarians
who close their ears to the suffering of masses all over the world?

More than 800,000 people have lost their lives in a bloody war declared
by the US Congress almost unilaterally and the same Congress will pass
a declaration condemning the Armenian losses in a war too distant to
remember. What a grave contradiction!

During my extended sojourn in the US capital this time around, I found
myself in an unwanted position of attracting interest. Those who follow
events relating to Turkey closely in Washington wonder what would
happen if the Armenian resolution is accepted by the Congress. What
would be the public reaction in Turkey? In which direction will the
reactions be channeled? Would the Turkish government stimulate the
aggravation or try to allay the public’s outburst?

I answered all these questions positively: Yes, there will be a public
uproar if and when the resolution is passed. There will be calls
for total boycotts of anything American and officials in Turkey will
find it very difficult to convince the people to side with American
positions when the necessity arises.

Turkey will lose face, but the Americans will suffer most from the
Armenian resolution if it passes through Congress.

Let us assume that the resolution passes — what will it be achieved
by this development? The only change likely to occur is its possible
shadow cast over Turkish-US relations. The bilateral relations
between the two have never been easy; there have been turbulences
along the way, but both countries have managed to remain friends
nevertheless. Up until now. With the resolution’s passing, from now
on nothing will be the same.

During my stay in Washington, I have consistently been asked the
same question: According to opinion polls, the Turkish public is
the most anti-American in the world, with only 9 percent showing
some sympathy toward the US — what would it change with one more
negative development?

The change will be enormous: the lack of sympathy in Turkey toward
the US stems from American involvement in regional problems and will
evaporate when the situation changes; with passing of the Armenian
resolution by Congress, the Turkish public’s regard for the US will
diminish completely. Our feelings, negative or positive, toward the
US are powerful; this alone must be a cause of concern for Washington.

Of course the issue between the Turks and the Armenians has to be
solved, and solved justly. We, the people of Turkey, will find a
way to make amends with the Armenian people in the future. Turkey
will extend its hand toward Armenia, using the presence of Turkish
citizens of Armenian extraction in Turkey to both countries’ benefit.

We feel sorry for all the losses during an unfortunate war which cost
us more dearly. We lost not only a large chunk of our compatriots,
we also lost our empire.

I expect to see some understanding from the US, in a time when its
own empire faces grave difficulties.

ITALIAN MINISTER REITERATES SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP BID
Report by Alessandra Coppola

Corriere della Sera
12 Sep 07
Milan, Italy

"Minister Bonino in Istanbul and Ankara: ‘Turkey Wants Europe, and
We Support It’"

Ankara – Turkey is moving "with determination" down the path leading to
Europe, and it has Italy’s support as it does so. [Italian Community
Affairs] Minister Emma Bonino visited Istanbul last weekend, and she
was in Ankara yesterday. Her aim is to seek confirmation that [Turkish
Prime Minister] Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s moderate Islamic government
is still moving in that direction, following the vote in July. Well,
her search has proved fruitful.

The minister reported that she has been talking with a leadership that
is "not arrogant," that has naturally been "strengthened" by the vote,"
but that is "determined to continue down the path of economic and civic
modernization": "Turkey confirms its European calling, but also its
practical work leading towards the European Union; and this, despite
some non-positive signals, particularly from France ([French President
Nicolas] Sarkozy is openly opposed to the country joining the EU –
Corriere della Sera editor’s note)." The independent commission on
Turkey (a group of European personalities chaired by former Finnish
President Martti Ahtisaari), of which Bonino is a member, may well
now draft a new report "to contribute to the continued pursuit of
membership negotiations."

Could Turkey join Europe also as a response to 11 September, as
[Italian] Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema suggested yesterday [see
referent item]? "I am convinced of that," Bonino replied, adding:
"The process that Ankara has undertaken is useful as a sign of
openness towards the EU: stringent openness, respectful of Community
criteria, but without any prejudice. The message is that Europe is
not a fortress; it is not a religious project but a political one."

In the meantime, Turkey is pressing on. "A plan to take the Community’s
directives on board is ready," the Italian minister explained. Nor did
she fight shy of addressing the issue of minorities’ rights, which is
still a sore point for Ankara, with the Kurds discriminated against,
and with the Armenian genocide being de facto denied by Article 301 in
the criminal code which punishes "insults to Turkish identity. She was
assured that progress has been made in the new draft constitution,
which will be ready in a matter of days from now, and which the
government is committed to submitting to examination by Parliament
and to a referendum in the spring.

Bonino considers that there have been "positive signals" also from
newly elected Islamic President Abdullah Gul, whose election was
frowned upon by the military and disputed by the nonconfessionals:
"The decision to receive Noble prizewinner [author] Orhan Pamuk
(threatened by nationalist extremists for daring to talk about the
Armenians – Corriere della Sera editor’s note) and (yesterday’s) trip
to the (Kurdish) southeast, with the intention of meeting also with
a women’s association that is fighting against ‘crimes of honour,’
seem to me to be very important moves," Bonino said.

Finally, she turned to the economy: Minister Bonino, who holds also
the foreign trade portfolio, has met with Italian businessmen in
the course of her trip, noting an "improvement in trade" (plus 75.5
per cent in 10 years); she was assured of [Turkey’s] amenability to
recognize Italy’s specific areas of expertise when the construction
sites get under way for the restoration of Istanbul, which has been
designated [European] Cultural Capital in 2010. Also, she discussed
a plan for an Italian-Turkish University for Engineering and Design,
and she confirmed the diplomatic agenda involving: a visit by D’Alema,
followed by a trip to Italy for Erdogan on 7 and 8 November, and then
a forum for dialogue at the end of the month.

While she was holding her talks, the police identified and defused a
minibus stuffed full of explosives in downtown Ankara. Bonino offered
a positive interpretation even of that episode: "It shows that there
is an increased intelligence capability," she said.

Armenian Genocide Museum & Institute
RA, Yerevan 0028
Contact: Arevik Avetisyan
Tel: (374 10) 39 09 81
Fax: (374 10) 39 10 41
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http: //

The Mayor of Nice gave honor to the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
22.09.07

The Mayor of Nice, Senator Jacques Peyrat visited Tsisernakaberd
Memorial Complex. During the visit Mayor Jacques Peyrat put a wreath to
the Memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims. He also planted a fir at
the Memory Alley and visited the Genocide Museum.

Mr. Peyrat left a note in the Commemoration Book, where particularly
mentioned: "Man treats a man like a wolf. We all know about it. However,
there are sense of justice, love and philanthropy in him. Yes, until
there exists even one survivor, the exterminated nation can revive."

PanARMENIAN.Net

Attack on Iran will be calamity for region
22.09.2007 15:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `Military attack on Iran will be a calamity for the
whole region. It will cause flows of refugees to Russia,’ Russian
Acting Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Russia
TV Channel.

`Furthermore, the region is the main source of energy for Western
states,’ he said.

He underscored that Russia doesn’t wish defeat to the United
States. We want America to use its huge potential for the glory of the
state and development of mutually beneficial cooperation with other
countries,’ he said.

Mr Lavrov also reminded of the great number of Azerbaijanis living in
the region. `War will result in flows of refugees. Russia doesn’t
exercise visa regime with Azerbaijan and this will also be a problem,’
he noted, RIA Novosti reports.

Earthtimes.org

UNICEF: No schooling for 14 million in Central and
Eastern Europe
Posted : Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:48:00 GMT
Author : DPA

Geneva – Around 14 million children were missing out on education in
central and eastern Europe, according to a study published Thursday in
Geneva by the UN children’s agency UNICEF. Almost 2.4 million children
in the region did not attend primary school, around 2 per cent of
children in that age group, and 12 million did not attend secondary
school out of a total 100 million children aged 18 or under, according
to the study.

Attendance was lowest in Armenia, Georgia, Moldavia and in several
central Asian republics such as Tadjikistan and Kyrgyzstan, where less
than half the children were in secondary school.

These failures in the education system fed poverty and undermined the
economic competitiveness of these countries, UNICEF regional director
Maria Calivis told journalists.

Youth unemployment was running at more than 50 per cent in those
countries lagging behind most in education, such as Serbia, Armenia
and Macedonia. It was around 30 per cent in Slovakia, Croatia and
Poland.

UNICEF urged governments in the region to increase spending on
education from an average 3 per cent of their gross national droduct
to closer to 6 per cent, insisting better wages were needed to attract
good teachers and improve quality.

Federation of Armenian Organisations of the Netherlands (FAON)
Address: Weesperstraat 91 – 2574 VS The Hague
Telephone: +31704490209
E-mail: [email protected]
Contact: M. Hakhverdian

PRESS RELEASE

The Hague, 19 September 2007

Research on Armenians in the Netherlands

This week a group of some hundreds of Armenians is receiving a questionnaire
with the request to cooperate in a research on Armenians in the Netherlands.
This independent research is an initiative of the Federation of Armenian
Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON). The Dutch government supports the
research financially. This support was promised to FAON last year during a
meeting with the Minister of Integration of the Netherlands.

The results of the research will enlarge our knowledge about the Armenians
in the Netherlands, for example about the countries where they are coming
from, their level of education and occupation and their position in the
Dutch society in general. By this research it will also be possible to
estimate more accurately the number of the Armenian-Dutch population, since
there are no official figures on the ethnic Armenians living in the
Netherlands.

The group receiving the questionnaire is a random sample taken from some
thousands of addresses of Armenians. The selection of the group has been
made by the researcher.

The establishment of the questionnaire, as well as the selection of the
group were made carefully after a long preparation work and the collection
of available data on ethnic Armenians of the Netherlands. The investigation
is conducted by the Dutch sociologist Mr. G.J. Veerman for the FAON. The
research is closely followed by a supervising commission chaired by the
research specialist of the Dutch Ministry and includes, among others, the
Armenologist Prof. Dr. J. Weitenberg and the former deputy director of the
Dutch Social and Cultural Planning Office C. van Praag.

After this phase of the inquiry, the outcome will be analysed. The result of
the research together with an introduction on the background of the
Armenians will be published by the FAON in a booklet. The FAON hopes to
offer this booklet to the Dutch Minister beginning of next year.

TURKISH AUTHORITIES BLOCK YOUTUBE ACCESS AGAIN

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.09.2007 13:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A Turkish court has banned YouTube access after
someone complained that the world’s most popular video sharer was
hosting clips that insulted the "country’s founding father", Mustafa
Kemal Ataturk, The Register reports.

In response to a Turkish resident who stumbled onto YouTube videos
badmouthing not only Ataturk but President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the national army, the court has ordered the
Turkish Telecommunications Board to block access to the entire site.

Much the same thing happened this past March, when a court order
forced the country’s largest telecommunications provider, Turk Telekom,
to put the kibosh on YouTube access.

That ban lasted but two days. Turk Telecom removed a video that
insulted Ataturk, whose memory is protected by Turkish law, and
access to the site was soon restored. But just six months later,
another blackout seems imminent.

It’s not known yet whether the Turkish authorities demanded removal
of the video before blocking YouTube access this time.

US AND ARMENIAN DOCTORS OFFER EYE AND DENTAL TREATMENT IN RURAL ARMENIA

armradio.am
18.09.2007 14:48

September 18th through the 20th, two US military doctors, accompanied
by two Armenian military doctors, will perform eye and dental
examinations in the southern Armenian villages of Darbas, Shamb, and
Tatev. The focus of their activities will be children and the elderly.

The treatment teams will spend one day at each of the villages.

The Americans will be working with village medical treatment facilities
utilizing approximately $60,000 USD worth of medical supplies and
aid in addition to prescribing and then delivering prescription eye
glasses to those who are in need of them.

The doctors expect to screen and treat over 200 patients each day
at each village. This activity will supplement the work of Armenian
physicians who periodically visit the villages to deliver healthcare
services at health care posts.

The US Embassy’s Office of Defense Cooperation Bilateral Affairs
Officer Major Edward G. Keller commented that this initiative marks
one of several that are planned for villages in Armenia, and will
help promote other types of healthcare missions for the region in
the future.

The US Office of Defense Cooperation in Armenia works to foster US
government and industry assistance to Armenia in the defense sphere.

The office operates under the authority of the US Chief of Mission
in Armenia and the US European Command, located in Stuttgart, Germany.