STRENGTHENING THE “EASTERN VECTOR”: ANKARA HOSTS TURKIC SUMMIT
By Igor Torbakov
Friday, November 17, 2006
Eurasia Daily Monitor, DC
Nov 17 2006
Leaders of Turkic nations are meeting today, November 17, in
Turkey’s Mediterranean resort city of Antalya. This first summit of
Turkish-speaking peoples in five years appears to reflect Ankara’s
ongoing rethinking about its international identity. Increasingly
frustrated with the mounting hurdles on the path of its European
integration, Turkey seems to be turning its strategic gaze to the
east – the Caspian Basin and Central Asia – which is home to the
energy-rich Turkic republics of the former Soviet Union.
The presidents of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and
high-level representatives from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will be
attending the Antalya gathering. It was unclear whether the Russian
republics of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan will be represented.
The November 17-18 event is the eighth meeting of Turkic leaders since
the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. The last such summit, however,
took place in Istanbul in 2001. The gatherings of the leaders of Turkic
countries are the brainchild of the late Turkish President Turgut Ozal,
who organized the first such meeting in 1992 in Ankara. The current
summit convened after intense lobbying by the Turkish government
following the September convention of the Turkish-speaking peoples
(see EDM, September 22).
A statement posted on Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s website says
the summit participants will sign a joint document called the Antalya
Declaration. There was no official word ahead of the gathering on
the nature of the document. Some analysts predict that the Turkish
government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will continue
its efforts to forge a Turkic Commonwealth that could significantly
enhance the Turkey-led Eurasian bloc on the world stage.
It is hard not to notice that Ankara’s Turkic initiative coincides
with Turkish opinion polls showing diminishing popular support for
European Union membership. According to a recent poll by the Pew
Research Center, Turkish support for the EU has fallen to 35%, down
from almost 80% three years ago.
Two important developments further underscore the Turks’
disillusionment with the West and their growing irritation at the
perceived snub by the Europeans.
First, five former Turkish foreign ministers, including several
staunchly pro-EU ones, have recently aired a common view on the
country’s NTV news channel, arguing that it could be best if Ankara
unilaterally suspends membership talks with the bloc to allow for
a cooling-off period in what is becoming an increasingly tense and
acrimonious relationship. “There can be no better indication of the
growing frustration with the EU and no better explanation for the
dramatic decline in support for [Turkey’s] membership in the Union,”
one Turkish commentator noted.
Second, Turkey has just suspended military relations with France in a
dispute over the controversial issue of the mass killings of Armenians
during the twilight of the Ottoman era. The move was the latest
backlash against French legislation that, if approved by the French
Senate and president, would criminalize any denial that the World War
I-era killings of Armenians in Turkey qualified as genocide. France
and Turkey, both NATO members, have had close military ties, and
Turkey has been an eager buyer of French-made military hardware. But
on November 15, Turkey’s land forces commander, General Ilker Basbug,
told reporters in Ankara that “relations with France in the military
field have been suspended.”
As Ankara’s relations with the EU become ever more problematic, a
growing number of Turkish pundits argue that Turkey needs to expand
its strategic thinking and get rid of the “unhealthy fixation”
on Europe. The contemporary world is not unipolar or centralized,
they say, adding that a group of Eurasian countries including Turkey,
China, India, as well as some Central Asian states has a “much more
viable future in the developmental terms used by economists than do
many countries in the EU today.”
The urgent task, then, according to some Turkish strategists, is to
explore the possibilities for regional integration and cooperation
among the Eurasian countries. “The need for cooperation among us and
other regional powers is obvious,” asserts Ali Kulebi, the head of
Turkey’s National Security Strategies Research Center, in a recent
policy paper.
But other analysts remain skeptical about Ankara’s eventual success
with Eurasian integration, including its efforts at building a bloc
based on a kinship with Central Asia’s Turkic peoples. There are two
main reasons for such skepticism. First, the Central Asian states
will likely be wary of Ankara’s intention to play the role of “big
brother” in the prospective commonwealth. Second, these countries
have not been terribly successful so far in resolving some crucial
regional problems – such as the delimitation of the Caspian Sea or
competition over water resources.
(Anadolu, Akipress, November 16; AP, November 15; Turkish Daily News,
November 16, 14, October 22)

The Alliance of Civilizations and the Pope’s Visit
By HUSEYIN GULERCE
11.17.2006 Friday – ISTANBUL 19:44
Zaman, Turkey
Nov 17 2006
The 4th High-level Group Meeting of the Alliance of Civilizations
held last Monday at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul also pointed out
the importance of the visit to our country 12 days from now by Pope
Benedictus XVI.
The Alliance of Civilizations initiative was begun by the efforts
of UN General Secretary Kofi Annan. Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero
and Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan were named as co-chairmen of
the organization. The enterprise has a High Level Group. After the
September 11th terrorist attack in the US and the occupation of Iraq
by the Bush administration using Saddam as an excuse and the Lebanese
attacks in which Israeli massacres directed towards civilians once
again appeared on the agenda of world public opinion, hostility and
tension between the Western world and the Islamic world can only be
prevented by dialogue efforts among countries and country leaders.
We see that Turkey has become a very important country in respect
to both efforts. Turkey’s EU membership candidacy increases this
importance even more. With the reality of “Turkey as an EU member,” it
can be seen that the West hasn’t rejected Islam and doesn’t see it as
the “new enemy” and, therefore, that it is possible to have dialogue
and tolerance among members of different religions for the sake of
permanent peace. If not, it is inescapable that interpretations will
be strengthened to the effect that the Holy Crusades are continuing
with ways and means compatible with this era.
With the culture of tolerance that Turkey inherited from the Ottomans
and its republican experience that doesn’t clash democracy with Islam,
it has shown that it approves of coming together on universal human
values and of integrating with the world, and that it can succeed in
“sharing” in mankind’s common march.
In spite of voices raised on the inside by those who want polarization,
but whose voices are not proportional to their strength, the Justice
and Development Party experience displayed today in administration
is accepted both by the society and the external world, and it is
hoped that this experiment will be successful. There not yet being
any alternative political party on the horizon according to public
opinion polls emphasizes that it is.
We see acceptance of dialogue and tolerance in society. Dialogue begun
by Fethullah Gulen, a leader of this view, 10 years ago with the
Phanariot Patriarch, Head Rabbi of the Jewish community in Turkey,
and the Armenian Patriarch and later expanded with Gulen’s visit to
Pope Paul VI at the Vatican was well-received by a large mass of the
population, in spite of the protests of certain circles and their
efforts to stir up muddy water. The dialogue dinners during Ramadan
that were initially criticized were later officially stood up for. And
these dinners are spreading today as meetings that build bridges of
peace throughout the world from America to Europe and from Australia
to Africa.
When dialogue and tolerance efforts that are continuing among
peoples both by means of administrations with UN initiatives and the
exertions of voluntary organizations are remembered, the visit to
Turkey by Pope Benedictus XVI from November 28th-December 1st looks
like a milestone. Prime Minister Erdogan’s attending the NATO summit
on November 28-29 should not prevent him from seeing the Pope and
taking advantage of this opportunity. The Pope will be in Istanbul
on November 30th. There is still a possibility for this meeting to
take place. Criticized for his words directed towards out Prophet, the
Pope’s finding an opportunity for self-criticism and his doing this in
Turkey would be meaningful world-wide. An Erdogan-Pope meeting would
be an essential answer to domestic and foreign EU opponents allied
to prevent Turkey’s EU membership. There are important historical
moments that separate statesmen from politicians. The Pope’s visit
to Turkey presents Erdogan with such an opportunity…

Trial on Ramil Safarov starts in Budapest
[ 17 Nov. 2006 17:43 ]
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 17 2006
The trial on the case of Ramil Safarov, sentenced to life imprisonment
for the murder of Armenian Army officer Gurgen Margaryan, for the
claim raised by jailers has started today in Budapesht.
Azeri embassy in Hungary told APA that the officers of the Embassy
will participate in the court. Hungarian lawyer Clara Fisher will
defend his rights on the case.
While being kept in Hungarian prison in 2004, jailers wanted telephone
card from Ramil. But Ramil could not understand Hungarian which led
an incident between them. Eight police officers tied his hands and
used force. Though lawyers for the Azerbaijani lieutenant appealed to
court related to this matter, the court dismissed the appeal saying
there was no evidence. Then the opposite side claimed that Ramil
resisted officials. /APA/

More grounds to grant ex-Soviet regions independence than Kosovo – Kokoity
Interfax, Russia
Nov 17 2006
MOSCOW. Nov 17 (Interfax) – The breakaway regions in three former
Soviet republics have better reasons to seek independence than Kosovo,
President of the breakaway republic of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity
said at Friday news conference at the Interfax central office in
Moscow.
“We have better political and legal reasons for recognition than
Kosovo,” he said, before accusing “the international community of a
policy of double standards toward all four republics.”
He was referring to South Ossetia, Abkhazia (both de jure part of
Georgia), Transdniestria (Moldova), and the Armenian-speaking enclave
of Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijan).

Zaman, Turkey
Nov 17 2006
France not Invited to 2007 Defense Industry Fair
By Cihan News Agency
Friday, November 17, 2006
zaman.com
France has not been officially invited for the 8th International
Defense Industry Fair 2007 (IDEF ’07), which will be held in Turkey.
Following a statement from the Turkish Land Forces commander saying
that military ties with France had been suspended, a second concrete
reaction to the French parliament’s passage of a controversial draft
bill on Armenian genocide claims came from the Turkish government.
France has not been officially invited for the fair, Turkish National
Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul told press members on Thursday at a
meeting for the introduction of IDEF’07, which is set to be held in
May 2007.
This move is seen as an apparent reaction to the French National
Assembly’s adoption of a draft bill making it a crime to deny that
Turks committed genocide against Armenians during World War I.
Gonul remarked that, however, an announcement was made for French
companies, adding that the participation of French companies in the
fair was something different.
French Military Attache Jean Claude Gea left the meeting immediately
after Gonul’s statement.
On Wednesday, Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug said
that Turkey had suspended military relations with France, adding that
currently “There are no high-level [military] visits between the two
countries,” he added.

Robert Kocharyan: Formula for Kosovo conflict settlement can be applied to Nagorno Karabakh
Azeri Press Agency, Azeraijan
Nov 17 2006
[ 17 Nov. 2006 16:58 ]
“An aspirant to the EU, Turkey should pursue a more positive policy
in the region.
We have many times proposed to establish diplomatic relations but
have not received a reply do far. We suppose that neighbor states
should build relationships without preconditions and moreover without
advancing the demand of a third state,” Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan said when addressing the Bertelsmann Fund in Berlin,
APA reports.
Touching on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Robert Kocharyan said that
Karabakh gained its independence after USSR collapse.
“The independence of Nagorno Karabakh was obtained after the collapse
of the Soviet Union. Nagorno Karabakh has never been a part of
independent Azerbaijan. Successfully building its state system the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic has probed its right to existence. If Kosovo
conflict is solved, the elements of this formula can be applied to
the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict,” he claimed.
/APA/

27th Plenary Session of Interparliamentary Assembly of Commonwealth
of Independent States in Saint Petersburg
National Assembly, Armenia
Nov 17 2006
On November 16 the 17th plenary session of CIS IPA began its work in
Tavricheskiy Palace in Saint Petersburg. Mr. Sergey Mironov, Chairman
of IPA CIS Council delivered a welcoming speech and assured that the
cooperation has proved its efficiency in free trade, fight against
organized crimes, drug business and terrorism and in development of
different forms of humanitarian cooperation. He also noted, that the
main theme of the 27th plenary session is the 15th anniversary of CIS,
the results of interparliamentary cooperation and the perspectives.
For the first time the Speaker of the Parliament of the Islamic
Republic of Afghanistan Mr. Mohammad Yunus Qanooni was participating
in the IPA CIS session. From the name of PABSEC, Mr. Mustafa Bash
made a welcoming speech and wished success.
The President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Mr.
Tigran Torosyan noted in his speech, that after the collapse of the
USSR the countries turned out to be in a difficult situation and were
forced to create new state and inter-state systems, economic relations,
develop democracy and resolve problems, each of those being a serious
complication for any country. The CIS has been useful in the resolution
of these problems and has helped to work efficiently in creating
legislation and solving the problems caused by the collapse of the
USSR. Now one can record that the CIS is a real operating organization,
which has great achievements. The Presidents of CIS countries work
on reforms of CIS, and necessarily the Interparliamentary Assembly
also has to work on these reforms because new time brings about new
problems. The IPA CIS has been so strengthened, that it can become an
arena for the debate of different issues, and for which new mechanisms
and opportunities have to be created. During these years the countries
have gained a rather big experience, which can be used in the CIS. In
that context there is much work to do, because there are rather high
results in economy, and a new situation is created, which requires
new solutions, so the CIS would work due to time demands. In that
context Mr. Torosyan emphasized the role of IPA CIS, which is of great
significance in the life of CIS and in the establishment of national
legislations, settlement of conflicts and establishment of regional
peace. The President of the National Assembly wished success to the
works and future activity of the Inter-parliamentary Assembly.
Other Presidents of Parliament of member countries also had speeches
at the IPA CIS plenary session.
After the debate of the theme “Fifteenth Anniversary of CIS: Results
of Inter-parliamentary Cooperation and Perspectives” the participants
of the plenary session discussed issues concerning the adaptation of
national legislation in the sphere of security. The participants of
the session were presented recommendations on “Ensuring Legislative
Regulation of Migration Processes in CIS member nations,” on Model
Environmental Code, Water and Education Codes and other issues. These
and other draft laws were approved at the IPA CIS session and will
be used in elaborating national legislations.
The works of the 27th plenary session of IPA CIS were summed up at
a joint press conference.
The President of the National Assembly Mr. Tigran Torosyan had a
tete-e-tete talk with the Chairman of the Federation Council of the
Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Mr. Sergey Mironov, during
which they touched upon the works of IPA CIS, the meeting of four
Caucasian countries and the forthcoming official visit of the President
of the National Assembly to the Russian Federation and other issues.
On the same day the meeting of four Caucasian countries took place,
with the participation of the Presidents of Parliament of Armenia,
Russian Federation, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Fresnan had farming in his blood
By Jim Steinberg / The Fresno Bee11/17/06 04:43:29
Fresno Bee, CA
Nov 17 2006
More informationKeith Harry Avedisian
Born: June 18, 1949
Died: Nov. 13
Occupation: raisin grower
Survivors: wife Linda; daughters Stacy and Laurie Avedisian; son
Michael Avedisian; mother Eleanor Avedisian
Keith Harry Avedisian of Fresno carried on the raisin-growing tradition
that his family planted in the rich soil near Fowler after escaping
Ottoman massacres of Armenians early in the last century.
Mr. Avedisian died Monday of cancer after what his family called an
inspiring effort to survive. He was 57.
He was diagnosed in September 2005, when he was told to expect only a
few months of life. More than 100 people – family and friends – joined
recently to help celebrate his full year of life after his diagnosis.
Mr. Avedisian was born in Fresno to Harry and Eleanor Avedisian.
Harry Avedisian’s father, George, had fled Armenia for the San
Joaquin Valley. He began farming, as his ancestors had done in the
old country. Mr. Avedisian carried the family name and farmed the
family land.
“It is very important to old-time Armenians,” daughter Stacy Avedisian
said. “The one with the name gets the farm. He had a brother who wasn’t
interested at all. My father loved everything about farming. He took
high school agriculture classes, pruning classes. I think it was just
something in his blood.”
Mr. Avedisian had worked earlier for a bridge construction company
but knew his heart remained in working the soil, Stacy Avedisian
said. He married his wife, Linda, in 1977 and quit his construction
job the next year.
The Avedisians lived in the first home built in their area of Selma,
but the construction of more homes left Mr. Avedisian feeling too
urban.
“He felt cramped,” his daughter said. “He didn’t like city life”
in Selma.
“He needed to be on the farm. He loved that. He was not one to lie
out on the beach. He could lie out in his field.”
Mr. Avedisian’s aunt Ruby Abajian said the family came first to
Lonestar, then to Fowler, where they farmed from 1910 on.
Mr. Avedisian had a great-uncle who farmed near Lonestar.
“They had done farming in Armenia,” Abajian said. “It was familiar,
and they picked it up in the United States.
“When our family started out, we had no tractors. We used horses. It
was primitive. Years went by, and we put in wells. They used to dig
wells by hand, just one fellow with a shovel and a pipe of some kind.
It was hard, but they made it.”
Mr. Avedisian’s brother Darrell, an Ivanhoe pharmacist, died in July
2005. Their father died on July 30.
“I’ve had my share of crying,” Abajian said. “I’m just trying to
be strong.”
A service will begin at 10 a.m. Friday in Immanuel Lutheran Church
in Easton.
The family requests that any remembrance be sent to the church,
5955 S. Elm Ave., Fresno, CA 93706, or to a favorite charity.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 17 2006
Antalya Summit starts today
[ 17 Nov. 2006 15:39 ]
Antalya Summit of the Turkish Speaking Countries has started today.
The summit is attended by Turkey’s President Ahmed Nejdet Sezer,
Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev, Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Nazarbayev,
Kyrgyzstan’s Kurmanbek Bakiev.
Turkmenistan is participating in the summit at embassy level, however
Uzbekistan has no representative.
Turkish President Ahmed Nejdet Sezer opened the summit, saying this
event is the start of a new era.
“We see global changes in the world. Cooperation between Turkish
states has become inevitable. Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku railway
will be a bridge joining Turkish countries,” he said.
Ahmed Nejdet Sezer said Turkey has always been together with Azerbaijan
in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude to his
Turkish counterpart for the high-level summit.
This kind of events paves the way for new cooperation levels among
Turkish countries. We have left all difficulties behind, we have
defended our independence,” he said.
He said the Turkish states are developing very rapidly at present.
“Azerbaijan’s economy growth rate is the leading one in the world.
The economy growth rate hit 26 percent in 2005, but we forecast that
the growth will reach 34 percent this year. The stronger economy we
have, the quicker solution we can find to the problems,” he stated.
Touching upon the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan and
displacement of over one million people from their native lands
by Armenians, Mr. Aliyev said Azerbaijan can also lay many claims
against Armenia.
“Irevan (Yerevan) khanate was the territory of Azerbaijan. But, we
don’t lay such claims. We want our lands to be liberated in a peaceful
way, however our hopes is running out. Nagorno Karabakh- a criminal
regime- has remained far from international control. They are making
various illicit drugs there, they are preparing for terrorisitc acts
there. The world countries, in particular Turkish ones should pay
attention to this problem. UN Security Council’s four resolutions
on unconditional withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azeri lands
remain unimplemented. CE resolutions haven’t yet been implemented
either. Armenia’s aggressive policy has created undesirable situation
in the region,” he said.
Mr. Aliyev also said Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku railway line will
be a direct bridge between Azerbaijan and Turkey and Kazakhstan’s
joining the project is very estimable.
He also expressed his satisfaction with the activities of TURKSOY.
Ilham Aliyev expressed his support for Turkey’s accession to the EU.
“Azerbaijan is very concerned over pressures Turkey faces in the
accession process.” He stated.
Kazakhstan’s President spoke of the importance of the union of Turkish
Speaking Countries, suggesting that Higher Council of the Turkish
States should be established and Turkish 9th president Suleyman
Demirel should be the Council President.
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev said that economic, political and
cultural cooperation between the Turkish countries should be deepened.
Antalya Declaration will be adopted at the end of the Summit. /APA/

Turkish ultra-nationalist organizations hold one more action of
protest against the Armenian Genocide
Regnum, Russia
Nov 17 2006
The Labor Party of Turkey and a number of other Turkish organizations
have held an action of protest in front of the building of the
Consulate General of France in Istanbul with slogans “The Armenian
Genocide is an Imperialistic Lie!” and “No to French Products!”
reports Trend news agency.
The secretary general of the LPT Dogu Perincek said that “the so-called
Armenian Genocide is a fable invented by the imperialist forces,
who are trying to use it in their occupant plans.”
He said that on Nov 21 the leadership of the party is going to hold a
mass action of protest in Paris in order to urge France “not to become
a puppet in the US’ Middle East plans.” Perincek urged the leaders of
all political parties of Turkey to take part in it and also to hold
a joint press conference in Paris on Nov 21. Perincek said that the
fact that Orhan Pamuk was awarded Nobel Prize shows that Turkey is on
the threshold of dangerous events. “The Nobel Prize was a reward to
Pamuk for betrayal of Turkey’s national interests,” said Perincek. He
urged the ralliers to continue their action “until France revokes
the bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide.”
As REGNUM reported earlier, the Labor Party of Turkey is known for
its ultra-nationalist and Kemalist position. In the Turkish Diaspora
it closely cooperates with the Nationalist Movement Party against the
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the Cyprian issue.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress