U.S. ROLE AS TOP TURKISH ARMS SUPPLIER JEOPARDIZED BY DIPLOMATIC, TECHNICAL ISSUES
Selcan Hacaoglu
AP Worldstream
Jun 21, 2006
For the first time ever, there are no U.S. bidders for a major Turkish
arms contract, signaling serious snags in one of the world’s closest
military-commercial partnerships.
For more than 50 years, the United States and U.S. firms have been
the main arms suppliers to Turkey, a lynchpin of NATO’s southern
flank during the Cold War. Turkey, in a rough neighborhood that
includes Iran, Iraq, Syria as well as traditional rival Greece,
has also been eager to snatch up weapons to supply its large army,
which is also dealing with a domestic Kurdish insurgency.
At the heart of the problems today are both diplomatic and technical
issues rooted in Turkey’s ambition to gain control over its military
technology.
Turkey is going through a low point in defense relations with
Washington following its refusal to host U.S. troops for the invasion
of Iraq in 2003. It has actively sought out other potential arms
suppliers, making Turkey’s business less attractive for U.S. companies.
If they last, the frictions threaten to make U.S arms companies
reluctant to support Turkish lobbying efforts in Washington, analysts
and defense sources say.
Next week, firms from South Africa, Russia, France and Italy are
competing for a US$2 billion (A1.6 billion) tender to deliver attack
helicopters to Turkey. U.S. makers Bell Helicopter Textron, Boeing
Co. and Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. did not even offer proposals after
evaluating tough tender conditions.
The new bidding rules included full access to the aircraft’s specific
software codes _ which the United States considers a security risk _
and a written guarantee from the provider’s government that there
will be no political obstacles to the export of the arms. However,
the U.S. government can only seek the consent of Congress for a deal
after the sale is finalized.
It was not clear whether Turks would be satisfied with an initial
letter from the government assuring them there would be no political
problems.
“As far as Boeing is concerned, some of the conditions in the tender
are such that we simply could not agree to (them), and that we felt
would make the program from a Boeing perspective very difficult,”
Greg Pepin, Vice President of Boeing Turkey said in an interview.
Pepin explained that sharing the software was problematic because it
was partly owned by other U.S. suppliers as well as the U.S. government
_ and the other owners would likely balk at sharing the technology
even if Boeing were willing.
“We can’t guarantee that the U.S. government will transfer that
technology, we can talk about the technology that we own but we can’t
agree to and sign up to assuring that these other owners of technology
would do the same,” Pepin said. “That was an issue we had, we simply
cannot guarantee that.”
Turkey imposed new bidding rules last year, after it canceled a
previous tender in 2004 when a deal with Bell Helicopter Textron’s
“King Cobra,” a Turkish version of the AH-1Z Super Cobra used by U.S.
Marines, collapsed over price, technology transfer and licensing
problems.
The new rules empower Turkey to substitute alternative, probably
locally manufactured components such as weapon systems, the mission
computer, avionics and electronic warfare suites, and require the
supplier to integrate other systems or equipment built by Turkish
companies.
“The collapse of one deal is not itself a major crisis, but if Turkey
persists in seeking carte blanche from American suppliers to substitute
its own technology for theirs and asks for impossible terms, U.S. arms
suppliers will not, indeed cannot, bid for Turkey’s business, and they
will likely cease their lobbying efforts on Turkey’s behalf with both
the White House and Congress,” said Ian M.
Cuthbertson, an arms sales expert at World Policy Institute. “U.S.
industry will lose business and Turkey would lose powerful allies
in Washington.”
U.S. arms companies have been lobbying for Turkey against Armenians _
who are pressing for recognition of killings of Armenians in the early
20th century as a genocide _ and Kurds _ who complain about Turkey’s
alleged human rights violations.
Turkey’s concerns over technological control of its weaponry increased
after it faced arms blockades from several countries because of
human rights problems in its fight against autonomy-seeking Kurdish
guerrillas, while Washington demanded Turkish progress on human rights
as a condition for arms sales.
Many Turkish defense authorities also bitterly remember a U.S. arms
embargo following Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus in 1974, when Libya
provided Turkey with bombs and spare parts to operate its U.S.-made
jets.
Today, Turkey is keen on having a sovereign helicopter to freely use,
mainly against Kurdish guerrillas in the rugged southeast, without
taking on the risk of outside interference in the aircraft’s mission
computer or of political obstacles from Washington to its use.
Turkey’s Defense Executive Committee might opt in its next meeting on
June 27 to choose one of the current bidders from France, Italy, Russia
and South Africa _ which lifted an arms embargo against Turkey in
2005 _ to end a decade-long search for Turkey’s next attack helicopter.
The options are Tiger of the Franco-German company, Eurocopter,
Mangusta of Italy’s Agusta Aerospace, Kamov of Russia and South
African company Denel’s Rooivalk.
“If Turkey wants to have a sovereign helicopter, this is the
opportunity,” said an official of Likom Defense, the representative
of Denel in Turkey, speaking on condition of anonymity because he
was not authorized to speak to the media.

SOME FORCES IN TURKEY SEEM TO TRY TO INFLAME INTER-RELIGIOUS SCANDAL
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.06.2006 16:11 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The clothes of people in a TV advertisement of Turkey
corresponds to that of dervishes of Mavlavi Turkish order. According
to newspaper of Armenians of Russia Yerkramas, the official response
of Director of State Museum of History of Religion Kuchinsky to the
request of St. Petersburg Lawyer College of Naryshkins. After 1925
activities of dervish orders was banned in Turkey and zikr dance of
dervishes, which symbolizes movement of spheres of the universe was
preserved only as an element of people’s art.
We remind that a group of Armenian activists in St. Petersburg laid a
suit against a TV channel, which broadcast an advertisement. The 22nd
channel, which demonstrated Christian culture monuments that are on
the territory of modern Turkey, presented these as sunken cities,
where mermaids swim, while Turkish dervishes dance on Christ’s
image. The goal of the advertisement is to attract tourists in Turkey.
Experts’ conclusion says that “fragments of the video, where dervishes
dance on the nimbus of Jesus Christ humiliate Christians.” This
conclusion was made by a judicial expertise body of the Russian
Ministry of Justice. One of Armenian activists, Artak Aleksanyan, is
outraged by Turkey inviting guests “by demonstrating architectural
monuments, it gained by extermination of neighbors and seizing
territories.”
Against the background of the latest scandal over cartoons of Muhammad
prophet in European newspapers, an impression is formed that some
forces in Turkey are trying to artificially inflame an inter-religious
scandal, Aleksanyan said.

HEAD OF ARMENIAN CHURCH DEPARTS ON PONTIFICAL VISIT TO TURKEY
Armenpress
Jun 20 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS: The head of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, has departed today for Istanbul, Turkey for a seven-day
Pontifical Visit. The press office of the Church said His Holiness
is traveling to Turkey upon the joint invitation of His Beatitude
Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople; and
His All Holiness Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
During this first Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Karekin II to
Turkey, the Catholicos of All Armenians will visit Armenian churches
and holy shrines, extend his pontifical blessings to the Armenian
community of Istanbul, and meet with Armenian intellectuals and young
men and women. On Sunday, June 25, His Holiness will celebrate a
Pontifical Divine Liturgy in the Armenian Patriarchate’s Cathedral
of the Holy Mother of God.
For two days during the trip, His Holiness will also be the guest
of the Ecumenical Patriarch in a fraternal visit. His Holiness will
have a number of ecumenical meetings in the Armenian Patriarchate as
well. Also planned is a meeting between the Pontiff of All Armenians
and the Governor of Istanbul. His Holiness is scheduled to return to
the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on June 28.

UGANDA DRAWN INTO GUNMEN SAGA
By Reuben Olita in Nairobi and Alfred Wasike in Kampala
New Vision, Uganda
June 20 2006
TWO Armenian brothers deported from Kenya for drawing guns on custom
officials at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport have now been
accused of working themselves into the heart of Uganda’s government.
Kenyan MP Raila Odinga, a former minister in the Kibaki administration,
who blew the whistle on Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargasyan in March,
accusing them of being merceneries on government rent, now claims
they attended President Yoweri Museveni’s May inauguration in Kampala.
On Saturday, Odinga alleged that the Armenians sat at the high table
as Museveni took oath.
In Kampala, Museveni’s press secretary, Onapito Ekomoloit, rubbished
Oginga’s claims. “I did not see those men anywhere near the
President. I have seen their pictures in the Kenyan papers but the
President has not met any investors from the former Soviet Union,”
Onapito said.

UKRAINE READY TO PROMOTE THE SETLEMENT OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT
ArmRadio.am
20.06.2006 11:43
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko had a meeting with the Foreign
Minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan in the framework of the latter’s
official visit to Ukraine.
Viktor Yushchenko and Vardan Oskanyan discussed a broad circle of
issues of bilateral cooperation and expressed in favor of development
of Armenian-Ukrainian relations. The President underlined that Ukraine
is looking ahead to RA President Robert Kocharyan’s visit. In his
turn Vardan Oskanyan noted that historically there have been good
relations between the two peoples and emphasized the existence of a
broad legal field between the two states.
During the meeting special attention was paid to the maintenance
security and stability in the South Caucasian region, particularly the
prospects of settlement of the Karabakh conflict. Viktor Yushchenko
underlined that Ukraine stands for the peaceful settlement of
the conflict and is ready to suggest its territory for holding
negotiations.

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
&quo t;CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FORMS THE HEART
OF THE CHURCH’S MISSION”
SAYS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
“Christian education is the spreading of the truths, values and principals
introduced through Bethlehem. The aim of Christian education is not only to
spread these values and truths, but also to form a conscious Christian.
Christian education is not the teaching of biblical and religious knowledge,
but in its essence, it is the formation of the Christian man. It is a path
of life, a purpose of life. It is with this approach and perspective that
Christian education should be organized,” said His Holiness while speaking
to a group of clergy and lay people participating in a conference dedicated
to Christian education in Beirut.
Referring to the need to re-evaluate Christian education in light of the
current world’s imperatives and challenges, His Holiness said: “Christian
truths are eternal; but it is essential that they are passed on according to
unique circumstances and concepts of the current time and environment. It is
not possible, for example, to engage in effective Christian education
following the same methods in Lebanon, Palestine and the United States.
Different religious-cultural environments demand different approaches. The
content should be the same, but the cover should be adjusted to the
corresponding environment.”
On textbooks related to Christian education, the Pontiff said: “It is true
that a textbook is essential, but a textbook convenes information only.
Faith, spirit, dedication, love can’t be passed on through textbooks. This
is where the church’s role as an educator comes to the fore; here comes the
role of teachers dedicated to Christian education.”
Representatives of the Catholicosate of All Armenians (Holy Etchmiadzine)
and the Catholicosate of Cilicia are also participating in the conference
along with participants from many countries in the world.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
jurisdiction and the Christian Education activities in both the
Catholicosate and the dioceses, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
THE CATHOLICOSATE’S RELIGIOUS STUDIES COURSE
COMES TO AN END
The Christian Education Department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia
organized special religious studies courses in the Catholicosate
during the last two years. These courses included topics on
the Holy Book, the history of the Armenian Church and Christian
theology. Rev. Fr. Vaghinag was the organizer of the courses with
several members of the Cilician Brotherhood participating through
lectures. His Holiness Aram I also delivered occasional lectures on
theological issues.
Around 40 students enrolled for these courses during the last two
years. The courses will continue next year.
The purpose of these courses is to provide Christian formation and
illustrations on issues related to religion to teachers, university
students and other interested people.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about
the jurisdiction and the Christian Education activities in both the
Catholicosate and the dioceses, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN THE CEREMONY DEDICATED TO THE
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CALOUSTE GULBENKIAN FOUNDATION
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation will celebrate its 50th anniversary
on July 18-19 in Lisbon. The president of the foundation has invited
a large number of officials from different countries in the world to
attend the ceremony.
Responding to the invitation addressed to His Holiness Aram I,
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan (Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of North
America) and V.
Rev. Fr. Norayr Ashekian, Director of the Printing House of
the Catholicosate, will attend the ceremonies on behalf of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia.
On this occasion, His Holiness Aram I sent a letter to the foundation’s
president, praising its humanitarian, cultural and educational work
throughout the last 50 years and commending particularly the work
of the foundation’s Armenian Department. The Catholicos particularly
praised Dr.
Michael Yesayan, his son, Martin Yesayan, who has now replaced him
and Dr.
Zaven Yegavian, who carried out their tasks with great dedication and
commitment, bringing an important contribution to the flourishing of
Armenian educational and cultural life.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
history and mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer
to the web page of the Catholicosate, The
Cilician Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is
located in Antelias, Lebanon.

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
A FUND FOR PUBLISHING CHILDREN’S BOOKS IN ANTELIAS
A special fund for children’s literature has been established
in Antelias by the financial support of the Armenian department
of Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the cooperation of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia. The members of the Catholicosate’s committee
are V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian (Lebanon), Varti Keshishian (Syria)
and Sylva Ebleghatian-Karagulian (France).
The fund has been established following a proposal made two years
ago at a conference organized by His Holiness Aram I in Antelias
(Armenian Education in the Diaspora).
All those who wish to publish their works in the field of children’s
literature can establish contact with the Catholicosate of Cilicia.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information
about the books published in the Printing House of the Cilician
Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the Catholicosate,
The Cilician Catholicosate, the administrative
center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
14-06-2006
Minister Oskanian Meets with Azerbaijani Counterpart
A meeting was held between Minister Oskanian and his Azeri counterpart
Elmar Mammadyarov on June 13, in accordance with the agreement
between the Armenian and Azeri Presidents reached in Bucharest on
June 5 during their last meeting. OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Bernard
Fassier of France, and Yuri Merzlyakov of Russia, and Andrzej Kasprzyk,
Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, were present
at the meeting.
During the meeting, the ministers discussed the principles to settling
the conflict and the problematic areas which remain unresolved.
The Ministers expressed willingness to continue negotiations in order
to try to bridge the different positions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress