ARMENIANS BECAME A TOOL FOR KILLING MILLIONS OF INNOCENT MUSLIMS, MCCARTHY
Anatolian Times, Turkey
March 19 2006
ISTANBUL – American historian Justin McCarthy has indicated that
unfortunately, Armenians became a tool for killing millions of innocent
Muslims who had lived in the lands of Ottoman Empire.
Different aspects of Armenian issue during and after the First World
War were discussed at an international conference on “New Approaches
to Turkish-Armenian Relations” at the Istanbul University.
McCarthy said that Armenian people caused a threat for Ottoman people
because they were spies of Russia during the Russian occupation.
Noting that Armenian people aided Russia during this period, he
said that they contributed significantly to the losses of Ottomans
and became a tool for killing millions of innocent Muslims. McCarthy
added that Ottomans were right in their efforts to take under control
the insurrection of Armenians.
Taking the floor at the conference, the main opposition Republican
People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul deputy Sukru Elekdag has indicated that
all facts showed that “Blue Book” was a good example of forgery and
falsification. Recalling that in the meeting held on April 13th, 2005,
Turkish parliament decided that Turkey and Armenia should establish
a joint commission, make public their archives and results of their
studies. Elekdag noted that it was a peaceful initiative, stating
that Armenians should accept this initiative.
Elekdag stated that the parliament sent letters regarding the book to
British House of Commons and House of Lords, asking them to apologize
to Turkey for mistakes in the book. “The book written by James Bryce
and Arnold Toynbee includes 150 documents and reports. Eyewitnesses
were mentioned in the book with their code names and they are not
real persons,” Elekdag stressed.
Noting that documents in “Blue Book” were groundless and false,
he said that now Armenians only have this false book.
On the other hand, Ara Sarafian, the editor of Gomidas Institute,
claimed that documents in the book could not be ignored.
Turkish History Institution Chairman Prof. Dr. Yusuf Halacoglu offered
Sarafian that a joint project could be conducted. “Let’s conduct a
project. What happened to Armenians in Anatolia? If there are any
mass graves, we can excavate them. If such a project is conducted,
many demagogical matters will be removed. We should search losses of
Turks as well.”
Sarafian said that he accepted the offer.

WHAT’S A CIVILIAN, DEMOCRATIC SOLUTION?
By Hasan Celal Guzel
Published: 3/18/2006
Turkish Press
March 19 2006
RADIKAL- Following the Armenian conference financed by the Soros
Foundation, a conference on ‘Turkey’s Kurdish Issue – Civilian and
Democratic Searches for Solution’ was organized by the Helsinki
Citizens’ Assembly and Empathy Group at Bilgi University last
weekend. The supporters of Kurds with known strategies and tactics
were well intentioned, but unrealistic intellectuals, some of whom
only accepted the Western thesis, revealed their thoughts without
any pressure. Then they ended the meeting without finding a civilian,
democratic solution. Certain mistaken policies have been followed since
the early years of the republic on the Kurdish issue. The realistic
policies followed by Ataturk during the years of national struggle
couldn’t be continued, the meaning of Turkish citizenship and Turkish
identity – the upper identity – weren’t explained well, sub-ethnic
identity wasn’t accepted under the policy of ‘homogeneity,’ and until
recently prohibitions dominated the issue of mother tongues. However,
everybody who has reason, mind and conscience should see that Kurds
have never been treated like second-class citizens or minorities
but have always enjoyed all the rights and possibilities of Turkish
citizens. The poverty and underdevelopment which has nothing to do
with ethnic differences isn’t seen only in southeastern Anatolia. It
should be stressed that the mistakes which were made in the past
aren’t continuing anymore.
The mistakes of certain intellectuals, malevolent separatists and
the West derive from the fact that they consider Turkey a country
where conditions from a quarter-century ago still exist. It’s easy
to talk about a civilian, democratic solution and it sounds nice. Who
would want armed conflicts and war? So we should ask how a civilian,
democratic solution would work. Those who claim to seek this kind of
solution have never made a concrete suggestion which wouldn’t harm
Turkey’s integrity and unity. The aims of the Kurdish separatist
movement, supported by the terrorist PKK, are known:
1. Firstly, paint the separatist Kurdish movement in Turkey as a
‘peaceful’ movement seeking a civilian, democratic solution
2. Pressure the political rulers by accelerating the PKK’s terrorist
activities
3. Ensue an amnesty for the end of terrorist activities
4. Try to establish an ‘autonomous administration’ in the political
field
5. Establish a ‘federative administration’
6. Finally, establish Kurdistan with the regional Kurdish
administration in northern Iraq
Those who make these calculations depend on the PKK’s terrorist
actions, the appeasement of populist politicians, the support of
intellectual dreamers, the protection of European Union circles and the
expectation that US forces in Iraq will act in their favor. These are
all mistaken calculations. The public knows the actual wishes of the
people. The government and state cannot make any more concessions over
Kurdish separatism, which has turned into terrorism. Our nation would
never let someone make concessions from sovereignty or territory –
not even under the threat of being excluded from the EU or the Western
world completely. If a civilian, democratic solution is expected on
the Kurdish issue, firstly, the terrorist PKK should disband, and such
political movements as the Democratic Society Movement (DTH) should be
cleansed of terrorist elements and put on the political platform. It’s
a must for the PKK to be disarmed towards this end. Only then we can
talk about such formulas as amnesty and political representation.

FIVE OPTIONS TO DIVIDE THE JERUSALEM CAKE
By Nadav Shragai
Daily Star – Lebanon
March 20 2006
Some Israeli political parties have openly discussed the transfer of
Arab neighborhoods in East Jerusalem to the Palestinian Authority.
But when it comes to the Old City and the Temple Mount, there is
still reticence to challenge public conventions regarding what all
agree are the most emotionally charged places in the world.
Nevertheless, Ruth Lapidoth is heading a team of experts under
the auspices of the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies (JIIS),
to suggest options for a settlement of this holy and disputed area
known as the “historic basin of Jerusalem” – the Old City and its
adjacent territories.
Lapidoth and her team are not the first to offer solutions for the
Old City and Jerusalem. On various occasions, concerned parties have
floated the idea of expropriating all political sovereignty from
Jerusalem within the walls, seeing it as a holy place belonging
to no one, to be governed by a joint council of Jews, Muslims and
Christians. However, the current JIIS report abandons, to a large
extent, the idea of areas devoid of sovereignty. In the majority of
its options it proposes a return to old-style partition. The five
options were recently presented to acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
and the chairman of the Likud and Labor parties.
The first option proposes full sovereignty and control of the basin
by Israel, while granting some autonomy to Palestinian residents,
and perhaps also determining a special status for Christian and
Muslim holy places. The proposal essentially institutionalizes the
existing situation, as Muslims and Christians currently operate their
institutions autonomously. This option also proposes the possibility of
granting international immunity to the holy places or to the clergymen
serving in them.
The second option is the exact opposite: Full sovereignty and control
by the Palestinians throughout the basin, with autonomy for the Jewish
residents (for instance in the Jewish Quarter) and special status
for Jewish holy places. This option would perhaps be acceptable to
the vast majority of Palestinians, but one may safely assume that
Israel would reject it out of hand, just as the Palestinians would
reject the first option.
The third option proposes a territorial division between the sides,
with international supervision. In this option, following an agreement
on boundaries, each side is sovereign and the source of authority in
the territory allocated to it. The territorial division of the basin
between Israel and Palestinians could be implemented on the basis of
a wide variety of alternate borderlines, which the team lays out in
five sub-options:
First, the Jewish and Armenian Quarters under Israeli sovereignty,
the Muslim and Christian Quarters under Palestinian sovereignty,
and the Temple Mount included under Israeli sovereignty.
Second, the Jewish and Armenian quarters included under Israeli
sovereignty, the Muslim and Christian quarters under Palestinian
sovereignty and the Temple Mount under Palestinian sovereignty.
Third, the Jewish Quarter under Israeli sovereignty and the other
three quarters and the Temple Mount under Palestinian sovereignty.
Fourth, the Jewish, Armenian and Christian quarters, and the Temple
Mount, under Israeli sovereignty, and the Muslim Quarter under
Palestinian sovereignty.
Fifth, each of the above options, with territorial division of the
Temple Mount between Israel and the Palestinians.
The issues raised by this third option are complex, and some seem
irresolvable at first glance: for example, the request for freedom
of Jewish ritual on the Temple Mount, the issue of supervision
of construction, human rights, preservation of antiquities,
border-crossing conditions, restrictions on security matters, the scope
of judicial and criminal jurisdiction of each side over citizens from
the other side who enter territory under their control.
On the basis of this option, the two sides would grant surveillance
and oversight authorities to an international body. This body, which
would function as an “observer,” would have to examine whether the
sides carried out the directives of the arrangement.
A fourth option proposes joint management, and a division of authority
between the two sides with international backing. The Old City basin
would operate as a single unit, and the sides would share the majority
of administrative and policing authorities in the basin.
The international body would be responsible for authority in areas
in which the joint operation would, for whatever reason, fail. The
agreement could determine a period of time upon the conclusion of
which the international body would have to restore to the different
sides those authorities that it assumed.
In the fifth option, similar to the fourth, the historic basin would
“usually” be administered as a single unit, although this would be
carried out by the international body itself, and not by the parties.
Nevertheless, it is possible that relatively small areas, primarily
those holy places on which there is no dispute, would be divided
among the sides on a territorial basis. According to this plan,
which would essentially mean internationalization of the holy basin,
the international body would retain not only supervision and oversight
authorities; it would also be responsible for administering the holy
basin, and would constitute its source of authority and control.
One of the more interesting questions is who would operate
the international body? Here, again, the team lays out several
sub-options: an international organization such as the United Nations;
a multinational organization that would be established especially
for the purposes of this task; or a country such as the United States
or Switzerland.
The permanent settlement team of the JIIS did not expressly recommend
any of these options, but it does favor some sort of international
involvement in administration of the Old City, mainly in the areas
of security and preservation and supervision of the holy places. The
bottom line of the new report states: “It is especially complicated
to plan and put into place a special regime for the historic basin,
but it may be assumed that there is no other solution that could gain
the agreement of the two sides and of the international community.”
Nadav Shragai is a correspondent for Haaretz. THE DAILY STAR publishes
this commentary in collaboration with the Common Ground News Service.

ALIYEV THREATENS TO SUSPEND GARABAGH TALKS
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 17 2006
Baku, March 16, AssA-Irada
President Ilham Aliyev has reaffirmed official Baku’s intransigent
stance with regard to the long-standing Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh.
“If the occupied territories are not freed, Azerbaijan may reconsider
its participation in peace talks with Armenia. If we see that Armenia’s
involvement in the peace process is just an imitation, we will suspend
the talks,” Aliyev told the second congress of World Azerbaijanis in
Baku on Thursday.
Upper Garabagh, which is internationally recognized as part of
Azerbaijan, has both Azerbaijani and ethnic Armenian population. It was
occupied by Armenia in early 1990s, along with seven other Azerbaijani
districts, after large-scale hostilities that killed up to 30,000
people and forced over a million Azeris out of their homes.
The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but peace talks have been
fruitless so far and refugees remain stranded.
The commander-in-chief said that although the ceasefire was reached
12 years ago, the negotiations carried out so far have been fruitless
due to Yerevan’s inappropriate position.
“We can take part in the talks if we believe in their results. But
how long? This can’t go on forever. The patience of the Azerbaijani
people and authorities is getting exhausted.”
Aliyev reminded that Upper Garabagh is a historic Azerbaijani land
and Armenians came here only in mid-19th century. “They came to the
region as visitors, but afterwards acquired the quantitative majority
and paved the way for separatist sentiments,” he said.
“Official Baku will never accept the occupation of Azerbaijani
territories. The Armenian invading forces must pull out, while
Azerbaijani citizens must return to the land of their forefathers.
Only after this can normal relations be forged between Azerbaijan
and Armenia. And this is the only way to achieve a peace accord,”
the president said.

ARMENIANS’ VISIT NOT ELABORATED
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 17 2006
Baku, March 16, AssA-Irada
Three Armenian representatives joined an event of the European security
body in Baku on Thursday.
It is still unclear how the three employees of Armenia’s ministries of
foreign affairs and transport, as well as another government official,
succeeded in coming to Azerbaijan to attend the 14th economic forum
of the OSCE.
Commenting on the matter, Deputy Prime Minister Abid Sharifov said
the visit was paid through the OSCE, but declined to elaborate in
which Azeri embassy the Armenians had acquired their visas. “Do I
have to report to you?” he enquired in reply to journalists’ questions.
Sharifov noted that the Azeri government does not interfere with the
conduct of events on the level of OSCE. He said that although Azeris
and Armenians have attended the same conferences before, it would
be wrong to interpret this as cooperation with the aggressor nation,
which is out of the question.
“I repeat that the fact Armenians attended the same conference does not
mean cooperation. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan are OSCE member states.”
Frank Geerkens, head of the OSCE Chairmanship Unit, said Armenia’s
participation at the forum as an OSCE member is “natural”.
“Today’s event pursued economic goals. As for the Upper Garabagh
conflict, the OSCE representatives visited Armenia and Azerbaijan last
month. The organization is interested in the conflict settlement and
is making efforts to achieve this,” Geerkens said.
The head of the OSCE Office in Baku, Maurizio Pavesi, stated that the
permission to visit Baku was provided by the Azerbaijani government
proper and advised journalists to approach officials with this
question instead.
The hard-line Garabagh Liberation Organization (GLO) strongly condemned
Armenians’ attendance. Its members staged a protest, trying to disrupt
the discussions. But the police prevented the attempt, detaining four
of them.
In a statement, the organization said it considers the fact the
government did not prevent the visit as an insult to the memory of
those who died in battles for Garabagh and a severe blow dealt upon
the Azerbaijani people’s interests.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN MINISTER TRYING TO DERAIL PEACE TALKS, AZERI OFFICIAL SAYS
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 17 2006
Baku, March 16, AssA-Irada
An Azeri presidential administration official has accused Armenian
Foreign Minister of attempting to derail efforts to settle the
long-standing Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, following the latter’s
outrageous statement.
“Vardan Oskanian is trying to disrupt peace talks. As I understand,
his latest statements signal that he wants to negatively affect
the entire peace process,” the head of the President’s Office
international relations department, Novruz Mammadov said, while
commenting on Oskanian’s statement that Upper Garabagh “has never been
part of Azerbaijan and is Armenian land”. The Armenian minister also
maintained that if Baku does not recognize the independence of the
self-proclaimed republic, the occupied land would “never be returned”.
“Azerbaijan reserves the right to free its land from under the
aggressor country’s occupation and this is in line with international
law,” Mammadov said. He added that Armenia has recently been under
pressure with regard to the conflict resolution.

AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA SEEKING TO CONTINUE TALKS – US OFFICIAL
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 17 2006
Baku, March 16, AssA-Irada
The talks on settling the long-standing Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh conflict are not stagnant, Armenian media quoted the
US Department of State Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian
Affairs Daniel Fried as saying.
Fried told a news briefing in Yerevan that judging by the meetings
held between the two countries’ leaders so far, it could be concluded
with confidence that the peace process will continue.
“The two presidents are decisively defending their national interests,”
said Fried.
The discussions held by the two leaders in the French town of
Rambouillet in February turned out fruitless, as the parties failed
to iron out issues of principle, which was followed by mutual threats.
The US official went on to say that prior to his visit to the region,
he and the American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group brokering the
conflict settlement, Steven Mann, met with the two other mediators
from Russia and France and obtained their full support. The Assistant
Secretary dismissed the assumptions that there are discrepancies
among the intermediaries.
Steven Mann speaking at the news briefing concurred that the Azeri
and Armenian heads of state are interested in moving the peace process
forward. “The United States is ready to support their efforts by all
means,” he added.

EU ENVOY CITES HIGH CHANCES FOR AZERI-ARMENIAN ACCORD IN 2006
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 17 2006
Baku, March 16, AssA-Irada
The newly-appointed European Union envoy on the South Caucasus has
cited high chances for an Armenia-Azerbaijan accord on Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh, despite the latest unsuccessful round of presidential talks.
“If I did not believe in the conflict resolution, I would not have
taken up my new appointment,” Peter Semneby said during his visit
to the Armenian capital Yerevan. Semneby said he would be regularly
in touch with the mediating OSCE Minsk Group to make sure all the
initiatives aiming to the settle the long-standing dispute are
properly coordinated.
“Considering that the last meeting of the two presidents did not
justify expectations, it is difficult to say how real these hopes
are. To become closely familiar with the situation, I have to visit
Azerbaijan and Armenia and exchange views with the co-chairs.”
The discussions held by the two leaders in the French town of
Rambouillet in February turned out fruitless, as the parties failed
to iron out issues of principle, which was followed by mutual threats.
The Swedish diplomat noted that one of the priorities in his activity
would be to facilitate settlement of “frozen conflicts” persisting in
the region. Semneby added that the European Union will face daunting
tasks after these disputes are resolved.

TELL US THE TRUTH ABOUT ARMENIANS
Ratemo James Onsoti, Maseno University
Daily Nation , Kenya
March 19 2006
Publication Date: 3/20/2006
The unfolding events about the alleged Armenian mercenaries are truly
mind-boggling, fascinating and awesome.
As the saying goes, where there is smoke there is fire. I am simply
appalled by the accusations and counter-accusations between the
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders and the Government over this
sensitive issue.
Seemingly the ODM luminaries Kalonzo Musyoka and Raila Odinga have
a lot to divulge only that time doesn’t seem right. On the other
hand, the Government is obviously concealing the damning truth about
the saga, but like a pressure cooker, I am sure it will explode on
their face.
What we are seeing in the Press is nothing but injured beasts and
rattle snakes terribly struggling to cling onto life.
According to reports in the press last week, the Kenya Airports
Authority security officials were not informed of the presence
of the two Armenians at the centre of the mercenary claims when
the foreigners addressed a press conference at the Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport.
The fact that Commandant Moses Nyakwama and his CID counterpart Judy
Ndeda were not in the know over the presence of the foreigners and
even their press conference leaves a lot to be desired.
A seemingly powerful hand or an enraged rattle snake, able to bypass
formal procedures, must be behind the whole saga.
Why are the Armenians being handled like small gods by the police?
Why have they not been arrested yet they have made grave remarks about
a plot to overthrow the Government? Why and who is protecting them?
Their lawyer is another perfect source of information on who the men
really are. How come he staged a perfect press conference without
raising eyebrows? Surely there must be foul play here.
Now to my icon Musyoka: I know you are a Christian, but I feel you
have a lot more to tell Kenyans about the scandal.
The same applies to Mr Odinga. The Armenians are claiming to possess
video evidence of a meeting between them and the Langa’ta MP.
What Kenyans are demanding is the correct explanation of what is
happening. Whether it comes from the Government or ODM is not the
issue. We only want to know exactly what’s happening.

I WAS MISQUOTED, ARMENIAN NOW CLAIMS
By Cyrus Ombati
Standard, Kenya
March 20 2006
One of the two men at the centre of mercenary saga, has denied claims
that he told off Internal Security minister John Michuki.
The German Spitz that is among the six dogs that Artur Margaryan
shipped from Dubai. Pic by Robert Gicheru
Mr Artur Margaryan on Sunday clarified that all he said was that
the minister had asked Kenyans not to discuss the matter until
investigations are concluded
“Listen carefully, and you must run this, I said the Internal minister
had asked all not to talk on the issue they don’t know until the
matter is investigated conclusively,” he said on Thursday.
Michuki said the mercenary saga was under investigations and urged
leaders to stop politicising it. Margaryan maintained that he feared
no one apart from God.
“Christianity began in Armenia before spreading to Rome. It is God
who is protecting me,” he said.
He was referring to last Thursday’s incident where a mob threatened
to lynch him as he left the Standard Group offices. Margaryan said he
knows how to handle hostile crowds and had expected such a situation.
He said no one has threatened him since he set foot in the country and
that he loved Kenya. He refused to divulge details of his questioning
by police on Friday.
He referred us to his lawyers who he said had more information.
Margaryan was on Friday summoned by the team appointed to investigate
the saga. He later recorded a statement over the matter.
Businessman Raju Sangani was also questioned and asked to explain
his relationship with Margaryan. He reportedly said he was a friend.
Baktash had earlier been quizzed in connection with some of the cars
that Margaryan is using.
The investigating team is headed by Nairobi area deputy CID boss Isaiah
Osugo and has so far questioned MPs Kalonzo Musyoka and Raila Odinga.
On Sunday, Margaryan maintained he was in the country to invest for
the benefit of Kenyans. He said he would put up an investment that
will benefit at least 2,000 Kenyans.
Vicious dogs
Meanwhile, the six dogs he promised are finally in town. The dogs
arrived from Dubai in cages and are guarding Artur Margaryan’s Runda
compound.
Margaryan warned that the animals were dangerous to uninvited guests.
They are five black Dobermans and a white one, whose breed we could
not ascertain immediately, named Amigo.
Margaryan said they were capable of guarding his premises without
a guard.
“They will attack you if you jump into the compound. I don’t care
who you are, if you step here because they will maul you,” he warned.
He briefly played with the animals in the compound before stepping
out, warning journalists against taking their pictures. Only Amigo
barked. Last Thursday, Margaryan said he would import dogs to guard
the compound.
As he left, he ordered them back then locked the main gate. One of
the dogs started barking as Margaryan drove off in the company of
his girlfriend.
He termed the police officer, who was attacked by a dog last week,
a thief.
Said he: “I don’t know if he was a policeman because I was not here.
He is a thief and anyone who does so will be attacked by the dogs.”
Police investigating the incident were reluctant to comment on the
issue, saying they had been warned against doing so. Margaryan said
he was in the country to stay, adding that he would not run away as
widely anticipated.
He said he had business to do in the country, which he claimed would
benefit more than 2,000 Kenyans.
“I have no plan to leave. I am not going to run away because I am
here legally and I love Kenya,” he said.
He said his brother, Artur Sargarsyan, was in Dubai and had no plans
of coming back soon, unless he was provided with security
Unravelling the mystery
Trade minister, Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, wants the two foreigners deported.
Kituyi, who described them “funnily dressed”, said they were in the
country illegally. He said they should be investigated and action taken
against them. He wondered why there was sluggishness on the side of the
Government to respond to calls by Kenyans for action against the duo.
“I wonder why two funnily dressed foreigners can hold the country
at ransom. The Government is letting down Kenyans,” Kituyi told
journalists in Busia yesterday after attending a funds drive in aid
of Busia Friends Church.
He said the continued presence of the foreigners was portraying the
Government negatively. “These funny looking people should not be in
the country. Their deportation is long overdue,” he added.
And the Anglican Church of Kenya has demanded speedy investigations
into the mystery surrounding the two alleged Armenian mercenaries.
The Provost of the All Saints Cathedral, Peter Karanja, said Kenyans
should be patient and give the Government a chance to unravel the
mystery surrounding the two foreigners. He said the Government should
handle the matter with sobriety and come clear over the issue.
“It is only fair and reasonable to judge someone after he has been
proven guilty and this applies to both Kenyans and foreigners,” Karanja
said after conducting the Sunday Service. He said though the church
was not certain about anything, it would only be fair for everyone
to be taken as innocent until he is proven guilty in a court of law.
Judging from the display of arrogance and confidence, the provost said
there was so much to be investigated and brought to light. He regretted
the scenes that took place last week outside the I&M Bank Tower when
Margaryan strolled into the streets and was confronted by a mob.
“The issue of national security is a serious matter,” he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress