Azeri president says war against “weak” Armenia may start at any time

ANS TV, Baku
21 Mar 05

[Presenter] The commander-in-chief today commented on frequent and
intensive firing by the Armenian armed forces on the positions of the
Azerbaijani armed forces as well as residential and sowing areas over
the past two weeks. [Azerbaijani President] Ilham Aliyev reiterated
that Azerbaijan has capability to start war at any time.

[Correspondent, over video of Ilham Aliyev speaking to journalists]
Aliyev offered his condolences to the families of martyrs who
sacrificed their lives for the integrity of our territories and called
on them to be patient.

[Ilham Aliyev] Their children became martyrs for their motherland. Of
course, it is a big tragedy. It is a huge distress and tragedy for
every family to lose their children. But this is war and everything
may happen at war. I wish them comfort. Let them be patient. Their
children became martyrs for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
This could be a comfort for them.

I want peace and do not want war. But at the same time we cannot
leave our lands under occupation. We must be ready for everything.

[Correspondent] The commander-in-chief said that Azerbaijan has
capability to start war at any time because the parties have not
signed a peace deal so far.

[Aliyev] There is cease-fire which is a sensitive issue. It is being
breached and you know that this is not in our interests because all
our successes do not necessitate us to violate the truce. As for any
change, like in any region, it depends on several factors. First of
all, as I said, if the international community takes action against
them, their position will inevitably change. If it does not, we will
have to make influence. There is no other alternative here. We need
to get stronger to make influence.

[Correspondent] Aliyev said that economy and the army should be
strengthened first. Only after that, Azerbaijan can dictate its
interests to Armenia.

[Aliyev] We want this [conflict] to be resolved peacefully. We want
this to happen under the influence of the international community
and as a result of the correct approach of the Armenian leadership
to this issue. If this does not happen, a new situation will occur
and we will see.

[Correspondent] The president also spoke about the report of the OSCE
fact-finding mission on the settlement of Armenians in the occupied
lands of Azerbaijan. He said that the mission has already confirmed
that there are over 10,000 Armenians on those territories, something
that fully supports Azerbaijan’s case. Azerbaijan will demand that
the Armenians should be unconditionally evicted from those territories.

[Aliyev] The Armenian side is weak. That is to say, their position is
weak. This has objective reasons. It is because they are unjust. They
have occupied the territories of another country, but want and
sometimes have managed to mislead and distract the international
community for many years. It does not work any longer. Our
comprehensive diplomatic efforts, and I would say comprehensive
diplomatic attacks have a ground. These are not empty statements.
Neither are they populist words. We are taking all our steps on the
basis of reasonable policy.

[Correspondent] Armenia has recently been helpless before the
achievements of Azerbaijani diplomacy, the president said. They will
be even in a more difficult situation unless they realize the truth,
end of quote.

Ayaz Mirzayev, Qanira Pasayeva, Emil Babaxanov for ANS.

Azeris expect OSCE prove Armenia’s involvement in resettlement in Karabakh

ANS TV, Baku
21 Mar 05

[Presenter] Azerbaijan has a strong army to liberate the territories
under occupation, [Azerbaijani] Defence Minister Safar Abiyev has
said, while Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov does not rule out that
regular violations of the cease-fire by Armenia could be a calculated
act of sabotage.

[Correspondent, over video of Mammadyarov outside the Foreign Ministry]
Mammadyarov is pleased with the report of the OSCE fact-finding
mission on the settlement of Armenians in Nagornyy Karabakh. He
said that official Baku would issue a statement on 22 March over
the findings of the mission. Despite considering the report to be
objective, the minister said he is unhappy with some points.

[Mammadyarov, captioned, shown speaking to ANS] There are a few
points in the report that we cannot accept. It is stated there
that official Yerevan does not deal with this issue [settlement of
Armenians in Nagornyy Karabakh and occupied districts of Azerbaijan].
But we have information that it does. Now, the fact-finding mission
must continue its work and prove that official Yerevan actually deals
with the illegal settlement.

[Correspondent] The minister also commented on the recent frequent
cases of violation of the cease-fire. Mammadyarov did not rule out
that the breach of the cease-fire could be in the interests of the
Armenian leadership.

[Mammadyarov] We have already expressed our position. We think that
some provocation will be in place as long as negotiations are under
way. We think that the violation of the cease-fire is provocation.

[Correspondent] However, the foreign minister does not believe that
the violations could affect the course of the talks.

In turn, Safar Abiyev says that measures are being taken to minimize
casualties. On the kind of measures, the defence minister said that
it is their business.

[Safar Abiyev, captioned, speaking to journalists] The war will
continue as long as our lands are under occupation.

[Correspondent] Who knows, maybe the real name of the cease-fire,
which is accompanied with frequent violations, is war indeed.

Eldaniz Valiyev, Ali Ahmadov, Hikmat Asgarov for ANS.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARF representatives meet with Georgian envoy

22.03.2005 

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Armenian Revolutionary Revolution (ARF) Supreme
Council of Armenia representative Armen Rustamian and National
Assembly’s ARF faction leader Levon Mkrtchian met on Tuesday with
Revaz Gochechiladze, the Georgian Ambassador to Armenia, ARF press
service reported.

The ARF members voiced their concern over the statements by Georgi
Gachechiladze, purportedly an advisor to the Georgian president,
regarding the Javakhk Armenians, the Armenian Genocide, and the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation; he had made the statements in an
interview with the Georgian newspaper Rao-Rao.

The ARF representatives reiterated the party’s position to assist the
Georgian authorities in resolving the socio-economic, educational and
political issues of the Javakhk Armenians. They also expressed their
concerns regarding the attempts of turning the Armenian churches in
Georgia into Georgian ones.

Ambassador Gochechiladze noted that Georgi Gachechiladze’s statements
do not represent those of the Georgian government and are partly a
result of his being uninformed. The ambassador also mentioned that he
had already passed on the ARF views and worries to Tbilisi. The ARF
members also conveyed their party’s willingness to boost the relations
with the Georgian party and political circles; the ambassador promised
to assist in this regard.

The meeting, initiated by the ARF, lasted about one hour.

–Boundary_(ID_L6CTHAIj+4x5NT79WqplEg)–

Foreign countries back China’s Anti-Secession Law

People’s Daily Online, China
March 22 2005

The international community has continued to express support for the
adoption of the Anti-Secession Law by China’s legislature, which is
intended to prevent Taiwan’s secession from China.

In a letter to the Chinese ambassador to Tonga, Tongan Foreign
Minister Sonatane Tu’akinamolahi Taumoepeau-Tupou reaffirmed his
country’s commitment to the one-China policy and voiced appreciation
for the Anti-Secession Law, approved last week by China’s National
People’s Congress.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and the Taiwan question is
China’s internal affair, in which no foreign forces have the right
to interfere, he said.

The Tongan government understands China’s move to enact the law and
supports China’s reunification cause, the minister said.

An Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday that Armenia
supports the Chinese people’s endeavor to achieve national
reunification and wishes their efforts, including the newly-enacted
Anti-Secession Law, bear fruits.

Armenia made clear its position on the one-China principle in the
joint declaration signed last September by the heads of state of
Armenia and China, the spokesman said.

In a letter to his Chinese counterpart, Li Zhaoxing, Yemeni Foreign
Minister Abu Bakr Abdullah al-Kurbi said Yemen backs China’s move to
protect its territorial integrity and supports the adoption of the
Anti-Secession Law by China’s legislature.

Source: Xinhua

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
March 22 2005

INDEPENDENT PEOPLE OF AZERBAIJAN MEETS NATIONAL HOLIDAY NOVRUZ WITH
NEW SUCCESSES
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV AT THE NATIONWIDE
NOVRUZ FESTIVITIES
[March 22, 2005, 15:39:41]

Dear country fellows,

Dear sisters and brothers,

I cordially congratulate all of you on the occasion of the dearest
holiday of the Azerbaijani people, Novruz Bayrami, and wish each of
you health and success.

Novruz Bayrami has always lived in heart of the Azerbaijani people.
The Azerbaijani people preserved this holiday for centuries. However,
only after regaining by the Azerbaijan people of the state
independence, this holiday started to be marked as the state holiday.
Independence of Azerbaijan is our biggest property. All of us should
every day, every month and every year maintain, protect, strengthen
this independence.

After gaining the state independence, Azerbaijan experienced heavy
conditions, and there were big threats. It is possible to tell that
a crisis ruled in the country, and the future of Azerbaijan could
face very big dangers. Thanks to wisdom and will of our nation,
Heydar Aliyev has come to power, and after that the situation in the
country was completely changed.

For the period since 1993 to 2003, Azerbaijan has passed big way of
development. We see, and we feel this development in all directions.
The processes proceeding in the country, economic development,
political reforms, and growth of authority of the country today have
transformed Azerbaijan into very strong state in region.

Since 2003, in our country positive tendencies in all directions
have even more strengthened. Azerbaijan confidently develops, and
even more strengthens the state independence. Our authority on region
grows. Carried out in Azerbaijan political, economic reforms in the
near future will transform our country into stronger state. I have no
doubt about it. From this point of view, 2004 was very successful for
our country. Azerbaijan successfully moves ahead in all directions.
In 2004, all questions to be solved have found solution.

2004, from the point of view of economic development was very
successful, and opening of 170 thousand workplaces is evidence to
that. In Azerbaijan, social questions find quick solution. Increase
of the minimal wages more than twice, increase of pensions, and other
social payments has one purpose. And this purpose is that the people of
Azerbaijan lived better, and that in Azerbaijan was created stronger
economic potential, and each citizen of the country has improved his
vital conditions. It is our strategic course, and a priority question
for us.

I am very glad, that all questions stipulated in the last year, have
been solved, all promises given at presidential elections carried in
2003, have found their reflection in life.

I am very glad that all plans and projects have found their solution
with support of Azerbaijan people. It is confident that 2005 will
be successful for our country. Anyway, the first months of year
evidently testify that positive promotion is observed in economic
development. However, 2005, in many respects will be decisive. In
2005, will be commissioned the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline
after Heydar Aliyev and this in many respects determines future of
Azerbaijan. With commissioning of the said pipeline, new situation
will be created in region. In Azerbaijan, all stipulated projects
will start to be executed even more intensively. It is our desire.
Azerbaijan will become richer. Our people will live better. I do not
doubt of it, and all our efforts serve one purpose: to make Azerbaijan
rich, to improve vital conditions of people living in the country,
even more to strengthen our positions in region and as a result to
solve all questions the country faces.

Parliamentary elections will take place in 2005 in Azerbaijan. We
attach great importance to these elections, and I do not doubt that
they will be important stage in democratic development of Azerbaijan.
I am confident that elections will be carried out in conditions of
transparency and justice, and the determination of Azerbaijan people
will find its expression at these elections.

The will, desire and dream of Azerbaijani people are for us a priority
question. Support of our policy in 2003 creates remarkable conditions
for more successful realization of all tasks. I always feel this
support, I base on it, and the political, economic reforms conducted
in the country, also base on this support.

I want to hope that 2005 can become important also in the settlement
of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I want to hope
that in this direction there can be a promotion. Anyway, the existing
and coming processes give basis to speak about it. Diplomatic successes
of Azerbaijan, political steps undertaken in this area, already have
created new conditions in negotiating process. The discussions, which
have been carried out in the United Nations, the resolutions adopted
by the Council of Europe, increase of attention to this question
in other international organizations, are positive phenomenon. I am
confident that it is those questions, which render positive influence
on process of negotiations.

Cause of Azerbaijan is just. We want to restore our territorial
integrity on the basis of principles of international law and we shall
achieve it. Let nobody has doubt of it. Simply, we want to solve it in
the peace way, by negotiations. We hope, that this way of negotiations
will lead to settlement of the question. It cannot be otherwise.

Norms of international law should be main principles for each
country. Azerbaijan did not occupy the lands of any other country. We
do not want lands of others countries. However, we shall not give
to anybody our lands. If we cannot achieve it in the peace way, new
position will be created, and in this case Azerbaijan will resort
to other variants. However, to solve this question, as a whole to
develop our country even more comprehensively, we should be strong.
We should strengthen our economic potential. And should do big work
on construction of army, and improve living standards of our people.
In a word, we should transform Azerbaijan into a rich, powerful
state. Only in this case, all questions we face can easily find their
solution. Only in this case, Azerbaijan can itself undertake serious
steps connected to these questions. I reiterate, I hope that the
potential of peace talks has not run low yet. I do not doubt that we
shall achieve the fair solution, territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
will be restored and more than one million of our refugees and IDPs
will return to their homelands.

Dear friends!

Dear sisters and brothers!

Today, together with us, this remarkable holiday is being marked
as well by the visitors from Georgia. Together with us, there is
the spouse of my close friend and brother Michael Saakashvili, Mrs.
Sandra. We greet her.

We are supporters of strengthening of bilateral, mutually beneficial
relations with all friendly, brotherly countries. We want that in
region there was peace, calmness, and cooperation. In this case, all
peoples living in region, all states will receive only benefit. This
is policy of Azerbaijan. First of all, national interests of
Azerbaijan should be protected, and well being of Azerbaijan people
provided. At the same time, warmer relations with the next, friendly
countries should be created that our force strengthened both inside
and outside. If we shall be strong inside, we shall be stronger on
international arena as well. As far as we shall reach big diplomatic
successes, so the Azerbaijani people will benefit of it.

Once again I warmly congratulate all of you on this remarkable holiday,
I wish each of you health, success, happiness.

Happy Holiday!

Azerbaijan News Service
March 22 2005

QARABAQ CONFLICT DISCUSSED ON OSCE PA LEVEL BUT ARMENIANS STILL
REFUSE TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE SAYS MP
2005-03-22 10:40

Another meeting of parliamentarians from Azerbaijan and Armenia will
take place on initiative of Goran Lenmarker, special representative
of OSCE on Daqliq Qarabaq conflict, as Eldar Ibrahimov, member of
Azerbaijani delegation to OSCE Parliament Assembly, told ANS.
According to him, disagreements between the parties make the meeting
necessary. Eldar Ibrahimov, said the report was proving the
importance of ensuring territorial integrity of Azerbaijan first and
then sit to settle status of the Daqliq Qarabaq and economical ties.
However Armenian side put the case of status issue to top that shows
the non-constructive position of Armenia. It~Rs still regretting that
Armenians don~Rt agree any proposals. In future Lenmarker will make
report after which he will send it to us and we will make comments on
it, MP has said. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is expected to
gather win Washington to hear Goran Lenmarker~Rs report on Daqliq
Qarabaq conflict as well. Lenmarker has promised to make objective
report but giving no detail of it, Eldar Ibrahimov added.

noticias.info
agencia internacional de noticias

Martes 22 de marzo de 2005

CHELSEA FC: Plenty of action for Chelsea players

/noticias.info/ Almost every player is away on internatonal
duty. Today, Monday, is a day off for the remaining first team
squad, but the reserves have a fixture against Tottenham at home,
at Aldershot FC.

The players in the senior squad not on international duty are Claude
Makelele, Carlo Cudicini, Tiago, Lenny Pidgeley (who is with the
reserves), plus the injured: Wayne Bridge and Scott Parker. Wayne
starts basic rehabilitation this week. Mikael Forssell is out on the
park running and kicking as he nears the end of his rehabilitation.

International fixtures featuring Chelsea players over the next nine
days start on Friday with England Under 21s v Germany Under 21s with
Glen Johnson (pictured) likely to captain.

Games on Saturday are: Croatia v Iceland, Czech Republic v Finland,
England v N Ireland, France v Switzerland, Israel v Ireland,
Liechtenstein v Russia, Portugal v Canada, Romania v Holland and
Slovenia v Germany.

On the Sunday there is: Cameroon v Sudan and Ivory Coast v Benin.

Tuesday, in eight days time, brings: Ireland v China, England Under 21s
v Azerbaijan Under 21s, and Slovakia Under 21s v Portugal Under 21s.

Then on the Wednesday before our next game at Southampton in two
weeks are: Andorra v Czech Republic, England v Azerbaijan, Estonia v
Russia, Holland v Armenia, Israel v France, Italy v Iceland, Serbia &
Montenegro v Spain, and Slovakia v Portugal.

‘Vodka Lemon’ Life’s astringent taste can go down smooth
By Elvis Mitchell New York Times

Times Argus
March 22, 2005

“Vodka Lemon” just might be the world’s iciest postcard film: You
will never be so happy to sit inside a cozy, theater as when you
watch the actors exhaling clouds of warm breath over the blindingly
white expanse.

But the thicket of relationships that the director, Hiner Saleem,
has created and weaves his cast and camera through is so invitingly
hotblooded and crowded with hilariously melodramatic incident
that the snowbanks are not nearly as forbidding as they initially
seem. Eventually the chilly air becomes a character; it has the
astringent sharpness of the title drink that everyone in the movie
downs, and complains about.

The picture starts with an old man being pulled across the snowy
wastes on his bed, an image right out of a dream. But Saleem’s gifts
come from giving these outlandish visual statements a grounding in
the everyday reality that the characters experience. He is headed to
a funeral, and “Vodka Lemon” charts the intermingling – marriages,
death and sexual complications – in an Armenian village. Like most of
the other New Directors/New Films offerings “Vodka Lemon” is set in
a place that almost makes us want to applaud for the sheer industry
required to get a camera crew there.

Chief among the citizens is the wily Hamo, played by Romik
Avinian. With a grizzled jaw line one could scratch to start a
fire, Avinian dominates the picture as if he has finally grown
into his surly, direct charisma. This fine, guarded actor anchors
the goings-on. After attending so many funerals, Hamo has begun a
flirtation with a much younger woman, the 50-ish widow Nina (Lala
Sarkissian). She feels a void in her life, and he simply recognizes
now as the time for both of them to move into a new adventure.

The ravaged and impoverished village also must cope with its own
deficits. The support system in place during Soviet rule is long gone,
with several residents fondly griping about the comforts, such as
they were, that the Soviets provided. There hasn’t been much change;
life in this flash-frozen community has gone from minimal to Spartan,
but nostalgie de la boue is still nostalgia.

“We have nothing left but our freedom,” one villager grouses. Saleem
understands that need is the central motivating force in the villagers’
lives: for heat, food, emotional humidity and clarity.

Saleem’s layering does compensate for the lack of formal structure,
though the picture is provisionally set around the shock waves caused
by the imminent wedding of Nina’s granddaughter. But the picture
does not need an elaborately contrived plot. What it has instead
is a neighborly, fresh-air quality; all the doors in the miniature
snow-globe of a town are open, as is the chatter and curiosity about
everyone’s familial intrigues.

The movement from one conversation to another gives a likable freedom
to “Vodka Lemon,” and allows Saleem to set up a few running jokes
that combine quotidian absurdity with thoughtful melodrama, like the
opening shot of the old man, and a few other freakish outbursts that
have to be witnessed to be believed, and savored.

It is an intelligent gamble on Saleem’s part; he knows that if he’s
not going to satisfy audiences with convention, he should at least
supply a few entrances as detonation devices.

“Vodka Lemon” could be an Ice Capades version of a Beckett play,
with a group of seasoned though modest hammy actors in complete
control. Their affectlessness gives the movie an atmosphere of
hypothermia-laced surrealism, with shots of drama serving the same
purpose as the vodka; both keep the blood flowing. This movie has
an antic, mordant visual poetry that matches up with the rancor and
feeling in its population’s souls.

ANKARA – Turkish Daily News

Today is Tuesday, March 22 2005 12:34 pm GMT+2 updated at 12:00 P.M.

US historian rejects Armenian genocide claims

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

ANKARA – Turkish Daily News

There was a war in Eastern Anatolia during the World War 1, towards the
end of the late Ottoman Empire, not a genocide campaign against Armenians
living in the region, a renowned U.S. historian said yesterday.

Professor Justin McCarthy, who came for a several-day visit to Turkey at
the invitation of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), told
reporters that the Ottoman Empire was reacting to a group of people
revolting against the government, when asked to comment on the events of
1915, which Armenians allege amounted to genocide against their ancestors.

Turkey categorically rejects charges of genocide, saying the killings came
as the Ottoman Empire tried to quell civil unrest sparked by an Armenian
revolt in hope of getting an independent state in Eastern Anatolia with
support from Russia.

Armenians; however, have stepped up a campaign for international
recognition for their claims as the 90th anniversary of the alleged genocide
on April 24 is approaching.

Deniz Baykal, chairman of the CHP, said McCarthy’s thesis should not be
confined to a restricted academic circle but get widespread public
attention.

“This is of great importance. We believe this way we will have the chance
to correct a grave deception,” Baykal said and added: “We want to make sure
the debate (on the alleged genocide) will shift away from a political
framework to a scientific one based on historical documents.”

The CHP recently received backing from the governing Justice and
Development Party (AKP) for its call on all the countries concerned to open
national archives to researchers so that authenticity of the Armenian claims
could be judged. The party calls for a joint Turkish-Armenian study of
archives and says an international organization, such as UNESCO, could
supervise whether the investigation is carried out in a scientific manner.

McCarthy, a historian and an expert on Ottoman history, teaches at the
University of Louisville in Kentucky.

Turkish Daily News

Today is Tuesday, March 22 2005 12:39 pm GMT+2 updated at 12:00 P.M.

Mehmet Ali Birand: Go to Damascus, but also decide on Ýncirlik
Tuesday, March 22, 2005

I will be in the United States this week. I was invited by the famous Emory
University. I will make a few speeches, while listening to Americans. In
other words, I will be sharing with you my impressions of America. However,
I need to say that all does not seem well

Mehmet Ali BIRAND
I left Istanbul last weekend. I visited New York and then went to Atlanta.
I was invited by one of the most respected universities in America, the
Emory University. I will attend conferences for four days. Turkey will be
the dominating topic in meetings held with academics and students. I will of
course also meet with a friend from CNN in Atlanta.

I will not be the only one who will talk, but I also intend to get a sense
of what Americans are thinking.

As you know U.S.-Turkish relations are experiencing some trouble again.

The state of affairs is not that good. The time of “misunderstandings” is
over. As Milliyet daily’s Sami Kohen, who recently returned from Washington,
wrote, Turkey is no longer the “trusted and loyal ally.” Kohen has the best
sense in these matters. He does not exaggerate and always tries to put a
positive spin on the issues.

The tension in bilateral relations is not one sided. Both Ankara and
Washington are to blame. Let’s first look at Turkey.

Disagreeing with Washington and not doing what we are told may gain one
some domestic credibility, or even sympathy. But if this is kept up for too
long and the necessary precautions are not taken, we will be forced to pay a
price.

If it continues unchecked, all of a sudden we come to realize that our
relations with the IMF are not like it used to be. One sees that they are
not as forgiving as they were and international banks charge higher interest
rates for loans.

The time comes and one notices that the White House is not as enthusiastic
in defending Turkey when the Armenian bill is submitted to the U.S.
Congress. If the Armenian genocide allegations are passed by the Congress,
Turkey’s power to resist these claims decreases significantly.

You may also see that you are pushed out from all the developments going
on in the Middle East. You realize that everywhere you go you are the
outsider and the unwanted guest, whose advice is not wanted.

Turkey does not need to do acquiescence to every U.S. wish. This is not a
debate about “submissiveness or revolt.”

The problem we are faced with is Ankara’s failure to display the necessary
sensitivity on matters important to Washington. This failure may be
intentional. Unfortunate statements, unnecessary comments and strange
stances are angering the George W. Bush administration and the State
Department.

The U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman coming out and making a
statement that implies, “It would be good for President Ahmet Necdet Sezer
to cancel his trip to Syria,” is no coincidence. The ambassador making it
clear that he is uncomfortable with the anti-American statements made by
high officials, especially politicians, does not happen every day. We
shouldn’t be surprised to see American journalists, who were briefed by the
U.S. Embassy in Ankara, writing harsh articles.

What all this means is that the relations are deteriorating rapidly and if
the necessary precautions are not taken, the situation can become very
serious.

It’s easy to resolve this problem:

If we are willing to put a stop to this vicious circle, it is very easy to
repair relations between the two countries. A little more sympathy and
caution may be enough.

Americans are saying that it’s about time Turkey chose one side.

When the Turkish government accuses Israel of conducting state terrorism,
delays issuing friendly warnings to Damascus to withdraw from Lebanon and
even then tries to use covert means to do that, supports Iran and alleges
that American troops in Iraq are guilty of genocide, Washington naturally is
up in arms.

They don’t want Turkey to be too friendly with such countries. They want
good relations with Turkey to continue and for it to become a force for good
in the region. However, Ankara fails to do either.

Make up your mind on Ýncirlik:

The state of the Ýncirlik military base is often cited as an example.

For the past few months, Turkey has been asked to broaden the use of
Ýncirlik for humanitarian reasons. Ankara has failed to make up its mind.
The government says the military is in charge, while the military says it is
the government’s responsibility. No one seems to be able to do something due
to doubts felt against the United States.

The tension mounts while nothing is being done.

However, we need to do something soon.

If the president is to go to Damascus, let him. However, his stance there
needs to reflect a policy. The Ýncirlik issue should not be pushed to the
sidelines. It is also important for the members of the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP), from the very top to the very bottom, to learn to
keep their tongues in check.

We don’t have any other option but to choose a side and initiate our
policies. In other words, some fine tuning is called for.

However, as I said earlier in the article, Ankara is not the only side to
blame. The Bush administration is also to blame for the current state of
affairs. I will write about that tomorrow.

Let’s not forget that the clock is ticking.

–Boundary_(ID_ShWGx7XHcyZoUWzISvKJTw)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress