Author: Babajanian Karo

news.am, Armenia
July 24 2011

Office of Armenian Prosecutor General to inspect the Police

July 23, 2011 | 21:11

YEREVAN. – The Working Program of Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s
Office provisions regular inspections of Police Main Directorate for
Combating Organized Crime.

Inspections are carried out in order to clarify the situation with the
implementation of the law through and acceptance of messages on
various crimes and violations.

A working group of seven experts is created to carry out inspections
by order of the Prosecutor General of Armenia Aghvan Hovsepyan, says
Prosecutor General’s press service.

Hurriyet, Turkey
July 24 2011

US asks for action from Turkey for reconciliation

Sunday, July 24, 2011
Serkan DemirtaÅ?
ANKARA ` Hürriyet Daily News

The US puts pressure on Ankara to put the relations back on track with
Yerevan as Azerbaijan and Armenia fail to negotiate the disputed
Nagorno-Karabakh issue. The ongoing reconciliation process has been
blocked by Azerbaijan, which indirectly threatened to stop supplying
natural gas to Turkey

The United States is pressing Ankara to move toward rapprochement with
Yerevan following the collapse of talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan
last month to discuss the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

`The time is right for normalization. Some action to get the process
moving, to give [it] momentum would be fine,’ U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton told Turkish officials July 16 during a visit to
Turkey.

Azerbaijan and Armenia had earlier failed to come to an agreement over
the contested territory of Nagorno-Karabakh during a June meeting in
Kazan, Russia. The U.S. was reportedly infuriated by Baku’s U-turn
during the talks.

The Turkish-Armenian reconciliation process has been blocked by
Azerbaijan, which indirectly threatened to stop supplying natural gas
to Turkey and to give Russia preference as its main energy partner.
Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols to normalize relations and to
open their border, sealed since the early 1990s, but both countries
failed to ratify the accords due to domestic pressure. Turkey said
ratification would only be possible after Armenia and Azerbaijan reach
an agreement over Nagorno-Karabakh. Hopes for a deal disappeared after
Baku rejected such an agreement in Kazan and criticized Armenia’s
approach.

A flashpoint of the Caucasus, the region known as Nagorno-Karabakh is
a constituent part of Azerbaijan that has been occupied by Armenia
since the end of 1994. While internationally recognized as Azerbaijani
territory, the enclave has declared itself an independent republic but
is administered as a de facto part of Armenia.

With the U.S. home to a several-million-strong Armenian diaspora
pressing the administration to recognize Armenian claims of genocide
in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire, Washington is seeking the
completion of the process between Ankara and Yerevan. The top U.S.
diplomat said they understood the domestic difficulties in the
ratification of the protocols but hinted there could some other action
to keep the momentum alive.

As reported by the Hürriyet Daily News last week, a set of
confidence-building measures are planned to this end, starting with
direct flights from Yerevan to the eastern province of Van, a
destination for many Armenians who wish to visit an ancient Armenian
church on Akdamar Island in Lake Van.

According to the Armenian press, a member of the Van Chamber of
Commerce, Abdullah Tunçdemir, said the Yerevan-Van flights would begin
Sept. 11 if the Van airport could be upgraded to meet international
standards. Another planned measure is to open a Turkish Airlines, or
THY, office in Yerevan to coordinate Armenians’ flights to the United
States via Istanbul.

Such steps will, on the one hand, give a strong signal to Baku that
its refusal to deal with Armenia will not stop Turkish-Armenian
rapprochement; on the other hand, they will also help relieve growing
pressure on the Turkish and American administrations from the Armenian
diaspora.

Turkey’s move to begin flights between Van and Yerevan has drawn a
reaction from Azerbaijan. `We do not interfere in the affairs of two
countries but we still reserve the right to respond in the event of an
infringement of the national interests of Azerbaijan,’ Elman
Abdullayev, the first secretary of the Azerbaijani press service MFA,
told the Trend news agency in response to the possible flights.

`Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry is following the developments and will
react according to the future scenario,’ said Abdullayev.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
July 24 2011

Experts welcome visit by Armenian CSOs, but raise doubts on effects

24 July 2011, Sunday / CEREN KUMOVA, ANKARA

Last Monday’s visit of five civil society organizations (CSO) from
Armenia to the Turkish Foreign Ministry raised hopes with experts, but
possible effects of the visit on Armenian foreign policy still remain
to be seen, leaving many doubts on the future of relations between the
two countries.

The visit by the representatives of five CSOs, organized by the
Ankara-based Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV), is
considered another brick to fill in the gap, even though the prospect
of a serious change brought on by civil organizations looks dim in the
current political environment.

The gap between the neighbors has existed for decades as political
roadmaps in the past consistently ran into dead ends for both sides.
Although the official process remains shackled, experts consider
visits from the CSOs a slow but steady contribution on the long road
to normalized relations.

Professor Kamer Kasım, vice chairman of the Ankara-based International
Strategic Research Organization (USAK), thinks it is a good sign that
the representatives of the five CSOs met with Foreign Minister Ahmet
DavutoÄ?lu. The effect of these meetings could bear the power to
finally convince Armenia to initiate a transformation.

`It is very hard to penetrate Armenia,’ Kasım told Today’s Zaman,
noting the anticipated effects of the visit on the Armenian
politicians. `The country is under pressure from the most radical
diasporas and the authoritarian structure puts a strain on its
democracy. But a meeting is always significant in that it has the
potential to at least initiate transformation,’ said the expert.
Sounding more pessimistic on concrete solutions on a diplomatic level,
Kasım warned that a solution may not be available unless Armenia
agrees to halt its efforts seeking international recognition for the
alleged genocide and develop a different stance on the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem, developments that may simply take too long
to happen at the current pace, if they ever do.

Restating the fragility of ties between Turkey and Azerbaijan with
regard to any possible bargain with Armenia, Kasım said Turkey should
opt for making itself as clear as possible in talks with both
countries to spare everyone the possible damage. `With both sides
having so much to consider, the solution is going to take much
effort,’ Kasım said.

Relations between Turkey and Armenia seemed to have improved at
certain times in the past but Turkey refuses to strike a deal with the
country if the deal does not extend to the troublesome
Nagorno-Karabakh issue and Azerbaijani rights to the area. Similarly,
Armenia’s international campaign for the recognition the alleged
genocide riles both sides as April 24 — the memorial day for the mass
killings — approaches every year. `One problem I see with these
meetings is that they always happen in Turkey and that parties already
in favor of improving relations attend them,’ Hasan Kanbolat, chairman
of the Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (ORSAM), told
Today’s Zaman, while calling for something to be initiated to bring
more radical voices together.

Kanbolat suggested that these meetings might function to melt the ice
between the people, who are not too different from one another in many
aspects, saying, `It is not uncommon for a radical from the Armenian
diaspora to enjoy a fine dinner along the Bosporus and change his mind
about Turkey and its people’s attitude toward Armenians.’

Despite the burden of hyper-sensitivities and conditional handshakes,
experts still see the light and remain hopeful. `CSOs may not have
much power in Armenian politics, but things will just have to improve
one step at a time,’ Kanbolat stated.

ENERGIE
Nabucco : compromis sur le mandat de négociations pour Bruxelles (journal)

La Pologne qui assume la présidence tournante de l’Union européenne a
trouvé un compromis sur le mandat de Bruxelles pour négocier un accord
gazier avec le Turkménistan et l’Azerbaïdjan relatif au projet de
gazoduc Nabucco, affirme mercredi le quotidien polonais Gazeta
Wyborcza.

Ce compromis, qui doit être entériné par les 27 ministres chargés de
l’énergie, permettrait à Bruxelles de lancer dès septembre les
négociations avec les deux pays fournisseurs potentiels de gaz à
l’Europe, selon le journal polonais qui cite une source
gouvernementale anonyme.

Le gazoduc Nabucco, dont la mise en service a été repoussée à 2017,
soit un retard de deux ans sur la date prévue initialement, doit
transporter le gaz de la Caspienne à travers la Turquie et vers
l’Europe, en évitant la Russie et l’Ukraine.

Visant à diversifier l’approvisionnement énergétique de l’UE, Nabucco
est en concurrence avec le projet South Stream, porté par le géant
russe Gazprom et l’italien ENI, qui veut aussi exploiter le gaz de la
Caspienne.

AFP

dimanche 24 juillet 2011,
Sté[email protected]

ARMENIE-GEORGIE
L’auteur de la vidéo scandaleuse sur Karékine II sanctionné
Il avait mis en ligne sur YouTube une vidéo sur la rencontre de
Karékine II et le patriarche géorgien Ilia II

Il y a quelques jours, la vidéo amateur -que l’on dit truquée- prise
lors de la rencontre entre le Catholicos Karékine II d’Etchmiadzine et
le chef de l’Eglise géorgienne le patriarche Ilia II avait crée le
scandale. Les propos imputées à Karékine II à l’encontre d’Ilia II
étaient plus que familiers et n’obéissaient pas à celui du plus haut
personnage de l’Eglise arménienne. Le site géorgien « Grouzia online »
a informé hier que l’auteur ce cette vidéo placée sur YouTube, membre
de la chaîne de télévision de l’Eglise géorgienne, fut démis de ses
fonctions. IL est accusé de diffuser des vidéos et images, sans
l’autorisation des autorités religieuses de Géorgie.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 24 juillet 2011,
Krikor [email protected]

SPORT
Un jeune Arménien de Turquie aux J.O. de Londres ?

Toros Polikoglu (18 ans) un sportif Arménien de Turquie, spécialisé
dans le saut en longueur, désire participer aux Jeux Olympiques de
Londres (2012) et représenter la Turquie. Ce grand espoir du sport
turc détient déjà quelques records du pays. « Je n’ai jusqu’à présent
réalisé aucune chose d’extraordinaire mais j’aspire à progresser.
C’est un grand honneur pour moi que de représenter la Turquie. Ma
famille est née sur ces terres et je me sens appartenir à ces terres »
dit Toros Polikoglu. En cas de qualification aux J.O. de Londres, il
ne serait pas le premier Arménien à représenter la Turquie. En 1912
lors des Jeux Olympiques de Stockholm, deux sportifs Arméniens de
Constantinople représentaient l’Empire ottoman. Il s’agissait de
Vahram Papazian et Mguerditch Mguerian qui avait par leurs propres
moyens et une petite aide de l’Etat, participé aux Jeux Olympiques de
Stockholm. Toros Polikoglu reçoit peu d’aide de l’Etat turc dit son
entraîneur Hakan Gunardan qui l’entraîne depuis 11 ans déjà. Le
principal sponsor de Toros Polikoglu est l’homme d’affaires Arménien
Aram Kalenter. « Malgré son jeune ge, Toros est arrivé à des
réussites incroyables. Dans l’histoire de la Turquie aucun athlète n’a
participé aux Jeux Olympiques à 18 ans. Nous attendons l’aide de
l’Etat » confie Hakan Gunardan.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 24 juillet 2011,
Krikor [email protected]

Agence France Presse
July 22, 2011 Friday 11:59 AM GMT

Armenians, Turks sign trade deal despite enmity

YEREVAN, July 22 2011

Businessmen from Armenia and Turkey on Friday signed a deal to promote
mutual trade and tourism despite continuing deadlock in the process of
normalising relations between the longtime foes.

Around 30 Turkish businessmen were in Yerevan for the signing of the
agreement with counterparts from Armenia, hoping to ease future
collaboration if a political deal ultimately allows their mutual
border to reopen.

Contacts between businessmen offer “a platform for the development of
large-scale economic cooperation if the border between the countries
opens”, the chairman of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs
of Armenia, Arsen Ghazarian, told reporters.

According to the Armenian-Turkish Business Council, the annual
bilateral trade turnover is more than $250 million despite the current
lack of a direct land route between the two countries.

Relations between the two countries have been poisoned by long-running
arguments over the mass killings of Armenians under the Ottoman
Empire, which Yerevan wants Ankara to recognise as genocide.

In 2009, they signed landmark accords to end decades of animosity,
establish diplomatic relations and reopen the border, but the effort
faltered and Armenia froze the ratification process of the accords.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin fell victim to genocide
during World War I under the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey counters that 300,000 to 500,000 Armenians and at least as many
Turks died in civil strife when Armenians rose up against their
Ottoman rulers and sided with invading Russian forces.

mkh-emc/as/co

Trend News Agency, Baku, Azerbaijan
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News
July 22, 2011 Friday

Armenia’s unconstructive position in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict makes
inevitable militarily resolution

by T.Hajiyev, Trend News Agency, Baku, Azerbaijan

July 22–Azerbaijan should express its radical attitude toward the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Center for Political Innovation and
Technology Director Mubariz Ahmedoglu said at a press conference
today.

“The unsuccessful outcome of the Kazan meeting showed that the
Armenians do not want to resolve the conflict peacefully. The OSCE
Minsk Group is also aware of it. The fact that Kazan meeting ended
without result is negative for Russia as well,” Ahmedoglu underlined.

He stressed that Armenia’s destructive position makes inevitable
military resolution to the problem.

“Azerbaijan is rapidly arming itself. Next year it is expected to
increase Azerbaijan’s military budget to 3.5 billion manat, which is
equal to approximately $4.3 billion. Sooner or later it will be
apparent. If this conflict is not solved peacefully, then the guns
will speak. This can not be avoided,” Ahmedoglu said.

Ahmedoglu believes that talks between the Azerbaijani and Armenian
communities of Nagorno Karabakh are very important in resolution of
the conflict.

“However, it is unknown why the OSCE Minsk Group has never made such a
proposal. The Minsk Group deals with anything except this conflict,”
Ahmedoglu said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group — Russia, France, and the U.S. —
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

To see more of the Trend News Agency, or to subscribe to the
newspaper, go to Copyright (c) 2011, Trend News
Agency, Baku, Azerbaijan Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information
Services.

Dialogue between Armenian authorities and Armenian National Congress
is ridiculous

arminfo
Saturday, July 23, 13:27

Chairman of the Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA) Aram Sargsyan thinks
that the Armenian authorities’ dialogue with the Armenian National
Congress (ANC) resembles rather a theatrical performance than a
political dialogue.

“The authorities’ dialogue with the ANC is ridiculous, both sides are
satisfied with this situation in the country. On the one hand, the ANC
imitates an essential force in the domestic policy of the country, on
the other hand, the authorities are satisfied with such a radical
opposition”, said Sargsyan.

He pointed out that he sees and understands no discrepancies between
the opposition and the authorities, as both adhere to one and the same
idea. “This situation has been created artificially to draw the
public’s attention away from the really serious social and political
problems. The Armenian society should see a real political rivalry
that must be conducted not between persons, but between ideas”, said
Sargsyan.

As regards the ANC’s demands, Sargsyan qualified the talks on holding
snap elections as unserious, as both the ANC and the authorities, as
well as the public in general perfectly know that no snap elections
will be held in the country.

To note, the first meeting between the representatives of the ruling
coalition parties and the ANC took place behind the closed doors of
the session hall of the Public Council of Armenia.

Democratic Party of Armenia intends to set up a bloc with
social-democratic ideology

arminfo
Saturday, July 23, 13:29

The Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA) is gong to participate in the
parliamentary election of 2012, DPA Leader Aram Sargsyan told
journalists on Friday.

“We are already doing the preparatory work to participate in the
parliamentary election, but we’ll announce the participation formats
in December”, Sargsyan said. He stressed that the DPA is launching a
political process to unify all parties with social democratic
ideology. “The Social-Democrat Hnchakyan Party and some other parties
have already responded to our appeal. We will shortly publish more
detailed information about the process, but it is not ruled out that
we will create a political bloc”, he said.