Author: Basmajian Ani

Sabah, Turkey
Feb 9 2007

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) would become the third largest party
in parliament

Turkey’s far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) would become the
third largest party in parliament after this year’s election, a
survey published on Friday showed.

The poll, conducted by Selcuk University in the central city
of Konya and carried in several newspapers, showed the ruling AK
Party would again be the largest party with 31.6 percent. The
MHP would win 14.2 percent, the poll showed.

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP),
nominally left-leaning but also nationalist-minded, would win
15.5 percent in the election, which must be held by November.
Only parties with more than 10 percent can enter parliament.
The MHP is not represented in the current parliament.
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party has presided over
strong economic growth and the launch of Turkey’s European Union
entry talks since taking power in November 2002, but analysts say the
more nationalist mood is now forcing it to shelve
liberal political reforms and some planned privatisations.

If the AK Party fails to win an outright majority in the
2007 election, it will have to form a coalition, possibly with
one of the smaller nationalist parties — a move sure to further
complicate Ankara’s already troubled relations with the EU.
Friday’s poll also showed more than half of Turks are
opposed to the scrapping of a law which makes it a crime to
insult Turkish national identity or state institutions.
The EU has sharply criticised Article 301, which has
triggered court cases against dozens of writers including Nobel
Laureate Orhan Pamuk and Turkish Armenian editor Hrant Dink.
An ultra-nationalist youth shot Dink dead outside his
newspaper office in Istanbul last month. About 100,000 people
attended his funeral to protest against violent nationalism.
Friday’s poll, mirroring the findings of other recent
surveys, showed a majority of voters who support the AK Party donot
want Erdogan to run for the presidency when incumbent AhmetNecdet
Sezer retires in May.

It gave no reason, but many think the AK Party will lose
votes if Erdogan, their main electoral asset, quits. As
president he would have to stay above party politics.
The poll showed Erdogan remained the single most popular
candidate to replace Sezer, with 17.1 percent support, but he
was only narrowly ahead of Bulent Arinc, the speaker of
parliament and also from the AK Party, who had 16.8 percent.
Both Erdogan and Arinc are unacceptable to Turkey’s secular
establishment, including the powerful military, because of their
roots in political Islam. Their wives wear the Muslim headscarf.
The poll canvassed the views of 7,325 people in 43 cities.

Today, Azerbaijan
Feb 9 2007

Conflict can be settled in 2007; no Kosovo model to be used, top OSCE
official says

09 February 2007 [16:04] – Today.Az

"The settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is very important
both for the whole region and from the aspect of the region’s
integration into Europe.

"I think the conflict can be settled in 2007. I stressed in my report
that there are gold opportunities for the settlement of the
conflict," OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Goran Lennmarker
said today at a meeting in Baku State University.

According to the PA President the existence of the conflict cannot be
regarded as an abnormal case.

"During the discussions of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, I always
state that such conflicts are normal in the history of Europe.
Azerbaijan gained its independence in 1991, and international law
recognizes its territorial integrity," Lennmarker said.

Lennmarker rules out the application of Kosovo model to Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, as conflicts have quite different characters.

"Decision on the settlement of Kosovo conflict will not influence on
the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict in any way. These
conflicts have quite different historical backgrounds. OSCE has been
dealing with the settlement of this conflict for a long time. The
OSCE tries to create a mild climate for dialogue. However, the OSCE
Minsk Group can not decide the way of settlement independently. We
are only mediators. I feel optimistic about reaching an agreement on
an option that will satisfy both parties. Parliamentary elections
will be held in Armenia soon, and in this situation Armenia thinks it
is difficult to take a step forward in the settlement of the
conflict. But I am sure we will achieve peaceful solution of the
conflict after the elections," he said.

The PA President also noted that many young Azerbaijani and Armenian
soldiers are killed in the contact front line every year stressing
the importance of IDPs’ returning to their home lands, APA reports.

URL:

EP REPORT SAYS DINK’S APPROACH MORE EFFECTIVE THAN ARMENIAN DIASPORA

Yerevan, February 9. ArmInfo. The European Parliament reiterated its
determination to keep up the pressure on Turkey regarding freedom
of expression and the Armenian question in a report on slain Turkish
journalist of Armenian origin Hrant Dink.

The five-page document, prepared by Joost Lagendijk, co-chairman
of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission, and obtained by
Today’s Zaman, reports on the funeral and debates in the wake of the
Jan. 19 assassination that led to one of the largest demonstrations
in Istanbul’s history. The report was presented to President of the
Parliament Hans-Gert Pottering at the beginning of February.

Lagendijk, who attended the funeral and represented the EP, argues
that though the killer was caught shortly after the crime, many
questions surrounding the murder remain unanswered.

The report praises Dink’s attitude toward the events of 1915 and
underlines the fact that he tried to avoid the word "genocide." The
report also says that his approach was more effective than the Armenian
diaspora’s way of dealing with history. "Hrant firmly believed that the
past can only be addressed and understood where there are prospects
of future relations. Armenia’s painful history exercised his mind no
less than the Armenian diaspora. But he took a different, and perhaps
more effective, approach to the debate on the Armenian genocide
of 1915 than is customary in Turkey. In his speeches and writings,
he tried to avoid the term ‘genocide.’ He informed his readers and
listeners, describing the events of 1915, but left the definition to
them and invited them to find the appropriate term." The funeral was
a historic event for Istanbul, the report argues, and adds that the
sheer dimension of the masses who gathered to pay their respects and
protest the murder was utterly unexpected.

"The funeral of Hrant Dink turned into one of the largest-ever mass
demonstrations in the city of Istanbul. Although it was expected
that thousands would come to pay their last respects to Hrant Dink,
not even the greatest of optimists could have foreseen the vast sea
of more than a hundred thousand people," stated the report. Dink was
a very well-known figure in the EP, in particular among the Green
group. He had attended several conferences organized by the EP. The
report strongly calls for continued support to the Turkish-Armenian
newspaper Agos, the paper Dink worked at as editor-in-chief, and
believes its closing down would be a great loss for Turkey. The
report concludes by highlighting the fact that Dink’s murder has put
two important issues in the spotlight: freedom of expression and the
Armenian question. The report wants to "ensure that these two issues
are high on our agenda in the coming months and years."

The European Parliament officially recognized the Armenian genocide in
1987 and claims Turkey should recognize it for possible EU membership.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS KILLS 332 PEOPLE LAST YEAR

Armenpress
Feb 08 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS: A deputy chief of police blamed
yesterday a 20 percent rise in traffic accidents last year on improving
living conditions of his country fellows ‘who can now afford buying
more and more cars.’ Another reason according to Lieutenant -General
Hovhannes Hunanian is a massive repair of the country’s roads due to
which motorist drive with higher speed.

Hovhannes Hunanian said a total of 1,574 road accidents were reported
last year by Armenian traffic police which killed 332 and injured 2,089
people. In the last four years, he said, Armenians bought 80,000 cars
and 24,000 in 2006 alone. Hunanian said traffic police is undergoing
a sweeping reform which he said is supposed to improve the work of
road policemen and bring order to roads.

According to other figures, released by Hunanian, crimes rate last
year rose nearly 10 percent to 9,757, but he argued that the higher
crime rate had not any impact on the criminal situation.

The figures released by Hunanian show that 75 people were murdered
last year, sharply up from 55 such cases officially registered in 2005.

Law-enforcement authorities also registered a more than 30 percent
surge in instances of drug abuse and trafficking that totaled 1,510,
or nearly 16 percent of the overall crime statistics.

SLAIN PRIEST’S MEMORIAL IN TURKEY OPENS WAY TO RECONCILIATION
Peter Lamprecht

Crosswalk.com, VA
Feb 8 2007

Killer’s parents show up before service for murdered clergyman.

TRABZON, Turkey – Turkey’s Catholics extended reconciliation to this
tense Black Sea city yesterday, exactly one year after a local teenager
shot an Italian priest while he was praying in his church.

Trabzon has come under increasing criticism in the Turkish and
international press after the killer of Father Andrea Santoro and the
suspected assassin of Armenian journalist Hrant Dink emerged as Black
Sea locals. Tight security both in and around the church indicated
that authorities did not want a repeat of either incident.

"Trabzon is an honest and clean city," Anatolian Bishop Luigi Padovese
said in Turkish at the opening of an 11:30 a.m. mass in Trabzon’s
St. Mary Church to commemorate the death of Fr. Santoro.

"We will continue to trust the honest people here."

Underlining the importance of these words for Turkey’s Catholics,
Cardinal Camillo Ruini, president of Italy’s Bishops Conference,
and Antonio Lucibello, Vatican nuncio to Turkey, celebrated the mass.

"The majority of [Trabzon’s] population is like us [Christians], they
reject violence and can’t understand such murders," Bishop Padovese
commented to Compass.

A Turkish Protestant attending the service said that negative press
against Trabzon has increased nationalist anger among segments of
the city’s youth.

"Certain young people have begun wearing a white hat [like that
worn by Ogun Samast, who reportedly confessed to murdering Dink]
because they see Samast as a leader and a hero," Sezgin Saglamer
told Compass. "The source of this anger is not against Christians:
it’s partly because the media have excessively faulted Trabzon."

The mother, sisters and cousin of the murdered priest were also in
attendance from Italy bearing a message of forgiveness.

Fr. Santoro’s mother’s first act upon entering the small church was
to kneel on the exact spot her son had been praying when 16-year-old
Oguzhan Aydin shot him from behind. Alone with a few security police
and clergy, she wept softly in prayer before rising to walk around
the rest of the chapel.

"My family and I have forgiven with all our hearts," Fr. Santoro’s
sister told the daily Today’s Zaman following the mass. "Before Jesus
died he said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’"

The unexpected arrival of the killer’s parents at 11 a.m. created a
minor stampede as dozens of Turkish journalists cornered the pair,
climbing on pews and shoving aside a nun. The couple eventually broke
free and met privately with Cardinal Ruini and Bishop Padovese to
express their sympathy.

"It was very moving that the mother and father of the murderer came,"
Bishop Padovese commented. "We could see that they were genuinely
saddened by the whole event."

The exchange stood in sharp contrast to previous comments by Aydin’s
mother, who had reportedly defended her son after his sentence.

According to Turkish press reports, she said, "If my son is jailed
for the state, for the people, then so be it with my blessing. He is
jailed for Allah."

Media Contribution to Deaths Aydin was given a prison sentence of 18
years and 10 months in October for shooting Fr. Santoro. As a minor,
he is expected to serve only 10.5 years of that sentence.

Contrary to reports in the Turkish media, Bishop Padovese told Compass
that Aydin’s parents did not meet Fr. Santoro’s mother. The bishop
said he had hoped to prevent her from experiencing shock.

Though the ceremony received positive coverage in the Turkish media,
members of the Catholic community were wary of several dozen Turkish
journalists covering the event.

One member of the congregation commented to Compass that it was
negative nationalist media reports against Fr. Santoro, and more
recently against Dink, that had provoked their deaths. Local press
had published angry statements that the Italian priest was working
to convert Muslims to Christianity.

A heavy police presence at yesterday’s memorial service highlighted the
uncertainty that Trabzon’s small Christian community continues to face.

"Christians in Trabzon are not afraid, but they have become more
careful," Bishop Padovese told Compass, adding that he was thankful
for the excellent security provided by the city.

"Father Andrea always told us that he was more worried for us than
he was for himself," commented one Turk of Muslim background who had
attended the church during Fr. Santoro’s three years in Trabzon.

Christians in Turkey have faced increased persecution during the
past year. Attacks on foreign Catholic priests occurred in Izmir,
Mersin and Samsun in 2006, the most serious in July when a man with a
history of mental instability knifed an elderly French priest outside
Samsun’s Mater Dolorosa church.

Converts to Christianity have also faced attacks, most recently the
stoning of Agape Protestant Church in Samsun last month.

In his homily, interpreted from Italian into Turkish, Cardinal Ruini
underlined the necessity for freedom of conscience to underpin worship
of God.

"True and sincere worship of God is only possible with free and
brotherly love," Cardinal Ruini said. "We’ve come here to highlight
religious freedom."

GORAN LENNMARKER: I HOPE FOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA UNTIL OSCE PA MEETING IN JULY

Azeri Press Agency
Feb 8 2007

"I hope Azerbaijan and Armenia will reach an agreement until the
meeting of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in July in Kiev, where the
report on Nagorno Karabakh will be discussed.

I do not exactly know if it will happen, but anyway the parties of
conflict should be eager for it. It mainly depends on the ongoing
situation," commenting on the discussion of the report on Nagorno
Karabakh, OSCE PA President Goran Lennmarker told the APA.

Asked if a new report will be drawn up, as it has not satisfied
Azerbaijan Goran Lennmarker said it is not important at present.

"Process of settlement is more important than the report."

HEAD OF ISTANBUL POLICE INTELLIGENCE DEPARTMENT DISMISSED

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Feb 7 2007

One policeman was dismissed from the Trabzon police force, while one
gendarme was posted to another location over photographs and video
footage taken of alleged killer of prominent journalist Hrant Dink.

Guncelleme: 11:31 TSÝ 07 Þubat 2007 CarþambaANKARA – The expanding
investigation into the actions of Turkish police over the assassination
of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink last month has spread to
the Istanbul police force.

Ahmet Ilhan Guler, the head of Istanbul police intelligence
department, was removed from his position late Monday after being
questioned for two days by investigators over claims his office had
received information that Dink was to be killed. The office of the
Istanbul governor said that Guler had been dismissed for safety of
the investigation.

During his questioning Guler blamed the Trabzon police, who provided
the initial information about the threat to Dink. Istanbul had been
provided with information in February last year that there was a
plot to kill Dink, which Guler said Trabzon police had failed to
substantiate.

Private television station NTV obtained information showing that
Trabzon police received other leads on the plot to kill Dink but did
not pass them on to the Istanbul police.

–Boundary_(ID_mO8ysmaA564ds4TKgWyUrw)–

EIGHTY OFFICERS DISMISSED FROM ARMENIAN POLICE IN 2006 – OFFICIAL

Arminfo
7 Feb 07

Yerevan, 7 February: Eighty officers of the Armenian police were
relieved from their posts in 2006, the deputy head of the Armenian
police, Maj-Gen Hovannes Hunanyan, said at a news conference today.

He said that the internal security service has launched criminal
proceedings against 22 officers. They were sacked because of the
charges brought against them, which include bribery, cover-up of
criminal cases and evidence, as well as police brutality.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION OBJECTS TO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ELECTORAL CODE

Arminfo
5 Feb 07

Yerevan, 5 February: During the three-day session that opened in the
parliament today, MP Viktor Dallakyan proposed that the Armenian
speaker, Tigran Torosyan, should make use of his powers and not
discuss the draft laws on dual citizenship and amendments to the
Electoral Code of the Armenian Republic.

In his speech, Dallakyan said that in connection with the upcoming
[parliamentary] election, he is particularly concerned about a
provision in the draft law that gives "unregistered" citizens of
Armenia the right to take part in elections. The MP believes that
this will open wide opportunities for the authorities to rig elections.

In turn, MP Aram Sarkisyan, a member of the opposition Justice block
and the leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia, pointed out that
the issue raised by Dallakyan is very important.

However, he noted that there is a provision in the draft law that
prohibits elections from being held on the territory of Armenian
diplomatic missions abroad. "It seems the authors of the draft law have
forgotten that diplomatic missions are also Armenian territory. This
has happened because it is there that elections are held fairly, and
it can be seen clearly for whom voters cast their votes," Sarkisyan
said. He agreed with Dallakyan and proposed that the Armenian speaker
should not put the draft law to a vote.

Nevertheless, the parliamentary majority supported the proposed agenda
and voted in favour of its adoption.

Haykakan Zhamanak, Armenia
Feb 1 2007

POLL SAID TO SHOW ARMENIANS VIEW PRESIDENT AS "MOST CORRUPT" PERSON
IN COUNTRY

Yesterday, the Transparency International-Armenia public organization
published a book Corruption Perception in Armenia, which presents the
results of a public opinion poll held in Armenia. According to the
poll, President Robert Kocharyan is the most corrupt person in
Armenia. Putting it mildly, the results of the poll are damaging for
all the branches of the Armenian authorities. Incidentally, the
participants in the poll mentioned holding a free and fair election
as a way to correct the current situation. This public opinion poll
in fact disproves all the other "false polls" carried out recently,
according to which the majority of voters connect their hopes with
the RPA [Republican Party of Armenia] and PAP [Prosperous Armenia
Party]. Corruption is an evil. For this reason, those who think that
the Armenian president, prime minister and all the other officials
are responsible cannot connect their future hopes with such people.