ARMENIA SACK COACH POULSEN
Agence France Presse
March 31 2009
France
YEREVAN (AFP) — The Armenian football federation announced on Tuesday
their decision to sack national manager Jan Poulsen after a 2-2 home
draw with Estonia in the 2010 World Cup qualifying match.
The 63-year-old Poulsen took over Armenia’s national side in January
2009, but in the qualifiers to date, his side have suffered four
defeats and just the one draw against Estonia.
IS TURKEY ASIAN OR EUROPEAN? (1)
By Kadir Ayhan
Today’s Zaman
March 31 2009
Turkey
As a Turkish citizen living abroad, I have received countless
questions from foreigners related to Turkish history, politics and
culture. However, none of the questions has been asked more frequently
than that of whether Turkey is Asian or European. There can be very
many answers to this question, depending on the approach one takes
in analyzing Turkey’s identity.
My first reaction to this question is always this: "Why does it
matter? For me, it is just a matter of crossing the bridge." I am
making two points with this answer: 1) Identities are not constant,
but relative; they can change contextually. Since identities are
relative, Turkey, or any other country for that matter, does not
have to be strictly of one identity or another. 2) Istanbul indeed
is a bridge between Europe and Asia, and that gives Turkey a unique
geopolitical significance and a natural role of bridging Europe
(the West) and Asia (the East, indeed the Middle East).
First of all, the wording of the question is wrong since it reduces
the dimension to geographical identity alone. That is because there
is no such thing as an Asian identity, but there are not well defined
sub-Asian identities. Asia is the largest continent in the world and is
home to diverse ethnic, cultural and religious identities. The Asian
identity has been discussed in East Asia since the 19th century,
but it is usually limited to the East Asian countries — and yet
there is still no definition of an East Asian identity. Indeed,
in East Asia not many people can picture Arabs, Pakistanis, Indians
and even Russians as "Asian." On the other hand, the simple question
"Asian or European" makes sense from a traditional Western point of
view since it hints at "Oriental or Occidental?" However, the term
Orient itself is very ignorant, because it implies a meaning of simply
"non-West" in a "West vs. the rest" setting.
The question can be paraphrased in this way: "What is Turkey’s
identity?" This question can be answered from three different
approaches: 1) What identity does the Republic of Turkey attach itself
to? 2) What identity does the general Turkish public attach itself
to? 3) What identity does the world attach to Turkey? Each question
can be dealt with in a comprehensive analysis, but this article’s aim
is to suggest an identity for Turkey that can arguably be an optimum
answer to all three questions.
Turkey is located where Asia meets Europe and geographically has land
on both continents. The capital Ankara and the larger portion of the
country are in Asia. Turkey is the successor of the Ottoman Empire,
which had been the leader (caliph) of the Muslim world for about 400
years. Today, 99 percent of the Turkish population is officially
Muslim. Yet these facts are not enough to place Turkey under an
Islamic identity. The Republic of Turkey imported Western systems,
including democracy, laicism (secularism), the Latin alphabet, the
educational system, the justice system, etc. In addition to these
systems, Turkey also imported Western music, Western clothes (the
"hat revolution" being the most symbolic) and Western arts — all
elements of the Western culture that usually come as a set together
with modernization. These changes were made under Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk’s revolution in the 1920s. Today, Turkey is a country with a
99 percent Muslim population that is enacting more Western reforms in
order to be able to join the European Union. Turkey is also a member
of organizations that originated in the West, such as the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and NATO.
Two different images
The question in the title comes up because of two apparently
different images of Turkey. Samuel Huntington, in his unconvincing yet
significant contribution, the theory of a "clash of civilizations,"
categorizes Turkey as a torn country that is in the middle of two
civilizations: the Muslim world and the West. According to his theory,
the elites of Turkey see their country as Western, while some of the
Turkish society attaches itself to the Middle East and the Muslim
world. Although Huntington does not clearly mention what he means by
"elites" nor who sees Turkey as part of the Muslim world, he most
probably thought that secularist (not secular) Turks identify Turkey
as Western while conservative (or practicing Muslim) Turks side with
the Muslim world. Having been rejected by the West, Huntington argues,
Turkey may turn to the Turkic countries of Central Asia in search
of a new identity. Until not long ago, Turkey, as a torn country,
was destined to be alone in the international arena; the West used to
see it as part of the Muslim world while at the same time the Muslim
world used to see it as "overly Westernized." Being a torn country
meant being stuck in the middle, having neither a Muslim identity
nor a Western one.
However, the reality today is very different from what Huntington
argued 16 years ago. The conservative Justice and Development Party (AK
Party) government, most of its supporters and most other conservatives
enthusiastically support Turkey’s negotiations with the European
Union. This at a time when there are mixed feelings about EU reforms in
secularist circles. Moreover, Turkey today is not only craving the EU,
but also engaging more with the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central
Asia. Turkey’s significant geopolitical location provides the country
with a unique role of bridging different cultures of various regions
(or different civilizations, as Huntington puts it).
Turkey no longer has to be stuck in the middle, with no clear
identity; it can assume the role of a peaceful mediator, with a dual
(or multiple) identity. One identity should not come at the expense of
another. In order to be part of the Western world (e.g., NATO, the EU)
as a democratic nation, Turkey does not have to ignore its population’s
Muslim identity, nor does Turkey have to turn its back on the Muslim
world. As will be discussed below, Turkey became closer to both the
Muslim world and the Western world (and indeed the Caucasus). This
fact offers prospects for Turkey serving as a mediator between the
Western world and the Muslim world.
Negotiations between Turkey and the European Union started in 2005,
and a number of reforms have been implemented in accordance with
the Copenhagen criteria within the last decade. Recently, State
Minister Egemen BagıÅ~_ was appointed minister for EU affairs and
chief negotiator in order to accelerate negotiations with the European
Union. The EU is Turkey’s number one trading partner, particularly due
to Turkey’s membership in the customs union, which it joined in 1995.
Turkey’s relationship with the Muslim world
Relations with the Muslim world have gotten better compared to
a decade ago. Turkey has been attending Arab League summits as an
observer since 2005. Relations with its neighbor to the south, Syria,
have improved tremendously, considering that the two sides drew very
close to war only a decade ago. Last year, Turkey was very active in
mediating between Syria and Israel. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
also offered US President Barack Obama and Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad Turkish meditation. Despite tension from time to time,
relations with Iraq and the regional administration in northern Iraq
are relatively peaceful. The secretary-general of the Organization
of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is a Turkish professor, Ekmeleddin
Ä°hsanoglu. Trade interdependence with the Middle East has increased
a great deal; energy agreements are being signed with Iran and the
Arab countries.
A subgroup within the Muslim world is culturally closer to Turkey:
the Turkic countries of Central Asia. Azerbaijan is Turkey’s closest
ally, or maybe closer than an ally, and other Turkic countries also
are very interdependent on Turkey. Turkish businessmen and Turkish NGOs
are very active in the region connecting the newly independent former
Soviet republics to their historical brother country, Turkey. Learning
Turkish and studying at Turkish universities are an increasing trend
in Central Asia. Many Turkish soap operas are being watched all over
Central Asia and in most Arab countries.
In addition to Europe and the Middle East, Turkey also engages
more with the Caucasus. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline
started operating in 2005. This pipeline is becoming an important oil
supplier in the East-West energy corridor and thus offers Turkey more
strategic significance in the Caucasus. Turkey does not have diplomatic
relations with Armenia, but there has been progress — especially
within the last year. Turkish President Abdullah Gul went to Armenia
upon an invitation from Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan to watch an
Armenia-Turkey soccer match and discuss bilateral issues. There have
been more diplomatic summits at the prime ministerial and foreign
affairs ministerial levels since last year’s soccer game. Moreover,
Turkey proposed the creation of a Caucasus Stability and Cooperation
Platform in order to avoid clashes in the region. Right after last
year’s conflict in South Ossetia, Prime Minister Erdogan visited both
Georgia and Russia to discuss the cooperation initiative. The idea
was welcomed by Russia, Georgia, Armenia and even NATO.
Turkey’s ties with Europe, the Muslim world and countries in
the Caucasus are simultaneously getting closer. This proves
that close relations with different "civilizations" are not
mutually exclusive. Indeed, Turkey’s close ties with Europe are an
opportunity for the Muslim world and the Caucasus, while Turkey’s
ties with the Muslim world offer prospects for Europe and the West
in general. Economic benefits are easy to point to as the reason
for Turkey being an intermediary between the two regions; however,
what is more significant is Turkey’s role in preventing the "clash
of civilizations."
*Kadir Ayhan is a student at the Graduate School of International
Studies of Seoul National University.
FOOTBALL EXHIBITION IN YEREVAN
Panorama.am
10:36 30/03/2009
"Photo planet" agency launched its photo exhibition in the Painters’
Union of Armenia presenting Hakob Berberyan’s photos from football
matches.
The photo exhibition performs photos from "Euro-2008" matches,
"Championship of Armenia", "Armenia-Turkey" football match, "Champions’
League", etc.
160 photos are presented in the exhibition. According to the
photographer this is the first football exhibition launched in
Yerevan. The President of Football Federation of Amrenia Ruben
Hayrapetyan and the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Armen Grigoryan
also attended the exhibition.
SERGE SARGSYAN UNDERSCORED THE RELATIONS WITH GERMANY
LRAGIR.AM
18:31:39 – 30/03/2009
The press office of the president informs that today, Serge Sargsyan
met with the State Secretary of the German foreign ministry Gernot
Erler, the head of the German Bundestag’s German-South Caucasus
parliamentary group Shetffan Raikh and the German ambassador to
Armenia Andrea-Joanna Maria Victorin.
Serge Sargsyan attached great importance to the further expansion of
the Armenian and German relations.
According to Gernot Erler, his visit proves the great interest that
Germany has towards the events happening in the region of the Western
Caucasus, especially after the events of the last August. He noted
that Germany is absolutely against the use of force while solving
disputable regional questions.
The collocutors dwelt on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue,
the European Union Eastern Partnership and democratic reforms.
RUBEN SAFRASTYAN: TIME FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY
Anna Nazaryan
"Radiolur"
30.03.2009 15:40
"The establishment of Armenian-Turkish relations is a phenomenon that
has already matured," Director of the Oriental Studies Institute
of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Turkologist Ruben
Safrastyan is confident.
What could one expect from the visit of US President Barack Obama to
Turkey in April, which should be followed by Turkish Foreign Minister
Ali Babacan’s visit to Armenia? The Turkologist said the establishment
of the Armenian-Turkish relations rather depends on Obama’s recognition
or non-recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
"The Turkish authorities will make the final decision on the process
of normalization of relations will Armenia at the end of April or the
beginning of May, when it becomes clear whether US President Obama
uses the term genocide or not. I think that the Turkish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs has prepared several options and will apply one of
those depending on future developments," Ruben Safrastyan said.
UKRAINIAN NATIONAL BANK INTRODUCES SURB KHACH MONASTERY COMMEMORATIVE COIN
PanARMENIAN.Net
30.03.2009 12:47 GMT+04:00
Ukrainian National Bank has introduced Surb Khach Monastery
commemorative coin, continuing the Architecture Monuments of Ukraine
series.
10000 silver coins were produced. The issue is dated to the 650th
anniversary of the monastery, Analitika.at.ua reports.
Fifa.com
March 29 2009
Armenia battle back to hold Estonia
(Reuters) Saturday 28 March 2009
Substitute Gevorg Ghazarjan scored a late equaliser to give Armenia a
2-2 draw against Estonia in a 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa?â??¢
qualifier.
Referee Luc Wilmes awarded Armenia the 88th-minute goal after linesman
Antonio de Carolis ruled Ghazarjan’s effort had crossed the line in
mid-air before goalkeeper Sergei Pareiko palmed the ball away.
Striker Henrikh Mkhitaryan had put Armenia ahead just past the
half-hour but Estonia equalised within three minutes through Konstatin
Vassiljev and went in front when substitute Sergei Zenjov scored with
23 minutes remaining.
Both teams are in the bottom two places in European Zone Group 5 after
five matches, Estonia with two points and Armenia on one
Nouvelles d’Arménie, France
Samedi 28 Mars 2009
Le journal Taraf annonce des « solutions très
bientôt concernant la question du génocide »
samedi28 mars 2009, par Stéphane/armenews
Le journal turc Taraf a annoncé qu’Ankara proposera des mesures
pour une normalisation des relations entre l’Arménie et la
Turquie juste avant la visite du Président américain
Barack Obama en Turquie. Taraf a prétendu que la
première clause du paquet de mesures est l’ouverture des
frontières.
Taraf a annoncé que les autres mesures seront
réalisés point par point. Le paquet inclut aussi
l’établissement d’une commission commune d’historiens pour
« discuter des événements de 1915 et du
problème du Nagorno Karabakh ».
Selon Taraf « le paquet de solution constitura un revirement
radical de 15 années de la politique vis-à -vis de
l’Arménie de la Turquie » et passera par l’ouverture de
représentations diplomatiques.
Toutes les mesures seront présentées au Président
américain Barack Obama selon Taraf.
D’autre part, TRT commencera à émettre en
arménien lors de la visite d’Obama.
ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN CLOSE TO SUCCESS ON KARABAKH – US OFFICIAL
Azad Azarbaycan TV
March 27 2009
[Presenter] Matthew Bryza, the US deputy assistant secretary of
state [for European and Eurasian affairs] and US co-chairman of
the OSCE Minsk Group, says that his meetings in Baku have been
fruitful. Although the diplomat did not fully disclose details of
the talks, he said that several important issues were in the focus.
[Correspondent over video of Bryza speaking to journalists] I
hope that greater success will be achieved in the resolution of
the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict in the near future. Matthew Bryza,
the US deputy assistant secretary of state and US co-chairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group, has made this statement. The co-chairman said he
visited the region to convey US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s
letter to the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers and form an
action plan of the co-chairmen for the near future. The co-chairman,
who travelled via the route Armenia-Georgia-Azerbaijan, said that the
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents are expected to meet in early May.
[Bryza, speaking in English with Azeri voice-over] It will take place
either in Prague or Brussels. Everything depends on the presidents’
will. I held talks in Baku and Yerevan on the resolution of the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. In both letters addressed to the
Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers, Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton said how she wanted to see the peaceful resolution
of the conflict and expressed her support for the Minsk Group. The
secretary of state wants us to make great success in the near future.
[Correspondent] Bryza said that the USA was interested in deepening
political and economic relations and strategic partnership
with Azerbaijan. He said that Azerbaijan and the USA were close
countries. Energy and security cooperation with Azerbaijan, which
is distinguished for its free economy and democratic values, is of
great importance to the USA. The US official said that President
Barack Obama would do everything in his power to help resolve the
conflict peacefully.
[Bryza, speaking in Russian with Azeri voice-over] I am here just for
this reason. I am delivering Washington’s message. It was important to
learn the opinions of [Azerbaijani Foreign Minister] Elmar Mammadyarov
and [Deputy Foreign Minister] Araz Azimov about further steps to be
taken to resolve the conflict. We also discussed preparations for the
presidents’ meeting. The sides are close to achieving clear success
in the resolution of the conflict.
[Correspondent] Bryza said that Washington supported not the opposition
but democracy in Georgia. He said that this democracy was built jointly
by [Georgian President Mikheil] Saakashvili and [opposition leaders]
Nino Burjanadze and Irakli Alasania. They must continue this work
together, Bryza said.
RUSSIAN LOAN TO ARMENIA IN HALF WAY
Panorama.am
14:09 26/03/2009
500 million stability loan provided by Russia to Armenia will most
probably reach our country in the end of May or in the beginning of
June, Irina Ayvazyan, the press secretary of the Ministry of Finance
told Panorama.am.
The stability loan has a special mission to contribute to overcome
the impact of the world financial crisis.
It is important to remind that the Prime Ministers of Russia and
Armenia have agreed in Moscow, on 27 February the conditions of
providing the loan. The Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin
announced that it was important first to have the changed state
budget confirmed by the State Duma in order they could continue the
negotiations.
According to I. Ayvazyan the budget should be confirmed in April and
in May or June they will sign the contract of providing it.