Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

Armenian expert sees regional oil pipeline as threat to national security

Arminfo
27 Jul 05

YEREVAN

Armenia’s rejection of membership of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization [CSTO] will reduce the combat readiness of its armed
forces by half, a representative of the international relations
faculty of Yerevan State University, Aram Arutyunyan, told the
“External and internal threats to Armenia’s national security” seminar
today.

“Those saying that it is more appropriate to enter NATO in conditions
of incessant vengeful statements coming from Azerbaijan are either
fulfilling someone’s political order or are engaged in sheer
populism,” Arutyunyan said.

He said Azerbaijan’s and Georgia’s interest in entering NATO was
initially explained by the desire of these countries’ political elites
to put the blame for their own military defeats on Russia, while now
it is also backed by revenge. Moreover, it will take Armenia years and
enormous expenses to re-equip its army and create new logistics for
the armed forces, he said.

“Up to now, military cooperation with Russia was intended to address
the task of modernizing the armed forces. Azerbaijan may spend
billions on Phantom and Mirage planes, but the NATO programmes the
Azerbaijanis are so proud of were also attended by our officers,” the
expert in international relations said.

At the same time, Aram Arutyunyan said Armenia’s national security was
primarily jeopardized by the country’s isolation, the functioning of
the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline, attempts to solve the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict militarily, a possible US invasion of Iran,
the possible deterioration of US-Russian relations and even the
efforts of the Armenian diaspora towards the international recognition
of the Armenian genocide in Ottoman Empire.

Aram Arutyunyan’s opponents said it was important to remember the
stabilizing role of the BTC pipeline. They added that the West’s
interest in the pipeline’s uninterrupted operation would compel it to
take all the necessary measures to that end.

The expert from the Armenian centre of national and strategic
research, Alen Gevondyan, said the main threat to Armenia’s security
and sovereignty was the weakness of the Armenian opposition and its
inclination to appeal to external forces. He said that in conditions
of a continuing conflict on the border, any revolution might have
bitter ramifications for Armenia.

“One of the biggest threats to the country’s security and sovereignty
is posed by the illegitimate administration,” the press secretary of
the opposition People’s Party, Ruzan Khachatryan, said. Meanwhile, the
deputy chairman of the Armenian Liberal Progressive Party, Edvard
Antinyan, compared the opposition to a beaten up and bleeding wife. He
said that saving her life should be a higher priority than saving the
family.

12 :34, ergänzt 14:37 — Tages-Anzeiger Online

Strafverfahren gegen Perinçek

Die Staatsanwaltschaft Winterthur/Unterland ermittelt gegen den
Vorsitzenden der türkischen Arbeiterpartei, Dogu Perinçek. Er hat
wiederholt den Genozid an den Armenieren geleugnet, zuletzt an einer
Medienkonferenz in Glattbrugg.

Wie andere westliche Länder hat der Nationalrat die Vertreibung und
die Massaker an über einer Million Armeniern von 1915 als Genozid
anerkannt. Die offizielle Türkei leugnet dies, was bereits auch zu
Verstimmungen zwischen der Türkei und der Schweiz führte. So reagierte
man in der Türkei harsch,weil die Winterthurer Staatsanwaltschaft
gegen den türkischen Historiker Yusuf Halacoglu wegen Leugnung des
Völkermords ermittelt. Mitte Juli reichte die Gesellschaft
Schweiz-Armenien Klage gegen Perinçek ein. Er hatte den Völkermord im
Frühling in Lausanne geleugnet.

Am Freitag reiste Perinçek mit 300 Landsleuten in die Schweiz, um den
Vertrag von Lausanne zu feiern, mit dem 1923 der türkische Staat
gegründet wurde. Die Feiern finden vor dem Hintergrund der
Beitrittsverhandlungen der Türkei mit der EU statt, die im Oktober
beginnen sollen.

Türkische Nationalisten befürchten, dass ihr Staat der EU in der Frage
der Minderheiten zuviele Konzessionen machen könnte. Dies äusserten
diverseRedner am Freitag an einer Medienkonferenz in Glattbrugg, bei
der kaum Medien, aber viele Türken anwesend waren. OffizialdeliktBei
der von der KantonspolizeiZürich aufgezeichneten Veranstaltung stellte
Perinçek den Genozid als «Lüge von Imperialisten» dar. Weil es sich
dabei um einen Verstoss gegen die Antirassismusstrafnorm und um ein
Offizialdelikt handelt, ermittle die Staatsanwaltschaft
Winterthur/Unterland nun gegen Perinçek, wie die Kantonspolizei am
Sonntag mitteilte.

Der türkische Politiker wurde am Samstag am Rande einer
Podiumsveranstaltung in Winterthur während über zwei Stunden vom
Staatsanwalt befragt, wie ein Kapo-Sprecher auf Anfrage der
Nachrichtenagentur sda sagte. Perinçek sei freiwillig mitgegangen und
habe sich danach wieder seiner Gruppe angeschlossen. Türkische
Regierung: «Inakzeptabel»Nach einer Meldung der deutschen
Nachrichtenagentur dpa kritisierte die türkische Regierung die
Befragung Perinçeks als «inakzeptabel». Sie sei «mit dem Grundsatz der
Meinungsfreiheit völlig unvereinbar», sagte der türkische
Aussenminister Abdullah Gül am Sonntag in Ankara.

Ob die in Winterthur in türkischer Sprache gemachten Aussagen
ebenfalls gegen die Antirassismusstrafnorm verstossen, ist laut dem
Kapo-Sprecher noch nicht klar. Die Auswertungen seien noch nicht
abgeschlossen. Am Freitag jedenfalls sei Perinçeks Aussage der einzige
Verstoss gewesen. (mu/sda)

Turkish Press
July 25 2005

I.P. Leader Perincek Detained In Switzerland

WINTERTHUR – Labor Party (IP) leader Dogu Perincek was detained on
Saturday in Wintherthur city of Switzerland, where he attended a
panel discussion held to mark the 82nd anniversary of the Lausanne
Treaty.

Speaking to Turkish reporters, Wintherthur police spokesman Werner
Benz said that Perincek was detained and interrogated for saying,
”Armenian genocide is an international lie.”

Perincek was released after being interrogated for more than three
hours.

After he was freed, Perincek told Turkish reporters that he insisted
on his views that ”Armenian genocide is a lie” during his
interrogation.

According to sources, Perincek’s interrogation was concluded in 15
minutes, but it lasted for more than three hours because Perincek
wanted Swiss authorities to include his statements about ”1915
incidents and the so-called Armenian genocide allegations of some
foreign powers” in his text of testimony.

Perincek added, ”I was detained for a press conference I held in
Zurich” and noted that he told prosecutor Jaeger during the
interrogation that parliaments could not make decisions on historical
incidents. I also said that an impartial country like Switzerland,
which has not joined any conspiracies against Turkey, cannot pass
such a law because it is against its own Constitution. And, these
words were included in the text of my testimony.”

Swiss authorities investigating Turkish politician accused of
violating anti-racism laws

.c The Associated Press

WINTERTHUR, Switzerland (AP) – A criminal investigation has been
launched into a Turkish politician suspected of violating Swiss
anti-racism laws by denying that the killings of Armenians around the
time of World War I amounted to genocide, authorities in Switzerland
said Sunday.

Dogu Perincek, former chairman of Turkey’s Workers’ Party, is accused
of denying genocide during a speech held last week in the Swiss town
of Opfikon-Glattburg, the prosecutor’s office in the canton (state) of
Winterthur and the police department of Zurich said in a joint
statement.

In the speech to honor the 82nd anniversary of the Treaty of Lausanne,
which fixed the borders of modern-day Turkey, Perincek called claims
of genocide against the Armenians an imperialist lie, authorities
said.

Under Swiss law, any act of denying, belittling or justifying genocide
is a violation of the country’s anti-racism laws.

Armenians say 1.5 million of their people were killed as the Ottoman
Empire forced them from eastern Turkey between 1915 and 1923 – and
that this was a deliberate campaign of genocide by Turkey’s rulers at
that time.

Turks say the death count is inflated and insist that Armenians were
killed or displaced as the Ottoman Empire tried to secure its border
with Russia and stop attacks by Armenian militants.

Switzerland and Turkey have squared off in the past over the killings.

In June, a Turkish Cabinet minister postponed a visit to Switzerland
to protest a Swiss investigation of a Turkish historian who made a
similar speech denying that the mass killings of Armenians in the
early 1900s amounted to genocide.

Micheline Calmy-Rey, the Swiss foreign minister, had been scheduled to
travel to Turkey in 2003, but Turkey withdrew its invitation after the
parliament of a western Swiss canton (state) recognized the killings
of Armenians in Turkey as genocide. Calmy-Rey visited Turkey in March.

07/24/05 09:41 EDT

VLADIMIR HAKOBIAN IS AMONG THREE LEADERS OF AMSTERDAM TOURNAMENT

AMSTERDAM, JULY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Vladimir Hakobian. a grand master
from Armenia is also among the 100 participants of the great chess
international tournament going on in Amsterdam. He won 5 points during
the 6 rounds held and shares the 1st-3rd places with other 2
chess-players, Bulgarian Cheparinov and Ukrainian Elyanov, having the
same result. To recap, V.Hakobian’s two pupils, the best chess-player
of Qatar, grand master Al-Modiaki and the later’s wife, the former
world champion, Chinese Jue Chen also participate in the tournament.

Norway make winning start
By Fred Magee at Mourneview Park

Monday, 18 July 2005

Norway made a solid start to the UEFA European
Under-19 Championship as goals in each half from Karim
Aoudia and Vidar Nisja earned a 2-0 win against
Armenia in Lurgan.

Goal in each half
Armenia, appearing in their first finals tournament at
any level, began brightly but fell behind to Aoudia’s
clever finish midway through the first half. The goal
put Norway in control, and victory was assured with 21
minutes left as Nisja doubled the advantage, ensuring
Norway’s first success in a finals match since their
2-1 triumph against Liechtenstein exactly two years
ago.

Early opportunities
Despite the result, Armenia actually started the
better and might have taken the lead in the fifth
minute, but AFC Ajax forward Edgar Manucharyan shot
wide from a promising position. Two minutes later, in
Norway’s first real attack, Armenia goalkeeper Edel
Bete was forced to punch clear following a corner.

Bete beaten
Norway continued to show more aggression and gained
the upper hand, before going ahead in the 21st minute.
Aoudia found himself with only Bete to beat, and put
the ball into the far corner of the net with a clever
lob that evaded the outstretched hands of the
goalkeeper.

Norway on top
Armenia searched for a way back into the contest, but
the goal visibly settled their Scandinavian opponents
who dominated in the lead-up to half-time. The pattern
continued in the second period, with Norway dictating
the pace of the game while Armenia passed the ball
well but struggled to threaten the well-organised
Norwegian back line.

Fierce second
Aleksandr Petrosyan created a half-chance as he
dribbled past two players only to shoot straight at
goalkeeper Joachim Heier, while at the other end
Aoudia posed a regular threat. The result was
effectively sealed in the 69th minute, Nisja making it
2-0 with a fierce shot. Norway ended the match in
complete command, with only Petrosyan’s free-kick
causing Heier any problems, and celebrated with their
small band of supporters at the final whistle.

Norwegian advantage
With France and England drawing 1-1 in today’s other
Group B game, Norway are the early leaders in the
section ahead of Wednesday’s fixtures, when they play
the French at Windsor Park as Armenia meet England in
Ballymena.

Turkish daily views PKK activities in Georgia, Armenia

Cumhuriyet website, Istanbul
16 Jul 05

Excerpt from Ecevit Kilic’s report by Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet
website on 16 July headlined “Georgia has become the PKK’s new
transit point”

After Armenia, the terrorist PKK [Workers’ Party of Kurdistan/People’s
Congress of Kurdistan] organization has also begun to use Georgia as
a transit point for the militants who want to go from Europe to Iran,
Syria and northern Iraq. Having reactivated the camps in Armenia,
the organization ensures that the youths brought from Turkey and
Europe receive higher education at the Abay Almaty State University
in Kazakhstan.

Intelligence units have prepared a report headlined “the PKK and
its activities in Europe” regarding the PKK’s organizations in other
countries. An important part of the report, which also refers to the
organization’s activities in Japan, Canada and Australia, focuses
on the Caucasus countries. According to the report, Armenia is very
important for the organization. The organization has camps in Gyumri,
Spitak, Yerevan, Lacin and Kalbacar [two Azerbaijani districts occupied
by Armenia].

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun provides the
greatest support to the PKK in Armenia. The PKK has taken total control
of the Raye Taze [New Way] newspaper that has been published since
March 1930. Furthermore, the organization broadcasts from the Voice
of Yerevan radio station. The Kurds’ Rights and Religion Foundation,
the Kurdish Youths Association, the Kurdish Culture Association and
the Ezidi Kurdish Women’s Association that operate in Georgia are
also controlled by the PKK. Abdurrahman Patiyav, who has been working
as deputy chief of the International Kurdish Culture and Information
Bureau for a long time, is in charge of Georgia as well.

[Passage omitted: PKK activities in Kazakhstan]

Norway to break the French resistance
By Billy Weir

Belfast Telegraph, United Kingdom
July 20 2005

20 July 2005

Optimism is the key word in the Norway camp as they prepare to take
on France tonight at Windsor Park.

As expected, coach Tor Ole Skullerund guided his side to a comfortable
success over Armenia at Mourneview Park on Monday.

He knows though that things will be tougher against the French,
who played out a 1-1 draw against England in their opening game.

Goals from Karim Aoudia and Vidar Nisja gave Norway a vital win,
and with England to come in their last game, Skullerund knows just
how important a result it was.

“In the end I think we deserved the win. We didn’t start well but
came on and on and in the end we should have had more goals,” he said.

“The Armenians had a lot of possession and passed the ball well and
we expected that because we studied them on video.

“We set our focus to win the first game. To win was very important
for us and to start the championship in a good way.

“We have two tough games coming up but we have no pressure and we
can just go on and let ourselves loose.

“We will have our hands full, but if we can keep up our best defensive
work we will do fine.

“We have everything to win now. We were optimistic when we came and
we are even more optimistic now.”

At The Oval, England took the lead against France thanks to Matthew
Fryatt’s early strike, only for Abdoulaye Balde to level matters,
but they will fancy their chances of seeing off the Armenians.

France and Norway clash at 8.00pm, while England’s game with Armenia
at Ballymena Showgrounds kicks off an hour earlier.

Azeri officials in north, but no sign of direct flight
By Jean Christou

Cyprus Mail, Cyprus
July 19 2005

A GROUP of eight Azeri officials arrived in the north at the weekend
but an expected flight from Azerbaijan yesterday failed to materialise.

The delegation, consisting of eight parliamentarians, arrived on
Sunday in the north via Istanbul, in order to attend the celebrations
of the Turkish invasion, due to he held tomorrow.

Hadi Recep, a deputy in the delegation, in a statement in Turkey said
that it was the first time that a delegation from Azerbaijan visited
the ‘TRNC’ and added that it was an important step for them.

Two more delegations from Azerbaijan are expected to visit the north.
The first of these two visits is being organised by the Azeri Ministry
of Economic Development between July 22 and 27. The second will be
a group of businessmen, members of the Union of Azerbaijan-Turkey
Businessmen, due to visit the north between July 28 and 31 to assess
the possibility of investment as well as the bilateral trade.

Reports in the Turkish pres yesterday also referred to the direct
flight that was to be operated between Azerbaijan and the north by
private airline IM-AIR. Sources in the north said the flight that
had been due in yesterday would not be flying in after all.

Referring to the current visit by the Azeri delegation, Turkish Prime
Minister Tayyip Erdogan said it was the first step on the road to
recognition. “I believe that more visits will be paid in the future,”
he said. “We have heard about this first step they are taking. We
are happy about that. We thank our Azerbaijani brothers very much.”

Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said the Greek Cypriot side
was rumoured to have threatened retaliation by organising flights to
Nagorno-Karabakh. “But they will fail,” he said.

Talat said this was just the beginning and that he expected the US to
be next to take the step. “After the Azeri, next in line is America,”
Talat said.

“This will happen eventually. The Greek Cypriot side is so tough,
it does not pay any attention to the world. With EU membership,
it acquired an advantage and it thinks that it can hold on this
advantage without making any opening. Not only the USA, but Israel,
Iran and the EU member countries will start direct flights.”

ARMENIAN AND AZERI FMs TO MEET IN MOSCOW AUGUST 23

Pan ARMENIAN Network, Armenia
July 15 2005

15.07.2005 08:52

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The recurrent meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani
President is scheduled for late August in Kazan during the informal
summit of the CIS leaders, OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-Chair Yuri
Merzlyakov stated at today’s press conference. In his words, the
meeting will take place shortly before the beginning of the summit,
however the exact date has not been fixed yet. At the same time
Y. Merzlyakov noted that Armenian and Azeri FMs Vartan Oskanian and
Elmar Mamedyarov will meet in Moscow August 23. “Each meeting of
the Presidents is the result of scrupulous and progressive work”,
Merzlyakov noted. “We are not ready to speak of our expectations of
the upcoming meeting now but we hope for progress”, he added. In his
turn US Co-Chair Steven Mann noted that the “Co-Chairs promote the
process but do not decide what to do.” Personal Representative of the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk also expressed his views on
the forthcoming meeting. “The Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
are prominent figures”, he stated.