Author: Chaltikian Arsine

BUSH FEARS THE WRATH OF HIS TURKISH ALLY
by Reinout van Wagtendonk*

Radio Netherlands, Netherlands
Oct 11 2007

On Wednesday, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United States
House of Representatives passed the Armenian Genocide Resolution
Bill. The bill describes the deaths of around 1.5 million Armenians
(from 1915 to 1917) at the hands of the Ottoman Turks as "genocide".

President George W Bush is fiercely opposed to the initiative because
he fears it will "do great harm" to his country’s relations with
Turkey, which is an important ally in the war in Iraq.

Turkey has always denied that its soldiers committed genocide against
the Armenians during the First World War. Last week, Turkish Prime
Minister Tayyid Erdogan called President Bush to complain about plans
by members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee to hold a non-binding
vote on the issue. The initiative is the first step towards holding
a vote in the House of Representatives.

On Wednesday Mr Bush said he recognised "the immense suffering of
the Armenian people…

"but this resolution is not the right response to these historic mass
killings. Its passage would do great harm to our relations with the
key ally in NATO and in the global war on terror."

Threat to end support Turkey is now threatening to end its support for
US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan if the House endorses
the resolution, which could happen sometime next month. The resolution
is non-binding, which means that President Bush can ignore it. However,
it could cause serious damage to relations with Turkey because Ankara
might consider it an insult.

Turkey suspended military ties with France in 2006 after its
parliament passed a resolution making it illegal to deny the Armenian
genocide. The Turkish air base Incirlik is critical to the US war
effort in Iraq. Supplies are also sent daily by road on a daily
basis. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has called on Congress to
consider Turkey’s strategic importance.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved the resolution by a vote
of 27 to 21. The draft resolution in the House of Representatives
received the endorsement of 222 congressmen, which is more than
a majority.

How will Turkey respond?

A number of congressmen point to a previous resolution calling on
Japan to recognise the suffering of the so-called ‘comfort girls’
(sex slaves) during the Second World War. This also led to strained
relations, but according to Democratic Congressman David Wu Turkey
will remain a friend an ally. He says it is important to recognise
the truth and that Turkey face its past.

However Republican Congressman Dan Burton is not so optimistic. He says
Turkey is the only US ally in the region and the resolution will be
considered a slap in the face. The resolution does not follow party
lines since many Republicans support it while many Democrats agree
with President Bush that it is important not to offend Turkey.

* RNW translation (fs)

TURKEY MULLS CUTTING MILITARY TIES WITH U.S. OVER GENOCIDE VOTE

RIA Novosti, Russia
Oct 11 2007

ANKARA, October 11 (RIA Novosti) – Turkey is considering the suspension
of military cooperation with the U.S. after a House of Representatives
committee adopted a resolution classing the 1915 massacre of some
1.5 million Armenians as genocide.

The U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee passed
the document on Wednesday despite opposition from President Bush.

Turkey is a key NATO ally and a crucial U.S. partner in operations
in Iraq.

The Turkish NTV television channel said Turkey’s final reaction to the
document would be announced after discussions in parliament scheduled
for early next week.

NTV said Turkey might restrict U.S. use of a joint air base in
Incirlik, close off its air space to U.S. warplanes, and ban Armenian
aircraft from flying over its territory. The majority of supplies
for U.S. troops in Iraq, including fuel and military hardware, pass
through Turkey.

The U.S. resolution has triggered an angry response from Ankara, which
insists that the deaths and deportations of Armenians at the end of
the Ottoman period were caused by civil war rather than deliberate
genocide. However, the majority of Western academics qualify the
massacre as genocide.

The Turkish government released a statement on Wednesday condemning
the move by the House of Representatives, saying that Ankara could
not admit a crime the Turkish people never committed.

The press service of Turkish President Abdullah Gul quoted him as
saying that the U.S. resolution was "petty domestic politics rejecting
calls to common sense."

Ankara previously froze military cooperation with France after its
parliamentarians passed a similar resolution.

Adolf Hitler is believed to have referred to the massacre of Armenians
in Ottoman Turkey when speaking of his plans for the massacre of
Polish-speaking men, women and children, saying, "Who, after all,
remembers the annihilation of the Armenians?"

Turkish scholars dispute the authenticity of the quote.

VAZGEN DID NOT SPARE EFFORT TO BECOME AN ORDINARY PERSON

Lragir
Oct 10 2007
Armenia

Government officials and politicians may avoid questions but nobody
should ever avoid questions, said the leader of the National Democratic
Party Vazgen Manukyan in a news conference on October 10 at the Friday
Club. He said this after the reporters had asked him to comment on
the first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s moves. Vazgen Manukyan
advised to ask these questions to him. Generally, Vazgen Manukyan
thinks the reporters should try to have Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Robert
Kocharyan, Serge Sargsyan and anyone else hold a news conference
and ask questions. The leader of the NDU thinks if politicians and
government officials are not open to the public, it is pointless to
hope for progress. Vazgen Manukyan said he also could have surrounded
himself with something non-ordinary, saying that he was the first
prime minister or the minister of defense who won the war, but he
can afford to be an ordinary person.

‘COUP PLOTTERS’ TO APPEAL VERDICTS AT HIGHEST COURT
By Karine Kalantarian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 8 2007

The lawyers of two prominent veterans of the Karabakh war are going
to appeal to Armenia’s highest judicial instance to overturn the
prison sentences passed on their clients by a district court and
later upheld by the court of appeals.

Ara Zakarian and Mushegh Shushanian, however, say they "clearly
realize that chances that the Court of Cassation will take up their
cases are slim considering the political implications involved."

On September 25, Armenia’s Court of Appeals upheld prison sentences
handed to Zhirayr Sefilian and Vartan Malkhasian, who were arrested
late last year for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government.

Both were charged with publicly calling for violent regime change
shortly after setting up a pressure group opposing Armenian territorial
concessions to Azerbaijan.

Only Malkhasian was convicted of the coup charge and sentenced to
two years in prison. Sefilian was handed an 18-month jail term under
another article of the penal code dealing with illegal arms possession.

By Armenia law, defense counsel have six month to take the appeal to
the court of cassation, but Zakarian says "we will not wait that long."

"We’ll present the case much sooner. Currently, we are working for
our appeals to be as substantiated as possible so that the court will
have no grounds to refuse to open proceedings."

The defense counsel pledge consistent efforts for Sefilian and
Malkhasian to be released on parole, which, they say, is the convicts’
right by law.

"We present it as a demand and not a request. Sefilian and Malkhasian
will never show obedience to make a request to be pardoned or
released," Zakarian said.

By law, chief wardens of penitentiaries are to submit written
applications for their inmates to the parole committee. The latest
meeting of the committee that meets on a regular basis took place on
October 5, but no such application was considered. The next meeting
is in six months, about the time Sefilian will have served his
prison term.

"It confirms our assumptions that there is a clear program to keep my
client in jail until the [presidential] election is over," Sefilian’s
lawyer says.

A1+

LEVON TER-PETROSIAN VISITS SISIAN
[06:24 pm] 05 October, 2007

On October 5, at 1:30 p.m., Levon Ter-Petrosian visited Sisian. The RA
ex president attended the Pantheon of Karabakh War Heroes and met with
his proponents.

Levon Ter-Petrosian was escorted by Aram Sargsian, the leader of the
Republic Party, Suren Abrahamian, a RP board member, Hovhannes
Hovhannisian, the leader of the Liberal-Progressive Party, Ararat
Zurabian, the leader of the Pan-Armenian Movement Board, and board
member Aram Manukian.

According to some verified sources, the meeting was held at the
`Bassen’ complex after Colonel Hovik Azoyan. Afterwards, Levon
Ter-Petrosian had a tête-à-tête meeting with the complex owner.

It is due to mention that freelance deputy Hovik Azoyan supported
Serge Sargsyan’s brother Alexander Sargsyan at the parliamentary
election.

SAMAD SEYIDOV: COUNCIL OF EUROPE MISSION SHOULD VISIT NAGORNO KARABAKH THROUGH AZERBAIJAN

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 5 2007

"I normally assess the session. Though there were no direct debates
on Azerbaijan at the plenary session, various issues were touched in
the speeches at the committees, political groups and delegations,"
taking a stance on the outcomes of the fall session, Samad Seyidov,
head of Azerbaijani delegation to Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE) told APA’s Europe bureau.

Mr. Seyidov said that the visit of speaker Ogtay Asadov to the Council
of Europe and his meetings were of great importance.

"It shows that Council of Europe and Azerbaijan have high-level
relations," he said.

Samad Seyidov said that Azerbaijan’s commitments were debated in
the Monitoring Committee and concerns over the state of media, human
rights, Electoral Code and law on freedom of assembly were expressed.

Mr. Seyidov underlined that they expressed their position on these
issues and everything was settled in the framework of the law.

"Electoral Code is being debated with the Venice commission.

Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the freedom of speech
and issues related to media and supports quick solution to these
problems. But surely, everything should be solved in the framework
of law. An agreement was reached on appointing new rapporteur. They
will visit Azerbaijan late this year or early next year only after
a new rapporteur is appointed," he said.

Samad Seyidov said they assume who is likely to be a new rapporteur,
but declined to name.

Head of delegation saying that meeting of Subcommittee on Nagorno
Karabakh was held said that Lord Russell Johnston intends to visit
the two countries and Azerbaijan approves this meeting.

"We are not against the Committee’s visiting Nagorno Karabakh. We
support taking all steps within territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

It means that they should visit Nagorno Karabakh through the
territories under the control of Azerbaijan. It is logical. For
example, CE sends its rapporteur to Georgia. The rapporteur should
visit South Ossetia, Abkhazia at the same time. Will he leave for
Abkhazia and South Ossetia after passing through Russia? CE rapporteur
takes territorial integrity of the country into consideration
while visiting the country. I do not understand if all the countries
recognize territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, then why do they leave
for Nagorno Karabakh through Armenia?

If someone visits Nagorno Karabakh through Armenia, then he will
disrespect territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Such people can not
cooperate with Azerbaijan. The issue will be solved to our advantage.

Because Azerbaijan’s demand coincides with international law, it will
be fulfilled," he said.

Mr. Seyidov also underlined necessity of delegation led by O’Hara to
visit the region regarding protection of cultural heritage.

"This visit should take place due to international norms. Territorial
integrity is the main issue and it is not subject of the debate.

This visit was delayed, if it takes place, Azerbaijan’s proposal
will be probably taken into consideration, and our position will be
supported," he said.

Mr. Seyidov said that reports of the delegation members will play a
great role in informing world community about realities of Azerbaijan
in the framework of the session.

POLITICS AND GENOCIDE

Wall Street Journal
Oct 4 2007

Wall Street Journal. (Eastern edition). New York, N.Y.: Oct 4,
2007. pg. A.18

Most Members of Congress don’t know enough about U.S. history,
much less anyone else’s. But that isn’t stopping the House of
Representatives from trying to weigh in on a painful chapter of
Ottoman history — and hurting U.S. interests in the bargain.

A pending resolution, co-sponsored by 226 Members, calls on President
Bush to ensure that U.S. foreign policy "reflects appropriate
understanding and sensitivity concerning . . . the Armenian Genocide"
in 1915, when Turks carried out "the systematic and deliberate
annihilation of 1,500,000 Armenians." The resolution isn’t binding,
but Turkey can be forgiven for seeing an absence of "understanding
and sensitivity" in that broadside.

As a general rule, legislatures in far-off countries ought to think
carefully before judging another people’s history. It’s a fair bet
that points are being scored with domestic lobbies, and playing with
history often complicates current foreign policy. In this case, all
of the above apply. The sponsor is Adam Schiff, a California Democrat
whose district has a lot of Armenian-American voters. His adoption
of the genocide cause helped him get elected in 2000 and made his
"name in foreign affairs," as the Los Angeles Times put it in 2005.

This Congressional free-lancing would put a strain on U.S. ties with
a key Muslim ally in a tough neighborhood. If the resolution passes,
the backlash in Turkey will be more than symbolic. In urging Speaker
Nancy Pelosi to stop the resolution from reaching the floor for a
vote, eight former U.S. Secretaries of State wrote last week that
it "could endanger our national security interests in the region,
including our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and damage efforts to
promote reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey."

Horrible massacres certainly took place during World War I in the
Ottoman Empire, and the Turkish government has never been eager to
discuss the Armenian question in good faith. But this history is
more complex than either the genocide crusaders or official Turkish
deniers are willing to concede.

To briefly recap: On April 24, 1915, the nationalist Young Turk
government ordered the Armenians of eastern Anatolia deported en masse
to Syria and Iraq. The Turks feared the Armenians were in cahoots
with their enemy, Czarist Russia, and fighting to carve their own
state out of a collapsing Ottoman Empire. Hundreds of thousands of
Armenians died on their trek, murdered by Turkish or Kurdish fighters
and marauders, or falling to disease, hunger and cold. The Ottoman
War Crimes Tribunal, set up by the victorious allies after the war,
estimated that 800,000 Armenians perished. Armenians put the toll
at 1.5 million, which was about the entire Armenian population of
Anatolia at the time.

In October 1984, when Congress considered a similar resolution,
we wrote: "There can be little doubt that the Armenian repression
was a terrible chapter in history and perhaps the Turks have been
too insistent on denying guilt. But it was only one part of a global
tragedy that claimed nearly 15 million lives. Dredging it up now in
Congress, some 70 years after the event, may be a generous gesture
toward Americans of Armenian descent but is hardly an appropriate
signal to U.S. enemies." Or to our Turkish friends.

ARMENIA CAN’T AFFORD ISOLATION

Hayots Ashkharh Daily, Armenia
Oct 4 2007

Yesterday Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan responded to Hermine
Naghdalyan’s question regarding inflation.

" This question should have been addressed to the Minister of Finance
and Economy. But because the issue is politicized and is linked with
certain processes, I must underscore that it is a simple speculation.

The increase of the prices of certain food items has nothing to do with
the forthcoming elections. It is easy for a person with little logic
to understand that any authority is more interested in decreasing the
prices before the elections. Because this way it is easier to obtain
people’s votes, than increase the prices collect money; later give
this money to "buy" votes. It is nonsense.

The fact is, recently some food items have become very expensive in
the world market, and Armenia can’t afford being isolated from this
processes. You can find information about the recent changes of prices
in the World Bank from Internet and you will see the increased prices
of butter, oil, etc.

Government is really concerned about this issue and we are studying
it. I must say that these investigations are conformed to our general
policy – reduction of shadow economy, transparent business, etc. If
we manage to solve these issues I don’t think any other questions
will arise," the Prime Minister underscored.

ARONYAN TOOK THE SEVENTH PLACE

A1+
[02:08 pm] 01 October, 2007

Indian Grand Master Vishvanathan Anand became the winner of the World
Chess Championship held in Mexico.

He gained 9 points.

Armenian GM Levon Aronyan dashed our hopes taking the penultimate 7th
place. At the last 14th round Aronyan lost to Vladimir Kramnik. The
latter took the 2nd place with 8 points. Boris Gelfand caught everyone
unawares taking the 3rd place with 8 points. Though Gelfand is an
experienced GM, he didn’t rank among the tournament favorites.

Deccan Herald, India
Sept 30 2007

Scorched roots

by Sonya Dutta Choudhury

The book scores because it comes up with a story that is deeply
discussable, but it is disappointing in the clunkiness of its
writing.

Turks may deny they massacred Armenians in the Genocide of 1915 but
this enmity still impacts lives, says Shafak’s novel. She explores
this theme through the story of two girls, in different continents
and yet deeply connected.

There’s Asya, the girl with no father. She’s born to beautiful Zeliha
and grows up in Istanbul in a houseful of women where the men are all
dead (of the evil eye?). Asya hates her history with the same fervour
as she hates her ballet lessons, bunking ballet to hang out at the
Café Kundera.

Then there’s Armanoush, the half-American, half-Armenian girl with no
history, or at least a desperately muddled one. She has an Armenian
father, only he’s divorced and lives on the West Coast. Mom `Rose’
has remarried, neatly and nastily, the primeval Armenian enemy – a
Turk. It’s like giving a half-Jewish child a Nazi step-father and
Rose has well and truly had her revenge on her estranged Armenian
husband.

Armanoush may live in America but she is preoccupied with her past.
At the online chatroom she hangs out in, she signs in as `Madame
My-Exiled-Soul’ and exchanges exiled Armenian angst with `Baron
Baghdassarian’, `Lady Peacock’ and `Miserable Co-Existence’. It is a
preoccupation that will eventually lead her to Istanbul and to Asya
and her family.

But once in Istanbul, she finds no memories of Armenian annihilation
seem to survive. Instead the young trade `dead end nothings’ with
each other as Asya hangs out at Café Kundera with `Dipsomaniac
Cartoonist’, the `Closeted Gay Columnist’ and the `Exceptionally
Untalented Poet’. The Turks, it appears to the angry Asya, massacred
the Armenians and have now forgotten all about it.

Elusive happiness
Can the under-the-Turkish-carpetness of things make for happiness?
Clearly not says Shafak. As if history could be denied. Happiness of
a sort only comes in the novel after a drastic denouement of
betrayals and guilty secrets.

The book scores because it comes up with a story that is deeply
discussable, drawing on very real historical events. But it is
disappointing in the clunkiness of its writing. Shafak veers between
an effort at witty, chick lit and an attempt at exotic magic realism.
Neither takes off.

At the opening of the book for instance, when Zeliha goes to the
doctor’s office for the abortion-that-never-happened she reflects,
`The Copper Rule of prudence for an Istanbulite Woman: When harassed
on the street, you’d better forget about the incident as soon as you
are on your way again, since to recall the incident all day long will
only further wrack your nerves.’

Years later rebellious daughter Asya will reflect similarly, `Article
Eight: If between society and self there exists a cavernous ravine
and upon it only a wobbly bridge, you might as well burn that bridge
and stay on the side of the Self, safe and sound, unless it is the
ravine you are after.’

But a Marquez, Shafak is not, despite obvious comparisons in passages
like this one where Armanoush who is visiting Istanbul in search of
her history, describes host Asya’s family to her online friends –
`There is something surreal here. Irrationality is part of the
everyday rationale. I feel like I am in a Gabriel Garcia novel. One
of the sisters is a tattoo artist; another sister is a clairvoyant;
one other is a national history teacher; and the fourth is an
eccentric wallflower, or a full-time cuckoo.’ Colourful certainly,
much like most of the novel, and yet contrived and often overpowering
in its expose-the-Turks agenda.

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