SCPEC, PSRC SIGN MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION
PanARMENIAN.Net
28.12.2009 11:19 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The State Commission for the Protection of Economic
Competition (SCPEC) and Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC)
of the Republic of Armenia have singed a memorandum of cooperation.
The memorandum envisages regulation of communications, protection of
business entities and consumers. Besides, the commissions undertake
to hold consultations on technical and professional issues.
Igor Zaitsev wins Moscow veterans’ rapid chess championship
Panorama.am
14:53 26/12/2009
Armenian GM Igor Zaitsev won the title of Moscow veterans’ rapid chess
champion. He scored 7,5 points out of 9 in the championship among 84
participants.
TURKEY TO OPEN ARMENIAN CHURCH IN EASTERN REGION
Xinhua General News Service
December 24, 2009 Thursday 6:25 AM EST
China
Munir Karaloglu, the governor of the eastern province of Van, said on
Thursday that Turkey would open an Armenian church in an eastern city
to worship in 2010, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.
"We expect all Armenian citizens to a prayer at the Akdamar Church
on September 12, 2010," Karaloglu was quoted as saying.
The Akdamar Church on Akdamar Island in Lake Van was opened in 2007
as a museum after it was restored by the Turkish government between
May 2005 and October 2006 with the cost of 1.7 million U.S.dollars.
Karaloglu said he had contacted the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for
opening of the church to worship, and they would invite all Armenians
to the prayer in 2010.
The Akdamar Church was constructed by architect bishop Manuel between
915 and 921 A.D. under the supervision of King Gagik I.
Among the important pieces of Armenian architecture, the church draws
attraction with its stone workmanship and the relieves on its walls.
In October this year, the two sides agreed to open borders two months
after the protocols entered into force. The protocols are yet to be
ratified by the two countries’ parliaments.
Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic or economic ties since Armenia
declared its independence in 1991. Turkey closed its border with
Armenia in 1993 to support Azerbaijan during its conflict with Armenia
over the Upper Karabakh region, an enclave of Azerbaijan occupied by
Armenian troops.
Turkey-Armenia rifts went back to the World War I period. Armenia
claims more than 1.5 million Armenians were killed in a systematic
genocide in the hands of the Ottomans during the time, which was
denied by Turkey.
DIPLOMATIC HIDE AND SEEK GAMES OF THE CO-CHAIRS CANNOT LAST LONG
news.az
Dec 24 2009
Azerbaijan
Tigran Torosyan News.Az interviews Tigran Torosyan, deputy of the
National Assembly of Armenia.
How do you evaluate the meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani
presidents in Munich? Do you consider a progress in negotiation
process on the Karabakh conflict was really reached during the meeting?
This meeting was of special importance not only for Armenia and
Azerbaijan but also for Russia, the United States and Turkey. Yet
the expectations were not justified. An unprecedented situation that
deteriorated the confrontation between the United States and Russia
for zones of influence has been produced in the region by the August
war between Georgia and Russia. Georgia completely fell under the US
influence and the latter had a chance to seize full control over the
situation in the region. To this end, it was necessary to implement
the Georgia-2 plan for Armenia and Azerbaijan to attract one of
these countries to West’s side. Obviously, the implementation of this
plan required a maximally strained situation around a very sensitive
process like in case with Georgia. There are two processes of this
kind in case of Armenia and Azerbaijan. These are the resolution of the
Karabakh conflict and normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.
As for ratification of protocols, certainly the US pressure on Turkey
will grow close to 24 April – the Day of Commemoration of victims of
Armenian genocide. Washington will threaten with adoption of the due
resolution about the Armenian genocide by the Senate and say Obama
will use the word "genocide" in a traditional appeal on 24 April.
Tigran Torosyan This is why, the unprecedented developments in these
two directions including the declaration of the presidents of the
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries, publication of the draft
Madrid principles, signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols and other
events occurred in the past year . One can easily get convinced that
the United States is not only the most concerned but also the most
insolent party in this process. It is also obvious that after signing
protocols and the statement of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan that
the protocols will be ratified only after a significant breakthrough
in the resolution of the Karabakh conflict, the process entered the
stage of stagnation.
Theoretically, there are two ways of overcoming it: either there
will be a significant progress in the Karabakh conflict settlement
or Turkey will ratify the protocols under growing US influence. It
is clear that such a progress is important not only for the conflict
parties and the public will be informed in case this progress is
reached. The ratification of protocols will be an indirect but a
very important sign of this. But the problem is that none of these
two variants have a guaranteed solution today.
The diplomatic hide and seek games of the co-chairs cannot continue
for long and it is time to define the notion of Madrid principles,
primarily, regarding the status of Nagorno Karabakh. Those who are
concerned with the conflict settlement understand that these situations
will either end in frustration of this stage of negotiations (like
it occurred after Key West) or in emergency processes in one of the
countries. As for ratification of protocols, certainly the US pressure
on Turkey will grow close to 24 April – the Day of Commemoration of
victims of Armenian genocide. Washington will threaten with adoption
of the due resolution about the Armenian genocide by the Senate and
say Obama will use the word "genocide" in a traditional appeal on 24
April. Yet Ankara realizes the need to resist the growing pressure
and none of these threats will come true because the United States
and Turkey are bound with other no less important issues. On the
other hand, Ankara cannot disavow the provisions of ratification put
forward by Erdogan without any serious grounds.
Do you know anything about the details of the negotiation process,
in particular, the withdrawal of the Armenian troops from seven
regions adjacent to Nagorno Karabakh? Is the release of the seven
regions realistic? If yes, when may it happen?
The details of negotiations can be spoken of by those who are holding
negotiations. The seven regions are mentioned in the first paragraph of
the draft Madrid principles released in July. The Armenian authorities
state that this document is just a draft and the formulation of each
paragraph will be unclear before the end of negotiations. According
to them, the status of Nagorno Karabakh is under discussion at
present. Official Baku says the main issue is the release of the
seven regions after which it will agree on the status of autonomy
for Nagorno Karabakh. This mutually exclusive interpretation of
the negotiation process is possible due to the uncertainties fixed
in the draft Madrid principles. Yet, it cannot last long as these
uncertainties reduce during the negotiations.
Moreover, it becomes clear that mutually profitable solutions are
almost impossible on the two issues of status and territory considering
the positions of the parties. It is not by accident that more is spoken
of a framework agreement that can preserve uncertainties and pretend
to have progress. The real settlement of the conflict is possible
only with participation of the representatives of Nagorno Karabakh,
which is recognized as a party. In these frameworks and in line with
the definitions of the basic documents of UN and OSCE, the issues
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as the UN and OSCE members, must be
settled on the basis of the principle of territorial integrity while
the issues between Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh must be settled
on the basis of the right for self-determination.
Moreover, all UN members including Armenia and Azerbaijan should
respect the right of Karabakh people for self-determination within
the framework of international law.
The settlement of any issues related to the conflict will not be
realistic without participation of Nagorno Karabakh and without
consideration of norms of international law.
Tigran TorosyanMoreover, there is the only possibility to use this
right – only the self-determining people, in this case-the people of
Nagorno Karabakh- shall decide which of the three possible variants
to choose as a status-separation and proclamation of independence,
separation and annexation to an independent state or any other
political status chosen by this people which is clearly fixed in
the declaration (A/8082, 2625XXV) "Declaration on Principles of
International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation
among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations".
Meanwhile, though the draft Madrid principles are fixing these points,
the steps to reach solution have been formulated not in line with
these principles but as the co-chairs found it fitting. The settlement
of any issues related to the conflict will not be realistic without
participation of Nagorno Karabakh and without consideration of norms
of international law.
You are quite an experienced politician. Do you think Armenia’s current
President Serzh Sargsyan may fail on the Armenian-Turkish card like
former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan did on the Karabakh trump card?
The current situation does not set preconditions for such
developments. First, there are no groups of influential people
in powers like it was in 1997 who would be able to set principal
demands before President Sargsyan. Oppositional powers are too weak
so far. As for the public, it is waiting for the developments. The
thing is that this issue is often presented from different sides as an
issue of setting normal relations with a neighbor state, as an issue
connected with a strong emotional subtext, as an issue related to the
implications of the ratification of the signed protocols. Certainly,
absolutely everyone in our society wants the normalization of relations
with a neighbor state and the settlement of existing issues.
Yet the "cost" of the settlement of these issues is of utmost
importance. The specialists view the issue of protocols ratification
in this sense. The main issues in the relations of Turkey and Armenia
include Turkey’s participation in Armenia’s isolation since 1993,
genocide of Armenians, issue of Western Armenia and recognition of
the currently existing border between Turkey and Armenia. It is clear
that these issues emerged not at Armenia’s initiative. Moreover,
due to these issues Armenia had great human, material and moral
losses. Yet the definitions fixed in protocols regarding these issues
do not ensure their solution and are just worsening the situation.
This is why, a greater part of the Armenian population does not support
the ratification of protocols. But the destiny of the protocols is
unclear yet and most are waiting for further developments. It is
clear that the process of the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation is
proceeding on par with the Karabakh conflict settlement and Turkey
binds these two processes to each other. If the development of these
two processes continues like that, they may have the most unexpected
implications both in Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Neither Armenia nor the Azerbaijani authorities can stay calm due
to the weakness of the opposition parties. The cost of the issue is
too high and the processes may develop rapidly against the logic of
every-day happenings.
Do you think Yerevan’s positions in the Armenian-Turkish negotiation
process are strong? Are Armenia’s positions weakening or strengthening
in the negotiation process?
Armenia’s positions are strong but they are used ineffectively
while Turkey takes advantage of even weak positions. Armenia is
misusing the unprecedented growth of its role in the region in
terms of confrontation between Russia and the United States for the
areas of influence and the moral superiority over Turkey. It lacks
professionalism. The further developments will mostly depend on
whether this blank is filled.
Does the Armenian Diaspora support Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
the way it supported him before the signing of the Armenian-Turkish
protocols? What can be the implications of the loss of support of
Armenia’s Diaspora for the Armenian president?
Certainly, many in Armenia and in the Armenian Diaspora are
discontented with the protocols and someone may review his plans. But
on the whole, the Armenian Diaspora has always support its homeland
regardless of the personality of the president and his actions.
CHP DEPUTY CRITICIZES GOVERNMENT’S SILENCE OVER KURDISTAN MAP
Today’s Zaman
Dec 24 2009
Turkey
Following a gaffe by Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman
Onur Oymen when he angered Turkey’s Alevi community by referring
to the Turkish government’s strong response to a 1937 rebellion in
the predominantly Alevi city of Tunceli, then known as Dersim, as an
example of fighting terrorism, CHP deputy Ensar Ogut on Tuesday made
a similarly racist statement, calling Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
"Davutyan," an Armenian-sounding last name.
Speaking at a press conference held at the CHP Erzurum Provincial
Directorate, Ogut reacted to an American NBS TV station broadcast that
labeled a part of Turkey as "Kurdistan." He claimed that the government
has remained silent over the dispute. Asserting that Foreign Minister
Davutoglu is also silent on this, Ogut allegedly made a comment that
was meant to insult Turkey’s Armenian citizens, observers said.
Ogut claimed that when an American TV station broadcasts a divided
map of Turkey, no US officials react. "The TV station in question does
not even say sorry, it does not say it made a mistake," Ogut added. He
also claimed that if Americans show a divided map of France, Germany,
Italy or Greece, strong reactions would follow from these countries.
"He [the foreign minister] does not issue a statement. He makes no
explanation. Foreign Minister, are you good for anything? Is your
last name Davutoglu or Davutyan? Just so we know. If you are Davutyan,
you are making an Armenian initiative. What is your first name, your
last name? Are you a Turk? Are you the foreign minister of Turkey? Why
does the prime minister not react? Maps showing ‘Kurdistan’ have been
broadcast many times; why is no one doing anything?" he said. Although
there was no immediate reaction to the CHP deputy’s charged statement,
in a televised speech he later denied insulting Turkey’s Armenian
citizens. According to experts, Ogut’s words, questioning the foreign
minister’s ethnicity, are clear discrimination.
Many found the comments uncalled for because the CHP deputy was
speaking about a map depicting "Kurdistan" in southeastern Turkey,
not Armenia.
ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT SAYS YSU GLORY OF OUR PEOPLE
Panorama.am
16:40 25/12/2009
Yerevan State University council session took place today. Armenia’s
President Serzh Sargsyan made opening speech stating that with the
end of 2009 the traditions are preserved aiming to conclude the
achievements, successes and shortcomings of the passing year. Before
starting the session, President asked to pay tribute to two members
of YSU council Professor and Academician Aida Avetisyan and Chief
of Head of Police Gevorg Mheryan. S. Sargsyan mentioned that the
passing year was jubilee for the university as 90th anniversary was
marked. "I say our university cause the university is the glory of
our nation. It’s significant figure in our education and science. More
than 100 thousand graduates experienced the university years."
TURKISH STATE WAGES WAR AGAINST KURDISH CIVILIAN POLITICAL MOVEMENT
By Ayse Gunaysu
Armenian Weekly
December 24, 2009
North Kurdistan People’s Initiative calls for "total revolt"
(Special report from Istanbul by Armenian Weekly columnist Ayse
Gunaysu)
A scene from a Kurdish protest. (photo by Mujgan Arpat) ISTANBUL,
Turkey (A.W.)-The Turkish state started a new war against the
civilian Kurdish political movement in 11 provinces, from Diyarbakir
and neighboring cities to Istanbul and Izmir. Homes of prominent DTP
(the Kurdish party recently closed down by the Constitutional Court)
leaders were broken into at 5 a.m. and around 60 people, including
mayors of Kurdish provinces and districts and the human rights
association chairperson in Diyarbakir were arrested.
Their rights to see their lawyers are suspended for the first 24 hours.
The Human Rights Association (HRA) Diyarbakir branch was among the
places where searches were made. Raids and searches by security forces
in HRA branches was something that did not happen even during the
most difficult times of the emergency rule in the region in the 1990’s.
The news came as a shock as the former DTP leaders had declared that
they gave up on their plans to leave the parliament and decided
to continue their parliamentary struggle. Earlier, all hope had
disappeared because of the closure of DTP just after the launching of
the governments alleged peace initiative, the violent street protests
that followed, and a suspicious ambush on a military unit in Tokat by
a group of guerillas killing 7 soldiers triggering hateful protests
in the west by nationalists.
Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir gave a press conference in front of
the Diyarbakýr DTP organization offices protesting the arrests. He
was surrounded by DTP MPs and party leaders.
Baydemir, regarded as a most polite and refined Kurdish leader,
used very harsh language, even resorting to the F-word (which is,
in Turkish, much stronger than its equivalents in western languages),
shocking everybody. He added, "We are now violating and will continue
to violate whatever law our arrested party leaders and mayors have
violated." He also said, addressing the government, that they will
not find any hand to hold when they themselves reach out tomorrow to
the Kurdish people.
North Kurdistan People’s Initiative, a section of PKK, called for a
"total revolt" in cities, on the streets and on the mountains.
"PYUNIK" IN THE "D" GROUP
Aysor
dec 24 2009
Armenia
The lot of 18th game for the "Cooperation Cup" took place in Moscow.
The Armenian champion "Pyunik" appeared in the "D" group and has to
race with the Uzbek "Bunedkor", Lithuanian "Panevizhis" and Moldovian
"Dachia".
The tournament of the and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
and Baltic countries will take place in Moscow on January 16-24. It is
expected that on the closing ceremony of the tournament the president
of FIFA Zep Blatter and UEFA’s president Michel Platini will arrive
to Moscow, informs "Sport Express".
‘ARMENTEL’ TO DONATE 600 CHILDREN’S ENCYCLOPEDIA TO ARMENIAN SCHOOLS
Arminfo
2009-12-23 16:21:00
ArmInfo. ‘ArmenTel’ will donate 600 children’s encyclopedia published
by the British Usborne International to Armenian schools. The books
were translated in Armenian and every article has Internet-resources
references.
‘We are not just a company which pays taxes. We are one of the
companies which are forming the communication sphere of Armenia…I
always draw the attention of the society to the fact that our company
is social, and this is not an appendix but an indivisible part of
our work. Having such an approach, it is not so much important how
much we spend at our programmes, though the sum is not so small. The
most important is the result reached’, – Director General of ArmenTel
Igor Klimenko said. Armenian Education Ministry will distribute the
encyclopedia in the schools of the border regions of Armenia.
The head of the programmes of the British Council in Armenia,
Narek Tovmasyan, said that it is not so often that the British
publishing houses allow to reprint their books. ‘In our case they
allowed it absolutely free. We managed to attract a very good group
of translators to translate the book. As a result, the book will be
not only informative but also easy to read’, – Tovmasyan said.
ARMENIAN STUDENTS VISITED NAGORNO-KARABAKH
news.am
Dec 23 2009
Armenia
Under "We are Armenians, we are young, we are strong" slogan, a group
of 60 Armenian students visited Nagorno-Karabakh.
The trip was organized on the initiative of the RA Ministry of Sport
and Youth Affairs jointly with Defense Ministries of Armenia and NKR,
as well as NKR Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs.
The guests explored military units of Karabakh Defense Army and met
with NKR Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan.
The Premier touched upon the developments in Armenian side and region
overall. He also emphasized that NKR considers Armenia-Turkey relations
and Karabakh conflict settlement as two separate processes and no
pressure can be exerted in Karabakhi stance.
Students inquired about the policy implemented by Karabakhi youth, as
well as cooperation between Armenian and foreign youth representatives.