Author: Harutyunian Christine

‘HATE RHETORIC’ IN TURKISH PRESS SHOWS SMALL DECLINE

Hurriyet Daily News
Thursday, April 29, 2010

The Turkish press has shown improvement over the past three years
in avoiding the use of ‘hate rhetoric’ that can lead to hate crimes,
new research reveals. According to the findings, hate rhetoric in the
media is most often based on ethnic issues or religious convictions.

Experts say a clear law defining hate crimes must be endorsed as soon
as possible The Turkish press has exhibited greater awareness about
publishing news that could fall into the category of hate rhetoric
or hate crimes since the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink, a group of experts has concluded.

According to their research, which was made available to the public
Thursday, most of the "hate rhetoric" published in Turkey is based
on ethnic background and religious beliefs.

After scanning the past 10 years of news in 20 daily papers, the
researchers chose 10 stories that they considered the most striking
examples of inciting hatred toward a specific group.

"Hate rhetoric leads to hate crimes and the media plays a critical
role in this sense, just as it plays a critical role in broadening
the use of positive language," said Cengiz Algan, the head of the
Association of Social Change, which conducted the research.

A 2005 headline from daily Star, "Traitors are captured," was
picked to exemplify hate rhetoric. (The paper is owned today by a
different media group than it was at that time.) The news concerned
two children, ages 12 and 14, who were taken into custody by the
police for allegedly setting a Turkish flag on fire at the March 21
commemoration of Nevruz, a celebration of the arrival of spring in
many parts of the Middle East.

In recent years, Nevruz has taken on a political connotation in parts
of Turkey, with certain media outlets and interest groups representing
it as a politicized event celebrated mostly by members of the country’s
Kurdish population.

According to the research, hate rhetoric against certain groups shows
a tendency to increase during specific time periods. In addition to
March 21, where there is often aggressive rhetoric exhibited against
Kurds, anti-Armenian rhetoric often becomes stronger and more frequent
leading up to April 24, a date of mourning for Armenians.

Last April 24 provided a reason for hope, however, according to Cengiz
Aktar from Istanbul’s BahceÅ~_ehir University, who noted that a group
of intellectuals held remembrance ceremonies in Turkey for the first
time for the alleged 1915 killings of Armenians.

"Although mainstream media tried to exploit the ceremonies that were
held at four different places, it fell behind the state this time. The
approach of security forces was more neutral compared to that of some
media outlets," said Aktar, who was on the consultative board of the
research and is also a columnist for the Daily News.

Aktar said there has been improvement in avoiding the use of hate
rhetoric since the murder of Dink, as well as the murder of Christian
missionaries in Malatya in 2007.

Other types of hate rhetoric are based on gender and sexual
orientation, according to the researchers, who picked two new stories
about transvestites among their 10 examples of media reports that
incited hatred. Another news story about a female German politician
was given as an example of hate rhetoric based on gender.

Minimizing the use of hate rhetoric

There is no law in Turkey that covers hate crimes, including Article
122 of the Turkish Penal Code criminalizing discrimination, said
Yasemin Ä°nceoglu from Istanbul’s Galatasaray University. A member
of the report’s consultative board, Ä°nceoglu said hate crimes need
to be clearly defined in the Turkish Penal Code and encouraged media
outlets to start a joint campaign to avoid using hate rhetoric.

"Internal education in the media is also important to raise awareness
on the subject," she added.

The report also encouraged readers to condemn news that incites hatred
by various means, including making comments on stories posted online.

Newspapers surveyed

The newspapers surveyed by the researchers with the Association of
Social Change were AkÅ~_am, Birgun, Cumhuriyet, Fotomac, Gundem,
Hurriyet, Milli Gazete, Milliyet, Ortadogu, Posta, Radikal, Sabah,
Star, Taraf, Turkiye, Vakit, Vatan, Yeni Å~^afak, Yenicag and Zaman.

The consultative board

Members of the consultative board for the research were Aydın
Engin (journalist), AyÅ~_e Hur (historian/author), BagıÅ~_ Erten
(journalist), Dr. Baskın Oran, Dr. Cengiz Aktar (BahceÅ~_ehir
University,) IÅ~_ın Elicin (journalist,) Kerem Kabadayı (musician),
Assistant Professor Kerem Rızvanoglu (Galatasaray University,) Sefa
Kaplan (journalist), Professor Turgut Tarhanlı (Bilgi University),
Professor Yasemin Ä°nceoglu (Galatasaray University) and Zeynep Tanbay
(artist).

STEFAN FULE: "THE EU WILL AIM TO STEP UP ITS SUPPORT TO ONGOING PEACE EFFORTS ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH"

APA
April 28 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku. Victoria Dementieva – APA. The negotiating directives for
Association Agreements with the South Caucasus countries will be
presented for formal adoption at the Foreign Affairs Council on May
10, said Stefan Fule, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European
Neighbourhood Policy in his speech at the European Parliament where he
described results of his recent trips to the South Caucasus countries
and Ukraine.

"This will pave the way for the EU side to prepare for the launch
of negotiations. These Agreements will allow for close political
association between each of the partners in the South Caucasus and
the EU, building on common values and shared principles".

Sharing his impressions from the trips to the South Caucasus countries,
Stefan Fule noted that throughout his trip to the South Caucasus
he felt the presence of regional tension and the effects of armed
conflict which have so dramatically impacted on people’s lives.

He said he appreciated in particular the possibilities to speak to
internally displaced persons in Georgia and in Azerbaijan. "In my
meetings I conveyed that the EU’s overall goal for the region is a
stable, secure and prosperous South Caucasus".

Stefan Fule spoke about the importance of the Armenia-Turkey
normalisation process and said on Nagorno-Karabakh, the EU would aim
to step up its support to ongoing peace efforts.

THE RA DEFENSE MINISTRY REJECTS

Aysor
April 27 2010
Armenia

Some Azerbaijani Medias continue spreading false information on
disturbing the ceasefire regime on the Armenian – Azerbaijani border
by the Armenian Armed Forces.

The RA Defense Ministry informs that the spread information that on
April 26 the RA Armed Forces have broken the cease fire regime in
Tavush region close to the border and from Shavarshavan and Berkaber
villages have shot to the direction of the Azerbaijani positions
are false.

ABOUT 100 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED FROM DIASPORA FOR PARTICIPATION IN "COME HOME" PROGRAM

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 27, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS: Already about 100 applications have
been received for participation in "Come Home" program implemented
by the Armenian Diaspora Ministry. Head of the All-Armenian Programs
Department of the ministry Zhenya Azizyan told Armenpress that there
are applications from the USA, Russia Czechia, Canada, Holland and
Spain. According to her, there are responses from Cyprus, Greece,
Near East countries, and in near future a great number of applications
are expected from the mentioned countries as well.

ARMENIA HOPES FOR ENERGY EXPORT TO TURKEY, ARMENIAN LEADER STATES

news.am
April 27 2010
Armenia

The international economic crisis affected energy and gas consumption
in Armenia, but the recent economic activity is most likely to have
a positive effect on it, RA President Serzh Sargsyan stated at a
sitting of the Nuclear Energy Security Council on April 27.

The President pointed out 5.5% GDP growth in the first quarter 2010.

Speaking of the rise in the gas price from April 1, 2010, Serzh
Sargsyan stressed that the RA Government objected to a rise in energy
prices for social reasons. However, the Government decided to raise the
price for the electric energy generated by the Armenian nuclear-power
plant (NPP).

The Armenian President emphasized the diversification of the energy
sector and Armenia’s regional energy integration. He pointed out
that Armenia is actively working in this field under the EU Eastern
Partnership program. "Armenia is closely cooperating with Iran, Georgia
and Russia as part of regional energy integration," the Armenian leader
said. He stressed that the reopening of the Armenian-Turkish border
would facilitate regional economic and energy cooperation. However,
said the President, the process was suspended because of the Turkish
authorities’ inactivity. But Armenia still hopes it will export its
energy to Turkey and, through it, to the Middle East. In the context
of regional energy integration, the Armenian President underlined
the necessity for synchronizing the energy grids of Armenia, Iran
and other states of the region. As regards measures to diversify the
energy sector, President Serzh Sargsyan pointed out the construction of
an Iran-Armenia gas main, a steam power plant at the Yerevan thermal
power plant, as well as the construction of 400kwh electric grids in
cooperation with Iran and Georgia.

ARMENIAN FARMERS LEASE CHINESE MADE TRACTORS

PanARMENIAN.Net –
April 26, 2010 – 12:39 AMT 07:39 GMT

A group of farmers took possession of 7 Chinese made tractors during
an event that was held in Dimitrov community of Ararat marz, Armenia.

This was made possible by Farm Credit Armenia (FCA), one of the ten
credit providers involved in Millennium Challenge Account – Armenia’s
(MCA-Armenia) farm credit program and the initiator of the leasing
facility under the MCA-Armenia Credit Component.

The farmers and the representatives of the producer, YTO International,
stressed the advantages of new tractors – their cost is much cheaper,
they are small and easy to drive, and consume little fuel.

The event was kicked off by U.S. Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch who
described U.S. assistance to Armenia’s agricultural sector through
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Millennium
Challenge Corporation, MCA Armenia said in a press release.

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS: BEING IN BAKU, WE PRAISE THE LORD FOR PEACEFUL TALKS ON KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT ARE GOING ON

ArmInfo
2010-04-26 12:01:00

ArmInfo. All the nations have common principles of humanism, and the
mission of spiritual leaders is to tighten international relations
in the interests of the whole mankind, Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II said at the World Summit of Religious Leaders in Baku,
local media report.

"Being in Baku, we praise the Lord for the peaceful talks on the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement are going on", the Catholicos
said. He emphasized the mediatory efforts of the Russian Orthodox
Church and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia in this issue.

"The authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan continue the negotiation
process on the conflict settlement, and the main task of the religious
leaders is to support the presidents, achieve continuation of the
negotiations and solution to the conflict", Karekin II said.

Daily Pilot
April 25 2010

Armenian heritage inspires the Kardashians

By Mona Shadia

There were screams, shouts, laughs and lines of people anxiously
waiting, some wearing flat shoes, but most with high heels. And there
was talk of girls falling over for the three brunette sisters who have
made it sexy to be curvy and who let it be known that it’s just fine
for successful businesswomen to be fabulous and beautiful.

Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, the stars of the E! reality
television show `Keeping up with the Kardashians,’ made an appearance
Saturday at the Nordstrom at Fashion Island in Newport Beach for the
launch of their new jewelry line, the Kardashian Collection by Virgins
Saints & Angels.

`The three of us love to collaborate with each other and when we had
the opportunity to create a design, Virgins Saints & Angels approached
us, and we felt like they allowed us to express ourselves,’ Kim
Kardashian said about the collection.

The Kardashian sisters expressed themselves by channeling their ancestors.

The collection is inspired by the sisters’ Armenian heritage ‘ from
its religious cross to its cultural symbols, like the Armenian star.
And it is done in honor of their late father, Robert, and their
Armenian roots.

`Our father is Armenian; we are fourth-generation Armenians. We didn’t
grow up speaking the language, but we had a strong Armenian presence
in our lives,’ said Kim Kardashian, whose website receives about 6.7
million views a month, according to a Los Angeles Times article.

And perhaps there was no better day to honor their ancestors than on
the anniversary of a tragic time for their forefather’s country ‘ the
Armenian Genocide.

A day before their visit to Fashion Island, the sisters made an
announcement on their websites.

`On the anniversary of such a tragic time in our history, we hope that
we can honor those who died by celebrating our culture and sharing it
with you guys,’ wrote the eldest of the three, Kourtney Kardashian.

There’s a bit of Armenian history behind each piece of their
collection, Kim Kardashian said.

By the time the sisters were ready to get out on the main floor for a
meet-and-greet session with fans, the lines were out the door and
hundreds waited in anticipation.

The Kardashians’ fans were not just women.

When Daniel Klingler found out that the sisters’ collection was being
launched at Nordstrom in Fashion Island, he came all the way from
Wisconsin.

`I’m here for their jewelry line, he said. `I wanted to get something
for my best friend; it’s her birthday.’

The collection was debuted at Nordstrom’s Trend Boutique on Saturday,
and it is scheduled to ship to other Nordstrom Trend boutiques in the
next two weeks, said Tara Miko Grayless from Virgins Saints & Angels.

Marinna Casey came from San Francisco just to meet the sisters. Kristy
DeBernardi, Marinna’s friend, came along from Beverly Hills.

And there were also children who knew who the Kardashians were and
wanted to meet them. Newport Beach resident Heather David brought her
two girls, Julia, 11, and Emily, 8, after they found out about the
sister’s scheduled appearance.

Julia said she was first introduced to the Kardashians through her
baby sitter, who watches their television show, and she grew to like
watching it herself.

While David has to censor some of the show’s episodes, she said the
Kardashians bring about a good message for young girls.

`They are not inheriting money and spending it, they are working and
showing women that you too can start your own jewelry line, that you
can be an entrepreneur,’ she said.

Asked how they see the collection evolving, Khloe Kardashian, the
youngest of the three, said, `It’s such an honor to be here. Nordstrom
is the ultimate place and to have our jewelry line here … it’s off
to a pretty good start.’

Following their appearance, the busy sisters were scheduled to fly to
Las Vegas to celebrate Kourtney Kardashian’s 31st birthday.

`… At Kourtney’s birthday, we will be toasting to the future and
honoring the past,’ wrote Khloe on her website.

04/24/entertainment/dpt-kardashians042510.txt

RATIFICATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS TO PUT END TO INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, HERITAGE LEADER STATES

news.am
April 23 2010
Armenia

The ratification of the Armenian-Turkish protocols will put an end to
the process of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
Raffi Hovannisian, Chairman of the Heritage Party, told a press
conference.

He stressed that the statement RA President Serzh Sargsyan made
yesterday will, to a great extent, "unfetter" that Parliaments ready
to recognize the Armenian Genocide from the Armenian-Turkish process.

In any case, other states will recognize the Armenian Genocide in
their own interests, Hovhannisian said. As regards the possibility of
U.S. President Barack Obama’s uttering the word "genocide" during
his annual address to the Armenians, he stressed that he would
like to hear the U.S. leader utter the word. However it will never
return the lost homeland to Armenians. "Whether Obama will utter the
word genocide will reflect his attitude to the U.S. history, rather
than to the Armenians. U.S. archives contain thousands of documents
corroborating the fact of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey,"
said Hovhannisian.

He pointed out that it was in connection with the events in Ottoman
Turkey early in 20th century that Raphael Lemkin coined the term
"genocide."

Commenting on Armenian political circles’ proposals to lodge a
Genocide claim with the Hague Tribunal, Hovhannisian pointed out
it might be one of the options. "Yes, the Hague Tribunal might
return a relevant verdict, whereafter the Armenian side will have to
apply to Turkey for reparations and establishment of common border,
which would necessarily provide Armenia with an outlet to the sea,"
Hovhannisian said. He pointed out that the sides must first of all
admit the unappealableness of the Hague Tribunal’s verdicts.

As a descendent of Armenian Genocide survivors, Raffi Hovhannisian
remembers his grandparents every single day – they went through a
painful experience in Western Armenia.

ARMENIA AND TURKEY, OVERCOME BY HISTORY
David Ignatius

Washington Post
/2010/04/armenia_and_turkey.html
April 23 2010

This week, the horrors of the past once more extinguished hopes for
the future, as Armenia and Turkey demonstrated that they have yet to
find a way to resolve the burden of the history they share.

Just ahead of April 24, the day on which Armenians commemorate the
genocide of 1915, Armenia announced that it was suspending all efforts
to normalize relations with Turkey. "We consider the current phase
of normalization exhausted," Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan said.

The opportunity to move forward had seemed tantalizingly close. Last
week, when the leaders of the two countries were in Washington for the
nuclear summit, President Obama tried to do some useful mediation and
pressed them to implement an accord they signed in October. "If you
pull out, you let the other side off the hook," I’m told he advised
Sargsyan, who indicated to the White House that he would stick with it.

Obama made a similar pitch to Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Recep
Erdogan, suggesting that normalization made sense as part of Turkey’s
policy of regional security. When I later asked Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu about the prospects for normalization, I
was encouraged. "We don’t want the politicization of history," he said.

"We want reconciliation of memories" of 1915, so that Turkish suffering
during World War I is recognized along with that of Armenians. Turkey
wants "zero problems" with its neighbors, he continued. "We want to
have a prosperous Armenia next to us."

Davutoglu’s comments sounded pretty sensible to me, and my reaction
was to think: Okay, now it’s time for Armenians and Turks to get on
with it and make normalization a reality.

What happened?

Basically, Sargsyan finally decided that he had waited long
enough. He had taken a political risk in even broaching the subject of
normalization. When he conceded to Turkish calls for an international
commission to examine the anguishing events of 1915, he angered many
in the Armenian Diaspora, who argued that the present government
had no right to barter over historical events for the sake of normal
trade and diplomatic relations. And when Sargsyan’s concession got
him nowhere with Turkey, the pressure on him increased.

You might think Turkey would have taken "yes" for an answer on its
longstanding proposal for the commission. But the Turks became irate
over a U.S. congressional resolution calling for recognition of the
genocide. They briefly pulled their ambassador from Washington and
let normalization with Armenia stall.

Tempers have since cooled, but Turkey has refused to move forward
on normalization until resolution of the feud between Armenia and
Azerbaijan over the status of Nagorno Karabagh, a disputed region
in the South Caucuses. Sargsyan, feeling pressure from all sides,
finally pulled the plug.

In this tug of war between the past and the future, my instinct is to
look ahead. I say that as a proud Armenian-American who lost members
of his own family in the genocide of 1915. I think America and the
world must call these events by their true name, which is genocide.

But history is not a weight that the living must drag along behind
them in perpetuity. The events of 1915 call for us to mourn, but also
to live.