Author: Hunanian Jack

STANDARDS OF ARMENIAN CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM TO BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH EUROPEAN STANDARDS

ARMENPRESS
Oct 14, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 14, ARMENPRESS: Within the framework of Armenia-EU
cooperation reforms in the civil service system in Armenia will be
carried out. At the session of the inter-departmental task group
chaired by the Secretary of Armenian National Security Council Arthur
Baghdasaryan it was decided to develop program of reforms relevant
to EU standards.

Press office of the National Security Council told Armenpress that
the goal of the program is to harmonize the system of the EU member
states and Armenian civil service, form cooperation network, develop
new mechanisms of cooperation.

Arthur Baghdasaryan noted that the reforms suppose development and
adoption of training concept and book of ethical rules for civil
servants, improvement of mechanisms of accepting for work in the
system.

At the session it was decided to finish the works on development of
program of reforms by June 2010.

THE MAIN PROBLEM

Hurriyet Daily News
Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Common sense eventually prevailed and Republican People’s Party,
or CHP, leader Deniz Baykal accepted a request from Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan and extended an invitation to the premier
for a tete-a-tete meeting at the CHP headquarters sometime next
week. Finally, the CHP has taken a constructive step rather than
insisting on stubbornness or aggressiveness, a characteristic that
has become synonymous with the leadership style of Baykal.

The CHP leader not only invited Erdogan to a tete-a-tete meeting
at the CHP headquarters but asked him to have the meeting in front
of cameras and the broadcast of the discussion on a mutually agreed
channel at a mutually agreed date so that the nation could learn what
was discussed and avoid a second controversial "Dolmabahce concord."

So far, Erdogan has not replied to the recorded meeting request
of Baykal, yet he welcomed the meeting invitation. Although it was
clear from Baykal’s letter that the CHP remained skeptical of the
government’s opening intentions and most likely will not cooperate with
it, it was good that Baykal has agreed to invite the premier to the
CHP headquarters and listen from the mouth of the horse, as they say,
what indeed are the intentions and plans of the government. Would
Erdogan reveal such details at a recorded meeting, is of course
another problem.

An interesting poll

However, it is obvious that the nation is very much confused
on the opening intentions of the government. A public opinion
poll conducted by the Eurasia Public Opinion Research Center, or
AKAM, clearly demonstrated the opening rhetoric of the Justice and
Development Party, or AKP, government could not stop the erosion in
the popularity of the ruling party that dipped to 38 percent in the
March local polls from the 47 percent level the party received in
the July 2007 parliamentary elections.

According to the AKAM public opinion poll, which was conducted
through face-to-face i vinces, including Istanbul, Ankara, Bursa,
Kocaeli, Edirne, Van, Erzurum, Å~^anlıurfa and Diyarbakır with
a total 2,150 people, only 30 percent of the interviewed said they
would vote for the AKP if elections were to be held this weekend. The
CHP, which received 23 percent of the votes in the March local polls
has apparently increased its public support to around 25.3 percent,
while support for the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, was at 14.5
percent level. 5.2 percent said they would support the Democratic
Society Party, or DTP, while the Islamist Saadet, or Felicity Party,
received backing from 4.5 percent, the far right Great Unity Party,
or BBP, was supported by 2.2 percent and the Democrat Party, or DP,
was backed by two percent. These results, while they are nothing more
than a public opinion poll and might not be indicative of what might
be the political picture after the next elections as at present there
is no election in the horizon yet, still are indicative of the public
trend and obviously demonstrate that erosion in the AKP popularity
is continuing.

That was the widespread expectation anyhow. Many people were
already stressing that the Kurdish move, or democracy opening, of the
government might produce a very heavy price for the AKP in the western
and central Anatolian provinces and some modest gains in the east and
southeast. It is obvious that AKP needs to undertake a more serious
effort to explain itself and its openings to the Turkish people,
because even if it still remains the biggest party, a 30 percent or
less electoral support cannot bring it to power alone.

Since we mentioned the AKAM poll, let’s continue with the main
theme of that poll. AKAM did not try to measure the public support
for parties. Rather, it wanted to identify the main problems of
the country. According to AKAM poll, neither the Kurdish opening,
the Armenia protocols or even the Cyprus problem were considered by
the public as the main problem of the country. For understandable
reasons, and I sincerely hope the CHP, which claims to be a social
democrat party, will take this poll very seriously, 29 percent of the
polled group defined unemployment as Turkey’s most important problem,
while 27 percent said economy. That is 56 percent of Turks listed
economic hardships and unemployment as the most important problem
of today’s Turkey. Only 17 percent listed the Kurdish issue and 11
percent listed education while 48.5 percent said they agreed that the
Turkish judiciary was under political pressure. 38 percent said the
so-called Ergenekon investigation and trials were part of a political
vendetta campaign.

What is indeed Turkey’s main problem?

WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE THREE-HOUR DELAY

Asbarez
hat-happened-during-the-three-hour-delay/
Oct 12th, 2009

ZURICH (DPA)-There was a three-hour delay to the signing of the
Turkey-Armenia protocols on Saturday and diplomats were shuttling back
and forth frantically to salvage what appeared to be a threatened deal
– but in the end Armenia and Turkey were finally able to sit down and
sign a deal that paves the way for full diplomatic and trade relations.

"We knew this was not going to be a walk in the park," said one Western
diplomat, two hours after the signing ceremony in Zurich was supposed
to have begun.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton went to work, using her phones,
running between buildings and rooms and forcing motorcades to
do U-turns. Along with Swiss diplomats, she was eager to solve
eleventh-hour disputes over language in speeches for the ceremony.

Meanwhile, the other guests – including Sergei Lavrov and Bernard
Kouchner, the Russian and French foreign ministers – were sitting
together, watching the World Cup qualification football match between
Germany and Russia, and missing their flights.

For the Swiss, who mediated the talks and now wanted to host a historic
signing of diplomatic ties between countries with generations of
animosity towards each other, it became a turbulent ride.

But the Alpine diplomatic efforts paid off, being backed by the
muscle and commitment of the US. Clinton even drove the Armenian
Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian to the University of Zurich,
where the signing was to take place, pushing him to compromise.

After more negotiations at the university, the sides agreed: Cancel
the speeches, sign the papers and move on. And so it was.

Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey made the briefest of
introductions, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Nalbandian
of Armenia inked the appropriate places, hands were shaken, a few hugs,
some smiles and everyone ran for their planes.

"There were several times when I said to all of the parties involved
that this is too important, that this has to be seen through. You
have come too far, all of the work that has gone into the protocols,
you know, should not be walked away from," Clinton recalled on her
plane from Zurich to London.

The protocols call for the renewal of diplomatic ties, opening of
the common border and establishment of a historical commission to
investigate the Armenian Genocide, but for a time diplomats worried
they would not be signed.

The Armenians opposed Turkish language in the speech that would have
connected the ratification of the protocols by the Turkish parliament
to a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict favoring Turkey’s
ally Azerbaijan.

In the West the issues are seen as separate but connected.

"Progress on one will help elicit further progress on the other,"
said one Western official. The deals are "separate, but moving forward
at the same time."

The Turks too were unhappy, even if to a lesser extent, about language
that referred to "historical events."

Turkish officials claimed the compromise to skip the speeches as their
own, with one diplomat saying: "We want to get the process moving."

Questions still hung heavy in the humid Zurich air after the
signing. The two countries could not deliver speeches side by side
and still required the world’s top diplomats to work overtime for
signatures on documents agreed to weeks in advance.

The road ahead is not smooth, even if a major hurdle has been
passed. It is now up for the two parliaments to ratify the deals,
leading to open borders within two months.

YEREVAN HOSTS FROM WATER TO MARKET EXHIBITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.10.2009 14:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ ‘From Water to Market’ exhibition opened in Congress
Hotel, Yerevan, on October 13.

The opening ceremony was attended by Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan
and U.S. Ambassador to RA Marie L. Yovanovitch, who said that her
country will continue contributing to development of agriculture
in Armenia.

CEASEFIRE REGIME VIOLATED

ceasefire
06:22 pm | October 12, 2009

Official

According to the NKR Defense Ministry, the ceasefire regime was
violated on some sections of the contact line between Karabakhi and
Azerbaijani Armed Forces on the night of October 10 and on October 12.

The enemy opened fire in the direction of Horadiz, Ashagh Abdurahmanli,
Chakhrl, Mehdili, Yusufdzhanlu, Marzili, Saridzhanlu, Seysulan,
Djraberd, Levonarkh Namirli, Yarmdzhan and Talish.

The enemy retired after the NKR Defense Army took retaliatory actions.

At the same time, the NKR Defense Ministry refutes Azerbaijan’s
allegation that the Armenian side wounded an Azerbaijani serviceman
near Fizuli after breaching the ceasefire on October 11.

"This is another lie by the Azerbaijani side,"said the NKR Defense
Ministry.

Tigran Balayan: `A breakthrough has been registered in the
normalization process of Armenian-Turkish relations’

ZURICH, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS: `Quite important step, we might say a
breakthrough, has been registered in the normalization process of
Armenian-Turkish relations,’ spokesman for the Armenian foreign
minister Tigran Balayan said, assessing the signing of the
Armenian-Turkish protocols October 10 in Zurich. He highlighted the
support of the international community to the process. `I particularly
want to note the presence of the foreign ministers of member-states of
the UN Security Council, Secretary General of the Council of the
European Union, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council
of Europe which testifies about the support the international
community is giving to the process. We highly assess the support of
partners and friends,’ he said.
As to the delay of the signing for several hours, Tigran Balayan
pointed out that in the oral speech of the Turkish side there were
certain inadmissible definitions for the Armenian side and after
negotiations is was decided not to make any oral speeches.

ITALIAN ASSOCIATION RONDINE PRESENT TO ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR "14 POINTS FOR PEACE IN THE CAUCASUS"

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.10.2009 20:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Association Rondine Cittadella della Pace in
Rome at the Deputy Chamber introduced "the document in 14 points for
peace in Caucasus" to the Armenian Ambassador Ruben Karapetian and
to the Georgian ambassador in Italy Konstantin Gabashvili. These
two meetings were made possible by the President of the Italian
parliamentary delegation of the OSCE (Organization for the Security
and the Cooperation in Europe) On. Riccardo Migliori.

"I express my congratulation for the conference on the Caucasian
people, which you organized, and I hope for the good development
of the commitment on this direction even outside Italy. I commit
myself to visiting the Cittadella della Pace and realizing these
kind of initiatives in Armenia as well", – the Armenian ambassador
declared, underlining how Rondine and its activities were an important
contribution for the training of younger generations, their sense of
responsibility and the sense of belonging to a global world, where
every conflict inevitably has repercussions at an international
level. Karapetian also declared himself willing to support the
Association Rondine in the choice of Armenian students who could
take part in the project of Rondine Cittadella della Pace along with
other students from southern Caucaso, Russian Federation, Middle East,
Balkans and Africa.

"Your document is a precious contribution for peace in the Caucasian
area. The will expressed by those 14 points is remarkable, I fully
approve your initiative. I will soon come to Rondine to visit the
International Hall of Residence. I commit myself to promoting your
document and supporting your project for dialogue" said Georgian
ambassador Gabashvili in the afternoon to the students of Rondine
and to the President of the Cittadella della Pace Franco Vaccari.

The two ambassadors, even though in different occasions, pledge
themselves to guarantee the widest po ment of the 14 points deals
with very important issues and offers concrete cues for short-term
actions such as the creation of a permanent table of comparison, the
right to return for whom has had to abandon his own home because of
war problems, progressive disarmament and the promotion of the human,
cultural and economical growth of all the people of the Caucasian
region through cooperation and respect for people’s identity,
interculturaly and human rights.

TURKISH FM HAS NO DOUBT ABOUT SINGING ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.10.2009 22:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said
on Thursday he had no doubt Armenia and Turkey would sign historic
accords to normalize relations.

Ankara and Yerevan are expected to sign protocols on Saturday in
Zurich, but doubts have emerged in diplomatic circles the ceremony
would take place because of pressure from the powerful Armenian
Diaspora, as well as opposition within Armenia and to a certain extent
in Turkey.

Asked during a news conference whether the protocols would be signed
on Saturday, as announced by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan but not
officially confirmed by Armenia, Davutoglu said: "I am not giving
any dates. Let’s wait for a statement from the Swiss. As Turkey,
we have no doubts the protocols will be signed", Reuters reported.

RUNNING FROM TURKS

Javno.hr
enians-remember-the-massacres_277560
October 08, 2009 10:35h

A century later, Armenians remember the massacres

Noyemi Zhamkochian can still remember perching on her father’s
shoulders during the march as her family fled massacres of Armenians.

Nearly a century later, Noyemi Zhamkochian can still remember perching
on her father’s shoulders during the long, agonising march as her
family fled massacres of Armenians in eastern Anatolia.

As Armenia and Turkey prepare to sign Saturday protocols establishing
diplomatic relations, many Armenians like Zhamkochian still remain
passionate about what they consider to have been a genocide, indicating
real reconciliation is some time away.

Told by their Turkish neighbours to leave their homes or be killed,
Zhamkochian’s family packed a few belongings and fled with hundreds
of others from their hometown of Van toward what is now the ex-Soviet
republic of Armenia.

– With the other Armenians we travelled for so long, I don’t how many
days, but everyone was so tired, and so hungry – the 99-year-old said,
her voice clear and strong despite her years.

– Many could not survive and died on the road. We were afraid to
stop so we kept going, because we knew the Turks wanted to catch us –
she said.

When the bone-tired refugees finally arrived at the border and stopped
to rest, she said, many simply dropped dead of exhaustion. They were
buried in mass graves at the side of the road.

Tin BaniÄ~G-.–.-I am afraid, very afraid of the Turks

Today Zhamkochian lives in a sprawling home in the Armenian capital
Yerevan, surrounded by some of her six children and 47 grandchildren,
great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

But though more than nine decades have passed, her fear of Turkey
remains as strong as when she was a girl.

Asked about ongoing efforts for Armenia and Turkey to finally establish
diplomatic ties and re-open their border after years of hostility,
Zhamkochian was aghast t be after what we went through – she said.

– The Turks cannot be our friends, it’s impossible to trust them. They
are bad neighbours, I do not want the border to open – she said.

Zhamkochian is hardly alone. Many Armenians have reacted warily to
the reconciliation efforts and insisted that Turkey should admit that
the massacres constituted genocide — as Armenians have long argued —
before Yerevan strikes any deal.

But the efforts have nonetheless gathered pace, with supporters saying
that opening the border will end Armenia’s long isolation and give
the country’s struggling economy a much-needed boost.

Historical fact of the Armenian genocide

Hayk Demoian, the director of the Armenian Genocide Museum in Yerevan,
said it’s hardly surprising that many Armenians harbour lingering
suspicions of Turkey.

– We have a very large psychological barrier, because genocide is
the ultimate crime, a crime that targets an entire nation – he said.

But Demoian is among those supporting the reconciliation efforts and
says that establishing ties and opening the border in no way calls
into question Armenia’s historical claims.

– No single Armenian could put under question the historical fact of
the Armenian genocide – he said.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin were systematically
killed between 1915 and 1917 as the Ottoman Empire, the predecessor
of modern Turkey, was falling apart. Several countries, including
France and Canada, have recognised the massacres as genocide.

-.-Dz-rs.si-.-Armenia’s ruling coalition has backed the protocols on
establishing diplomatic ties

Turkey rejects the genocide label and argues that 300,000-500,000
Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife when
Christian Armenians took up arms against their Ottoman rulers and
sided with invading Russian troops.

Turkey has refused to establish diplomatic relations with Yerevan
because of the debate and in 1993 also closed its border with Armenia
in solidarity with ally Azerbaijan over Yerevan’s backing of ethnic
Armenian sep ratists in the disputed Nagorny Karabakh region.

After months of talks, Armenia and Turkey announced in late August
they had agreed to present two protocols on establishing diplomatic
ties and developing bilateral relations to their respective parliaments
by mid-October for approval.

Turkish officials have said the protocols are to be signed by the two
countries’ foreign ministers in Switzerland on Saturday, but Armenia
has refused to confirm the meeting.

Despite some vocal opposition, Armenia’s ruling coalition has backed
the protocols, making their approval by the country’s parliament
almost a guarantee.

This has led some, especially among Armenia’s nine-million-strong
worldwide diaspora, to accuse the government of betraying the memories
of those killed during the massacres.

– If we recognise the existing border of Turkey as it stands right
now, couldn’t that be like saying we don’t recognise the genocide
ourselves? If we agree to it, then the whole thing is a sham
-Armenian-American Sona Jones said during a visit to a towering
memorial in Yerevan to the massacres.

FRANCE-TURKEY: GUL VISITS PARIS, MAIN OPPOSER OF EU ENTRY
by Luana De Micco

ANSAmed
2009-10-07 19:54

(ANSAmed) – PARIS- Turkish president Abdullah Gul arrives in Paris for
a three-day mission that is already viewed as delicate in France, the
main opposer of Ankara’s entry into the European Union. Even before
his arrival in Paris, Gul is attempting to deflate tensions and he
told the French press that "Turkey will have to improve and meet
European regulations". Gul will be in Paris mainly for the "Turkey’s
season in France", with 400 events scheduled to take place in nine
months, including a large art exhibition in the Grand Palais that
Gul will inaugurate together with French president Nicolas Sarkozy
next Friday. His visit will also include political encounters and
Turkey’s bid to join the EU will be the main topic of debate. Some
observers believe that Paris is almost ‘schizophrenic’ because on one
hand it pays homage to Turkey’s culture and people, and on the other
it still prods Ankara about Europe. Various scandalised voices have
been clamouring for some days now at the notion of seeing the Turkish
flag on the Tour Eiffel, the city’s main symbol, until Sunday. The
socialist municipality made it clear that the request was submitted
by the Elysium. The Turkish issue has France divided on several
points, ranging from the respect of human rights to the denial of the
Armenian genocide. But not all is reason for conflict. For example,
Paris does not deny that it appreciates Turkey’s mediation with
Iran and Syria, or in the conflict between Israel and Palestine,
or progress achieved on the Kurdish issue. In an interview published
by Le Figaro, Gul made a conciliatory move: "I will meet president
Sarkozy to assess bilateral relations. It is normal for countries
to have different views on certain matters, but we must not forget
that our relations hinge on converging interests". Gul denied that
relations with Paris are ‘tense’, stating that "our cooperation is
vast". In his opinion there is a ‘misunderstanding’ on the EU-Turkey
issue, and he promised sceptics that "the negotiation process with the
EU aims to improve Turkey and meet European regulations. This job is
up to us, transformation depends on Turkey". Gul also replied on the
‘hot’ issue of the Armenian genocide (which the French Parliament
recognised in 2001) and announced the "creation of a history board
to establish the facts", while on Saturday new diplomatic relations
will be set up between the Armenia and Turkey with the signature of
relative protocols. (ANSAmed).