Author: Kalashian Nyrie

AMERICAN EXPERT: "THE JEWISH LOBBY CANNOT EASILY BLOT OUT TURKEY"

APA
Feb 9 2009
Azerbaijan

Washington. Zaur Hasanov – APA. Expert of US-based Jamestown Foundation
on Turkey studies Emrullah Uslu interviewed by APA’s US bureau

– Mr. Uslu, what are the main motives of Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan’s demarche in Davos?

-There are two principal issues behind Prime Minister Erdogan’s
behavior and statements. From the aspect of domestic policy, when
Israeli President Shimon Peres said to Erdogan: "What would you do if
Istanbul underwent air strikes?", Prime Minister presumably thought it
would not suit his image as a leader in Turkey. After AKP came to power
in Turkey opposition began to accuse Prime Minister of behaving as
US and Israel say. Opposition often spoke about AKP’s close relations
with Washington and Tel Aviv in the rallies and on television. These
accusations worried Prime Minister. Shimon Peres’ speech in Davos
would give extra grounds to the opposition in Turkey. That’s why Prime
Minister reacted so vigorously. The second reason that made Erdogan
angry was David Ignatius’ attempts to cut him off. It made him angry.

– Up to then Turkey had been known as a U.S. ally pro-western country
and a state established basing on the principles of market economy. But
after AKP came to power nonstandard directions were observed in
Turkey’s foreign policy: Turkey began to establish good relations
with HAMAS, Iran, Sudan and other countries. Is Turkey changing its
foreign policy?

-Turkey is in the transition phase now – it is realizing the concept
of its role in the region. Why was Turkey considered as a strategic
country in the period of Soviet Union? It was so, because Turkey
was playing an important role in the anti-communist struggle as a
border country with USSR. Turkey has lost its significance from this
perspective since the collapse of USSR. Therefore a new concept was
elaborated. According to this, Turkey must play an active role, as
possible, in the Middle East, Balkans and the Caucasus to increase its
significance as an irreplaceable mediator in Europe, the East and the
Caucasus as well. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has started to
realize this concept aggressively since taking power. The main question
now is how the Turkish-Israeli relations will develop. Recently Arab
countries stated at the meeting of the Arab League foreign ministers
that non-Arab countries couldn’t interfere in the domestic affairs
of the Arab countries. It was a message to Turkey. Davos statement
of the Turkish Prime Minister made him popular among the Arab
peoples like Gamal Abdel Nasser. It makes the Arab leaders anxious,
because most of them, in the eyes of their peoples, are incapable and
corrupted leaders, who are under the US influence and incompetent in
the Palestinian problem. Therefore Prime Minister Erdogan’s demarche
in Davos cooled his relations with both Israel and Arab leaders. The
question is that can Turkey turn its image of leader among the Ararb
peoples into the political capital or not, which is very difficult
issue. As distinct from Turkey, there is no need to contend with the
public opinion in the Arabic world, because there are not a democracy,
free elections and press there.

– How will cooling of the Turkey-Israel relations impact on the
Turkey’s position in the United States?

-Turkish-US relations have a strategic character. Turkey supports
US-led operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is a role of its
military base in Injirlik. However there is an Armenian issue in
the United States. The local Jewish lobby supported Turkey in this
issue. US Congress has more information about this issue as against the
previous years. Last discussions in the Congress showed that Americans
are dissatisfied with the attempts of congressmen to re-write the
history. The New York Times, The Washington Post and other newspapers
also published articles about it. Probably Turkey will need in the
Jewish lobby this year too. The Jewish lobby, which is a network led
by the wise and intelligent people, cannot blot out Turkey.

JAVIER SOLANA ASSESSES DIALOGUE BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY AS VERY GOOD

ARMENPRESS
Feb 9, 2009

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS: EU High Commissioner on Foreign Policy
Issues Javier Solana assesses the dialogue started between Armenia and
Turkey as very good. "I will be very happy to see it deepening more,"
J. Solana said February 7 at the 45th annual international summit on
security issues in Munich in response to the question of Armenpress.

After the speech of the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan at the
session-discussion on "Management of Instability: South Caucasian
Region and Western Balkans" and discussions over the region, summing
up his impressions J. Solana said that Armenia is a very important
country, and hopes are great if its relations with the neighboring
countries improve.

"I have an impression that the relations with Turkey are improving
and I hope that in this respect something may happen months ago. We
hope that the frozen conflict will also be regulated: it is important
not only for you, the whole region but also for us – the EU," the EU
high commissioner said.

Former foreign minister of Germany, now the deputy speaker of German
Bundestag on foreign policy issues Markos Mekel said that for Armenia
which is not in good contacts with its neighbors, the solution of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict is very important.

"For Armenia the issue is how the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict will be. This is an issue which is important for the two
parties, and by its regulation it is possible to find key for the
regulation of relations between the two countries, over Armenia’s
role and the rest issues. During the discussions I noted that there
is certain tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Not everything
is normal. That is why first of all it is necessary to ensure an
atmosphere of trust towards each other so that it will be possible to
negotiate in normal conditions. I am of the opinion that the regulation
of the issue is not so close yet and there is still much to be done,"
he said.

M. Merkel said that he has registered positive and important change in
the Armenian-Turkish relations which he said inspires great hope. "We
have noted that both President of Armenia and Turkish Foreign Minister
positively respond to the regulation of the relations between the
two countries. They have a serious approach towards the regulation of
the issue. We hope that this year Armenian-Turkish border will open,"
the German representative said.

Foreign Minister of Sweden Karl Bildt pointed out that in the speech
of the Armenian president a positive dynamics is noted in all the
regional directions.

"It is highly assessable that the positive dynamics is also notable in
the establishment of relations. We know that Armenia has difficulties
in relations with neighbors but there also exists positive dynamics to
overcome those difficulties. The positive dynamics in Armenian-Turkish
relations inspires great hope, as to relations between Armenia and
Azerbaijan the move is very small," Swedish foreign minister said.

EVERYONE VOTED FOR HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN

A1+
[07:40 pm] 06 February, 2009

Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Hovik Abrahamyan was
elected President of the Council of Yerevan State University of
Economics. Abrahamyan candidature was put forward by the University’s
ex-rector Grigor Kirakosyan. 27 members voted for Abrahamyan during
the secret ballot.

Note that Serzh Sargsyan heads the Council of Yerevan State University.

US ARMENIANS LAUNCH NEW ‘GENOCIDE’ RECOGNITION CAMPAIGN

Today’s Zaman
Feb 5 2009
Turkey

An influential Armenian organization based in the United States has
launched a new campaign to put pressure on the new US administration
to officially recognize Armenian claims of genocide.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) called on
Armenian-Americans to send letters to both US President Barack Obama
and the representative of the district they live in to urge them to
officially recognize the alleged Armenian "genocide," the Anatolia
news agency reported yesterday.

"We are optimistic concerning the recognition with the new Congress
and the new administration," Mark Kirk, a Republican congressman close
to the Armenian diaspora, was quoted as saying by Anatolia. Kirk is
co-chairperson of the US Congress’ Armenian Caucus.

Late last month some 20 Armenian-American advocacy, civic, religious,
charitable and educational organizations sent a joint congratulatory
message to Obama to mark his inauguration while also outlining the
Armenian community’s expectations of the incoming Obama administration.

"Our government must clearly condemn the 1915 crime of race
extermination by Ottoman Turkey that, during the course of eight years,
killed 1.5 million Armenians, emptied vast areas of the Armenian
homeland and inflicted grave material harm to every aspect of the
Armenian people’s cultural heritage, depriving it, to this day, of its
right to exist on its native soil. Sadly, the inevitable consequence
of Turkey’s refusal to acknowledge this crime has been its inability
to adapt to the changing realities in the region," the message said.

ABRAHAMIAN: WHY WOULD TASHNAQ PARTY ACCEPT THE EXISTENCE OF ARMS OUTSIDE THE JURISDICTION OF THE LEBANESE STATE

iloubnan.info
tics/actualite/id/31719
Jan 3 2009
Lebanon

BEIRUT – In an interview with An-Nahar newspaper on Tuesday, Retired
General Nareg Abrahamian of the Free Lebanese Armenian Movement
wondered why the Tashnaq Party would accept the existence of arms
outside the control of the Lebanese state and how can it greet March
8 forces and support what threatens democracy and the coexistence.

Abrahimian said that last’s month shooting of the Free Lebanese
Armenian Movement official is now in the hands of the Lebanese
judiciary system and there is no backing down from the case until
those who are responsible are apprehended and prosecuted.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION TO BE INTRODUCED IN U.S. SENATE SOON

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.02.2009 17:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Recognition of the Armenian Genocide is an
irreversible process not only in the Unites States but also throughout
the globe.

"We suppose that a draft resolution recognizing the Genocide will be
submitted to the 111th Congress soon," Ms. Arpi Vartanian, the Armenian
Assembly of America Regional Director for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh,
told a news conference in Yerevan on Wednesday.

"The Assembly negotiates with the Congressmen, Co-chairs of the
Caucasus on Armenian Issues and new administration members for soonest
recognition of the Armenian Genocide," she said.

Ms. Vartanian also reminded about the frequent visits of Turkish
delegations to Washington with the purpose to dissuade the
administration from the move.

"Meanwhile, Congressmen expect President Obama to keep his pledges,
including recognition of the Armenian Genocide. "We understand that the
U.S. has its own interests in the Caucasus and that Washington doesn’t
want to damage relations with Turkey. But we believe that Obama-Biden
administration will support the Armenian Americans and will recognize
the Armenian Genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire," she said.

ARMENIA’S BOXERS PERFORM SUCCESSFULLY IN GEORGIAN YOUTH OPEN TOURNAMENT

Noyan Tapan

Feb 2, 2009

KUTAYIS, FEBRUARY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The Georgian Youth Open Tournament
was held on January 25-31 in Kutayis. As Noyan Tapan correspondent was
informed by Arman Muradian, the newly elected Chairman of Armenian
Boxing Federation and Co-chairman of Bamo Holding, the Federation
had sent 12 boxers to Kutayis.

In younger boxers’ tournament Taron Soghomonian (50 kg) took the first
place and Ashot Safarian (40 kg) the third place. Henrik Mukoyan (42
kg), Vahe Sargsian (44 kg), and Kolya Grigorian (48 kg) won the elder
age group tournament. Artur Kirakosian (46 kg) and Andranik Hloyan
(54 kg) took the second place and Gagik Sargsian the third place.

WHAT’S ERDOGAN’S HANG-UP WITH THE PALESTINIANS?
By Amikam Nachmani

Ha’aretz
ages/1060816.html
Feb 2 2009
Israel

What moved Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to take up the
mantle as Israel’s leading critic in the aftermath of Operation Cast
Lead? Is this a matter of a personal affront, in that Prime Minister
Ehud Olmert, who visited Ankara just days before the operation,
did not warn the Turks of what was to come?

Israel’s former ambassador to Ankara, Zvi Elpeleg, once cautioned that
Turkey is about as sensitive about the Palestinian issue as it is about
the Armenian issue. Millions of people in Turkey take no interest in
what is happening beyond their borders, with one exception: Palestine.

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Turkish concerns for the Palestinians are deeply rooted. Their
misery, say the Turks, began during the Ottoman era of sovereignty
in Palestine. The Ottomans allowed the start of Jewish settlement
in the country. The Ottomans also viewed the Palestinians as some
of their most loyal subjects. They enlisted in the imperial army,
fought in combat, became high-ranking officers, received citations of
bravery from the sultan, married Turkish women, and, most importantly,
hoped to keep the Ottoman Empire intact so they could put into practice
Arab nationalism under its umbrella.

During the recent crisis in Gaza, the Turkish press often focused
on the passivity of the Arab regimes in light of the events, while
contrasting it with Turkey’s spirited efforts. "Does the apathy
of the Arab regimes stem from the fact that we, the Ottoman Turks,
ruled Palestine for a longer period of time than the Arabs?" asked
one Turkish newspaper.

The start of the crisis looked promising from Turkey’s standpoint
because in the last year it has been prominent as a go-between
for Israel and Syria. Gaza is regarded as naturally suited for
Turkish mediation, given that Egypt has been strongly criticized
by Hamas. "Neo-Ottomanism" and "the Golden Age," Turkish newspapers
enthused about the country’s elevated standing. But then something
ruined the picture and the blame fell on Israel. Syria announced the
suspension of negotiations with Israel, adding further to Erdogan’s
insult in the wake of Olmert’s visit. "I am a descendant of the Ottoman
Empire that granted refuge to your forefathers who were expelled from
Spain; when you suffered we stood by your side," he protested. The
task of mediation was ultimately won by Egypt, not Turkey, which only
added to the insult.

>From Israel’s vantage point, the greatest danger is pushing Turkey
into the arms of the "reverse periphery alliance" with Iran. In the
1950s and ’60s, our region featured a mysterious alliance of actors who
shared the common denominator of being non-Arabs and hostility toward
Moscow. Over time, this group included Turkey, Iran, Israel, Ethiopia,
the Kurds in Iraq, the Christians in Lebanon and the Christians in
Sudan. It would be best if we could avoid the formation of a new
alliance with Turkey and Iran as the central figures, whose uniting
factor would be hostility toward Israel. Relations between Ankara
and Tehran are as good as ever, trade between them is burgeoning,
and Turkey is not particularly worried about Iran’s nuclear program.

It is worth noting, though, that alongside his stinging remarks,
Erdogan rebuffed opposition calls to sever diplomatic ties with Israel,
and he made clear that Turkey’s foreign relations "are not emotional"
but are conducted with reason. "Dear friends, we are not running a
supermarket here, we are running the Republic of Turkey," he said.

A close relationship with Turkey is of supreme importance to Israel. We
must not quarrel with Erdogan. Instead, we need to find a way to
blunt the crisis and repair ties. This will be an urgent mission for
the new government in Jerusalem.

The writer teaches in the Political Science Department at Bar-Ilan
University and is a senior researcher at the university’s Begin-Sadat
Center for Strategic Studies.

ARMENIA TO RECEIVE $6.8 MILLION BEFORE APRIL UNDER MILLENNIUM CHALLENGES PROGRAM

ARKA
Feb 2, 2009

YEREVAN, February 2. /ARKA/. Armenia will receive $6.8 million in the
1st Q 2009 as part of United States’ Millennium Challenges Program,
Ara Hovsepyan, executive general director of Millennium Challenges
Fund – Armenia non-commercial organization, said on Friday.

He told journalists that the corporation approved the fund’s
application for the program implementation on December 30, 2008.

"The money targets mainly programs aimed at irrigation and restoration
of water infrastructures", Hovsepyan said.

In his words, Millennium Challenges Fund – Armenia has already embarked
on the program. In particular, the fund signed an agreement with Sade,
a French company, on reconstruction of Arzni-Shamiram water pipeline.

Hovsepyan said that the company has launched the groundwork for
the reconstruction and is now cleaning the channel of dilapidated
4.2-kilometer water pipeline.

Preparation for reconstruction of 18 pump stations is under way
as well, and the contractor will be chosen in tender and named by
mid-February.

Armenia plans to receive $70 million in 2009 against $28 million
in 2008.

Under the agreement signed on March 27, 2006, Millennium Challenges
Corporation is to provide $235.65 million within five years for
reconstruction of irrigation infrastructures and roads.

As of September 30, 2008, $22, 5 million has been alread y transferred
under the program.

Armenian Government has allocated $16.8 million for repairing rural
roads as part of Millennium Challenges Fund’s programs. -0—

ARMENIA, CZECH REPUBLIC INTERESTED IN DEEPENING MILITARY COOPERATION

armradio.am
02.02.2009 18:25

On February 2 the Defense Minister of Armenia, Seyran Ohanyan, received
the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic
to Armenia Ivan Jestrab and Military Attaché Ivan Trnka.

Seyran Ohanyan first greeted the guests, and noted that the military
and military-political cooperation between the two countries has great
perspectives of development, which is evidenced by the appointment
of the first Military Attaché to the Republic of Armenia.

During the meeting Seyran Ohanyan stated that good opportunities exist
for developing cooperation in the military and military-political
spheres both within the framework of the NATO Partnership for Peace
Program and the New Neighborhood Policy and newly shaped Eastern
Partnership Initiative of the European Union.

The parties discussed the current state of bilateral relations in the
military sphere and issues related t the perspectives of deepening
those.

The interlocutors referred to issues of regional security.

–Boundary_(ID_VRxVcG1zxrPnLtQlAN7WUw)- –