Author: Kamalian Hagop

ARKA News Agency
June 15 2004

CBA announces contest on best scenario for cartoon film on inflation

Arthur Baghdasarian and Sergey Mironov discuss development of
Armenian-Russian interparliamentary links

8TH International economic forum opens in Saint-Petersburg

The Chairman of RF State Duma Boris Gryzlov to arrive in Armenia with
official visit in autumn

Exhibition of Karabakh children works opened in Stepanakert

NKR President meets French co-Chairman of OSCE Minsk Group Henri
Jacolin

RA President Kocharian welcomes Volgaburmash holding company in
Armenia

RA Foreign Minister and US Secretary of State discuss perspectives of
mutual relations

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CBA ANNOUNCES CONTEST ON BEST SCENARIO FOR CARTOON FILM ON INFLATION

YEREVAN, June 15. /ARKA/. Central Bank of Armenia announced contest
on best scenario for cartoon film on inflation, CBA told ARKA.
According to the statement, interested parties can take part in the
contest till August 1, 2004 by submission of the scenario to CB press
service. The winner will receive money prize in amount of 120
thousand AMD. ($1 – 546.83 AMD). L.D. –0–

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ARTHUR BAGHDASARIAN AND SERGEY MIRONOV DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT OF
ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN INTERPARLIAMENTARY LINKS

YEREVAN, June 15. /ARKA/. RA NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasarian and the
Chairman of Federation Council of RF Federal Assembly Sergey Mironov
discussed development of Armenian-Russian interparliamentary links,
RA NA told ARKA. The parties stressed the importance of fulfillment
of the agreement on cooperation in the frames of which Armenian
pavilion was opened in Saint-Petersburg. The parties discussed
opportunities of expanding of interparliamentary links between the
countries. L.D. –0–

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8TH INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM OPENS IN SAINT-PETERSBURG

YEREVAN, June 15. /ARKA/. 8th international economic forum opened in
Saint-Petersburg today. According to the Chairman of RF State Duma
Boris Gryzlov, similar forums are very important in the view of
establishment of links between the countries. According to him, one
of priority directions of State Duma activity is multilateral
cooperation with CIS countries. He said that State Duma pays
attention of development of bilateral cooperation as well. Gryzlov
stressed that during interparliamentary meetings basic accent is made
on concrete issues of economic cooperation, possibilities of increase
of goods’ turnover, investment flows. He also paid attention to
creation of joint economic area, modernization of the economy and
implementation of new technologies.
Petersburg International Economic Forum is conducted annually in
June. The organizers of the forum are Federation Council of RF
Federal Assembly and Interparliamentary Assembly of CIS Countries in
assistance of RF Government and participation of EBRD.
Basic goal of the forum is conduction of preliminary and independent
discussion on economic and social development of Russia and CIS
countries, integration processes in post Soviet area, perspectives of
international economic and humanitarian cooperation. L.D. –0–

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THE CHAIRMAN OF RF STATE DUMA BORIS GRYZLOV TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA WITH
OFFICIAL VISIT IN AUTUMN

YEREVAN, June 15. /ARKA/. The Chairman of RF State Duma Boris Gryzlov
will arrive in Armenia with official visit in autumn, RA NA told
ARKA. He will arrive in Armenia on the invitation of RA NA Speaker
Arthur Baghdasarian. L.D. –0–

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EXHIBITION OF KARABAKH CHILDREN WORKS OPENED IN STEPANAKERT

STEPANAKERT, June 15. /ARKA/. Exhibition of Karabakh children works
opened in Stepanakert. According to Director of SCJSC Center of
Children Art Ludmila Barsegian, the exhibition basically represents
pictures, reflecting culture and life of Nagorno Karabakh. 180
children from the Center take part in the exhibition.
Center of Children Art operates in Karabakh since 1993 and at the
moment 850 children attend the Center. Works of the children from the
Center were exhibited in Yugoslavia, France, Moscow and other cities.
L.D. –0–

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NKR PRESIDENT MEETS FRENCH CO-CHAIRMAN OF OSCE MINSK GROUP HENRI
JACOLIN

STEPANAKERT, June 15. /ARKA/. Arkadi Ghukasya, NKR President met
French co-Chairman of OSCE Minsk Group Henri Jacolin. According to
the personal correspondent of ARKA in Stepanakert, issues concerning
the negotiations and the perspectives of Karabakh conflict settlement
were discussed by the parties. Ghukasyan left for France to
participate in “Days of Karabakh”, held in some cities of the country
on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of armistice in Karabakh
conflict region. A.H.–0–

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RA PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN WELCOMES VOLGABURMASH HOLDING COMPANY IN
ARMENIA

YEREVAN, June 15. /ARKA/. RA President Kocharian welcomed
Volgaburmash holding company in Armenia during the meeting with the
member of the Council of Federation of RF Federal Assembly, the Head
of the holding company Andrei Ischuk, according to RA President’s
Press Service Department. The President noted that Armenia will have
a reliable partner represented by Volgaburmash. The parties discussed
the issues of preparing the final form of the agreement on
transmitting the shares of Nairit Armenian factory to the ownership
of Volgaburmash. Ischuk introduced the investment program to
Kocharian, as well as the program of restoration of the factory and
operating it with its full capacity. The agreement on purchasing 100%
of the shares of Nairit Armenian scientific-industrial enterprise by
Volgaburmash international holding company was signed in Yerevan on
April 16, 2004. Before, 100% of the shares were transmitted to
Armsviaz bank in exchange for the debt of Nairit to the bank.
Volgaburmash Samara holding represents two monopolies on production
of drill units on post Soviet territory. It also forms monopoly on
production of reserve metal constructions. The consolidated turnover
of the holding company for 2003 makes over $200 mln. Currently,
Volgaburmash includes 14 factories, and two more factories are being
built, as well as 11 construction-and-mounting departments.
Volgaburmash has over one thousand consumers in CIS, and actively
operates on the international market. The policy of holding company
provides for restoration of enterprises on post Soviet territory.
A.H. –0—

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RA FOREIGN MINISTER AND US SECRETARY OF STATE DISCUSS PERSPECTIVES OF
MUTUAL RELATIONS

YEREVAN, June 15. /ARKA/. Vardan Oskanian, RA Foreign Minister met US
Secretary of State Collin Powell during his two-day visit to the US.
As Ra Foreign Ministry told ARKA, during the meeting the sides
discussed the perspectives of the development of the mutual relations
as well as a number of the issues concerning the regional
developments, Armenian-Turkish relations and the settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The officials focused on the issues
related to Armenia’s participation in US Millennium Challenge
program, mentioning the importance of the program for democracy and
economy in Armenia. On the same day, the Minister met Condoleezza
Rice, US National Security Advisor. In the course of the meeting the
officials discussed the regional security issues, the future NATO
summit and the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. In the frames
of his visit Oskanian also met the Deputy Assistant to the U.S.
Secretary of Defense Mira Ricardeli, the Assistant Secretary of the
State for Europe and Euroasia, Elizabeth Johnes, acting Assistant to
US Secretary of State on Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Affairs M.
Kozack. The R Foreign Minister took a speech on RA foreign policy and
regional security in the Center of Strategic and International
Studies. T.M. –0–

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PEOPLE AGAIN PICKETING FOR RELEASE OF POLITICAL PRIONERS

A1 Plus | 13:51:35 | 09-06-2004 | Politics |

15 people assembled near Office of Prosecutor at the picket for the
political prisoners demanding to release them.

According to Gayane Esayan, Vice-Chair of “New Armenia” social
organization, about 7300 people signed for release of political
prisoners.

Yesterday Office of Prosecutor replied to the application of “New
Armenia”, which demanded to substantiate why people are arrested for
their political convictions and whether there is any way to change
the preventive punishment.

Mr. S. Manukyan, head of Department for Control over Legality on
Investigation of Office of Prosecutor, wrote: “There are no reasons
to change the preventive punishment against Tigran Ter-Margaryan and
others. No person mentioned in your list is criminally persecuted for
expressing his political rights and especially convictions. Those
people are accused under concrete articles of the Criminal Code
of Armenia”.

Vagharshak Harutyunyan, ex Defense Minister is among those persons.

Armenia advocates cooperation in CIS

RosBusinessConsulting Database
June 2, 2004 Wednesday

The Armenian government is interested in close cooperation between
the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the CIS in the sphere of
small and medium-sized businesses. Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Markarian made a corresponding statement at the 2nd meeting of the
Council of Chairmen of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the
CIS. According to him, the role of Commerce and Industry Chambers
is obviously very high in reforming economies of the CIS members,
their integration and creating the Common Economic Area.

CIS customs services discuss simplification of customs procedures

ITAR-TASS, Russia
June 4 2004

YEREVAN, June 3 (Itar-Tass) – The simplification of customs procedures
and the fight with contraband were prioritised at the 39th meeting
of the council of the heads of CIS customs services in the Armenian
capital, Mikhail Vanin, the chairman of the council and the chairman
of the State Customs Committee told Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
on Thursday.

At the meeting with the Armenian president Vanin noted that much
work has been done for ten years since the council’s foundation. The
trade between the CIS states is growing every year that points to
the gradual elimination of administrative barriers, the chairman of
the State Customs Committee emphasised. The customs processing of
energy supplies from Armenia to Georgia was considered at the meeting
involving Armen Avetisyan’s Armenian government, Vanin pointed out.
This caused by the fact that energy losses during its supplies are
not always correctly determined.

Avetisyan noted that the common system of 12 CIS states that was
adopted at the previous council in Moscow allows monitoring the cargo
transit via third countries. Thus the operational information about
the movement of transit cargoes is obtained and their losses are
practically ruled out.

It was also decided to create common methods of customs statistics.

WHO ARE THOSE FIGHTING AGAINST CORRUPTION?

A1 Plus | 17:56:33 | 02-06-2004 | Official |

Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on establishing a Council for
Corruption Prevention.

Armenian PM was nominated the Council Chair. Parliament Vice-Speaker,
Head-Minister of Government staff, Justice Minister, President’s
Councilor, General Prosecutor, Chairs of Central Bank, State Committee
for Defense of Economic Competition, and Parliament Counting Chamber,
and Head of Control Service of Armenian President are the Council
members.

La Nouvelle République du Centre Ouest
25 mai 2004

RUBRIQUE: Édition INDRE; LA CHATRE – ÉDUCATION; Page 8

Les lycéens et le court-métrage ;

Dans le cadre de l’opération ” Les lycées au cinéma “, les élèves
du lycée George-Sand ont accueilli Raymond Delvax, co-réalisateur,
avec Serge Avédikian, d’un court-métrage.

Dans le cadre de l’opération « Lycées au cinéma », les élèves des
classes de seconde et terminale des sections carrières sanitaires et
sociales, de seconde de comptabilité et secrétariat, de terminale de
bio-service et du bois, du lycée George-Sand, ont travaillé sur un
court métrage en noir et blanc pour en étudier la réalisation. Ils
l’avaient visionné au cinéma Lux en début de mois et accueillaient
mardi dernier l’auteur de « Ligne de vie », Raymond Delvax,
co-réalisateur avec Serge Avédikian.

C’est un court-métrage de douze minutes sorti en 2003 en France noir
et blanc/couleur produit par Les films de l’Arlequin.

Né en Arménie soviétique en 1955, Serge Avédikian est arrivé en
France lorsqu’il était adolescent. Passionné pour la littérature
et le théâtre, il fait le Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Paris
et connaît une belle carrière d’acteur. Il passe à la réalisation
en 1980. Il rencontre alors le nouvelliste et peintre belge Raymond
Delvax, avec qui il entreprend la réalisation de « Ligne de vie ».

Un dessin…

Ce court-métrage raconte la vie d’un homme âgé, qui trace sur un mur
un dessin lequel fait remontrer en lui des souvenirs douloureux de
l’époque où il était prisonnier d’un camp de concentration. Il se
souvient surtout d’un autre prisonnier qui ne cessait de dessiner en
cachette, seule preuve de vie et d’humanité dans ce camp de la mort.
Aidé par un soldat, ils furent découverts : le soldat fut pendu et
l’on coupa les mains de l’homme barbu. Ce dernier continua cependant
à dessiner. Il fut abattu froidement par les gardiens alors qu’il
traçait les traits d’une femme sur un mur, celui-là même que le vieil
homme regarde. La fresque, seule survivance du camp de concentration,
est devenue un mémorial.

Serge Avédikian a voulu parler du peuple arménien et le confronter
à son histoire. Les élèves ont parlé avec Raymond Delvax, peintre à
Bruxelles, de la réalisation de ce court-métrage. Il est l’auteur de
cette nouvelle et des peintures qui accompagnent le texte. Plus d’un
millier de dessins a été nécessaire, réalisés par ce peintre belge,
en noir et blanc, parfois rehaussé de gouache, pour ce court-métrage.

Une face du cinéma que les élèves ne connaissaient pas et que le
peintre belge a expliqué par son côté littéraire et pictural.

GRAPHIQUE: Image: Raymond Delvax a présenté aux élèves quelques-uns
des dessins qui ont servi au court-métrage.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

May 24, 2004
___________________

IN WORCESTER, PRIMATE ORDAINS ACOLYTES, SUB-DEACON, DEACON

By Jake Goshert

Though tasked with tending to the oldest Armenian Church community in
America, Fr. Aved Terzian’s flock is a young, vital one.

“I have two of our Sunday School graduates waiting for me now,” Fr.
Terzian said the week before their graduation on Sunday, May 23, 2004.
“I’ve committed spending an hour with each one of them in private,
discussing where they are spiritually and what they’re going to be doing
in the future to serve the church.”

Already, many young people in the Church of Our Saviour in Worcester,
MA, are stepping up to answer Fr. Terzian’s call for service. On
Saturday, May 15, 2004, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), ordained 13 young
acolytes.

They were: Michael Arakelian, Adam Bullock, Brody Gardner, Armen
Hagopian, Michael Migridichian, Michael Hadchickian, Robert Sivazlian,
Hovhannes Balian, Zaven Donoian, Brendon Haddon, Michael Kaishian, A.J.
Pottle, and Seth Yaylaian. (Another future acolyte, Nikolas Ovesian,
broke his leg earlier that day and was unable to take part in the
ordination.)

“It is so good to see so many eager young people, who want to take on a
position of responsibility in their church,” the Primate said.
“Already, at an early age, they are following the footsteps of the role
models around them, the men and women who give of their time and use
their unique skills to keep this old parish vibrant.”

ROLE MODELS

Two of the men who have served as role models for the young acolytes
also continued on their journey of faith. During his two day trip, on
Sunday, May 16, the Primate ordained Henry Hagopian as a sub-deacon, and
Vasken Chagaian as a deacon.

“I am very fortunate to have six full deacons — a group of dedicated
men, who have family obligations and yet are in church every Sunday,”
Fr. Terzian said. “All these deacons are blessed with humility and
respect one another. They work so nicely with each other and with the
younger acolytes, who they help train.”

For Chagaian, who was born in Lebanon and attended the seminary of the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, serving the church is a joyful duty.

“You’re in touch with your heritage and the Armenian community,” he
said. “And you find time to do it. Even though I run my own business,
I make the time because it is my honor and privilege to serve on the
altar and to honor my roots.”

— 5/24/04

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable on the Eastern
Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese
of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), joined by Fr. Aved Terzian,
pastor of the Church of Our Saviour in Worcester, MA, ordains Vasken
Chagaian as a deacon.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): During a visit to Worcester, MA, on May 15 and 16,
2004, the Primate ordained 14 acolytes, one sub-deacon, and a deacon.

PHOTO CAPTION (3): On May 15, 2004, 14 young members of the Church of
Our Saviour in Worcester, MA, took on the responsibility of being
acolytes by being ordained.

PHOTO CAPTION (4): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese, ordains 14 young acolytes 14 acolytes at the Church of Our
Savior in Worcester, MA, on May 15, 2004.

# # #

Independent on Sunday (London)
May 23, 2004, Sunday

BOOKS: HUNT THE LUSTY FUNDAMENTALIST;
A FAST-MOVING TURKISH FARCE DELIGHTS STEPHEN O’SHEA WITH ITS

by STEPHEN O’SHEA Snow on the shores of the Bosphorus near Turkey’s
Ortakoy mosque MURAD SEZER/AP

It comes as a surprise that political prescience should be yet
another of the many gifts of Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk. Praised as
a virtuoso of the postmodern highwire – in the company of Borges,
Calvino and Eco – Pamuk has delivered intellectual delights without
bothering his readers too much about the times in which they live. My
Name is Red, the Impac winner depicting a 16th-century aesthetic feud
among Ottoman miniaturists, was hailed as a work of idiosyncratic
genius, as was The White Castle, which involves a Muslim master and a
Christian slave switching identities. Now, with Snow, composed before
11 September 2001, Pamuk gives convincing proof that the solitary
artist is a better bellwether than any televised think-tanker.

Set in easternmost Anatolia in the 1990s, the novel deals with the
present- day shouting-match between East and West – a subject that is
second nature to any native of Istanbul like Pamuk. A meeting of
Noises Off and The Clash of Civilisations, the work is a melancholy
farce full of rabbit- out-of-a-hat plot twists that, despite its
locale, looks uncannily like the magic lantern show of misfire,
denial and pratfall that appears daily in our newspapers. How could
Pamuk have foreseen this at his writing desk four years ago? Even the
beatings and humiliations seem familiar.

The show takes place during three eventful February days in Kars, a
shivering has-been of a town hard by the border with Armenia. A
snowstorm has cut off the place, prompting an itinerant theatrical
troupe to stage a coup in the name of old-fashioned Kemalist secular
values. Their leader, a thoughtful drunk whose fame rests in his
resemblance to Ataturk, is concerned about militant Islamists and
Kurdish separatists in Kars, as well as a rash of suicides among the
city’s pious headscarf-wearing girls. Enter Ka, a poet returned from
exile in Germany, to report on the suicides for an article to appear
in “Republic” (ie Cumhurriyet), a leading Istanbul newspaper read by
Westernised “white Turks” like himself.

What Ka finds, as the snow settles on streets lined with dilapidated
Tsarist-era mansions, is a city of articulate rage. Angry at being
poor, provincial and despised by the godless, the townsfolk confront
Ka and disabuse him of his reflexive feelings of superiority, the
most memorable harangues spouted by a youth with dreams of becoming
“the world’s first Islamist science-fiction writer”. The Western
newcomer, who has spent the past 20 years not writing poetry,
masturbating, and collecting political refugee cheques in Frankfurt,
is enchanted at finding himself stuck in a tendentious backwater
straight out of Turgenev and Dostoevsky, to whom he refers liberally.
Ka’s muse returns and his libido revives.

At his hotel, run by an old socialist with two beautiful daughters,
the inevitable boulevardier complications arise, one of the love
triangles pitting the atheist poet against a lusty fundamentalist. Ka
goes out repeatedly to meet this hunted Islamist mastermind – who
came to national attention over the murder of a game-show host – to
negotiate matters political, sentimental, and, in the end,
theatrical: whether one of the inn-keeper’s daughters will remove her
headscarf on stage. As the intrigues mount and become ever more
deadly before the final betrayal, Pamuk gives us a florid wink by
letting his characters take a break every afternoon to watch a
Mexican soap opera on television.

In Turkey, the novel was criticised for its use of caricatures. Not
those of the foolish pasha of tired European travel writing, but the
Turk- on-Turk variety: the spent leftist, the brainless policeman,
the head- scarf passionaria, the miserable Anatolian. True, Pamuk
trades on stereotypes. But the strength of Snow lies in its failings.
The less believable the characters, the more true-to-life they
appear. It is to Pamuk’s credit that he saw this sad farce coming
before the rest of us.

Stephen O’Shea is the author of The Perfect Heresy’ (Profile). His
book on Islam and Christianity in the medieval Mediterranean world
will appear next year

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
May 21 2004

PRESIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP MEETS FOREIGN MINISTER OF
AZERBAIJAN
[May 21, 2004, 20:17:10]

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov met the
delegation of the International Crisis Group (ICG) led by Gareth Evans,
May 20.

Mr. Evans noted that latest developments in the Caucasus are in
the spotlight of the organization. He also praised the intensive
development of the Azerbaijani economy, energy sector.

Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov stressed the interest of
Azerbaijan in cooperating with the International Crisis Group and
participation of the country in some big economic projects including
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, and Baku-Novorossiysk
projects.

Touching upon ties of Azerbaijan with international economic
organizations, Mr. Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan closely
cooperates with them. Minister noted that globalization in the world
after 11 September 2001 events strengthened links among countries
towards security. According to him, As Azerbaijan is situated in a
strategically pivotal region the resolution of all the conflicts in
line with international norms and principles is very important.

Minister updated the guest on the plight of refugees and IDPs forced
to leave their native lands as a result of the Armenian occupation.

The Minister stressed the necessity to settle Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorny Karabakh conflict by the joint efforts of the international
community.

In conclusion, Gareth Evans revealed his opinion on the conflict and
hoped for the soonest peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Turkey’s new military doctrine
By Armen Ayvazian

7 May 04
Yerkir/AM

Before the collapse of USSR, Turkey’s military doctrine had an official
nature and was built on calculation of forces at war. Issues related
to nuclear weapons were addressed to NATO or USA.

During the cold war, NATO was thinking over how long Turkey would
be able to resist in case of war with USSR and they were not very
optimistic about Turkey’ s defense capabilities.

In 1990, Turkish military headquarters focused on multi-front defense.
Ex-ambassador of Turkey to USA said in his article that Turkey must be
ready to fight in two fronts at a time (like against Syria and Greece)
and an internal war against Kurdish revolt.

This doctrine had two issues: a) defy intrusion from East (USSR)
and South (Syria, Iraq), b) respond to guerilla activities.

Up to now Turkey has kept to Kemal Ataturk’s view saying that Turkey’s
future is only with the West.

However, in 1999, Turkey’s doctrine said it should have links both
with the West and the East and has the following points:

1) Deterrence: preservation of such a force that can defy both external
and internal enemies,

2) Collective defense: collaboration with international coalition,
specially with NATO,

3) Forward defense: early recognition of foreign aggression and its
external prevention,

4) “Peacemaking”: mediation in conflicts.

These points are also added by the view of the Turkish military
headquarters head Hussein Kivrikoghlu on forward engagement which
means that the military must be ready to prevent aggression against
Turkey before it crosses the border.

Kivrikoghlu’s idea is explained in the doctrine:

“The overall operative concept of 2000’s demands to control territories
of the aggressor and defeat him in the home front and on the porch of
the battlefield.” Thus, even the official document expects to conduct
future wars outside Turkey.

Authoritative US military magazine Parameters comes to the same
conclusion: ” Ankara has adopted a doctrine that will make the
military aspire to eliminate threats against Turkey out of its
borders. Turkish military are not only capable but also willing to
act out of the borders.”

Summing up we should say that Turkish military thinking has undergone
a reformation that even by Turkish and American analysts speak about
establishment of “neo-Ottoman agenda.” Thus Turkey has become more
dangerous for the neighbor and less predictable for allies.

Excerpt from “Aspects of Armenia’s national security” document
(Yerevan, 2003).