Author: Karagyozian Lena

OSCE HOLDS CRISIS-MONITORING OF NKR, AZERI ARMED FORCES CONTACT LINE

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.11.2008 16:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On the initiative of Nagorno Karabakh Republic
authorities, the OSCE mission conducted a crisis-monitoring
of the contact line of NKR and Azerbaijani Armed Forces in
south-eastern direction of the NKR DA positions, where on the night
of November 15-16, 2008, a gross violation of the ceasefire regime
by the Azerbaijani side took place. The NKR Ministry of Foreign
Affairs without delay notified the OSCE MG co-chairs and Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-office of the incident.

>From the positions of the NKR Defense Army the monitoring was
conducted by coordinator of the OSCE office Imre Palatinus (Hungary)
and field assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-office Irzhi Aberle (Czech Republic) and Vladimir Chuntulov
(Bulgaria), the NKR MFA press office reported.

The NKR Defense Army representatives showed the OSCE mission the place
from where a special unit of the Azerbaijani armed forces tried to
attack the positions of the Karabakh army, as well as presented the
chronicle of the incident in details. The monitoring group members
registered all the data to be fixed in their report.

Despite the presence of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-office Andrzey Kasprzyk, who headed the monitoring group
from the Azerbaijani side, the latter did not lead the OSCE mission
members to its frontlines, as a result of which the monitoring groups
had to conduct a monitoring from more remote distance.

The monitoring mission from the Karabakh side was accompanied by
representatives of the NKR Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs.

REPRESENTATIVE OF VATICAN: GENOCIDE IS NOT AN ALLEGATION, BUT A REALITY

ArmInfo
2008-11-25 17:12:00

ArmInfo. "Genocide is not an allegation, but is a reality. This is not
an issue of term. It is a historical fact with a lot of victims and
this memory needs to be healed", – Cardinal Walter Kasper, president
of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, said.

As the Turkish newspaper Today’s Zaman reports with reference to
Anatolia news agency, Kasper said: "I don’t know what the Vatican can
do to ease Turkey-Armenia relations. But this is also an important
case for peace in the Middle East. First of all, the Catholic Church
sides with the victims. This is the most important principle for us
while determining our manners".

The Vatican’s stance on this issue was stated at the time during a
visit to Armenia by [late Pope] John Paul II. The pope visited the
genocide monument there and used the word ‘genocide,’ although this
did not please Turkey.

The cardinal’s remarks came ahead of yesterday’s meeting between
Pope Benedict XVI and a group of visiting Armenian clerics led by
Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I, the leader of the Armenian Apostolic
Church in Lebanon.

To recall, in May 2008, taking part in a public audience by Pope
Benedict XVI, the head of the Armenian Church urged all countries to
recognize that Turks committed genocide against Armenians early in
the last century. Karekin II then appealed "to all nations and lands
to universally condemn all genocides that have occurred throughout
history," saying that "denial of these crimes is an injustice that
equals the commission of the same."

ARMENIA URGES TURKEY TO REOPEN BORDER
By Dorian Jones

Voice of America
Nov 24 2008

Efforts to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia have
taken another step forward with a visit to Istanbul by Armenia’s
foreign minister. The purpose of the visit is the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation Committee, but the minister’s trip also provided him an
opportunity to meet with his Turkish counterpart. The two countries
have no diplomatic relations, but in the past month there have been
growing bilateral efforts to normalize ties. Dorian Jones reports
from Istanbul.

Speaking at a news conference, Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard
Nalbandian urged Turkey to reopen its border with Armenia.

"Armenia is ready to re-establish diplomatic relations without any
preconditions and we are waiting [to see] from [the] Turkish side
the same approach," he said.

In 1993, Turkey closed its border with Armenia after Armenian forces
occupied territory of Turkey’s ally Azerbaijan during a war over
the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Ankara has made the
withdrawal of Armenian forces from Azerbaijan a key condition for
reopening the border.

Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian (L), is welcomed by his Turkish
counterpart Ali Babacan in Istanbul, 24 Nov 2008 Relations between
Turkey and Armenia remained frozen until last month, when Turkish
President Abdullah Gul accepted an invitation from his Armenian
counterpart Serge Sarkisian to watch Turkey play a World Cup football
qualifier in Yerevan. Since then there have been several diplomatic
meetings between the two countries.

Mr. Nalbandian said the opening of the border would facilitate the
resolution of problems.

"In the world there are many countries, many neighboring countries
having different problems to be solved," he said. "But they have
diplomatic relations, they have open borders, they are open to each
to other, and in this condition it is much easier to talk."

One major problem dogging Armenian-Turkish relations is
history. Armenia accuses Turkey of committing genocide against its
Armenian minority during World War I, a charge strongly denied by
Ankara. The Turkish government is calling for the dispute to be
resolved by a panel of historians, a call rejected by Yerevan.

ACCUMULATED PROFIT OF ARMENIAN CENTRAL BANK FOR 3RD QUARTER OF 2008 UP 3.7% TO US$313.1 MILLION

ArmInfo
2008-11-24 14:15:00

ArmInfo. Accumulated profit of Armenian Central Bank for the
3rd quarter of 2008 was up 3.7% to 94.6 billion drams or US$313.1
million. Armenian CB press-service told ArmInfo total capital of the
CB was up from negative 39.6 billion drams to positive 687.6 million
drams (US$2.3 million) over the quarter under review.

The source reports the issue capital of the Armenian CB was left
unchanged – 100.0 million drams (US$331,000). The main reserve was
left unchanged either – 9.9 billion drams (US$32.7 million) as of
Sept 30 2008. The additional authorized capital doubled and totaled
85.7 billion drams (US$283.5 million). General assets of the Central
Bank were up 6.9% for the 3rd qt to US$2050 million or 619.5 billion
drams as of Sept 30, including 479.8 billion drams (US$1588 million)
was the share of foreign exchange assets and 139.7 billion drams
(US$462.2 million) was the share of dram assets. Foreign exchange
assets were up 0.2% for the 3rd qt, whereas dram assets were up 39.1%.

General obligations of the Armenian CB did not increase significantly
for the 3rd qt of 2008 to US$2048 million or 818.8 billion drams,
including 99.9 billion drams (US$330.8 million) foreign exchange
obligations and 518.8 billion drams (US$1717 million) drams
obligations. The growth of dram obligations or the period under review
totaled 0.3%, whereas foreign exchange obligations were up 1.7%.

Armenian Central Bank data say the accumulated profit for 2007
totaled 95.4 billion drams and total capital – negative 43.6 billion
drams. Assets of the Armenian CB for January 1 2008 totaled 587.9
billion drams including 505 billion drams foreign exchange assets
and 85 billion drams assets in terms of national currency. General
obligations of the CB totaled 631.4 billion on the above date,
including 99.1 billion drams foreign exchange obligations and 532.3
billion drams obligations in terms of Armenian dram.

NEW PHASE OF THE NEGOTIATION BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Nov 24 2008
Turkey

The Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan arrived in Istanbul
to participate in the meeting of foreign ministers of member states
of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC). Today the
meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan is expected.

Turkey was one of the first state recognized the independence of the
Republic of Armenia after getting independence in November 1991. But
from that point not any diplomatic relation established between the two
countries. There were several reasons why Turkey did not establish any
diplomatic relation with Armenia. One of them was Armenia’s occupation
of 20% of the Azerbaijan territory, its ethnic cleansing of thousands
of Azerbaijani and over one million dislocated Azeri populations from
their homes by Armenians.

Tensions also stemming from the so-called 1915 genocide of Armenians in
the Ottoman Empire are a bitter point of contention, with the Armenian
state decrying the killings as genocide. Except these Armenian had
the territorial demand to Turkey. In the 11th article of Independence
charter approved by the Armenian Parliament on 23rd August 1990, The
East Anatolian of Turkey was referred to as "Western Armenia". For that
reason for opening the border and establishing diplomatic relations
Turkey has set up three precondition: that Armenia has stop its
territorial claims on Turkish land and recognize the Treaty of Moscow;
that Armenia call off the campaign pursued by both the Republic of
Armenia and certain Armenian Diaspora organizations which attempts to
encourage Turkey and other countries to recognize the legitimacy of
the Armenian Genocide; and lastly that Armenia has to withdraw from
occupied Azerbaijan territories.

Today Armenia tries to settle her problems with Turkey and open the
borders. And recently Turkey begins to play an important role in the
mediation between Azerbaijan and Armenia for solving Nagorno-Karabakh
problem. The foreign minister of Turkey, Ali Babacan, also said
in his speech that, "Good opportunity emerged for solving problems
among Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia. This is a significant window
of opportunity. I find a need to positively evaluate this window of
opportunity because such windows open but they could close as time
goes by. While the window is open, all parties must hurry up to
normalize both Armenia-Azerbaijan and Turkey-Armenia relationships."

The main topics of the meeting, which will be held today between
the foreign ministers of Turkey and Armenia in Istanbul will be the
normalization of the bilateral relation between Turkey and Armenia,
and are expected to discuss the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
and the so called genocide issue between Armenia and Turkey.

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Nov 21 2008

Turkish foreign minister says economic crisis may affect EU accession
process

Ankara, 21 November: Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that the recent
economic crisis may delay the EU’s enlargement activities and that he
sees this as a risk.

Babacan was responding to questions and criticisms about the 2009
budget of his ministry before the Planning and Budget Commission of
the TBMM [Turkish Grand National Assembly].

Commenting on Turkey’s EU membership process, Babacan recalled that
accession talks started in October 2005 and that the screening [of
some chapters of the EU acquis] was conducted for one year.

The foreign minister noted that thus far eight chapters have been
opened and that two more chapters will be opened in December if there
are no unexpected adverse developments. He added that a decision taken
at the end of 2006 froze eight chapters until the resolution of the
Cyprus problem.

Babacan recalled that five other chapters have not been opened because
one EU member has insisted that these chapters not be negotiated at
this time with the argument that these chapters would lead Turkey to
full membership. He said: "In addition, chapters on issues such as
education, culture, and energy have not been opened because of the
political postures of some member states."

Babacan said that work is continuing on chapters for which opening
criteria have been provided, that two chapters were opened for
negotiation last June, and that he expects additional chapters to open
for negotiation during the term presidencies of the Czech Republic and
Sweden next year.

Screening reports not received

The minister said that, although the screening of approximately ten
chapters was completed in October 2006, his office has not yet
received the screening reports. He continued: "This is a situation
that none of the other candidate states have encountered in their EU
membership process. We are waiting to see if there will be criteria
for the opening of chapters. We hear that there are disagreements
among the member states and, in particular, there is a problem at the
level of the EU Council on this issue."

Noting that the recent economic crisis may distract the attention of
the EU from the enlargement process and that it may slow or put off
relevant work, Babacan said that he sees this as a risk.

‘Do not fully match’

Recalling that a "Draft National Programme" has been prepared, Babacan
said that the Office of the Prime Minister is about to complete its
work on this issue. He added that the draft will be published in the
Official Gazette as a Council of Ministers decree after it is signed
by the prime minister and all the ministers.

The minister said that the draft was delivered to the leaders of all
the political parties but that he has not received any opinions from
any opposition parties except one.

Babacan said that the programme was drafted based on the Accession
Partnership Document that was published in the official gazette of the
EU. He continued: "We looked at that document, but we did not draft a
national programme that matches this document 100 per cent. When you
put the Accession Partnership and the National Programme documents
next to each other, you will see that they do not fully match. We did
not think it was appropriate to take at this stage some of the steps
the EU expects or demands from us. Our strategy in the accession talks
is to move swiftly on the steps that can be of immediate benefit to
us. However, there are also steps that we find appropriate to postpone
for various reasons – on some issues steps that we can say we will
take three, five, ten, 12 years after we join as a member. We have
been discussing these within the framework of the negotiations."

Economic measures

CHP [Republican People’s Party] Deputy from Istanbul Sukru Elekdag
warned that "Barzani and Talabani will never allow their PKK
[Kurdistan Workers’ Party] card to go away" and that "they will play
this card against Turkey." Elekdag added that it wrong "to go begging
after Barzani" in order to ensure border security.

Stating that [Turkey] must instil in Barzani the fear that "he may be
harmed if he harms Turkey," Elekdag said that Turkey needs to develop
policies of deterrence against northern Iraq.

Pointing out that Turkey has influence over the economy of northern
Iraq, Elekdag said that priority must be given to economic measures
and that steps to apply military pressure may be undertaken if no
progress is made with economic measures.

Success of military operations

Foreign Minister and Chief EU Negotiator Ali Babacan said that today
everyone acknowledges the success of military operations in the war
against the terrorist organization PKK. He said: "The entire world has
praised the string of military operations that were conducted with the
precision of a brain surgery without hurting a single civilian."

The TBMM Planning and Budget Commission approved the 2009 budgets of
the Foreign Ministry and the EU Secretariat General.

Answering questions and critical remarks by deputies about the budget
of his ministry, Babacan commented on Turkey’s policies on issues
ranging from the EU and Cyprus to Iraq and Armenia.

Expressing disagreement with criticisms from opposition deputies to
the effect that concessions are being made on Cyprus, Babacan said:
"When we look at what has been done since the AKP [Justice and
Development Party] government took office, I cannot think of a single
example that we can call a ‘concession.’"

The minister said that today many countries understand much better the
justness of the position of Turkey and Turkish Cypriots in this
matter. He added that today the positions taken by Turkey and the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are much more valued and
respected.

Babacan continued: "How long might the [Cyprus] talks last? Where
might they go? Might they lead to an agreement? It is too early to say
anything on this issue at this time, but we see that both [Cypriot]
leaders have acted with the desire to find a solution in the talks
thus far." Babacan added that Cyprus is a national cause, that [the
government] has not made any concessions on it until now and that it
will not make any in the future.

Iraq

Noting that Iraq is Turkey’s neighbour and that [the government] wants
to develop relations with that country in every sphere, Babacan said:
"We see the Iraqi people as our brothers regardless of their ethnic
background, religion, or sect, and we formulate our policies
accordingly. Economic sanctions were mentioned. We thought much about
this, but in our policies related to Iraq we are determined not to
take any steps that would harm the daily life of the people there or
that would cause them hardships. There were many exhortations to this
effect – such as changing the procedures at border crossings or
cutting the electricity supply. Indeed, there were even newspaper
headlines suggesting that ‘aircraft fly over their houses to break
some windows.’ We do not have any disputes with the Iraqi people. We
want the Iraqi people to be happier and more prosperous. If our
problem is with certain personalities in the Iraqi government, then
we have to deal with them and to press them. That is where we must
seek solutions. The steps we have taken with respect to the terrorist
organization PKK, our diplomatic initiatives, the dialogue processes
we have initiated with numerous countries – these were steps that
were aimed at the terrorist organization and the sources that provide
financial and political support to it. Today, everyone concedes the
success of the military operations in this war. The entire world has
praised the string of military operations that were conducted with
the precision of a brain surgery without hurting a single
civilian. Military instruments are important in the war against
terrorism, but they are not sufficient on their own. We have pursued
policies aimed at isolating the terrorist organization. Thanks to our
initiatives, not a single country issued a single negative statement
with regard to our military operations."

Relations with north Iraq

Babacan acknowledged that there are continuing problems with the local
administration in northern Iraq. He said: "No doubt, we are extremely
perturbed by their statements of empathy with the terrorist
organization, their tacit support, and their facilitation of their
activities." He noted however that, over time, changes have begun to
be observed in the behaviour of the leaders of the local
administration in northern Iraq.

Babacan added that, as a result of these changes, the Turkish special
representative in Iraq began to have direct contact with the local
administration in northern Iraq.

Kirkuk problem

Underscoring that Turkey is working intensively on the Kirkuk issue,
Babacan said: "An injudicious local election would bring disaster to
Kirkuk with the current demographic structure of that city. Problems
that may surface in Kirkuk may spread to all of Iraq and this may have
extremely adverse consequences."

Armenia

Commenting on relations with Armenia, Babacan said that initiatives
related to that country must be viewed within the context of Turkey’s
policies with regard to the Caucasus region in general.

Explaining that work related to the proposal on a Caucasus Alliance is
continuing, Babacan said that regional problems will be discussed in a
platform comprised of Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and
Georgia.

Noting that there is continuing diplomatic traffic with Armenia,
Babacan said that he understands the concerns that have been expressed
with regard to this process and that his ministry will keep these in
mind.

Babacan disclosed that Armenia wants a certain level of secrecy in the
ongoing negotiations with regard to any steps that may be taken and
any associated details. He continued: "We believe that it is important
to establish lasting stability and peace in the Caucasus without
making any concessions from our national interests or our point of
view."

The foreign minister added: "The normalization of relations between
Armenia and Azerbaijan and between Turkey and Armenia are truly and
extremely important for the stability of our region. This is the goal
we have set. This is not an easy goal. There are problems that have a
history of many years. Nonetheless, there is a strong resolve in these
three countries."

ARMENIAN JOURNALIST: PRESS EXHIBIT INTERESTING

IRNA
Nov 21
Tehran

Iran-Press-Exhibit

An Armenian journalist evaluated the ongoing Press and News Agencies
Exhibition as "good," saying that it provided an opportunity for him
to get familiar with the Iranian and other countries’ journalists.

Speaking to IRNA, Armen Manvelian, Deputy Editor of Azg Daily, added
that Iranian newspapers are very professional.

He said that this is the first time he visits Iran and he has found
it very interesting.

He further said that the first source for him to see Iran’s news
is IRNA.

ENVOY SAYS IRAN CAN MEDIATE KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

Azeri Press Agency
Nov 19 2008

Baku, 19 November: "The steps taken by the OSCE Minsk Group toward
resolution of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict may take forever. On
the other hand, the world no longer believes that super powers
treat problems fairly," the Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan, Naser
Hamidi-Zare’, has said.

Iran is concerned about the continuing state of war between the
two countries [Azerbaijan and Armenia] that are its neighbours,
the ambassador said. "Along with other mediators, Iran too can
take steps that may yield positive results toward resolution of the
conflict. This issue was stated frankly during meetings between the
Iranian and Azerbaijani presidents, as well as during the visit of
the Iranian foreign minister to Baku. Both sides confirmed that this
option is possible."

In the opinion of the diplomat, in order for Iran’s mediation to
be accepted, Azerbaijan and Armenia need to come to terms with
the reality. "Everybody knows that similar conflicts had gone on
for decades and were then cast aside. Armenia and Azerbaijan can
sincerely approach Iran for assistance in the resolution [of the
conflict]. However, this issue has to be announced by state officials
of both countries. At any rate, it must be taken into consideration
that Iran is a regional country and we know each other well. In this
aspect we could develop our ties in the future as well."

The Iranian ambassador also touched on the fact of the occupation of
Azerbaijani territories. "As a Muslim nation, the people of Azerbaijan
have not lost their determination. The people still view the occupied
territories as their motherland. Both common people and the elite
must untiringly continue the struggle for a peaceful settlement to
the conflict."

FORUM 18 NEWS SERVICE, Oslo, Norway

The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one’s belief or religion
The right to join together and express one’s belief

========================================== ======
Wednesday 19 November 2008
TURKMENISTAN: WHY CAN’T BELIEVERS FREELY ENTER, LEAVE OR REMAIN IN THE
COUNTRY?

As in previous years it appears that the government will allow only 188
Muslims to go on the haj pilgrimage to Mecca this year directly from
Turkmenistan. "Only those on the official list who have been approved by
the Cabinet of Ministers will go to Mecca on the one aeroplane," one source
told Forum 18 News Service from Ashgabad. Would-be pilgrims must present an
application form to their imam, who hands it to the regional authorities
who pass it on to Ashgabad, a Muslim told Forum 18 from Turkmenbashi. He
said two or three pilgrims are travelling this year from the city, while
the waiting list is long. Meanwhile, the daughter of a Baptist pastor
expelled from Turkmenistan in 2007 was herself obliged to leave in early
November, despite being married to a Turkmen citizen. By contrast,
relatives of another Baptist former prisoner were banned from leaving for
Russia in the summer when they arrived at the airport. The new Moscow-based
Russian Orthodox bishop for Turkmenistan is planning to make his first ever
visit to the country.

TURKMENISTAN: WHY CAN’T BELIEVERS FREELY ENTER, LEAVE OR REMAIN IN THE
COUNTRY?

By Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service <;

As has been the practice for many years, it appears that only 188 Muslim
pilgrims are being allowed to take part directly from Turkmenistan in this
year’s haj pilgrimage to Mecca which begins later this month, Forum 18 News
Service has learned. "Only those on the official list who have been
approved by the Cabinet of Ministers will go to Mecca on the one
aeroplane," one source told Forum 18 on 19 November from the capital
Ashgabad [Ashgabat]. "The government draws up the list and orders the
aeroplane."

The government often prevents those it does not like – including prominent
religious believers – from leaving the country. The government has also
expelled from the country over recent years active members of religious
communities who do not hold Turkmen passports, even if they have been
living in the country for many years. Obliged to leave Turkmenistan at the
beginning of November because of the authorities’ repeated refusal to issue
a residence permit was Tatyana Kalataevskaya, the daughter of an expelled
Baptist pastor.

At the same time, Turkmenistan’s strict entry criteria prevent local
religious communities from freely inviting their fellow-believers from
abroad, leaving them often isolated from international contacts.

The government website reported on 4 November that President Gurbanguly
Berdymukhamedov had signed a decree arranging for 188 pilgrims to travel on
the haj between 24 November and 14 December. It said the national airline
had been ordered to organise a special flight on a Boeing 757 to Saudi
Arabia and back, which the airline itself was to pay for.

The quota for pilgrims assigned to Turkmenistan by the Saudi government
has never been officially announced, but is believed to be about 5,000.
Turkmenistan has a population of some 6 million, the majority of them of
Muslim background.

This year the mainly-Muslim southern Russian region of Dagestan – with a
population of some 2.5 million – is expecting to send at least 8,000
pilgrims from Russia’s quota, with the Dagestani government hoping to send
even more. Uzbekistan – with a population of some 27 million – is expecting
to send 5,000 pilgrims, while Kyrgyzstan – with a population of more than 5
million – is expecting to send 4,500.

The haj pilgrimage is compulsory at least once in their lifetime for
Muslims who are able to perform it (there are exemptions, for example for
ill health) within Dhu al-Hijja, the twelfth and final month in the Islamic
calendar. However, given that for many years the Turkmen authorities have
allowed no more than 188 pilgrims each year, this is an obligation that the
vast majority of the country’s Muslims are unable to fulfil.

The Turkmen authorities have never explained why they allow only one
aeroplane of pilgrims to travel. However, for the 2007 pilgrimage they
claimed that in addition to the official party, pilgrims were allowed to
travel on the haj independently. But the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Ashgabad
confirmed to Forum 18 in 2007 that the only pilgrims directly from
Turkmenistan were those on the officially-sponsored aeroplane (see F18News
14 December 2007 < 1062>).

Diplomats at the Saudi Arabian Embassy refused to tell Forum 18 on 12
November what this year’s quota for pilgrims from Turkmenistan is, nor how
many haj visas it has issued. An official of the Iranian Embassy in
Ashgabad told Forum 18 on 19 November that it was his understanding that
only the official aeroplane is authorised by the Turkmen authorities to
take pilgrims on the haj. He said his embassy is willing to give transit
visas to haj pilgrims, but that restrictions are "from the Turkmen side".

No one at the government’s Gengeshi (Council) for Religious Affairs was
prepared to explain the procedures to Forum 18 on 17, 18 or 19 November or
why so few pilgrims out of the country’s quota are allowed to go. The man
who answered the phone of deputy chairman Nurmukhamed Gurbanov on 18
November immediately hung up as soon as Forum 18 introduced itself. Also
hanging up on 18 November after Forum 18 had introduced itself was the
woman who answered the phone of Shirin Akhmedova, the head of the
government’s National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights.

Nor were any officials of local hyakimliks in several districts of
Ashgabad or in several other cities prepared to explain the procedures to
Forum 18.

One Ashgabad-based source told Forum 18 on 19 November that the Cabinet of
Ministers makes all the arrangements, using the Gengeshi for Religious
Affairs under its jurisdiction. The source said would-be pilgrims have
their documents processed through the local religious affairs official in
the hyakimlik (administration) where they live, though all the decisions on
who may or may not travel are taken in Ashgabad. "The procedure is not
published," the source lamented.

A Muslim in the Caspian port city of Turkmenbashi [Türkmenbashy, formerly
Krasnovodsk] told Forum 18 that Muslims who want to go on the haj must fill
in an application form and hand it to the city’s imam. The imam then passes
on the application to the velayat (regional) authorities, who then process
the application from there. Would-be pilgrims have to present their
passport and local residence registration with the application.

"People are then added to the queue – which is about 1,000 long here in
Turkmenbashi," the Muslim told Forum 18 on 19 November. "I’m in the queue,
but I haven’t asked what number I’m at. Some people on the list become ill,
so can’t travel when their name comes up, so someone else is then able to
go." The Muslim would not say how many years those on the local list have
to wait for a place to become available. He said that two or three pilgrims
are travelling on this year’s haj from Turkmenbashi, a city with a
population of some 70,000.

On 11 November Deutsche Welle’s Central Asian service quoted one would-be
pilgrim as declaring that the authorities deliberately choose the most
"loyal" Muslims to go on the official list, and select Sunnis rather than
Muslims from the minority Shia community. It added that the authorities do
not want those who have studied Islam in Turkey or Pakistan to increase
their authority and influence by going on the haj.

Deutsche Welle adds that some would-be pilgrims make their way to Turkey
without telling the Turkmen authorities that they are going on the haj.
They then make arrangements from there. Sources have also told Forum 18 of
such independent would-be pilgrims who travel to third countries in a bid
to travel on the haj.

Meanwhile, Tatyana Kalataevskaya, the daughter of Baptist pastor
Vyacheslav Kalataevsky, had to leave Turkmenistan on 1 November, the family
told Forum 18 from Ukraine on 17 November. "She wasn’t forced to leave, but
the Turkmen authorities did nothing to allow her to remain," the family
reported. They say the Migration Service visited her at her home in
Ashgabad and promised a residence permit by the end of October. However,
they said later that no order had been received "from above" to issue the
permit so they could not do so.

"The authorities didn’t say why they were not giving permission – we can
only guess that the reason is religious," the family told Forum 18,
"because of everything they did to our family."

Kalataevskaya was born in Ukraine but went to live in Turkmenistan in 1999
when her family returned there. In what the family believes is part of
government pressure on it, Kalataevskaya was among family members denied a
residence permit in 2005. Without a residence permit her marriage to a
Turkmen citizen could not be registered officially. Their two children were
born in Turkmenistan.

Kalataevsky – a Ukrainian citizen who led an independent Baptist
congregation in his native city of Turkmenbashi – was imprisoned from March
2007. Freed in November 2007 he was forced to leave Turkmenistan the
following month after the authorities refused his application to remain
with his wife and children. Before his enforced departure, officials warned
Kalataevsky that any services his church held would be illegal and tried to
force him to sign a statement declaring that it would not meet (see F18News
21 November 2007 < 1050>).

"Although my father and brother still live in Turkmenistan, my return is
closed," Kalataevsky told Forum 18. "All methods of return are blocked."

Fellow-Baptist Yevgeny Potolov, also from Turkmenbashi and a Russian
citizen, was arrested soon after Kalataevsky. He was deported from
Turkmenistan in July 2007 (see F18News 15 August 2007
< e_id=1008>).

Barred from leaving Turkmenistan in June was Artygul Atakova, wife of
former Baptist prisoner Shageldy Atakov. Baptists told Forum 18 that she
and six of her children had tickets for the flight to Russia, where she was
due to have medical treatment. Although all their tickets and documents
were in order, all seven were refused permission to check in and board the
flight at Ashgabad Airport. When her husband asked for a written
explanation of why she and the children were barred from travelling,
officials responded: "The MSS have given us an order not to allow you and
your family out of the country."

The Atakov family – all of them Turkmen citizens – live in the village of
Kaakhka near Ashgabad.

In May 2006 Atakov was due to fly to Moscow to meet fellow Baptists. He
already had a ticket, had passed through passport control at Ashgabad
Airport and was sitting in the aeroplane when officers of the MSS secret
police took him off the flight shortly before takeoff was due. The
Migration Service told Forum 18 he was denied permission to leave because
he was on the exit black list (see F18News 31 May 2006
< e_id=790>).

Atakov was imprisoned for his faith on trumped-up charges from December
1998 to January 2002. He was freed early after the Turkmen government bowed
to international pressure. However, to the surprise of officials, Atakov
rejected the government’s offer for him to emigrate. He is now suffering
from diabetes which he attributes to the years of maltreatment in prison,
Baptists told Forum 18.

However, some of those who earlier have been barred from leaving
Turkmenistan to punish them for their religious activity have been able to
travel abroad this year. Sources told Forum 18 that one Ashgabad-based Hare
Krishna devotee was allowed to travel to India in early 2008 to take part
in the Gaura Purnima (Golden Full Moon) festival – the first time the
devotee had been able to travel abroad for many years. The devotee had
earlier been given a five-year foreign travel ban "with no explanation".
However, the devotee was not allowed to re-enter Turkmenistan with any
religious books.

Jehovah’s Witnesses report no progress in the planned visit of a foreign
delegation to the country to meet local Jehovah’s Witnesses and to discuss
the situation of their communities with officials. "We’re very much
interested in having a delegation go," Jehovah’s Witnesses told Forum 18
from elsewhere in Central Asia on 19 November. "We want to discuss with
higher officials and remove any possible misunderstandings." They report
that earlier contacts with the Turkmen Embassy in Washington DC have not
led to any offers of visas.

The last known visit to Turkmenistan by a clergyman of the Armenian
Apostolic Church was back in 1999, although the country has a long-standing
ethnic Armenian minority. Members of the community have made attempts to
restart religious activity but the authorities have always rejected these
attempts (see F18News 24 May 2006
< e_id=787>).

A handful of foreign visitors invited by local religious communities have
been able to come to Turkmenistan. Members of the Seventh-day Adventist
Church told Forum 18 that Artur Stele (who leads the Euro-Asia Division of
the Church) and his wife Galina were able to visit the local church from
Russia in September, the first time any Adventist leader has been able to
visit the country with an official work visa in more than eight years.

One foreign religious leader with pastoral oversight in Turkmenistan who
has not yet visited the country is Bishop Feofilakt (Kuryanov) of the
Russian Orthodox Church. The 34-year-old bishop was named by the Holy Synod
on 6 October as the first head of the Patriarchal Deanery, the body
overseeing the dozen or so Russian Orthodox parishes in Turkmenistan under
the authority of Patriarch Aleksy. Although the news was reported on the
pro-government Turkmenistan.ru website, Forum 18 has been unable to find
any local Turkmen media which published news within the country of Bishop
Feofilakt’s appointment.

The parishes in Turkmenistan were transferred by the Holy Synod in October
2007 from the jurisdiction of the Central Asian Diocese based in the Uzbek
capital Tashkent after heavy pressure from the Turkmen authorities (see
F18News 19 October 2007
< e_id=1037>).

Bishop Feofilakt told Forum 18 from Moscow on 7 November that he has never
visited Turkmenistan. He added that he was planning his first visit and was
preparing to lodge his visa application with the Turkmen embassy in Moscow.

Metropolitan Kirill, head of the Department of External Church Relations
at the Patriarchate, visited Turkmenistan in May 2008, the first time a
Russian Orthodox bishop visited the country since Metropolitan Vladimir of
Tashkent made a short pastoral visit in 2003 while the parishes were within
his jurisdiction.

Finally able to visit Turkmenistan at the government’s invitation in
September 2008 was Asma Jahangir, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on
Freedom of Religion or Belief. Jahangir’s predecessor, Abdelfattah Amor,
requested permission to visit in 2003, but received no response. Jahangir
renewed the request in 2005, eventually leading to the September visit.

Jahangir said in Ashgabad at the conclusion of her visit that she was told
by "virtually all" of her interlocutors "that the situation has much
improved since 2007". However, she added that "individuals and religious
communities still face a number of difficulties when manifesting their
freedom of religion or belief". She pointed to the continuing ban on
unregistered religious worship, "vague provisions" in the Religion Law that
could lead to misuse, restrictions on religious literature, restrictions on
building, opening and renting places of worship, and the lack of an
alternative to compulsory military service.

In contrast to her 5 September meeting with President Berdymukhamedov,
which was widely reported on local television and the press, Jahangir’s
final press conference and statement went unreported in Turkmenistan’s
government-controlled media.

Human Rights Watch is aware of at least three incidents in which
representatives of three different religious communities in Ashgabad were
warned by the security services not to meet Jahangir during her visit.
(END)

For a personal commentary by a Protestant within Turkmenistan, on the
fiction – despite government claims – of religious freedom in the country,
and how religious communities and the international community should
respond to this, see < 728>.

For a personal commentary by another Turkmen Protestant, arguing that
"without freedom to meet for worship it is impossible to claim that we have
freedom of religion or belief," see
< _id=1128>.

More reports on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Turkmenistan
can be found at
< mp;religion=all&country=32>.

For more background information see Forum 18’s religious freedom survey of
Turkmenistan at < 1167>.

A survey of the religious freedom decline in the eastern part of the
Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) area is at
< id=806>, and of religious
intolerance in Central Asia is at
< id=815>.

A printer-friendly map of Turkmenistan is available at
< s/atlas/index.html?Parent=asia&Rootmap=turkme& gt;.
(END)

© Forum 18 News Service. All rights reserved. ISSN 1504-2855
You may reproduce or quote this article provided that credit is given to
F18News

Past and current Forum 18 information can be found at

A SESSION OF RA GOVERNMENT’S CHARITABLE PROJECT COORDINATION COMMISSION WAS HELD, CHAIRED BY COMMISSION HEAD SIMON TER-SIMONYAN

ion_centre_8/official_news_en.php?&date=122660 6400
Friday, 14th of November, 2008

9 projects have been discussed. In particular, the commission has
approved the following projects carried out by Hayastan All-Armenian
Fund: "Capital repair of an administrative building in Ditavan
village of Tavush marz," "Fabricaton of the top prize symbolizing
the RA President’s educational award in the field of information
technologies," "Installation of furniture in secondary schools 3,
4, 6 and 7 of Artik town of Shirak marz," "Dissemination of printed
matter dedicated to Telethon-2008," "Advertising clip preparation in
anticipation of Telethon-2008."

The session also endorsed a number of projects sponsored by Anoushavan
Abrahamyan Educational Foundation, namely: "Fabrication, installation
of windows and frame design work for the Armavir industrial
teacher-training college, the arts and crafts colleges of Hrazdan
and Maralik towns, as well as for the State College of Vardenis town."

The meeting has also discussed and approved several sub-programs
under the standing ones, as well as projects on import of charitable
freight destined to various organizations operational in Armenia.