LEVON ARONYAN WILL PLAY IN LINARES
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[12:04 pm] 09 February, 2007
Armenian chess grand master Levon Aronyan will participate in the
Linares chess super tournament which he won last year.
The first round of the tournament will be held in February 17-25 in
Morelia, Mexico, with the participation of Aronyan, Topalov, Anand,
Morozevich, Leko, Svidler, Rajabov and Carlsen. The second round will
be held in Linares, Spain, on March 3-10.
TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER IN USA EXPECTS "DESIRED" MOVES ON REBEL KURDS’ PARTY
Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Feb 6 2007
WASHINGTON (A.A) -06.02.2007 -"Certain developments on terrorist PKK
are likely to take place as desired by Turkey", said Abdullah Gul,
Turkish FM and Deputy PM, on Monday.
Gul talked to the press corps after meeting the United States
Vice-President Dick Cheney and National Security Adviser Stephen
Hadley.
"Both meetings were fruitful. You all know the important topics. The
future of Iraq, Armenian resolution and the fight against terrorism
were among them," told Gul.
Asked if Vice-President Cheney promised the closure of PKK camps in
north of Iraq, Gul replied that he saw a serious approach from VP
Cheney to the terrorist PKK problem.
"It is not possible to explain the presence of a terrorist organization
in a friendly country (Iraq) and which is controlled by allies,"
remarked Gul.
In response to a question on the postponement of the referendum in
Kirkuk, Gul indicated that Kirkuk is an Iraqi city and that sectarian
violence should not be spread into this city. "It is highly important
for everyone to live in peace in Kirkuk," underlined Gul.
In reply to a question on the resolution related to the so-called
Armenian genocide (which was submitted to US congress), Gul underscored
that the Bush administration will do what it takes on this matter.
Meanwhile, sources indicated that Gul-Cheney meeting lasted longer
than planned. The two men discussed regional issues, especially energy
and security problems.
Gul also met representatives of prominent Jewish organizations in
Washington D.C. on Monday. Jewish leaders expressed their satisfaction
regarding the role played by Turkey in the region, and Turkey’s
relations with Israel.
Abdullah Gul is scheduled to meet the US Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice on Tuesday.
SAAKASHVILI SPEAKS OF REGIONAL RAILWAY, AS DEAL SIGNED
Civil Georgia, Georgia
Feb 7 2007
A new regional railway, Baku-Akhalkalaki-Kars, will link Asia with
Europe and turn into "a modern version of the new Silk Road," Georgian
President Mikheil Saakashvili said after negotiating with visiting
Turkish and Azerbaijani leaders in Tbilisi on February 7.
Speaking at the joint news conference with the Turkish and Azerbaijani
leaders, Saakashvili also said that Tbilisi does not want any country
of the region to be "isolated" from the regional cooperation.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev arrived in Tbilisi on February 7.
Three leaders signed Tbilisi declaration on common vision for regional
cooperation between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.
And Transport Ministers from Azerbaijan and Turkey and the Georgian
Economy Minister signed a separate agreement envisaging to launch
construction of the regional railway this year.
An additional agreement was signed between Azerbaijan and Turkey
envisaging allocation of USD 200 million to the Georgian side for
construction and rehabilitation of its section of Baku-Akhalkalaki-Kars
railway. Georgia will have to repay the loan with 1% annual
interest within 25 years. Georgia plans to use the revenues from the
Baku-Akhalkalaki-Kars railway to cover the loan.
"This is the project, which will lead to a geopolitical revolution
in our region, because this will be a new line that will connect
not only our three countries, but also interlink Asian and European
regions with each other," Saakashvili said at a joint news conference
with the Azerbaijani and Turkish leaders.
He said that the project which is worth of "several hundreds of
millions" of U.S. dollars will bring "several hundreds of billions"
in revenues.
"In a long-term perspective, this project is a serious guarantor for
success," he added.
"If until now Georgia was blocked due to the closure of the Russian
railway [there is no direct railway link with Russia as the Abkhaz
section is closed down], by 2010 the Georgian railway will turn into
a part the European railway system," Saakashvili said.
Armenia is against the Baku-Akhalkalaki-Kars railway, claiming that the
project will further isolate the landlocked country. As an alternative
to Baku-Akhalkalaki-Kars, Yerevan is pushing for reopening the already
existing Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi railway. The railway between the Turkish
town of Kars and Armenia’s Gyumri is currently not operational because
of trade blockades imposed on Armenia by Turkey and Azerbaijan.
In his remarks at the news conference President Saakashvili underlined
that he does not want "any of the country to be left outside" regional
cooperation which currently taking place.
"We want to have equal, transparent and friendly relations with each
of the neighboring countries. It is very important for us to prevent
isolation of any of the country of our region… Of course we want
equal and new neighborly relations with Armenia," Saakashvili said.
He said that the South Caucasian countries have no other alternative
rather than to establish "friendly relations among each other."
"I am sure that we have a clear future and today we will sign this
future. We will do our best to launch this grand construction [of
regional railway] this year and end it in shortest period of time,"
Saakashvili said.
SENIOR TURKISH POLICE OFFICER SUSPENDED IN DINK PROBE
ArmRadio.am
07.02.2007 16:36
A senior Turkish policeman has been suspended amid allegations police
had advance warning of the murder of ethnic Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink.
Ten officers and paramilitary policemen have already been suspended
in the Black Sea city of Samsun.
They were suspended after video images were leaked to the press
showing officers posing with a teenager who confessed to the murder.
The inquiry into the official handling of the case has raised serious
questions over the possible complicity of Turkey’s security forces
with extreme nationalist groups.
Investigators are looking into allegations that Istanbul police were
informed that Hrant Dink’s life was in danger eleven months before
he was killed.
Head of police intelligence here admits receiving a letter from
police in the city of Trabzon last February with a tip-off from an
informer. The Istanbul police intelligence chief made only superficial
inquiries and failed to pass the information on to his superiors.
For days a fierce debate has raged about possible links between those
who killed Hrant Dink and ultra-nationalist networks operating with
the state and security forces.
GEORGIAN PARTY LEADER FREED AFTER CASH SEIZURE
Prime-News
6 Feb 07
Tbilisi, 6 February: The chairwoman of the Imedi party, Irina
Sarishvili, was released late on Monday [5 February] after eight
hours of questioning at the Sadakhlo border checkpoint.
Sarishvili told journalists that investigators were not planning to
take any action against her at present, "however anything could be
expected from the current authorities".
Two of Sarishvili’s companions travelling with her from Armenia to
Georgia have also been released, but the driver of the car is still
being detained.
Sarishvili said that the gold found in the car belonged to the driver.
Sarishvili and her companions were detained on Monday. Apart 300
g of gold, 58,000 dollars and R7,000 not listed in their customs
declaration were found in the car.
DENIALIST TURKEY HAS LITTLE CHANCE TO JOIN EU
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.02.2007 17:03 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The recognition of the Armenian Genocide at the hands
of the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1917 has actually become fundamental in
the EU membership talks. Lenta.ru reminds that according to historical
data, some 1.5 million of ethnic Armenians were slaughtered during
those years. Ankara refuses to call it Genocide and describes the
mass killings as "forced migration of the people."
However, denialist Turkey seems to have little chance to join the
European Union. First, the French parliament passed a law criminalizing
the Armenian Genocide denial and providing for a 45 000-euro fine
or a year in prison. Now, if Europe approves the German law calling
for 3 years of imprisonment for denial of Holocaust, genocides and
military crimes in Africa and Balkans during the recent decades,
Ankara will have to change views on her own past," reports Lenta.ru.
AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION AVOIDS POLITICAL DEFINITIONS
Editorial
Yerkir.am
February 02, 2007
The American administration is against using political definitions
when describing the tragic events of 1915, Sean McCormak, the US State
Department spokesman, has said when answering a question regarding
the Armenian Genocide bill introduced in the Congress.
"Our policy is clear. We are mourning the 1915 tragic events
victims. We have never denies those events. The US president recognises
those atrocities every year but we are against political definitions
when describing that tragedy," McCormak has said.
At a news conference held in the Congress yesterday, several
congressmen said that the Genocide bill is on the agenda of the House
of Representatives and will be discussed in the days to come. The
bill enjoys the support of 160 congressmen.
On the initiative of the Armenian National Committee of America,
the sponsors of the plan to raise the Armenian flag in Rhode Island
in 2006 were honoured in Providence.
The event began six years ago. The goal is to raise the Armenian flag
throughout the state in memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. Last
April 24, the Armenian flag was raised in 37 towns of the state. Mayor
Scott Avetisian gave Armenian flags and certificates to all sponsors
at the ceremony in Providence.
OY LEADER HOPES THAT TOUGH ELECTOTAL CODE WILL PREVENT ELECTORAL FRAUD
DURING MAY PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
Yerevan, February 3. ArmInfo. The leader of Orinats Yerkir, MP Artur
Bagdassaryan hopes that the tough electoral code will prevent
electoral fraud during the May 12 parliamentary elections in Armenia.
In an interview with Kentron TV he says that his party will fight for
democracy during the elections. "I believe in God and I am sure that
we have enough political will and strength for a fight," says
Bagdassaryan.
CRU TWO HEADS MAKE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE STATEMENTS
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Those disputing through the court
system the decisions of the 17th congress have no relation with the
party. Those are state officials who are used by the authorities. This
is said in the February 1 statement spread on behalf of the
Constitutional Right Union (CRU) Chairmanship.
It is mentioned that at present some people removed from the party,
implementing the authorities’ order, attempt to take under the
authorities’ control both CRU and party’s "Iravunk" (Right) official
newspaper. According to the statement authors, for this purpose an
attempt was made still in the party’s congress to involve "agents of
the authorities" in the staff of the CRU heading bodies, but that
attempt failed.
To recap, because of misunderstandings arisen during the CRU congress,
party Chairman Hrant Khachatrian stated about his resignation and
leaving the political arena, after what CRU Deputy Chairman Hayk
Babukhanian was elected the party Chairman. The Court of First
Instance refused H.Khachatrian’s co-thinkers’ claim to recognize
invalid the results of the CRU 17th congress elections held on
September 16, 2006. But, the RA Appeal Court satisfied that claim on
January 31. H.Khachatrian stated on the same day that he will start
the process of curing the party. In his words, H.Babukhanian and his
co-thinkers are a group of conspirators who implemented innerparty
revolution.
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ALEKSAN HAROUTYUNYAN BECAME MEMBER OF NTB
[05:58 pm] 01 February, 2007
Under the February 1 order of President Kocharyan,
Aleksan Haroutyunyan was appointed a member of
National Television Board for six years’ term.
Reminder, Aleksan Haroutyunyan was the only candidate
who submitted an application for the post to the
tender commission.