Author: Navasardian Karapet

TURKISH JUDGES TO DECIDE WHETHER TO JOIN ‘CAGE’ WITH MALATYA KILLINGS

Hurriyet
April 15 2010
Turkey

Judges hearing a case about the murders of three Christians in Malatya
in 2007 announced Thursday a decision to consider whether to merge
the trial’s file with the "Cage Action Plan" case, which is scheduled
to open on June 15.

The "Kafes" (Cage) Action Plan called for the bombing of a museum
during a student visit, and also termed the killings of three
missionaries, the murder of Hrant Dink, a Turkish journalist of
Armenian origin, and the murder of Priest Andrea Santoro in Trabzon as
"operations."

The judges will now decide whether to combine the cases and will make
their announcement at the trial’s next hearing on May 14.

Those at the case, meanwhile, believe the shadowy group Ergenekon
is also involved. "We have no doubts about the connection of this
event with Ergenekon. We believe that prosecutors and judges are
under pressure," said Erdal Dogan, a joint attorney in the case.

The indictment of the case about the Cage plan, which was allegedly
prepared by members of the Navy, said the plan is the product of
an illegal organization with direct connection with the alleged
Ergenekon gang. The alleged Ergenekon gang purportedly aims to topple
the government by creating turmoil in society and allegedly includes
soldiers, politicians, academics, journalists and others.

Soldiers from the Navy, including admirals, are under arrest in the
scope of the case against the Cage plan.

In April 18, 2007, German Tilman Ekkehart Geske and Turks Necati
Aydın and Ugur Yuksel were stabbed to death in the Malatya office
of the Zirve Publishing House, for whom they were working.

Four suspects were detained at the scene, while a fifth, Emre
Gunaydın, was injured after jumping out of the third floor of the
building in a bid to escape.

The four suspects were arrested at the time, while two others were
arrested two years later upon the testimony of Gunaydın, who accused
them of inciting the murders. Those two suspects were later released
pending trial.

Meanwhile, in Thursday’s hearing, a letter from Burak Dogru, a convict
in the Central Anatolian province of Sivas, was read, alleging that
Varol Bulent Aral, one of the two men who allegedly incited the group
to kill the Christians in Malatya, also offered Dogru money to kill
the three victims 3.5 years ago.

According to Dogru’s allegations, Aral offered him money and state
support. "When I refused the offer he told me to forget what I knew,
otherwise I would not see the sunlight again."

SECURITY FORCES DID NOT PROTECT DINK, FORMER TOP POLICEMAN SAYS

Hurriyet Daily News
April 15 2010
Turkey

Too little security protection was given to assassinated journalist
Hrant Dink in the lead-up to his death, one of the country’s former
top policemen said during a Thursday court hearing.

"Suspect Erhan Tuncel [a former police informant] was removed from
his duty in November 2006. I think the Intelligence Department should
have been made to take an urgent position in line with my circular
note and taken a decision to protect [Dink]," said Sabri Uzun, the
former chief of Central Police Intelligence Unit.

Uzun was testifying as a witness in the hearing of a case against
a daily Milliyet reporter who has been indicted because of a book
he wrote about the murder of Dink, a Turkish journalist of Armenian
origin, news agencies reported Thursday.

The head of the police intelligence at the time of Dink’s murder, Uzun
said necessary measures were not taken despite his circular note sent
to provincial intelligence units that said Dink was a potential target.

Tuncel is among the main suspects of Dink murder and was a police
informant during the time when the murder of Dink was being planned.

Dink was a prominent journalist and the editor in chief of the
multi-lingual weekly Agos. In January 2007, he was shot and killed
in front of his newspaper’s office in Istanbul’s central Å~^iÅ~_li
district.

IF TURKEY MISCALCULATED, IT’S THEIR AFFAIR: NALBANDIAN

news.am
April 14 2010
Armenia

Sargsyan-Erdogan meeting in Washington offered an opportunity for
Armenian side to have coherent idea of Ankara’s stance on rapprochement
and reassure Yerevan’s accurate estimates. "We are now more confident
in expediency of our further steps and approaches.

Whenever the President sees fit, he will make the relevant decisions
public," minister added.

In addition, Turkish Premier tried to raise Karabakh issue, but got an
adequate response that Armenia-Turkey reconciliation cannot be linked
with Karabakh peace process, Nalbandian told Armenian journalists
in Washington.

"There are no grounds to discuss Karabakh issue with Turkey. Firstly,
Ankara cannot mediate Karabakh peace process, secondly Yerevan will
make no concessions to normalize relations with Turkey," he noted.

Nalbandian stated that linkage of the processes will hamper both,
and this opinion is shared by OSCE MG Co-Chairs as well.

"If Turkey miscalculated, it’s their affair. If Ankara changed
its stance after Protocols’ signing we should also make relevant
conclusions and wonder whether other party is the right partner for
dialogue continuation," the Minister said. According to him, if Turkey
indeed has no intention to kill the process, it should show readiness
to ratify and implement the Protocols, as well as normalize relations
with Armenia without preconditions not to fall short of international
community’s expectations.

Recently, Armenia cozied up to the U.S. and a high-level dialogue
was established. RA President’s meetings with President Obama and
Secretary Clinton allowed for the dialogue continuation, discussion of
Armenia-Turkey reconciliation as well as Karabakh issue, RA FM stated.

TURKISH PM: BORDER BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA TO BE OPENED AFTER RESOLVING OF ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI CONFLICT (UPDATE)

Trend
April 14 2010
Azerbaijan

It will be possible to open borders between Turkey and Armenia only
after resolving of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in Washington.

"Only resolving of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict can become the
basis for the opening of Turkish-Armenian border", CNN Turk quotes
Erdogan.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.

The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s resolutions
on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied
territories.

Erdogan said that one should not forget the true reason for closing
of borders between Turkey and Armenia in 1993. It was the occupation
of Azerbaijani lands.

Turkish Prime-Minister answered the issue of Armenian journalist
concerning removal of Azerbaijan from the peace process in the South
Caucasus. He confirmed that Azerbaijan is an integral part of a truce
in the region. It can never be removed from it.

"There is an important point as the establishment of comprehensive
peace in the region in the Turkish-Armenian protocols. It says that
Azerbaijan is an important part of a regional cease-fire. It can not
be excluded from the peace process," Erdogan said.

Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward
Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocols in Zurich Oct. 10.

Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey were broken due
to Armenian claims of an alleged genocide and its occupation of
Azerbaijani lands. Their border closed in 1993.

UNION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES ENTERPRISES IS 10

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 14, 2010 – 17:16 AMT 12:16 GMT

A jubilee congress of Union of Information Technologies Enterprises
(UITE), dedicated to the organization’s 10th anniversary, takes place
in Yerevan. Congratulating the Union on behalf of the government,
Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan noted that UITE is a serious
partner of the state, with which a dialogue can be established. "2009
turned to be a critical year – despite a reduction in GDP, a 17% growth
was recorded in the IT field. And it referred not only to the scope of
services, but also to the growth in companies’ number. This means that
our joint efforts already yield results. It is important that we enjoy
international organizations’ support as well," said Tigran Sargsyan.

He noted that despite a significant growth in the IT field over recent
years, the field representatives are unhappy with the low rate of
reforms. Mr. Sargsyan promised that the existing problems will be
overcome due to cooperation with the government. Specifically, he
referred to the Law on Control over Export of Dual-Purpose Goods,
which was amended recently and caused discontent of UITE. According
to the Prime Minister, the government jointly with representatives of
the field will try to do so that the security regime does not hamper
IT development in the country.

UITE CEO Karen Vardanyan stated that primary goals of the organization
include assistance to the newly established organizations, enlargement
of the Union’s services, introduction of a center on Internet-traffic
exchange, as well as education in the IT field. He noted that in
2010 they plan to develop a concept on the IT field development and
to improve the organizational level of ArmTech exhibition.

Around 150 representatives of the Armenian government, ministries
and agencies, as well as international organizations and IT-companies
participate in the congress.

Union of Information Technologies Enterprises NGO has been
representing interests of enterprises in the field of information and
telecommunication technologies since 2000. The Union has been founded
by private IT-companies of Armenia. According to most recent data,
it unites 40 companies.

LEADING ARMENIAN ORGANIZATION URGE SARKISIAN TO PROMOTE GENOCIDE RECOGNITIONS

Asbarez
Apr 11th, 2010

Leading Armenian civic, religious and social service organizations
called on Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian to urge President Barack
Obama to honor his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide and stand
strong against Turkish Government efforts to use the Turkey-Armenia
Protocols to block international genocide affirmation efforts.

The April 9 letter cited the Armenian American community’s efforts
to secure U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide, including the
recent House Foreign Affairs Committee consideration of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution (H.Res.252), which passed with a vote of 23-22,
despite strong opposition from the Turkish Government and the Obama
Administration. The letter noted broad-based community concern
regarding the use of the Turkey-Armenia Protocols by resolution
opponents, urging a "united front" by Diasporan Armenians and the
Armenian people and State against such efforts to undermine the
historic rights of the Armenian Nation.

The letter goes on to urge President Sargsyan to stand strong by his
own words against the misuse of a so-called "historical commission"
to call into question the Armenian Genocide and to continue calls to
President Obama and international leaders to recognize the Armenian
Genocide. The signatories also called on the Armenian President to
announce that the Turkey-Armenia Protocol discussions cannot continue
"given Turkey’s unconstructive and adversarial policy" throughout
the process.

We present the complete text of the letter below:

As one of the Armenian diaspora’s largest and most organized
communities, Armenian-Americans for decades have been carrying the
torch of Armenian Genocide recognition and the restoration of our
historical rights.

As you well know, one of the latest successes of this long struggle
was the passage of the Genocide Resolution in the US House Foreign
Affairs Committee. This was not an easy victory. Many congressmen
used the excuse of not jeopardizing the Armeno-Turkish reconciliation
process to escape from supporting this resolution.

It is imperative that the Armenian people – of Diaspora and Homeland –
along with the government, present a common front when facing such
destructive obstacles in our path of internationalizing Armenian
Genocide recognition, which will only serve to restore our rights.

On April 12-13, 2010, you will be present at the Nuclear Security
Summit to be held in Washington, DC.

We therefore call on you, Honorable President, to bolster the hard
work of Armenian-Americans by using this opportunity to publicly
appreciate the passage of House Res. 252, and the Congressmen who
voted for its passage; you will thereby send a message to the whole
world by emphasizing the importance of internationalization of Armenian
Genocide recognition, based on the following principles:

1 – The intergovernmental commission called for in the protocols,
designed to promote "historical cannot question the historical fact
of the Armenian Genocide. Quoting from your remarks in the April 4,
2010 issue of Der Spiegel:

"The creation of such a commission will undermine the historical facts
of the Armenian Genocide. That is unacceptable for us. The creation
of such a commission would only have a meaning if Turkey confessed
to its crime. At that point, scientists could analyze the reasons
for this horror."

2 – The dialogue between Armenia and Turkey and the signed protocols
cannot be used as an excuse to derail the Armenian Genocide recognition
process. Quoting from your remarks in Der Zor on March 24, 2010:
"We do not accept the usage of Armeno-Turkish rapprochement as an
excuse to escape from the recognition of the Genocide."

3 – Call on the US President and the international community to
officially recognize the Armenian Genocide. As you have said, "America,
Europe, Germany, and all other governments that are involved in the
Armeno-Turkish reconciliation process should announce their position
publicly. If all these governments had recognized the Genocide,
Turks would not make such pronouncements."

4 – And finally, we hope and expect – considering the hardening and
threatening posture of Turkey – that while in Washington, you will
announce that the process between Armenia and Turkey that has begun
with these signed protocols cannot continue because of Turkey’s
destructive and antagonistic posture.

We are certain that our plea will be echoed. We believe that, as
Armenia’s President, following Der Zor and Yerevan, you will continue
to call for justice in memory of the victims, in Washington also.

Armenian-Americans, with our aim of strengthening our nation, will
continue our efforts to preserve our homeland’s national security and
future prosperity. It is our expectation that the President of Armenia
and the Armenian government stand with the Diaspora by utilizing
your government’s powers in the effort toward the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide and the just resolution our cause.

We look forward to your public appearances.

Armenians Have Won Two Gold and Three Silver in European Weightlifting
Championship 2010

11:42 – 10.04.10

Armenian weightlifters record good results in 85 kg category in the
European Weightlifting Championship 2010.

Ara Khachatryan lifted 165 kg in the snatch combination winning the
third place (he weighs less), while Gevorik Poghosyan became the 4th
lifting the same weight. The small gold was won by the Belarusian
weightlifter Mikayla Novikau (171 kg) , and the Turkish sportsman Izet
Insen won the second place with 170 kg.

In the jerk combination Gevorik Poghosyan lifted 204 kg, while Ara
Khachatryan – 203 kg. With these results the Armenian weightlifters
had already secured the second place and had to compete with each
other for the gold medal.

Ara Khachatryan failed to lift 204 kg, and Poghosyan won the medal.
The bronze was won by the Ukrainian weightlifter Yuri Chikida who
lifted 197.

So Gevorik Poghosyan lifted a total of 369 kg, while Ara Khachatryan
lifted only one kilogram less.

The Armenian team of weightlifters has already won 2 gold and 3 silver
medals in the European Weightlifting Championship 2010.

Tert.am

Villages Do Not Attract Even the Rich: Lernik Aleksanyan

12:50 – 10.04.10

`There is no intermediate ring between the Ministry of Agriculture and
our villagers,’ a Republican Party of Armenia Deputy Lernik Aleksanyan
said at a press conference today devoted to the topic of creating
farming co-operations.

Aleksanyan at the same time mentioned that the Ministry of Agriculture
does take steps to regulate the sector, but the ministry staff does
not have a clear idea of the problems the villagers have.

`Today the villager is alone and has problems in the judicial field,
problems related to irrigation water system,’ said Aleksanyan, adding
that a coordinated program is necessary to improve the life of
villagers and life in villages in general.

He also mentioned that today villages do not attract even the rich who
will in no case invest there.

Tert.am

TURKISH ENVOY CONVEYS PM’S LETTER TO AZERBAIJAN

armradio.am
09.04.2010 18:37

Turkey has conveyed its concerns to the United States about Azerbaijan
not being invited to the upcoming nuclear summit in Washington, D.C.,
diplomatic sources have told the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review.

"We have passed on the message that it is not correct to not invite
Baku to an international event where Armenia will be represented,"
said the sources, adding that Washington responded by providing Ankara
with information about the criteria used to determine the states to
be invited to participate.

Heads of state and government from more than 40 countries will
participate in the summit hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama on
Monday and Tuesday.

Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu, Turkey’s
top diplomat, held talks Friday in Baku where he conveyed a letter from
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev. Diplomatic sources said the visit also aimed to compensate
for Baku’s non-participation in the nuclear summit.

In Baku, Sinirlioglu also met with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister
Elmar Memmedyarov, who had spoken by telephone a day previously with
his Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu.

Turkey has informed Baku about Sinirlioglu’s meetings in Yerevan
early this week and Davutoglu’s talks in France, one of the countries
co-chairing the Minsk Group, which aims to find a settlement to the
Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.

FOREIGN MINISTERS OF AZERBAIJAN AND TURKEY HAVE PHONE TALK

APA
April 9 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmad Davudoglu and his
Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov had a phone talk in the
evening on April 8, APA reports quoting TRT.

Ahmadoglu said that they got into touch before and after of each major
event. Davudoglu noted that he had informed Mammadyarov about the
visit of Turkish Foreign Minister’s spokesman and Prime Minister Rajab
Tayyip Erdogan’s special representative Firidun Siniroglu to Armenia,
as well as they had exchanged views with regard to the forthcoming
Erdogan-Sargsyan meeting in Washington. He said Mammadyarov that the
significant part of the recent meeting between Erdogan and French
president Nicolas Sarkozy was devoted to the Azerbaijan-Armenia
discord.