Author: Tamamian Anna

NO RED CARPET FOR DUTCH POPULIST: TURKEY FRETS ABOUT GEERT WILDERS’ PLANNED VISIT
By Bram Vermeulen

Spiegel Online
,1518, 663638,00.html
Nov 26 2009
Germany

Is Dutch right-wing politician Geert Wilders a persona non grata
in Turkey?

The Turkish government fears a scheduled visit by Dutch anti-Islam
politician Geert Wilders, saying it could dent Turkish relations with
the Netherlands and Europe. But many secular and religious Turks say
they would welcome a debate with the polemic politician.

A planned visit to Turkey by Dutch members of parliament is up in the
air after the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said the delegation
would not be welcome if it included Geert Wilders, the controversial
leader of the populist Dutch party Party for Freedom (PVV). Wilders,
known for his anti-Islam film "Fitna" and for comparing the Koran
to Hitler’s "Mein Kampf," strongly opposes Turkey’s accession to the
European Union.

Burak Ozugergin, from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, told the news
agency ANP: "Such a fascist and a racist is not only unwelcome in
Turkey but also in many European capitals. We can’t find anyone who
wants to meet him."

Wilders said he was dismayed by the Turkish position. "This is not
a democratic way to deal with a democratically elected politician,"
he said. "Turkey is showing its dirtiest face."

A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry in Ankara had earlier stressed
that no decision had been made on whether Geert Wilders would be
allowed to enter in January: "It is up to the prime minister to
publicly disclose it."

"We feel the ideas of Geert Wilders are racist and unacceptable," the
spokesperson said. "That is why no one here is eager to roll out the
red carpet for him, and neither are many other European capitals. The
media attention for his coming to Turkey will overshadow all other
members of the delegation and jeopardize the excellent relations we
have with the Netherlands. We have to draw the line somewhere."

The spat has sparked a flurry of Dutch media coverage. It was the
Turkish daily Aksam which on Tuesday broke the news of the ministry’s
worries about the forthcoming visit of Dutch members of parliament
including Geert Wilders, but the controversy got little attention in
other Turkish media.

Wilders is just one of many European politicians who are opposed
to Turkey joining the EU. Observers in Turkey pay more attention
to French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela
Merkel, who both oppose Turkish membership of the bloc and who wield
considerably more power than Wilders.

A Chat with Wilders?

But the ministry’s stance on Wilders doesn’t reflect the opinion
of the whole country. In fact, both secular and religious opinion
makers in Turkey who are familiar with Wilders say they would welcome
a conversation with the polemic politician, for reasons of their own.

Leyla Tavsanoglu is a columnist for the republican newspaper
Cumhuriyet, which has campaigned against political Islam ever since
it was founded in 1924. "Geert Wilders is a very interesting man. Do
you think he would have half an hour for me when he is here?" she
asked eagerly.

"I fear political Islam as much as he does," she said. "Because more
and more villages in Anatolia have banned alcohol, because my phone
is being tapped, because my 80-year-old boss has been arrested,
because someone threw a bomb over the fence here 18 months ago."

However she feels that Wilders’ solution is wrong. "It is precisely
because of these fears that we should admit Turkey into the European
Union," she says. "Or we will lose this country to radical Islam and
Europe will have a second Iran at its border. Surely that’s not what
he wants."

Secular Elite and Army Have Lost Power

Tavsanoglu’s point of view represents that of most secular Turks who
live in the affluent neighborhoods of Istanbul. She is the voice of
an elite that, over the past seven years, has been gradually losing
power to the emerging religious middle class, headed by the ruling
AKP party of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ironically, it was the very reforms required for EU membership that
led the secular Turkish elite, and especially its guardian, the
powerful Turkish army, to rapidly relinquish influence. Army generals
are now being prosecuted for conspiracies and alleged coups, as are
many secular and republican opinion leaders. These persecutions are
among the 10 reasons Wilders has listed on his Web site for blocking
Turkey’s entry to the EU.

"Normally, the army belongs in the barracks. But I will make an
exception for Turkey," Wilders wrote. "The Turkish army is the greatest
defender of Kemal Ataturk’s legacy, the man who compared Islam with a
rotting corpse. Without the corrective influence of the army, Turkey
would already be a second Iran."

This position is incomprehensible and indefensible, said Mustafa
Akyol, a columnist and deputy editor of the Turkish Daily News and
a practising Muslim. "Wilders forgets that Ataturk in his time (the
1920 and 30s) turned Turkey’s face to the West, but that the West
wasn’t a very pleasant place at the time. Many of the European fascist
and nationalist ideologies of the time, like that of authoritarian
one-party states, were thus imported to Turkey and the secular Turks
have held onto them until now."

‘The West’s Biggest Fans’

When Akyol saw Wilders’ film Fitna in 2008, he invited the Dutch
politician to meet with him over a Turkish coffee so that Akyol
could explain why he should not fear Turkish Islam. Given the chance,
he said, he would tell Wilders that the ruling AKP party, with its
roots in political Islam, has done more for democracy in Turkey than
any of its predecessors. The government has continued its overtures
to the Kurds and neighboring Christian Armenia, despite opinion polls
showing many Turks oppose them.

"The Islamic movement in Turkey has changed radically since the
1990s," Akyol says. "The anger against the West originated from the
anger against authoritarian secularism. This disappeared as soon
as people realized European democracy would actually give them more
rights as Muslims."

"Muslims are the West’s biggest fans here," he says. "Wilders has
nothing to fear. I would like to explain that to him."

Bram Vermeulen is NRC Handelsblad’s Turkey correspondent.

AGGRESSION AGAINST ARMENIA IS AGGRESSION AGAINST CSTO

Panorama.am
17:06 26/11/2009

Foreign aggression against any of Collective Security Treaty
Organization’s member state is aggression against CSTO, hence it’ll
follow support, including military support to its ally, Russian Dmitry
Medvedev told the reporters yesterday in Belarus. Russian President
stated that CSTO rapid reaction forces have been formed to support
its ally states when needed. "They are rapid reaction forces aiming
to solve those problems, including usage of military forces. It’s
worth reminding that according to CSTO resolution, which is similar to
NATO one, aggression against CSTO member state, is aggression towards
alliance. It’s a very deep definition, and we sometimes forget about
it, but partnership duties define that," Russian President declared.

THE PRIME MINISTER CALLED ON GOVERNMENT MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN ARMENIA FUND TELETHON

AZG DAILY
27-11-2009

Armenia-Diaspora-Artsakh

According to the government press service, yesterday during the
session of the government Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan called on
his ministers to participate in the Armenia Fund telethon devoted to
the reconstruction of Shushi.

Tigran Sargsyan said that his Karabakhi counterpart Ara Harutyunyan
left for the U.S.A. to participate in the telethon. The prime minister
said that everyone should take part in the telethon and set an example
to others. His family would also participate in the telethon.

IAEA PASSES RESOLUTION CONDEMNING IRAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.11.2009 20:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In its session in Vienna, International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) passed the first resolution rebuking Iran for
its nuclear program.

Out of 35 countries, 25 supported the document. Some of them are
permanent members of UN Security Council.

The resolution was adopted following Iran’s refusal to send its low
enriched uranium abroad.

ALIYEV IN RUSSIA TO SEEK FOR MEDVEDEV’S SUPPORT, AZERBAIJANI MEDIA SAY

Panorama.am
18:44 24/11/2009

Politics

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has left for Russia immediately
after his meeting with the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Munich.

The mission of Aliyev-Junior’s visit is officially reported to be
the official opening ceremony of H. Aliyev’s square in Ulianovsk.

Nevertheless, even the Azerbaijani media are convinced that Ilham
Aliyev has left for Russia seeking for Medvedev’s support over
Karabakh settlement.

"Two leaders will probably discuss the Karabakh conflict regulation
plan in Ulianovsk. Aliyev is supposed to ask for Russia’s support
over some issues, like the withdrawal of the Armenian troops from
Nagorno-Karabakh territory. Instead, Azerbaijan can offer Russia a
number of gas privileges," Vesti.az says.

This sounds quite intriguing. The reporter evidently wanted to make
an impression as if Azerbaijan is intent to make Russia a kind of
suggestion which the latter will find hard to refuse. Moscow may not
resist the gas offer temptation. Anyway, we will refer to this as
Moscow shows certain steps over its reaction to Azerbaijan’s offer.

What comes to be most capturing here is another issue. The Azerbaijani
website reveals that Ilham Aliyev has left for Russia to ask for
something he is eager to have, which, however, he has neither had by
now, nor hopes to have in the future. It goes about the "withdrawal
of the Armenian troops." Yesterday all the Azerbaijani media spread
information as if the Armenian troops will withdraw from Kelbajar
by yearend.

Of course, President’s spokesman commented on this and assured this
was a mere disinformation. Greater the amazement came to be as those
spreading the disinformation confessed it themselves a day after.

INVESTMENTS OF EBRD IN 2009 IN ARMENIA WILL BE $150 MILLION

ARKA
Nov 24, 2009

YEREVAN, November 24. /ARKA/. "Investments of European Bank of
Reconstruction and Development in Armenia will make $150 million in
2009 versus $75 million in 2008", said Olivier Descamps, Director
of Business-group of EBRD for the countries of South-East Europe,
Caucasus and Central Asia.

In 2009 EBRD continued to remain the partner of Armenia and undertook
serious risks by implementing record-breaking investments in 2009
in Armenia. "We made investments in the amount of $150 million and
today we are the largest investors in Armenia.

We work by partnership and credit programs with 11 banks, as well as
implement the largest corporate operations", said Descamps. About 65%
of the given amount is already invested; particularly the largest
transaction is provision of credit in the amount of $60 million to
the company "Electrical networks of Armenia". Till the end of 2009 it
is planned to sign another large agreement on share participation in
the program of funding the second phase of reconstruction of Armenian
airport "Zvartnots" in the amount of $40 million.

"The remaining amounts will be provided for smaller transactions
– from $1 million to $5 million, each for 12 operations which are
planned to implement in real sector of economy till the end of 2009",
said Descamps. EBRD is one of the largest investors in Armenia. Till
now EBRD had invested more than 335 million EURO in the implementation
of more than 70 programs in different sectors of economy of Armenia.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN MEETS CSTO SECRETARY GENERAL

armradio.am
24.11.2009 15:43

President Serzh Sargsyan today received the Secretary General of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization, Nikolay Bordyuzha.

Greeting the guest, President Sargsyan expressed gratitude for the
effective joint work and said: "I’d like to appreciate the pace of
cooperation within the framework of the CSTO and underline that a
serious work has been done over the recent period. It’s quite possible
that this was the first good precedent when an oral decision grew
into a document in a short period of time: collective rapid reaction
forces were established, and military exercises were conducted. I
do believe that in the near future we’ll complete the development of
normative acts, and our organization will become a stronger security
guarantee for its members."

President Sargsyan awarded Nikolay Bordyuzha with a Medal of Honor
of the Republic of Armenia. Expressing gratitude for the state award,
the CSTO Secretary General said he views it as an advance and he will
do his best for the Organization’s work to get more active and for
all problems to be solved more efficiently.

CSTO SECRETARY GENERAL: ARMENIA IS ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE MEMBER-STATES OF CSTO

ArmInfo
2009-11-24 11:31:00

ArmInfo. Armenia is one of the most active member-states of CSTO,
Secretary General of the organization Nikolay Bordyuzha said today at
the opening of a session on a topic "CSTO as a Stability and Security
Factor in the Caucasus".

"We organized the first session in Yerevan not because Armenia is the
first member- state of CSTO in alphabetical order but because it is
one of the most active members of the organization. This is indicated
by recent successful chairmanship of Armenia in CSTO", Bordyuzha said.

According to him, a number of useful, productive and interesting
proposals were advanced and implemented in this period, during which
the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces acquired a real shape, passing
a way from the idea of creation to large-scale exercises in Kazakhstan
in October.

RA NSC SECRETARY RECEIVES AMBASSADOR OF U.S.

NOYAN TAPAN
NOVEMBER 23, 2009
YEREVAN

Issues related to Armenian-American cooperation were discussed at
the November 23 meeting of RA National Security Council Secretary
Artur Baghdasarian and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of U.S. to RA Marie Yovanovitch.

According to the RA NSC Secretary’s Spokesperson, at U.S. Ambassador’s
request A. Baghdasarian presented NSC’s functions, as well as the
process of reforms carried out in varions directions in Armenia.

Regional problems, including normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations, were touched upon.

PRIME MINISTER ARA HARUTIUNIAN SPEAKS OF KARABAKH’S GROWING ECONOMY, AND OPPOSES RETREAT ON NATIONAL ISSUES
Emil Sanamyan

"Noravank" Foundation
23 November 2009

Ara Harutiunian discusses policy and politics

STEPANAKERT, NAGORNO-KARABAKH – Prime Minister Ara Harutiunian and
other Nagorno-Karabakh officials arrived in the United States this
week ahead of the annual Thanksgiving telethon organized by the
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund. On November 5, Washington editor Emil
Sanamyan spoke with Mr. Harutiunian in his office in Stepanakert. A
translation of that conversation follows. (Mr. Harutiunian’s bio
appears at the end of this interview.)

Emil Sanamyan: Mr. Prime Minister, earlier this week you made a
number of statements rejecting the territorial concessions envisioned
under what is known as the Madrid proposal for a Karabakh settlement,
unveiled by France, Russia, and the United States in July. At the time
the NKR Foreign Ministry broadly criticized the proposal, but your
comments were more specific. Could you elaborate on NKR’s position
with regard to that proposal?

Ara Harutiunian: The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has not been formally
presented with the Madrid proposal. We have seen the statement and
media commentary, but as long as we are not formally presented with
a proposal, we cannot officially accept or reject it.

That said, we have a position repeatedly articulated by our president
and other officials, a position that the international community
needs to appreciate.

First, the people of Artsakh have already exercised their right to
self-determination.

Second, in a popular referendum, we adopted our constitution, which
specifies that Artsakh’s territory is its present-day territory
comprising 11,400 sq km (4,400 sq mi), and it is not the territory
of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast.

Of course, we support the negotiation process and understand
that negotiations imply mutual compromises. But in the end, the
negotiations can produce results only when Artsakh authorities become
involved. Without our full participation, there will be no results.

Protocols ES: Another issue generating a lot of debate is the terms
of the Armenia-Turkey protocols signed on October 10. The Armenian
government has invested a lot of effort into that diplomatic initiative
and there has also been a lot of criticism of the protocols both in
Armenia and the diaspora. What is your view of that process?

AH: Generally we would welcome any step that contributes to
Armenia’s economic development. But such a step should not come with
preconditions or disregard our national dignity and identity.

The future of our country depends on economic development. Armenians
are business savvy, and if they don’t have opportunities in the
homeland, they will find them elsewhere; emigration leads to
demographic problems.

It is obvious that a Turkey-Armenia border opening would create new
opportunities for development. Those who argue that [Turkish imports]
would damage our economy are not correct. The same argument, after all,
could be made against countries we have open borders with, Georgia and
Iran. But that is not the case, and reflects a backward-looking policy.

Border opening with Turkey is important economically, but once again
it should come without preconditions, without historical revisionism,
and without a link to Artsakh negotiations.

If any one of these conditions is not met, we will be opposed and will
find the signing of these documents to be senseless. But as far as I
know, the president of the Republic of Armenia, in all his statements,
has ruled out any compromises on these issues.

I would stress once again that a solution to the Artsakh issue depends
on Artsakh itself. Any deals reached contrary to the will of Artsakh
people will remain on paper.

You will recall this is what happened when former Armenian President
Levon Ter-Petrosian agreed to the return of Kelbajar [after its capture
in April 1993]. Those efforts were in vain. Moreover, our army was able
to liberate Tigranakert, Kovsakan, and other areas [later in 1993].

Confident about security ES: As prime minister you deal mostly
with economic issues, but economics and security are quite
interconnected. Azerbaijan is continuing to arm itself and has
repeatedly expressed aggressive intentions. But there is little
Armenian criticism of this militarization and there is virtually no
criticism of countries selling weapons to Azerbaijan. Why not?

AH: We of course do not welcome Azerbaijan’s policy that allocates
so much money for its armed forces and weapons purchases, but there
is also little we can do to influence this process.

Instead, we do what we can to make Azerbaijan think twice before
launching hostilities. We have an efficient defense system that is
not limited to today’s standing army. Every citizen of Artsakh is a
[reservist] soldier and will defend his motherland the way we did in
the early 1990s.

Additionally, it is important to note that, say, the price of a
modern tank is in millions of dollars, while antitank weapons cost
only several thousand. We are not preparing for an aggression; we are
preparing for defense [so our costs are lower]. However, we also have
serious counterattack capabilities.

Each year, we implement large-scale programs aimed at increasing
capabilities of our army, and strengthening our defense perimeter.

Azerbaijan can make the calculations and knows that the Artsakh Army
will remain a guarantor of regional peace and stability for a long
time. We have made it clear that a new war would be very damaging for
Azerbaijan not just in human and financial terms, but also through
loss of territory.

We are confident about our capabilities and ready to confront any
aggressor.

Growing the diaspora-homeland link ES: Earlier today I visited the
Artsakh History Museum where a guide showed me a picture of your
older brother who was killed in the war.

This subject of war of course remains very close to everyone in
Artsakh.

But for many others, including in the diaspora, the war has become
a relatively distant memory and the sense of danger to Artsakh,
to Armenians, has largely passed. Why is Artsakh still important?

AH: It must be harder to maintain the attachment to your motherland
when you live far from it rather than when you live here. From far
you miss it, but nostalgia alone can be exhausted over the years.

To preserve this attachment to Armenia, to Artsakh, we encourage
diaspora Armenians to visit the motherland more often. Once you
visit and experience Artsakh, you will fall in love with Artsakh,
live Artsakh. Our policy now is to promote such visits.

In part for this purpose, we are now constructing an airport,
improving roads, improving the access to our historical and cultural
monuments. Excavations are underway at Tigranakert, which has a
significant meaning for the whole Armenian people. Works are also
underway at Amaras, Dadivank, and in Shushi. There are more and better
hotels, restaurants, and transportation in Artsakh than ever before.

The more our compatriots visit Artsakh, the stronger the connections
become. We understand that time can have an effect. But even from
far away, you do not stop loving your family or your motherland.

ES: What are your priorities for the Armenia Fund Telethon on
November 26?

AH: This year, donations made to the Fund will help development of
Shushi. Projects there include reconstruction of the former Shushi
girls’ school, which will house NKR’s Ministry of Culture. It is also
planned to move the local branch of [Armenia’s] Agriculture University
to Shushi.

We already began work to relocate NKR’s Supreme Court and other
judicial entities to Shushi. We hope to see these projects completed
in the next five to seven years.

Preparing for the 2010 elections ES: Last weekend the Free Motherland
party had its congress and elected you as its leader. What is the
history and political plans of this party?

AH: The Free Motherland party was established in January 2005 and I was
one of its founders. We participated in 2005 parliamentary elections,
and at the time came in second.

We also took part in the [2007] presidential elections and supported
the current president, Bako Sahakian. The main theses of our party’s
program were reflected in the election program of President Sahakian.

Today, our party has the biggest faction in the National Assembly,
holding 12 of 33 seats. We are now preparing for parliamentary
elections due next year and will have a new election program. Should we
win, we will present our program to the president and after receiving
his approval we will implement it.

ES: Is the president a member of your party?

AH: No.

ES: Are you already the main ruling party?

AH: No. In the last presidential elections, four parties including
Free Motherland, Artsakh Democratic Party, ARF (Dashnaktsutiun), and
Movement 88 supported the president. Today they all are represented
in parliament and are part of government.

ES: How does President Sahakian’s administration differ from former
president Arkady Ghukasian’s in 1997-2007? Are there significant
differences, or is it the continuation of the past administration?

AH: Of course the differences are significant. The [incumbent]
president has his own election program, working style, team, and ideas
for development. Of course all this is reflected in the country’s
economic indexes and demographic changes. Today Artsakh’s economy is
growing at a good pace in spite of the world economic crisis.

ES: Is that a result of the president’s efforts and foreign
investments?

AH: Yes, investments, economic policy, and implementation of
anti-corruption programs have all resulted in those indexes, and we
are working for this dynamic of development surely to continue.

ES: Thank you.

Editor’s note: The Reporter extends its gratitude to Aram Avetisyan
from the NKR Office in the United States for his assistance with
translation.

——————————- ————————————————-

Ara Harutiunian, 35, became the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s sixth
prime minister, having been appointed to the post in September 2007
by President Bako Sahakian.

Since October 2009, Mr. Harutiunian also returned to the post of
chair of the Azat Hairenik (Free Motherland) political party, which
has the largest bloc in Karabakh’s National Assembly and is currently
a favorite in next year’s parliamentary elections.

Prior to his appointment as prime minister, from 2005 to 2007 Mr.

Harutiunian was leader of Azat Hairenik party, a member of parliament,
and chair of the parliament’s budget committee.

Before entering politics, Mr. Harutiunian worked with ArmAgroBank,
heading its Askeran (1997-99) and Stepanakert (1999-2004) branches.

>From 1995 to 1997, he was an aide to the NKR minister of economy
and finance.

Mr. Harutiunian studied at Armenia’s Economics Institute and the
Artsakh State University, where he earned undergraduate (1996) and
master’s degrees in economics (1998).

Mr. Harutiunian is a veteran of the Karabakh war, having joined the
NKR Self Defense forces in 1992. He is married and has two children.