Author: Tashjian Arbi

Normalization of relations with Armenia and acknowledgement of
historical injustices will strengthen Turkey’s candidacy for membership
in the EU

2009-09-18 12:00:00

Interview of Turkish historian and sociologist Taner Akcam to ArmInfo
news agency

you assess the trustworthiness of recent agreements of Aug 31 by
Ministries of foreign affairs of Armenia and Turkey, which regard
signing of two protocols on establishing bilateral diplomatic relations
within 6 weeks?

I have no doubt about the trustworthiness of the agreement. If two
states engage in certain bilateral agreements, of course, they mean it;
if they don’t want to implement the plan that they have announced, they
will make themselves look ridiculous. So, I don’t think that
`trustworthiness’ is the important issue here. The main problem is
whether or not both governments possess the courage and political will
to overcome the obstacles to this agreement. Given the number of
domestic and international stakeholders with conflicting interests in
the process, coming to an agreement is no easy task.

Do these documents reflect real public opinion in Armenia and Turkey,
or they are merely a means of geopolitical pressure by US, Russia and
EU on Armenia and particularly on Turkey?

I cannot speak for Armenian society, but as for Turkish society, my
understanding from the Turkish press is that there is significant
popular support for the protocol. If two conflicting parties want to
normalize their relations, why should it be a problem and not to be
supported?
There is a strong opposition from the Republican People’s Party (CHP)
and the Nationalist Party MHP and this is understandable. Both parties
have a vested interest in maintaining Turkey’s isolation and
authoritarian rule. Neither party wants Turkey to become a democratic
country that can resolve its problems with neighboring countries.
The signed protocol with Armenia should be understood in the context of
the continuing democratization efforts in Turkey. The establishment of
diplomatic relations and open borders with Armenia is strongly related
to ongoing domestic policies such as the Ergenekon investigation and
attempts to resolve the Kurdish problem.
The protocol between Armenia and Turkey has not come about through
domestic political pressure in the two countries. Even though the
greater part of Turkish society favors establishing relations with
Armenia, public opinion has not been strong enough to push Ankara
towards normalization. I am sure that this is true for Armenia too¦ If
public opinion and domestic political action were the only factors,
neither Ankara nor Yerevan would have taken this step.
International pressure is a very important, if not the most crucial,
factor in this normalization process, and I think this is a very
positive development.
For the first time in recent history, Russian and American interests
are colliding in the Caucasus, perhaps because of conflicting strategic
interests. Russia wants to weaken Georgia and strengthen Armenia, while
the USA promotes Turkey as a model for democracy in the region. The USA
wants Turkey to become a democratic country because of the American
involvement in Iraq and America’s troubled relationship with the Muslim
world.
To establish diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia is a good
thing, and if this comes about through pressure from the great powers,
including the European Union, there is nothing wrong with that either.
This is where we had arrived in 1991, when Armenia became independent.
I can understand that there are some concerns among the Armenians,
especially in Diaspora regarding the `price’ of this normalization.
Some worry about possible concessions by Armenia in the Karabakh
conflict; others are concerned with solving the historic problem,
genocide.
The protocol does not make normalization contingent on the Karabakh
problem. This is very positive. Nevertheless, I expect there will be
some movement on that issue; otherwise, Turkey would probably not have
signed the protocol. Prime Minister Erdogan’s speech to the Azerbaijani
Parliament tied his own hands, and so it is obvious that we will be
hearing about steps toward resolving the Karabakh conflict soon.
Regarding the genocide issue, the process has just begun, and we will
have to see where it goes. I can’t imagine that Yerevan would discuss
the Genocide as a disputed claim, rather than as a historic reality.
However, Ankara might acknowledge the historic injustice of 1915
without calling it a genocide. The formulation to be used by Ankara is
a problem of diplomacy, whereas the proper scientific and historical
designation of 1915 is a problem of scholarship and public perception.
I can imagine that Turkey might call 1915 as a crime, crime against
humanity and describe it as a product of a fascist mindset, as Prime
Minister ErdoÄ?an have characterized the expulsion of Christian from
Turkey couple Months ago. This could be a good start for a
reconciliation process.

ll the possible establishment of diplomatic relations lead to internal
political stability in Turkey, considering certain tensions within the
country?

I am sure that this step along with other steps that Ankara has taken
will find great support in Turkish society and will contribute to the
stability and democratization of Turkey. There will be no serious
opposition against the normalization of relations in Turkey.

Once Armenia and Turkey have established diplomatic relations, how will
the two countries resolve the Armenian Genocide issue, given that
Armenia insists on recognition and Turkey refuses?

Normalization of relations and recognition of an historic injustice are
two different things. Normal diplomatic relations provide the basis for
talks on truth and reconciliation. Reconciliation will not be an easy
process, but normalization will help tremendously to overcome the
obstacle to reconciliation.
Turkey knows that it must recognize something and rectify the historic
injustice to the Armenians as a people, but we don’t yet know what
Turkey should recognize or the steps it should take towards justice.
There are a number of alternative models for recognition, ranging from
Japan’s bare acknowledgment to Germany’s full contrition. In any case,
Armenians and Turks will begin a new process, and we will have to
develop a new language and culture to answer both questions. At the end
this is a new process, including Armenians in Turkey and both Armenian
and Turkish Diasporas and this process will help the democratization of
the region.

How much does the thesis `one nation with two states’ (regarding Turkey
and Azerbaijan) correspond to the present day?

I don’t think this rhetoric has significant popular support in Turkey.
Rather, it reflects Ankara’s economic interests in the region.

Will diplomatic relations with Armenia contribute to the European
integration of Turkey and its further entry in the EU, or orientation
to the East is nevertheless more preferable?

Turkey must face west, not east. Whenever Turkey has oriented itself
eastwards, the result has been a catastrophe for our country and the
people of the region. The Armenian Genocide itself was a product of
Turkey’s strategic orientation towards the East. The Ergenekon
suspects, those who wanted to revive pan-Turkism across Central Asia,
are sitting in prison now.
Normalizing relations with Armenia and demonstrating readiness to solve
the historic injustices will improve Turkey’s standing in the modern
world and strengthen its candidacy for membership in the European
Union. This protocol is a kind of entrance ticket for Turkey to save a
place among the modern nations in the world and will rescue Turkey from
heavy iron chain shackled to its ankle hindering him to act normal over
the decades.

Thank you

Armbusinessbank is going to become one of the leaders of Armenia’s
banking sector

2009-09-19 16:14:00

ArmInfo. Today Armbusinessbank inaugurated its new head office – one of
the ancient buildings of Yerevan.

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, President of Nagorno-Karabakh
republic Bako Sahakyan, Speaker of the National Assembly Hovik
Abrahmyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Minister of Defense Seyran
Ohanyan and other officials attended the ceremony.

Chairman of the Board of Armbusinessbank Ara Kirakossyan said that
1.5bln AMD had been spent on the repair and re-equipment of the
building. "Our goal was to restore half-ruined but very important
historical-cultural monument of Yerevan. Without changing the facade,
we have created all conditions for a bank’s activities," Kirakossyan
said.

He said that the building was designed in 1899 and built in 1901. At
first, it served as treasury house. In 1918-1920 it was the Ministry of
Finance of Armenia. In the Soviet times it housed different
departments.

In its new office Armbusinessbank will more actively engage in
crediting.

In the last years the bank has been dynamically developing and
intensifying its activities on the financial intermediation market. "We
have more than ambitious plans: we want to become one of the leaders of
Armenia’s banking system," Kirakossyan said.

In the last three years Armbusinessbank’s assets has grown by 15 times
to 85mln AMD, credit portfolio to 35bln AMD. This year the authorized
capital was increased by 9bln AMD to 15.6bln AMD. The bank has 20
branches in Yerevan, Armenian regions and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia Artur Javadyan said that, since
2006, when the shareholders of Armbusinessbank changed, the bank has
shown substantial growth. Despite the global crisis in Jan-Aug 2009
Armbusinessbank showed 25% growth in crediting. The bank is an
aggressive player, the best partner in mortgage and corporate lending.
The bank has the biggest refinancing portfolio in the newly established
National Mortgage Company.

Since July 1 2009 the shareholders of Armbusinssbank have been
Ukrprombank – 21.75%, Alfa Garant (Ukraine) – 21.7% and Chrstie
Management – 56.52%.

PARLIAMENTARY HEARINGS ON THE NORMALIZATION PROCESS OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 1

ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: Armenian National Assembly’s foreign
relations permanent commission is organizing October 1 "Pre-Signed
Protocols and Normalization Process of Armenian-Turkish Relations"
parliamentary hearings.

Public relations department told Armenpress that the hearings are
aimed at discussion of the undertaken process between Armenia and
Turkey on the basis of the published documents with the participation
of representatives of political, non-governmental organizations,
political research centers and experts.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan will too participate in
the hearings.

IF ARMENIA WANTS TO DISCLOSE BORDERS, IT SHOULD END OCCUPATION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH: TURKISH PARTY LEADER

Trend
Sept 16 2009
Azerbaijan

If Armenia wants its borders to be disclosed, it must withdrew its
troops from Azerbaijan’s occupied territories, leader of the Turkish
Grand Unity Party, Yalchin Topchu, said after the discussions with
the Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davudoglu, on the Turkey-Armenia
protocol reached by the mediation of Switzerland, Turkish Cihan news
agency reported.

"If Armenia regards seriously the opening of the borders, it should
withdraw its troops from the occupied [Nagorno-] Karabakh," Topchu
said.

According to the leader, there was no need to sign the Ankara-Yerevan
Protocol in Switzerland.

On Aug. 31, Turkey and Armenia in the talks mediated by Switzerland
reached an agreement to launch "internal political consultations"
to sign the Protocol on Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and
Protocol on Development of Bilateral Relations, the Turkish Foreign
Ministry reported.

Political consultations will be completed within six weeks, and
following that two protocols will be signed and submitted to the
two countries’ parliaments for approval. At present Turkey does not
plan to open the borders with Armenia, Turkish Foreign Minister,
Ahmet Davudoglu, said.

Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993.

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.

The Turkish Foreign Ministrer appealed to hold a meeting to discuss
the Turkey-Armenia protocol reached by the mediation of Switzerland
in the Turkish Parliament. Davudoglu said that he will meet with
the leaders of the country’s opposition leaders to discuss the
Ankara-Yerevan protocol.

Deniz Baykal, Turkish Opposition Leader, demanded to include the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue in the Ankara-Yerevan protocol signed in August.

Devlet Bahcheli, Leader of other opposition party "National movement",
refused to meet with Davudoglu.

ARMENIAN FIGHTING FORCE RECRUITED LOCAL RESIDENTS
Susan Spencer

TELEGRAM & GAZETTE
September 17, 2009 Thursday
NORTHBRIDGE/UXBRIDGE EDITION
Massachusetts

Northbridge Board of Selectmen Vice Chairman Charles Ampagoomian
Jr. grew up hearing stories about his grandfather, Oscar Ampagoomian,
who volunteered with the Armenian Legion to serve in the Middle East
during World War I. When the Watertown-based Armenian Library and
Museum of America premiered its traveling exhibit on the Armenian
Legionnaires, Mr. Ampagoomian was enthralled by what he saw.

"I said `Wow!’" Mr. Ampagoomian said, explaining that the photos,
maps and documents highlight Armenian history, which has often been
suppressed and still is denied in parts of the world, such as Turkey.

The exhibit, which opened Aug. 31, runs through Sept. 22 at Northbridge
Town Hall.

"It shows the fact that regardless of whether you were born here or
overseas, you went back to protect the country," he said.

Christie L. Hardiman, public relations coordinator for the Armenian
Library and Museum of America, said, "The exhibit explores many aspects
of the Armenian Legion, the incredible battles that they fought, the
triumphs they had. It tells the story of these incredible individuals."

Through roughly two dozen panels with photos and narrative, "Legion
Armenienne: The Armenian Legion and its Heroism in the Middle East"
chronicles the overlooked history of the Armenian volunteers, who
served with British and French troops and, according to the exhibit,
were a major force that broke the Turko-German combined front at
Palestine, signaling the beginning of the collapse of Ottoman Empire
(after four centuries of rule) and the victory of the Allies.

The Legion was formed in 1916 with a core of 500 men from Musa Dagh,
an Armenian village in Turkey. In 1916-17, 1,200 men from the United
States were recruited to join the effort, including several from
Northbridge. The Legion was dissolved in 1920.

The military rally was particularly significant, the exhibit explains,
because it occurred as Armenians were facing the aftermath of
genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turkish government. Between 1
and 1-1/2 million Armenians, who were Christian, died as the result
of government action by the Muslim-majority Ottoman Empire (now the
Republic of Turkey) between 1896 and 1915.

Many Armenian survivors fled to the United States, settling to work
in the mills of Watertown, Whitinsville and Worcester, among other
communities. St. Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church in Whitinsville
is one of 17 Armenian churches in Massachusetts and is the center of
an active Armenian-American population.

Arakel Almasian, assistant treasurer and Executive Committee member of
the Armenian Library and Museum of America, was one of the traveling
exhibit’s organizers. "I grew up in Whitinsville, so I thought it
should start out there," he said. "You’ll see a bunch of people from
Whitinsville in it."

Museums in Germany, France and the Smithsonian Institution have
expressed interest in its historical collection, Mr. Almasian said.

Ms. Hardiman said the traveling exhibit, which moves next to
California, includes photos donated by the Armenian-American
community and articles from the archives at Stanford University’s
Hoover Institution.

"It’s not well known, but it’s an important piece of the history,"
Ms. Hardiman said.

The exhibit can be viewed in Northbridge Town Hall’s Great Hall
during regular hours: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; and 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. A
public reception was held Sept. 14.

The traveling exhibit was funded by a grant from the K. George and
Carolann S. Najarian, M.D. Foundation with additional support from
the Armenian-American Veterans of Milford.

IMF TO ALLOCATE U.S. $60M TO ARMENIA

INFORMATION-ANALYTIC AGENCY NEWS.AM
Sept 17 2009
ARMENIA

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is ready to provide one more,
U.S. $60m, tranche to Armenia, if the IMF Executive Board approves
the draft, reported the Wall Street Journal.

Late this October the IMF is to carry out a second discussion on the
second review of Armenia’s 28-month Stand-By Arrangement (U.S. $823m
as compared with the previous U.S. $540m).

The IMF forecasts 15% economic decline in Armenia, and budget deficit
within 7.5%.

A REPAIRED READING HALL OPENED IN THE NATIONAL LIBRARY

Aysor
Sept 15 2009
Armenia

Today in Yerevan National Library was opened the newly repaired
scientific reading hall. There was 2 million AMD dedicated for the
repairing by the director of "R&V" comfort, Ruben Shakhmuradyan.

On the opening of the reading hall were present Ruben Shakhmuradyan,
the director of "R&V" comfort, the director of the National Library
Davit Sargsyan and the employees of the National Library.

"It the first time when we do not ask the benefactor or a businessmen
to finance us, but he does it by his own will seeing the condition",
– the director of the National Library Davit Sargsyan said.

According to Davit Sargsyan the reading hall was in a hopeless
condition and after the reconstruction "the reader has got the
opportunity of not only not suffering but also of getting pleasure".

The sponsor of the reconstruction Ruben Shakhmuradyan congratulated
everyone on the occasion of the reconstruction of the library and
mentioned that his son and daughter too use this reading hall.

"Our offspring use this library. Our businessmen too should join
me and make their investment as the library should be kept for the
coming generation", – Ruben Shakhmuradyan, the director of "R&V"
comfort in his opening speech.

THE BORDERS REOPENING HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR RECOGNITION

Aysor
Sept 14 2009
Armenia

"The opinion that non-recognition of borders has something in common
with the diplomatic relations is a big mistake. The border reopening
has nothing to do with diplomatic ties, on the one hand, and with
the recognition of borders, on the other," said ARF leader, Vahan
Hovhannisyan to journalists.

In evidence Mr. Hovhannisyan listed a number of countries who have
"disputed issues in borders, but don’t even have a single world about
them in documents establishing bilateral ties."

He marked that the establishment of diplomatic relations is under
the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations which hasn’t a single
world about recognition of mutual borders or territorial integrity."

"Diplomatic relations call for recognition of each other as states,
and one recognizes borders regarding to a special agreement," explained
Mr. Hovhannisyan

According to ARF leader the borders reopening which "we fully support"
raises some questions. He noted that Turkey’s economic legislation
"protects Turkish producers and entrepreneurs perfectly, and that of
ours does not, so we have a large work to do in this field."

What for hunger strike and sit-down protest organized byARF, then,
according to Mr. Hovhannisyan, those are right actions because of
their features of demonstration effect and their importance for
civilized pressure."

He again stated that ARF doesn’t raise question of resignation of
Armenia’s President but noted that "the protest and pressure on
authorities will grow proportionally with authority’s mistakes."

Haunted by History
By Owen Matthews
| NEWSWEEK
Published Sep 4, 2009

>From the magazine issue dated Sep 14, 2009

The ruins of the ancient Armenian capital of Ani are haunting, and
haunted. On what is now a windblown patch of grassland enclosed in
colossal walls and dotted with ancient cathedrals, there was once a
great city. You can still see the ghosts of its streets outlined in
the turf, and inside the granite churches you can make out the fading
faces of saints and kings painted on the ceilings more than a
millennium ago. On one side of the city, a dramatic single-span
bridge, now ruined, brought the Silk Road across the gorge of the
Akhurian River. On the other, the road wound on across the Anatolian
plains to Constantinople and the great trading cities of the
Mediterranean.

Once, Ani was close to the center of the world. Today, it feels like
the end of the earth.

Only a few determined tourists make it to this remote patch of
borderland on Turkey’s frontier with Armenia (it’s just four years
since it became possible to visit the site without special permission
from the military). In its heyday, being at the crossroads of empires
made Ani as large and as wealthy as Venice. But for most of history,
that crossroads has also been a cursed place. The Seljuk Turks took
Ani from the Armenians in the middle of the 11th century. After that,
it’s hard to name an Asian conqueror who didn’t stop off at Ani-the
Mongols, Tamerlane, the Persians, the Ottomans, and the Russians all
tramped through.

But the ghosts I’m talking about are much less ancient than the
medieval walls and churches-and less serene. The Anatolian plateau
around Ani witnessed some of the worst slaughter of World War I. On
the orders of a megalomaniacal commander, 90,000 Ottoman soldiers
froze to death fighting the Russians in the snowy passes. Meanwhile,
Ottoman troops and vigilantes were deporting the region’s Armenians
for allegedly sympathizing with the Russians. More than a million died
on forced marches to Syria. Today, no Armenians remain in what was the
cradle of Armenian culture since pre-Roman times.

I don’t believe in ghosts. But maybe I believe in the spirit of a
place. And in Ani, and all over ancient Armenia-now eastern
Turkey-there’s something missing. There’s a feeling that the place has
been abandoned by history, and by the people who made the place’s
history. Lately, though, the governments of both Turkey and Armenia
have been feeling their way toward reconciliation. Turkey’s refusal to
acknowledge the 1915 massacres as genocide matters less to the
Armenians of Armenia than it does to Armenian expatriates. The locals
care much more about cross-border trade, cheaper electricity supplies,
tourism-the nuts and bolts of daily life. And the elements of
diplomacy have been falling into place: a friendly soccer match, an
equally friendly return match, and presidential visits. A few soccer
matches don’t efface the murder of a whole population from memory. But
perhaps Ani supplies a clue as to how the future world might
look. Ani’s two greatest cathedrals served Christianity for less than
70 years before being converted to mosques by the Seljuks. But the
Turkish conquerors left most churches as they were, side by side with
new mosques. Like all the great trading cities of the medieval world,
Ani was a promiscuous mix of faiths and peoples-a crossroads, a
meeting point, a place of equal footing. Perhaps with the opening of
the border, this corner of the world could start to become a
crossroads again, instead of a lonely dead end.

nt

MILLIYET: FORGETTING KARABAKH WILL BE IN AZERBAIJAN’S BENEFIT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
10.09.2009 19:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The only thing Azerbaijan can do now to use
diplomatic methods to control territories surrounding Karabakh. That
may be achieved on condition there is a land corridor connecting
Karabakh and Armenia, Turkish expert Kadri Gursel said. "Karabakh
problem has been in frozen state since the moment it became a
disputable issue between Azerbaijani authorities and opposition. Such
freezing was caused by Azerbaijan’s bellicose statements. Our Azeri
brothers have to realize that Caucasus cannot restore the status
it had in 1992. Azerbaijan can no longer return Karabakh either
by conducting diplomatic talks or imposing an economic blockade,"
Gursel writes in Milliyet.