Author: Toganian Liana

Aztag Daily, Lebanon
Jan 19 2010

Alignment of Approaches And Future Steps

by Shahan Kandaharian, Editor-in-Chief

The Ambassadors of Germany and France to Armenia joined the
statements made by the Russian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.
According to them the Garapagh peace process isn’t related to
Armenian-Turkish relations which must enter into a phase of immediate
accomplishment.

The two high ranking diplomats are expressing the position
of their respective countries. Therefore, we can underline that the
European position aligns itself with the similar positions of the
United States and Russia, considering that Germany and France are the
leading countries of Europe. There is of course a slight difference
between the statements issued by the United States and the rest. The
official spokespersons of the US State Department had announced on
several occasions that Armenia-Turkey relations must proceed without
any preconditions. There was no direct mention of not involving
Gharapagh as was seen in the statements of both Russian and European
officials.

However, in essence all the statements are similar. §Without
any preconditions¦ means keeping Gharapagh out of the matter. And vice
versa. Therefore, in the present state of affairs the unending demand
of the Armenian side and the approach of the international community
fall in the same track. Turkey is isolated in its conditional
politics. It can be said that the proposal of the Armenian side has
been internationalized. We must underline that in the present stage
the Armenian tactic in the discussion of this matter has gained ground
at the sight of international norms.

We shouldn’t get excited of course. We are dealing with
geopolitical forces that have given the international community
samples of dipomatic §artworks¦ related to sudden shifts in stances.
Let us not forget either that in spite of the announcements and their
rejection of including the Gharapagh issue in the development of
Armenian-Turkish relations, Armenian-Azerbeidjani negotiations are
running parallelly and often at the same rate even.

For example in the dynamic traffic of meetings between
Erdogan and Putin, Lavrov and Nalbandian and afterwards Lavrov and
Sarksian as well as Sarksian and Medvedev it was suddenly announced
that a Sarksian-Aliyev meeting is to be held this week. Media outlets
are already reporting that during their meeting in Moscow, the
presidents of Armenia and Russia have discussed the issue of the
meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbeidjan.

If the two processes are not intertwined then they are
parallel and running at the same rate. Analysts are not predicting a
breakthrough in the Gharapagh peace process. It seems that a
breakthrough is not at the corner in the Armenian-Turkish relations
either given the fact that voices echoing from Ankara do not find it
necessary to include the discussion of the Protocols in the Turkish
Parliament. Specially after the Russian statement.

There are indications that all this talk about preconditions
or no preconditions, including the Gharapagh issue or not will still
continue. Meanwhile considering the fact that we are facing the
evidence of the similarity of the Armenian and international community
stances, Armenia must continue to press for neutralizing the Turkish
preconditions. Steps which were to a certain degree materialized with
the Constitutional Court’s decisions and which must achieve legality
in front of the internaltional community with the National Assembly,
with Parliamentarian reservations.

[translated from Armenian]

MOSCOW SUPPORTS CONTINUATION OF DIALOGUE BETWEEN YEREVAN AND BAKU

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.01.2010 18:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia actively supports the dialogue between
Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev,
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"With regard to the forthcoming meeting of the presidents, we hope that
it will continue the dialogue held between the Presidents Sargsyan
and Aliyev last year. The dialogue was very intense, it has not led
to some dramatic breakthroughs, but certanly strengthened relations
between the two leaders allowing them to deeper understand the issues
to be addressed. And we will actively support the continuation of
this dialogue," Sergei Lavrov told a briefing in Moscow, RIA Novosti
reported.

Tripartite meeting between the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Russia will be held January 25 in the Russian city of Sochi.

ARMENIAN JOURNALISTS TO PARTICIPATE IN TRAININGS DEVOTED TO TRAFFICKING

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.01.2010 15:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Trainings devoted to trafficking will be organized
for journalists in Yerevan from January 21 till 23. The initiative
aims to enhance the professional skills of journalists, introducing
them to the nuances of elucidating the problem.

Event organizer in World Vision Armenian humanitarian organization
and People in Need organization’s representative office in Armenia.

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy
organisation working to create lasting change in the lives of children,
families and communities living in poverty. It serves all people,
regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. It serves all
people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. In 2007,
World Vision worked in 97 countries assisting 100 mln people. The
organization came to Armenia eighteen years ago providing emergency
aid to the victims of December 1988 devastating earthquake with a
cheque for one million dollars and over the next few months delivered
nearly $3 million worth of medical supplies and relief.

During the next 20 years WV’s projects have gone beyond meeting the
demands of crisis situations to changing the quality of life in entire
communities and helping Armenians to restore their country.

People in Need (PIN) is a Czech organization that provides relief
aid and development assistance, while working to defend human rights
and democratic freedom. PIN activities are most visible during large
humanitarian crisis, such as 2002 floods in the Czech Republic, 2004
Indian Ocean earthquake (when Czechs individuals and companies donated
over 130 million Czk ) or 2007 Greek forest fires. In Africa and Asia
PIN implements development projects providing basic human needs and
education. It supports opposition movements or individuals in several
countries, such as Cuba, Burma, Belarus, Ukraine or Moldova. In the
Czech Republic it concentrates on support of local Roma (Gypsies)
who live on the edge of the society, organizes cultural activities
(most prominent being the One World Film Festival), information
projects and is also involved in political activism.

ACCORDING TO AAE, BEFORE BECOMING A MEMBER TO EUROPEAN UNION, TURKEY SHOULD RECONSIDER ITS PAST

Noyan Tapan
Jan 20, 2010

UPPSALA, JANUARY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. On the occasion of the third
anniversary of the assassination of the Armenian intellectual Hrant
Dink committed by Turkish extremists and the 95th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide, the Assembly of Armenians of Europe (AAE) on
January 19 addressed to the international community expressing its
gratitude to the international public opinion, in particular to the
European countries, organizations and political parties that condoled
and supported the Armenian Cause.

The address also read:

"The assassination of Hrant Dink, editor-in-chief of the newspaper
Agos published in Istanbul, committed by a Turk extremist on January
19, 2007 in front of the editorial office, was not a simple accident.

Hrant Dink was a fervent fighter for human rights and was repeatedly
condemned for having broken the discreditable low No 301 regarding
the "offense to the Turkish nation". This proves that nationalism is
stimulated and encouraged by the Turkish state itself on a daily basis.

Turkey desires to become a European country and a member to the
European Union and continuously promises to undertake positive and
effective measures in order to acquire the European standards and
criteria.

Turkey dares to blame the European Union for being a "Christian Club",
while violent persecutions towards Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks and
other nationalities go on in Turkey itself. Recently the Ecumenical
patriarch declared, that the "Christian minorities are crucified like
Christ in Turkey."

By blaming the European Union for being a "Christian Club," Turkey
tries to overpass the real problem, which is the understanding and the
application of human values, which are universal and do not depend
on any ideology, religion or belief. Otherwise Turkey would never
persecute millions of Kurdish Muslim population and Turkey would not
annul a legal political party with many representatives in the Turkish
Parliament. This comes to prove once more, that the discrimination and
the violation of democratic rights are beyond religions and believes.

It is also worth to mention the strained relations between Turkey and
its neighbours. Turkey does its best to show that it tries to regulate
the relations with the neighbours and settle all the problems, there
seems to be a dead end.

The violations of maritime and aerial frontiers of Greece take place
every day and even during the holidays, the occupation of Cyprus,
continues since 1974, but he most ridiculous behaviour of Turkey
concerns Armenia.

Turkey continuously refuses to recognize the Armenian Genocide, and
more, it breaks the international law by blockading Armenia, which
has no access to the sea. Recently, under international patronage,
Turkey signed an agreement with Armenia, but later on, the president
and the prime minister of Turkey, declared that the ratification of
the said agreement depends on some unexpected preconditions. Such
an unprincipled and irresponsible approach is dangerous not only for
its neighbours or Europe, but also for the Turkish people."

On the occasion of the third anniversary of the assassination of
Hrant Dink, the AAE expresses its condolences to the family of the
victim as well as thanks the persons and organizations in Turkey,
which fight for democracy in their country and condemn the genocide
committed against the Armenians.

According to AAE, before becoming a member to the European Union,
Turkey should reconsider its past, and then introduce radical changes
at the legislative level and make practical measures for improving
its system of values by choosing a democratic and good-neighborly way.

JEWISH LOBBY AGAINST "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE" RESOLUTIONS

APA
Jan 19 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA. US Jewish lobby officially declared its antipathy to
the draft resolutions for so-called "Armenian genocide" recognition
submitted to US Congress.

One of the world’s powerful Jewish organizations – Anti-Defamation
League (ADL) said adoption of the "genocide" resolution by House of
Representatives and Senate wouldn’t be suitable for the moment, APA
reports quoting Turkish "Vatan" newspaper. Director of the New-York
based ADL’s bureau in Washington Jess Horders said they supported the
idea of joint historic commission proposed by Turkey and described
in the protocols signed with Armenia: "It is the best way to discuss
this issue at the joint commission of Turkish and Armenian historic
commission of Armenian and Turkish historians.

MFA SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE CHANGES IN THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS

Aysor
Jan 19 2010
Armenia

The Democratic Party thinks it would be better if serious changes
took place in the RA Foreign Ministry, the head Armenian Democratic
Party Aram Sargsyan informed today on the conference.

According to the speaker the decision of the Constitutional Court
showed that the professional level of the diplomatic corps of the
Foreign Ministry is not enough, and the mentioned ministry should
make serious staff changes.

"They should think about changing those representatives of the
diplomatic corps who participate in both the Karabakh conflict
settlement process and the normalization of the Armenian – Turkish
relations. If the mentioned changes are not realized we will face
problems again", -he mentioned.

Touching upon the participation of the Democratic Party in the movement
against the ratification process of the protocols A. Sargsyan mentioned
that in difference to other parties ADP is not demanding for anyone’s
resignation.

"We do not demand for anyone’s resignation. Let the president decide;
if he is satisfied with that level and wants to continue working with
them let him work", – he said.

A. Sargsyan also mentioned that in comparison with the diplomatic
corps of the Foreign Ministry the RA President "learns quickly".

"He has created correct relations between the society, political
forces and the Diaspora, he had a very difficult journey in Diaspora
but he didn’t give in and came to adequate conclusions", – he noticed.

PURCHASE AND SALE TRANSACTIONS OF .35 MILLION CONDUCTED AT NASDAQ OMX ARMENIA OJSC ON JANUARY 18

Noyan Tapan
Jan 18, 2010

YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Purchase and sale transactions of
.35 million at the weighted average exchange rate of 377.18 drams
per dollar were conducted at Nasdaq OMX Armenia OJSC on January 18.

According to the press service of the Central Bank of Armenia, the
closing price was 377.25 drams.

SAMAD SEYIDOV: WE EXPECT FROM THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE’S NEW LEADERSHIP IMPARTIALITY AND THE ACTIVITY REALLY COVERING THE ONGOING PROCESSES IN THE WORLD

APA
Jan 18 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku. Viktoria Dementieva – APA. "The session of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe that will be held on January 25-29
will be very important," head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), MP Samad
Seyidov told APA.

Samad Seyidov said the Azerbaijani delegation was ready for the
session, they would leave for Strasbourg in a few days.

Speaking about the importance of PACE winter session Samad Seyidov
mentioned that PACE President would be elected, CE new Secretary
General would issue a statement.

"Both the PACE President and CE Secretary General will make efforts
to create new atmosphere in the Council of Europe. It is important
for us to participate in this session. We have said several times and
regret that there are double standards inside the Council of Europe.

Therefore, we are looking forward to new persons in the leadership. We
expect from the new leadership of the Council of Europe impartiality
and the activity really covering the ongoing processes in the world,"
he said.

Samad Seyidov said PACE co-rapporteurs for Azerbaijan would come
to Azerbaijan in February, their reports would be ready by the June
session. He said the co-rapporteurs could not prepare the report by
April session.

The parliamentarian also said that discussions on Azerbaijan were
not expected to take place in the winter session.

"But it does not mean that we being the Azerbaijani delegation will
not express Azerbaijan’s position, our views on the ongoing processes
in the committees of the Council of Europe, political groups and
session. You know that the delegation always keeps the problem of
Nagorno Karabakh on the agenda. We will continue our activity in
this direction. We want the Subcommittee, which was once established
in connection with Nagorno Karabakh and later stopped its activity,
to restart," he said.

President of PACE will be elected during the session. Member of
Turkish delegation to PACE Mevlut Cavusoglu has been nominated for
the post of president.

Armenian-Bulgarian consultations to take place in Sofia on January 18

YEREVAN, JANUARY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Consultations between the foreign
ministries of Armenia and Bulgaria will take in Sofia on January 18.
According to the RA MFA Press and Information Department, Deputy
Foreign Minister of Armenia Ms. Karine Ghazinian will leave for Sofia
to participate in the consultations.

National Post (Canada)
January 16, 2010 Saturday
National Edition

L’affaire Ayalon

by George Jonas, National Post

Turks used to rule half the world. These days, they ‘re lucky to get
work permit in lands they once occupied. But they can still get their
nationalistic fix from a popular TV show called The Valley Of The
Wolves. In this series, a Turkish James Bond, by the irresistible name
of Polat Alemdar, sends wicked Americans, mafiosi and Mossad agents to
their reward (no virgins). The show is chauvinistic, anti-Semitic,
vile and juvenile — and a hit in Turkey.

Well, there’s no accounting for tastes — or rather there is, and it
doesn’t speak well for some. But hell, it’s only the boob tube.

You’d think Israel’s government has better things to do than assign
civil servants to moonlight as TV critics, and I’m sure some
government-types have, but not Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon.
For reasons known only to him, his shrink and perhaps his boss,
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Ayalon has been earning his keep
by policing idiot boxes of foreign countries — Turkey’s, anyway —
and he chose this week to tell Turkey’s ambassador what he thinks of
his country’s version of 007.

The problem wasn’t that Ayalon thought The Valley Of The Wolves stank,
which it does, or even that he summoned the ambassador to tell him —
although it would be hard to think of a more futile exercise than
telling an ambassador that one of his country’s popular TV series
stinks. (What’s the poor sap going to say — "Thanks for the heads-up,
but I never watch TV"?) It’s a waste, but there’s nothing new about
government waste. The problem is too many Deputy Ministers with too
much time on their hands, if you ask me.

It wasn’t Ayalon calling in the Turkish ambassador to protest a TV
program that hit the fan this week, but how Israel’s Deputy Foreign
Minister went about it. A six-year-old … Well, let’s be fair — a
six-year-old might have found the insults Ayalon offered the Turkish
envoy rather clever. A child of 10 would have found them immature.

After summoning Ambassador Ahmet Oguz Cellikol for a tongue-lashing,
Ayalon put him in a low chair. He deliberately failed to display the
flag of Turkey next to Israel’s flag on his desk. And — listen to
this — he didn’t smile at the Turk, as required by diplomatic
protocol.

People in the know tell me that you’ve got to tongue-lash ambassadors
with a smile. If you don’t, you risk a diplomatic incident. Ayalon not
only failed to smile at Cellikol but, in case the Turk missed it, he
told the media. Look, Ma, no smile! No Turkish flag on my desk,
either! The chair — well, the ambassador could hardly have missed
sitting on a chair so low he needed a periscope to look up at Ayalon
— but just in case, the Deputy mentioned it to the press, too. No
point in humiliating ambassadors who don’t notice.

Excuse me, but is there a point of humiliating ambassadors who do notice?

Thank you, sir; excellent question. Anyway, Ayalon needn’t have
worried. Cellikol noticed. So did the Turkish Prime Minister, along
with the entire Republic of Turkey. Were they furious? Furious doesn’t
begin to describe it. They had kittens. Turkey’s ruling
Islamist-tinged party couldn’t believe their good fortune. Israel was
handing them a stick. Whack! They announced they would recall their
ambassador unless Israel apologized.

So Israel quickly apologized. Not once, but twice. Once wasn’t enough.
Ayalon’s chair was too low for a single apology. In the end, Israeli
President Simon Peres, old charmer that he is, had to say something to
the effect that come on, fellows, it was one man’s mistake, not an
entire nation’s, before Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
would agree to let bygones be bygones.

All right; what was this all about? What you should know about Israel
is that it doesn’t have to look for trouble. Israel has been in
trouble ever since it came into being. In fact, it came into being
because people thought "being" might be less trouble than "not being"
(which it may or may not have been).

What you should know about Turkey … Well, these days, you don’t have
to know a hell of a lot, unless you’re a Kurd, Armenian or Greek
Cypriot. That’s one advantage of living in the 21st century. But there
was a time when whatever you didn’t know about Turkey could hurt you.
Two hundred-plus years ago, you didn’t have to go to Istanbul;
Istanbul would come to you. The Ottoman Empire’s armies made it as far
west as the gates of Vienna. In those days, most people knew enough
about Turkey not to screw with it.

Smart people still know enough not to offer low chairs to Turkish
ambassadors. Israel is full of smart people; it’s a pity the
diplomatic service attracts them only sporadically.

Smart people also know that keeping Turkish fans of anti-Semitic
thrillers glued to their TV sets should be encouraged rather than
protested. Glued, they’re harmless. The time to worry about them is
when they become unglued.