Author: Torgomian Varazdat

BACKGROUND BRIEFING BY SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL ON SECRETARY CLINTON’S UPCOMING TRIP TO EUROPE

Washington, DC
tm
October 8, 2009

QUESTION: Have the Swiss actually made an announcement that this
thing is going to happen?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: This —

QUESTION: Or the Turks or the Armenian – I mean, it might have happened
in the last couple hours, but it hadn’t happened yet.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: No, the Swiss have not announced
it. They’ve organized it. They’ve invited the parties. The parties have
all agreed to come. The Turks have announced it and spoken publicly
about it, as you know, and they did so a while ago. But the Swiss
have not, and it’s my understanding, don’t plan to make a formal
announcement. But they have invited the parties, and the parties,
including Secretary Clinton, have agreed to come.

QUESTION: Okay. So it’s on, a hundred percent?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: It’s on.

QUESTION: Will they actually sign the agreements?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: That’s what they will do at the
signing, yeah.

QUESTION: You’re sure about that?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: I am confident —

QUESTION: I mean, there isn’t going to be some last-minute pitch?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: I am confident – yes, the parties
have agreed to attend the signing.

QUESTION: Okay.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: And at that signing, they will sign
the two protocols that they had agreed to previously.

QUESTION: Okay.

QUESTION: And what would you say was the key to reaching that
decision? The two parties, the two parties coming together?

SENIOR STATE est in doing so. I think both governments – we discussed
before that it’s difficult. There’s opposition both in Turkey and in
Armenia to doing so. But both governments realize that ultimately, it’s
in their interest to have normalized relations and an open border. And
after years of tensions and the economic isolation, particularly of
Armenia, I think there’s a great desire on both sides to move forward.

And they previously agreed to – remember the statement of April
22nd when they first announced that they had reached agreements
in principle on these things, they had spent the intervening period
consulting internally. And on August 31st, you’ll remember they issued
a statement saying they’re going to take six weeks – that was in the
initial agreement – six weeks of domestic political consultations,
after which they would sign and submit to parliaments.

Well, now we’re at the end of that six-week period from August
31st. And on the 10th in Zurich, that’s what they’re going to
do. They’re going to sign and then they’re going to submit it to
parliaments.

QUESTION: And the two are in diplomatic relations on the border,
or is that just —

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Protocol normalization of relations
and protocol on establishing diplomatic ties.

QUESTION: Can you explain why the Secretary is actually attending an
event that she doesn’t have that much to do with? I mean, bringing
them that close together, why do that?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Because, as I think I alluded to,
we have long supported this process, and she’s going to demonstrate
and underscore our support for the process. We have encouraged
the parties to move forward and been in constant touch with them,
because it is our profound belief that this is a historic opportunity
for both countries. So she is going to demonstrate that support,
to stand with them and show that we support it, consult with them on
next steps forward.

And I should add that she is not the only international dignitary
invited d, the French foreign minister invited and plans to attend, and
the EU Foreign Policy Chief Solana, and Council of Europe presidency,
which is the Slovenian presidency, Foreign Minister Zbogar. So those
will be the parties in addition to the Turks and the Armenians who
will attend the ceremony demonstrating our collective support for
this normalization process.

QUESTION: Is she going to talk about anything that she’s done
personally? I know she met with him on the sidelines of the UN,
but has she made any calls or just (inaudible)?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: She’s made lots of calls to Turkey
and to Armenia, to the foreign ministers, to the presidents, and has
been consistently engaged on the issue to try to help our friends
move forward. And she’s met – in addition to the phone calls, she’s
met a number of times with the foreign ministers and leaders of both
countries, starting at the very beginning of the Administration.

QUESTION: This might be tangential, but with the Russian, French,
and EU there, will she pull them aside for an Iran talk, given that
they’re about to meet the technical experts right after that?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: She’ll certainly have an opportunity
to engage with them. There aren’t going to be formal Iran talks with
them, but of course, it will be a useful opportunity to talk about
the issues of the day, including Iran.

QUESTION: Just to clarify, so these protocols start the process of
normalization?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Well, once they’re ratified, they
would complete the process of normalization. When – upon ratification,
the two countries would have normal ties and diplomatic relations.

QUESTION: No, the signing, I mean. So there’s going to be a period
now of some time? And so just – the phrasing of what’s actually –
what actually it means?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Right. Well, as in our system,
they’ll be signed and then submitted to parliaments. Parliaments would
have to vote and pass them, but upon passag they would then take place,
which would mean that the two countries would have diplomatic relations
and a normal relationship.

QUESTION: So they’re moving forward towards normalization if the
events —

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Yeah. As with any such agreement,
first the governments have to agree and then they have to sign it
and then the parliaments have to agree.

QUESTION: No, but —

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: So yeah, it’s a step – nobody is
saying this is the final stage in the normalization of relations. There
is more work to do.

QUESTION: The governments agreed to – well, on Monday or Saturday,
will have agreed to normalize ties? That’s —

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: That’s right. When they sign the
protocols, the governments will have agreed to do so.

QUESTION: Right.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: But in democracies —

QUESTION: Right.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: — that won’t exist until the
parliaments have ratified, and that’s obviously going to be important.

QUESTION: Moving to a different topic, can you give us a flavor of to
what extent the START treaty will be a topic of discussion in Moscow,
and will this be helping progress on that? What role will she play
in that?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: It will certainly be an important
topic of discussion. Again, as you know, the presidents – well, back
in April when President Obama and President Medvedev met, they tasked
their negotiators to pursue this follow-on treaty on reducing offensive
nuclear weapons. And everyone knew at the time that START expires on
December 5th of this year, and so the deadline was sort of obvious.

The negotiators have been working diligently to move the process
ahead, but we will be – or we are two months from that deadline. So
this will be an opportunity for the Secretary with her counterpart
in Moscow to review where we are on START and discuss some of the
remaining issues to try to meet that deadline, which both sides are
committed to meeting, but it’s ult; there’s a lot of work that has
to be done in a short amount of time.

QUESTION: So where are we right now?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: We’re making good progress. And as I
say, I think both sides are committed to getting it done. But just as
a technical matter, there’s – there are a lot of details that have to
be sorted out for the follow-on treaty to be finished by December 5th.

QUESTION: Do you think you will get it done by December 5th?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: We are hopeful about getting it
done. I don’t think anyone would make predictions on something that’s
difficult to do. But I think both sides are determined to succeed.

QUESTION: Just to get a little concrete, what kind of sticking points
are there, whether they’re technical or more political?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: It’s always a combination of both. I
mean, you saw in the framework agreed by the presidents at the summit
in July that they gave – each side gave a range on delivery vehicles
and on warheads. So that’s one thing that has to be finalized is at
which side of each range are you going to end up, and that’s what a
negotiation is, and that’s political and technical. And then you have
details on how the verification mechanisms will work and issues like
that. But at a minimum, we have to agree on ranges for warheads and
delivery vehicles.

QUESTION: I’m sorry —

QUESTION: Does the Secretary bring —

QUESTION: Sorry.

QUESTION: Are you picking —

MR. KELLY: I can do that. Mary Beth, go ahead.

QUESTION: Mary Beth Sheridan from The Washington Post. We haven’t
met. Is there some component of the meetings in Moscow that involve
missile defense talks? There seems to have been some mention of that
in some stories I’ve read.

QUESTION: Actually, that was my question, too. And whether the
Secretary is bringing any new proposals about Russian participation
in the ABM architecture, new architecture?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Okay. Well, I’ll just sort of answer
both of those at o set up for missile defense talks, but I’m sure
that she will discuss this with her counterparts. It’s an important
issue. This will be the first time she’s seen Foreign Minister Lavrov
since we announced our approach on missile defense, and I’m sure that
they will have the opportunity to talk about it.

QUESTION: No, they met in New York.

QUESTION: Well, they saw each other at the UN.

QUESTION: New York.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Okay.

QUESTION: Well, didn’t they? I mean —

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Is the – I mean, the presidents
met and the foreign ministers were there. But this is a chance to
talk about all of the issues, and missile defense will no doubt come
up. Under Secretary Tauscher will, prior to the Secretary’s arrival, be
meeting her counterparts, and again, that will also be an opportunity
to discuss this issue.

QUESTION: In Moscow?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Yeah. We have long said that
we’re interested in cooperating with Russia on missile defense and
have talked about the types of things that might be possible and
have waited for Russian reactions and still are waiting, and we are
interested. So we’ll see if they have anything new to say about how
they think we might be able to work together on missile defense.

QUESTION: So – I’m sorry, just to clarify, because my understanding
before had been that there was discussion about this radar and sharing
– some kind of use of it or whatever. That doesn’t seem to be part of
the new U.S. plan in terms of the sort of more short and medium-range
missile threat and everything else. So, I mean, there’s obviously
part of START that’s going to mention missile defense somehow, so
they have to work that out, right?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Not really. I mean, START is about
reducing offensive weapons. The Russians always want to talk about
defensive weapons as part of it, but that’s not our view.

QUESTION: Yeah. Right. But there’s going to be some mention of it in
There’s – in most arms control treaties, and probably this one as well,
there will be a reference.

QUESTION: Right.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: The framework that the President
signed in July had one sentence talking about the negotiators will take
into account the relationship between offensive and defensive weapons.

QUESTION: Yeah.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: That’s in SALT, that’s in START,
and it’s in the framework for this treaty as well.

QUESTION: Yeah. That’s what I meant.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: But that’s all.

QUESTION: Yeah, okay.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Okay.

QUESTION: So if the radar plan is not really on the table anymore,
what – sort of what options might, or what – you know, what’s the
thought about what they might do together?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: It’s not off the table either. In the
plan that we presented, that the President decided and we announced,
there is no reference to specific Russian cooperation because it’s
not part of the plan. We have a plan that doesn’t require it. But
we have always said, before this and now, that we look forward to
speaking to the Russians about how they might be involved. We think
they face missile threats as we do, and there are various ways we
can cooperate on that. So it’s not part of the plan, but it’s not
off the table either.

QUESTION: Can I just clarify, because General Cartwright has said
that they would like to put a radar site in the Caucuses and that
would involve, obviously, dealing with the Russians on that. Is that
not still on –

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: It wouldn’t necessarily —

QUESTION: Not necessarily for Armenia. (Laughter.)

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: It wouldn’t necessarily —

QUESTION: I guess there are other Caucasus countries that —

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Yeah. That’s not a reference
to Russia.

QUESTION: Okay. Because there – obviously, in the previous
administration, there were talks about using Russian sites â "

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Right.

QUESTION: So it could be Russian sites, it could be other; it’s not
necessarily Russia?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Right.

QUESTION: Okay.

QUESTION: But would it be correct to assume that that’s – this is not –
that’s not a big focus of what the Secretary is going to be doing?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: That would be correct to assume. With
an agenda that includes START and the bilateral presidential commission
and Iran and Afghanistan and European security, there’s plenty to
talk about. I mean, this is not a missile defense trip, but it’s
an important issue. Our desire to cooperate remains on the table,
and it’ll probably come up.

QUESTION: Is the Secretary planning to meet any civil society leaders
or go to Novaya Gazeta or Ekho Moskvy or to any other media entities
in Russia?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Yeah, she is a doing a meeting with
civil society leaders.

QUESTION: Can you specify more about that – what leaders, who is
going to participate?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: I can get back to you with that
because I don’t have the list in front of me. But she’s going to do
a session with various civil society and human rights groups.

QUESTION: Is she going to give an interview to the Russian media
while she’s in Moscow?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: I’m not sure. I don’t have the
details on that. We can get back to you.

QUESTION: With the issue of democracy, I wonder how she handles it
in Kazan as well, because it’s not exactly a bastion of democracy,
although religious freedom (inaudible).

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Yeah. Well, what I can tell you is
that she’ll talk about all of those things. You saw her statement
yesterday, right, on the killings and lack of accountability. And
she feels very strongly about that and she will raise it in person,
and she will talk about issues of democracy and human rights, which
remain very important to us.

QUESTION: Both in Moscow and in Kazan?

SENIO

QUESTION: Back to Iran – I mean, that’s obviously on the agenda. The
technical experts are meeting, obviously, so is there any hope that
they made progress, or noises from the Russian that they were more
in line with the British, French, and the U.S. on the way forward in
Iran? Is that hopeful?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Yes. I mean, that is going to –
it’ll be very high on the agenda, I mean – as it was in New York –
I mean, of the P-5+1, and then since then, we had Geneva. And you saw
Medvedev’s comments about sanctions in Iran in New York, and we want
to follow up on that, and of course, the Geneva announcement about
taking LEU out of Iran and to be turned into fuel in Russia. These
are all things that we want to follow up on in Moscow, and that’s
one of the reasons she’s going.

QUESTION: I mean, are you hoping that there is a specific declaration
by the Russians that they’re willing to go along on any of those
points? Or is it –

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: I don’t know that we’re looking for
any specific new commitments that we hope to make this week. But yes,
we’re looking to move that cooperation forward, because Russia plays
a key role in what we’re trying to do together on Iran. And it’s –
again, I expect that to be very high on the agenda.

QUESTION: On other baskets of issues, what about Georgia? Where is
that? Is that also high, medium high?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: The Secretary will raise Georgia. I
mean, the President has made clear from the start that the better
relationship we want with Russia does not mean that we don’t talk
about things that we disagree on. And that’s what he did in Moscow
in July, and that’s what she’s going to do this time.

We will talk about all of the things that we’re cooperating on and hope
to cooperate on – Afghan lethal transit, arms control, Afghanistan,
and so on, Iran. But we’ll also talk about things we disagree on,
which can include views of democracy and human rights. Certainly,
we disagree NATO enlargement, and that’s the relationship that we
have. And our view is that we can pursue the better, more constructive
relationship without sacrificing our principles or our friends,
and that’s what she’s going to do.

QUESTION: But what more can she say about Georgia other than the
report that came out recently? I mean, what specifically would she
want to say about Georgia?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Well, she will reiterate our view
in support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and
encourage the Russians to fully implement the ceasefires of August and
September 2008, which we don’t believe that they have done. And to do
so, to insist that this remain on the table, we don’t consider Georgia
satisfactorily settled right now. It’s still a problem and an issue,
and we want to see international independent observers throughout
Georgia. We want to see humanitarian groups have access to Abkhazia
and South Ossetia. And we don’t accept Russia’s recognition of those
breakaway entities. So we want to keep this on the international
agenda because the status quo is not a good or healthy one.

QUESTION: And how would you characterize the transatlantic relations
at this point? They are (inaudible)?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: No, I think they’re actually very
good. I think – I mean, there are always difficult issues that we’re
constantly grappling with. But if you think about the big issues
of the day – Iran, Afghanistan, climate change, the international
economy – I think you’ve seen a pretty solid degree of transatlantic
cooperation. The leaders meet and talk regularly. And in the face of
very difficult problems, I think we’re very pleased with the degree of
transatlantic convergence. We sometimes wish that were a sufficient
condition for solving these problems rather than just a necessary
one. But I think the state of transatlantic relations is very good.

QUESTION: On Afghanistan, what’s the extent of the cooperation of
the alliance in this new strateg

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Well, I mean, they’re two different
things. First, it’s worth underscoring there are more than 35,000
allied troops in Afghanistan. And that, in and of itself, is hugely
important and reflects a very significant degree of transatlantic
cooperation. I mean, it is basically a NATO mission that is providing
security in Afghanistan, including for the vast majority of American
forces that are over there. That’s the first point. And that is partly
an answer, according to your first question. That’s already a very
positive aspect of transatlantic cooperation. And because of that,
our review of Afghanistan necessarily includes discussions with allies.

At present, the President is reviewing the assessment by General
McChrystal and deciding what is best for the United States and what
we think the best way forward is. But necessarily, this will be
done in cooperation with allies who are playing a major role on the
ground. And again, I am sure that the Secretary in London, and with
Foreign Minister Kouchner on this trip, will talk about our thinking
on the issue.

QUESTION: Speaking of the topic of transatlantic, our colleagues on
the sceptred isle have been writing quite a bit about the nature of
the U.S.-UK relationship. Is there any effort by the Secretary to
reassure the Brits that the special relationship is still special,
or is that not part of what she’s going to do there?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: I think the very fact of traveling to
London and meeting with the prime minister and the foreign minister
on all of the issues we most care about is a reflection of the
importance of the relationship. And she’ll – of course she will
underscore that. Britain remains a close and critically important
ally. We’re just talking about Afghanistan where they have 8,000
troops which we’re enormously grateful for, and is a reflection of
how closely we cooperate and how important their contributions are.

QUESTION: Why is she spending so much time in Ireland?

SENIOR STAT

QUESTION: No. She should be spending more time. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: She should be going to the Guinness brewery, too. (Laughter.)

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: She is making a visit to Ireland and
Northern Ireland, her first as Secretary of State, because she cares
deeply about the issue, because millions of Americans care deeply
about the issue, because the United States has interests there and
has been an important actor in bringing about a very successful peace
process. So I don’t think it’s a particularly large amount of time in
the grand scheme of things to take whatever it is, a day and a half or
two, to do what she can to help to continue to move the process along.

QUESTION: Is she a little concerned by the recent events? There’s
some violence by fringe groups. There’s also justice in courts. They
have to resolve power-sharing issues there.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Sure. Well, indeed, it’s because
there are some remaining issues and more work to do that it’s important
that she go and try to help. And yes, of course she’s concerned when
violence flares up again. I think in the grand scheme of things,
violence is obviously dramatically less than it used to be. But both
of the issues you mentioned are a reminder that this is far from
completely finished business. And that’s, again, why she wants to
lend her support to the parties in finishing the job.

QUESTION: Any chance she’ll ask for more help in Guantanamo in Ireland?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: We have consistently, as you
know, been asking all of our friends across Europe to help more in
Guantanamo. And help, wherever offered, is welcome.

MR. KELLY: Okay.

QUESTION: Thank you.

QUESTION: Can we stay on Afghanistan? What else have you discussed in
Russia regarding Afghanistan? The lethal flights has been settled. Is
there anything else to be covered?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Sure. I mean, lethal flights is now
underway, and that’s a good thing. But there’s also – the Russians
could provide mo e to Afghanistan, including in the form of weapons
for the Afghan army, training, counternarcotics. I mean, they have
a major role as well beyond the logistical one, and that’s worth
pursuing with them as well.

QUESTION: Thank you.

RELIGIOUS PEOPLE AND CHANGE
By Etyen Mahcupyan

Today’s Zaman
09 October 2009, Friday

Turkey’s self-made protective cocoon is tearing apart, and this is
surprisingly being done by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party)
government and people who are generally sensitive to religious issues.

Turkey’s self-made protective cocoon is tearing apart, and this is
surprisingly being done by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party)
government and people who are generally sensitive to religious issues.

The increase in Turkey’s desire to integrate with the world over
the last five years was dependant not just on the empowerment of
Anatolian capital and its bourgeoisie but also on the transformation
of the desired mentality, which has infused into the bureaucracy. Just
about every ministry is steering away from traditional patriarchal
practices. A different bureaucratic approach that is open to
participation and increasingly sees society as an equal is being
developed.

It is clear that all these developments cannot be explained solely by
the AK Party administration’s foresight and common sense. This is the
one point that those who try to understand Turkey only by looking
at the AK Party fail to understand, because as far as mentality
goes, the AK Party does not transcend the religious society known as
"conservative." Today the government represents the average member of
that segment of society. Of course, there is a small group, comprising
possibly three to five percent of the conservatives in this country
that is ready to produce fanaticism out of religion. But 10 percent
of the same society is more democratic than the AK Party in terms of
freedoms and human rights. The change that is taking place is headed
more in the direction of the second group. Most likely, 20 years ago
these figures were the complete opposite or perhaps more dismal. If a
Kurdish initiative is being discussed today, if Turkey is rebuilding
its relations with Armenia and if Alevi workshops are being conducted,
the reason for this is that the internal dynamics of an appropriate
world conjuncture and the internal dynamics of Turkey’s religious
people are on the same level.

The resulting major sociological and ideological wave has enabled
society and consequently the AK Party government to develop ties with
the multicultural heritage inherited from the Ottoman era. We are
looking at ourselves through the prism of a broader reference that
exceeds the current strict and narrow nationalist perspective. At
least the AK Party administration appears to have understood that a
"powerful" Turkey can be developed if its multicultural heritage
is protected.

It is for this reason that we have witnessed two speeches never heard
before in the history of the republic. The speech Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered during his party congress and the
speech President Abdullah Gul delivered two days prior to the party
congress could be signaling the passing of a point from which there
is no return. Erdogan’s preferred populist tone became a means to
voice things previously unspoken in this country. When the prime
minister said, "No one in this country has the right to discriminate
against another," he was also putting a distance between himself and
the 90-year-old state policy.

His appeal to the opposition was a declaration of his determination
to be able to engage in discussion to solve problems and to launch
a "new beginning" together. However, the most interesting part of
Erdogan’s speech was the emphasis placed on points underlining that
pressure from the base was to become more democratic. He illustrated
that the reforms were being pursued not because of well-intentioned
government plans but because of the nation and era’s "invitation."

As for Gul’s speech on the occasion of the opening of the new
legislative year, it was built over an intellectual ground and spanned
a broad spectrum, addressing different points, such as the fact t
social demands and that the concept of security must be based on
individual and social security.

In this respect, we listened to a president that favored the protection
and transmission of social and cultural differences. While emphasizing
that differences are perceived as a "threat" only if we look at them
with an "alienated" eye, Gul was underlining that Turkish nationalism
was essentially becoming foreign to society.

Those that have observed the AK Party closely up until now will know
that these two speeches were not independent of each other. While the
prime minister laid the sentimental and ideological groundwork for
potential political steps and reforms, the president situated them in
a contemporary understanding of justice and freedom. Not only did he
openly express his support, he also invited Parliament to take the
planned steps and implement the reforms.

These statements may not be considered new for Turkey. However,
it is the first time that there has been so much consistency
between politicians. More importantly, for the first time, we are
observing a political staff commit to a democratic transformation
program and decide to make the program a part of their political
career. An endeavor that is generally expected from a "left" or
"liberal" government is being pursued by a government that has a
high Islamic sensitivity and is subject to attempts to label it
"pro-Shariah." Perhaps it is time to forego stereotypes and finally
start trying to understand what is happening. Turkey is on the brink of
becoming free from a nationalist republic understanding that had been
legitimized by an authoritarian secularism up until now and this change
is most naturally being pursued by the "natives" of this country.

We don’t how much the AK Party will be able to insist on its new
political line or how much progress it will make if the secular
segment of society tries to inhibit it. The peculiar mentality of
politics may postpone meeting the country’s needs or sacrifice it
to national ja that has produced the current desire for change is
irreversible. If the AK Party cannot carry this responsibility, a
different civil movement that can carry it will emerge shortly, and
most likely this movement will also come from a "religious" identity.

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE: SECRETARY CLINTON TO ATTEND THE SIGNING OF ARMENIA-TURKEY PROTOCOLS

armradio.am
09.10.2009 12:54

US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is going to visit Zurich, where
she will attend the signing of two protocols between the governments
of Turkey and Armenia, said Philip Gordon, Assistant Secretary for
European and Eurasian Affairs told reporters.

"She’s going there to show our support for what we believe is a
historic step for both Turkey and Armenia towards normalization of
their relations. We’ve been engaged in this process. She has herself
been closely engaged with the parties to move it along, and we’re going
to remain ready to work closely with both governments in support of
this process, which we believe will contribute to peace and security
and stability throughout the region," Philip H. Gordon.

TURKEY’S TERRITORY’S RECOGNIZED IF AZERBAIJAN RECOGNIZES ARTSAKH

Aysor.am
Saturday, October 10

The recognition of the present territories of Turkey is incorrect,
if the independence of Artsakh is not recognized de facto, said Samvel
Babayan the former army commander and defense minister of the NKR.

"If in the case of Turkey we try to turn de facto into de jure,
Azerbaijan has to recognize the territory of Artsakh in the same
way. Is this variant acceptable?", – said the speaker and added, if
the diplomatic bodies mention that there has not been any pressure on
Armenia from outside so the latter can also hold talks with Azerbaijan
for Azerbaijan to recognize the independence of the present territory
of Artsakh.

"Can we do that much? I doubt.", – said S. Babayan adding that in
the near future it will be impossible to realize what is mentioned
in the protocols, as the Armenian side is waiting for a compromises
in Karabakh issue.

"As for us, we will not give that opportunity. I will be happy if we
be able to solve other problems with Turkey without touching Karabakh
issue", – mentioned S. Babayan.

FOOTBALL IS JUST FOOTBALL, SAYS ARMENIA’S FEDERATION CHIEF

Hurriyet Daily News
Friday, October 9, 2009

The Armenian Football Federation has revived its old logo, featuring
Mt. Agrı, shortly before the World Cup qualifying rematch between
Turkey and Armenia. The federation’s chief opposes the politicization
of the football match between the national teams and the term ‘football
diplomacy’ An Armenian supporter holds up a scarf in the stands during
the Armenia-Turkey football match played Sept. 6, 2008. AA photo

An Armenian supporter holds up a scarf in the stands during the
Armenia-Turkey football match played Sept. 6, 2008. AA photo

Although the World Cup qualifying game in Yerevan last year between
Armenia and Turkey continued the improvement of relations between the
two countries, the top executive of Armenian football is extremely
uncomfortable with the term "football diplomacy."

Armenia Football Federation President Ruben Hayrapetyan told the
Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review that too much is expected from
the sport as the two teams prepare for the return game, to be played
next Wednesday.

"World public opinion made the [first] match too big of a deal and did
not stop there, calling it ‘football diplomacy.’ I do not like this
term at all," said Hayrapetyan. "I want neither my federation nor my
players to be political figures. Politics do not interest us at all."

Armenian President Serge Sarkisian invited Turkish President Abdullah
Gul to Yerevan to watch the first game in September, 2008. Gul traveled
to Armenia and the two presidents watched the game together. Hundreds
of journalists from all over the world followed the event, giving it
widespread positive coverage.

Mt. Agrı is on the logo again

At the first game, journalists received gift bags branded with the logo
of the football federation, which notably did not include the image
of Mt. Agrı, or Mt. Ararat in Armenian. The old logo was recently
revived, and widely covered by the Turkish press. The change caused
a debate to erupt in Armenia. Claims were made that the decision
was made by the Sarkisian administration, but Hayrapetyan denied
those reports. "We had decided to change our logo as the federation;
it was our own decision. However, we did not like the new logo and
decided to revert to the old one. Therefore, Mt. Ararat is back on
our logo again."

Mt. Agrı is considered holy and is one of the most commonly used
symbols in Armenia, both officially and unofficially. The eastern
territory of Turkey, where Mt. Agrı is located, is considered to be
"Armenian land" by some Armenians.

The return match is in Bursa

The central Anatolian city of Kayseri, President Gul’s hometown,
was expected to host the Armenia game. However, the Turkish Football
Federation decided to play Wednesday’s game in the northwestern city
of Bursa.

Complaints from coach Fatih Terim over the condition of the pitch
at Kayseri’s Kadir Has Stadium, which hosted the Turkey-Estonia game
last month, are said to have scrapped plans to host the rematch there.

Hayrapetyan said the location would not be a problem. "Wherever is
suitable for the match, we can play there; there is no problem for
us. The stadium having the necessary infrastructure is enough."

Hayrapatyan said he hopes the Armenian team will not repeat the
mistakes of last year. "Last year’s match was so politicized that it
caused great pressure on the players. I hope the same thing will not
be experienced again; it is very wearing for the players."

Will Armenian supporters visit Turkey?

Turkish supporters did not attend last year’s game and no Armenian fans
are expected to attend the return game. "Because of security reasons,
I do not believe that Armenian supporters will go to Turkey," said
Hayrapetyan. When reminded that there are thousands of Armenians in
Turkey, the federation chief said that everybody may visit Turkey
or Armenia individually, but that "visiting as a team’s supporter
is a opes that Armenia will make a strong showing against the tough
Turkish team.

"The Turkish national team is a strong one but let’s not forget that
the ball is round. In short, let the best team win," he said.

—

In our seventh ‘Postcards from Armenia,’ the members of the U21
Armenian football squad will discuss their feelings on potentially
joining a Turkish club and on competing against Turkey.

THE FIGHT AGAINST THE CRISIS IN CIS STATES IS TO BE THE MAIN THEME OF KISHINEV SUMMIT

ARMENPRESS
Oct 7, 2009

MOSCOW, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS: At CIS summit, which is to be held
on October 9 in Kishinev, the main attention will be paid to the
discussion of the joint measures on the confrontation of the global
financial-economic crisis in CIS states, a source of the Russian
presidential administration told RIA "Novosti" at the threshold of
the summit. According to the source, a comprehensive agenda for the
session has been prepared.

It is intended that at the session of CIS Council of Heads of State
Russian Finance Minister Alexey Koudrin will present a report on the
joint measures for the confrontation of the global financial-economic
crisis in CIS states.

"It is expected that at the upcoming summit a decision will be adopted
on passing CIS presidential functions to Russia from Moldova from
January 1, 2010", the speaker for the agency said. On that occasion
the cooperation partners will be officially presented the concept
of Russia’s presidency and the project on measures intended for
its fulfillment.

According to a Kremlin source, those documents are focused on the
further extension of multi-planned cooperation by CIS template, as well
as on the increase of the practical part of the decisions being adopted
in the spheres of economy, migration and power engineering. "The
progress of scientific-technical and innovative cooperation in CIS
territory has been set as the primary theme of the Russian presidency,
taking into consideration that 2010 is declared a year of Sciences
and Innovations in CIS", Kremlin source added.

THE AFGHANI WAR VETERANS IN ARMENIA

p;p=0&id=1014&y=2009&m=10&d=08
07. 10.09

On the 7th of October, 2009 the members of the Coordinating Council of
the Afghani War Veterans in the CIS Member States, with the company of
the RA Minister of Defence Seyran Ohanyan, Chief of the GS of the RA
Armed Forces, Colonel-General Yuri Khachaturov and other high ranked
officers, visited the "Hakhtanak" ("Victory") Park and put flowers
and wreaths on the memorials of the victims of the Afghani and the
Great Patriotic Wars.

On the same day in the RA MoD administrative complex took place the
sitting of the Coordinating Council of the Afghani War Veterans in
the CIS Member States, which was devoted to the 20th anniversary of
the demobilization of the Soviet troops from Afghanistan. Greeting
those present, the RA Minister of Defence Seyran Ohanyan stated
that we can build the future by only remembering and appreciating
the past. "We cannot forget the valor and selflessness that showed
the participants to that terrible and brutal war, and this meeting
is a proof of it," marked the Minister of Defence. The head of the
sitting of the council, president of the Coordinating Committee of the
Afghani War Veterans Ruslan Aushev, on his turn, thanked the Armenian
side for the cordial reception and passed the Minister of Defence
a symbolic souvenir. Seyran Ohanyan decorated a=2 0number of the
participants to the sitting of the council with "Marshal Baghramyan"
and "Admiral Isakov" departmental medals, at the same time expressing
his belief that the visit of the members of the council to Yerevan
and the agreements achieved in its frames will strengthen even more
the cooperation developed during the years.

RA MoD Department of Information and Public Affairs

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT GREETED BY ANGRY DEMONSTRATORS PROTESTING STEPS TOWARDS NORMALIZING

naharnet.lb
07 Oct 09, 09:09
Beirut

Armenian-Turkish ties

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian was greeted by thousands of angry
demonstrators as he arrived in Lebanon on Tuesday to discuss with
the local Armenian community plans to establish ties with Turkey.

The demonstrators — men, women and children — carried placards
that read "no to the agreements" and "the blood of Armenians not up
for sale" as they marched outside Sarkisian’s hotel on the outskirts
of Beirut.

Some demonstrators clashed briefly with anti-riot police who had
deployed around the hotel, and a handful of people were lightly
injured by batons, an AFP correspondent said.

Sarkisian’s short stop in Beirut is part of a week-long international
trip aimed at calming concerns among the Armenian Diaspora over
Turkish-Armenian efforts to normalize relations.

But such plans have angered many in Lebanon’s 140,000-strong Armenian
community, mostly made up of the descendants of those who survived
massacres in eastern Anatolia under Ottoman rule almost a century ago.

"After nearly 100 years of fighting for our cause, how can our enemy
become our friend in the blink of an eye," asked a visibly angry
Koko Marashlian, a store owner in Beirut’s Armenian neighborhood of
Borj Hammoud.

Hagop Pakradounian, one of six Armenian deputies in Lebanon’s
parliament, said the community was all for improved ties between
Armenia and Turkey but not at any price.

"This issue concerns Armenians worldwide and not just those in
Armenia," Pakradounian told AFP.

"We are not talking about a simple economic accord between two
countries but a historic one that concerns each Armenian family,
whatever its nationality," he said.

Community members have drawn up a petition condemning the agreements
set to be signed later this month between Turkey and Armenia on
establishing diplomatic ties.

Stores in Borj Hammoud also shut down on Tuesday afternoon in protest.

"We remember, we demand, we refuse," read placards put up throughout
the neighborhood, where Armenian patriotic music blared.

"These agreements will sound the death knell of our cause," store-owner
Marashlian said. "As descendants of those exiled, we are the main
victims of these agreements."

Keborg Abajian, 55, who runs a coffee shop, said he was ready to take
up arms to prevent the normalization of ties.

"I will shut down my shop to go fight so that our martyrs are not
forgotten," he said. "We want to recover our land. My ancestors owned
huge plots of land in Urfa," in southeast Turkey.

Some members of the younger generation, however, appeared to adopt
a more conciliatory tone, saying it was time to move on.

"The state of Armenia has made a decision and who am I to decide
what is best for its people," asked jeweler Haig Asmarian, 34. "My
grandfather still has the titles to his property but it’s time to
turn the page.

"And who knows, maybe this will benefit Armenia economically."

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin were systematically
killed between 1915 and 1917 as the Ottoman Empire was falling apart.

Turkey rejects the genocide label and argues that 300,000-500,000
Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife when
Armenians took up arms against their Ottoman rulers and sided with
invading Russian troops.

Sarkisian’s tour has also included stops in France and the United
States and was to conclude in Russia.(AFP-Naharnet)

GUL: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE "NOT A PROVEN FACT"

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.10.2009 11:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Genocide "is not a proven fact", Turkish
President said in Paris.

"We wish to establish a commission to study the events which happened
100 years ago. Of course, these were tragic events and both sides
suffered. Now, our objective is peace, stability and cooperation,"
said Abdullah Gul, who arrived in the French capital in the framework
of Season of Turkey in France.

On the occasion, the Eiffel Tower was illuminated with the colors of
Turkish flag, freelance journalist Jean Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net.

TURKISH WOMEN LEFT BEHIND AS COUNTRY PROGRESSES

Hurriyet Daily News
Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Turkey continues to score an abysmal rank on the UNDP’s Human
Development Index, despite an increase in Turkey’s life expectancy
rates, literacy and gross national product over the past 27
years. Overall the country has slipped three places this year,
but specifically the role of women in society has earned the worst
mark. Turkey ranked 101 out of 109.

Despite progress in some vital indicators of a healthy society, the
role of women in Turkish society remains very low and the country
has regressed on the U.N. Human Development Index.

Turkey ranked 101 out of 109 countries in the 2009 Gender Empowerment
Measure, or GEM, released on Monday as a part of the United Nations
Development Programme, or UNDP’s, Human Development Index.

Turkey dropped three places in this year’s Human Development Index,
ranking 79 out of 182 countries, but the alarmingly low rank in the
Gender Equality Index is a strong indicator that the country has a
long way to go to empower women politically and economically in order
to achieve gender equality.

The GEM bases its rankings on indicators such as the active role
played by women in politics and the economy. The GEM was included in
the Human Development Index for the first time in 1995.

Despite an increase in Turkey’s life expectancy rates, literacy and
gross national product over the past 27 years, the country continues
to be ranked low on the UNDP’s Human Development Index. When spilt
into the four sections of extremely developed, developed, developing
and undeveloped, Turkey falls into the category of developed with Cuba
and Saudi Arabia, which are ahead of Turkey’s neighbors Armenia and
Iran. But in the GEM results, Turkey is only ahead of Tonga, Morocco,
Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bangladesh and Yemen.

"The results demonstrate that Turkey is at a stand still, there are no
reforms being implemented to show development," said Pinar Ä°lkkaracan,
coo ~Ys Human Rights Foundation, in her result analysis. Ä°lkkaracan
said in the 2000s there have been significant changes to the Turkish
Penal Code and development toward gender equality, but today these
changes are not being taken forward. According to Ä°lkkaracan, the
issue of employment also needs to be addressed in order to progress
in the area of gender equality.

President of the Association to Support and Train Women Candidates,
or KADER, Hulya Gulbahar, said she was not at all surprised by
the figures, and said KADER had warned political parities ahead of
the local elections in March about the fact that in 39 out of 81
provinces in Turkey there was not one female member of the municipal
council. "Half of Turkey is being run without any female member of
council, and until this problem is solved the figures will not change,"
she said.

The Human Development Index considers factors such as poverty,
gender, democracy, human rights, cultural liberty, globalization,
water scarcity and climate change. In the poverty index, Turkey is
ranked 40 out of 135 countries, in the under 40’s mortality rate it was
ranked 50, and in the literacy index it ranked 77. The lowest-ranked
position for Turkey was in the gender empowerment measure.