Author: Tumanian Talar

PanARMENIAN.Net

Turkey looking for its place in Middle East
20.02.2009 21:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey is looking for its place in Middle East, an
Armenian expert said.

`Despite the intention to join the European Union, it tries to fortify
its positions as a regional power,’ Director of Caucasus Institute
Alexander Iskandaryan told a news conference on Friday.

`Prime Minister Tayyip Ergogan’s recent demarche in Davos has worked
for both domestic and foreign policies. Turkeys is facing
elections. With anti-Israeli policy, the AK ruling party tries to gain
dividends,’ he said.

At the same time, Iskandaryan emphasized that Ankara and Tel Aviv
understand need each other.

`Tensions will ease after the March elections in Turkey,’ he said.

Hürriyet
Saturday, February 21, 2009 14:10
Turkey-US relations to improve if no wrong steps on Armenian issue

Turkey hopes the new Washington administration will understand the
importance of the country before it takes a step to recognize the
Armenian claims regarding the 1915 incident, the Turkish ambassador to
the U.S. said.

"The Turkish nation is ready to struggle altogether (against the
efforts to have the Armenian claims recognized in the U.S.). Therefore
I hope that the officials in the new U.S. administration will
understand the importance of Turkey, the meaning of this issue to the
Turkish people and the harm it will bring to the Turkish-American
relations," Ambassador Nabi Sensoy told reporters in New York late on
Friday.

U.S. President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton had pledged to recognize the Armenian claims
during the election campaign.

So far the Washington administration had stepped in to block the
legislations in the Congress that would recognize the Armenian claims
due to the strategic partnership between Turkey and the U.S.

Sensoy recalled in 2007 he was called back to Ankara to protest the
attempts to have the Armenian claims recognized in the Congress.

"That happened for the first time in our history. This was a protest
of the American policy. Everybody understood the seriousness of the
issue and retreated from taking such wrong step. Now we face the same
danger," he was quoted as saying by the state-run Anatolian Agency.

The issue of the 1915 incidents is highly sensitive for Turkey as well
as Armenia. Around 300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks, died
in civil strife that emerged when Armenians took up arms, backed by
Russia, for independence in eastern Anatolia.

However Armenia, with the backing of the diaspora, claims up to 1.5
million of their kin were slaughtered in orchestrated killings in
1915. The issue remains unsolved as Armenia drags its feet in
accepting Turkey’s proposal of forming a commission to investigate the
claims.

TURKEY-ARMENIA CLOSE TO NORMALIZATION

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has expressed his hopes for the
normalization of the relations with Armenia as well as both sides to
open up archives and the Yerevan administration is expected to adopt a
similar approach, Sensoy added.

"I am glad to declare that the two countries are close to normalizing
relations… I had gone through what happened in 2007 and I don’t want
to see this period repeated," the ambassador said, adding "We have to
focus on the positive sides of the bilateral relations."

He also warned that there is a good chance for Turkey and Armenia to
discuss directly the issues unless there is a legislation or statement
recognizing the Armenian claims regarding the 1915 incidents.

MOSCOW-BACKED BLOC PRESSING AHEAD WITH JOINT MISSILE SHIELD PLAN

s_id=10760
18-02-2009 20:44:44

The plan on a joint air defense system was presented as representatives
of the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO), a Russia-led ex-Soviet military bloc, gathered in Yerevan
on Tuesday.

Although the plan announced by the CSTO, the military arm of the
USSR`s successor CIS, is called a common regional air defense system,
it envisions cooperation only between Russia and Armenia, which
represents Moscow`s forepost in the South Caucasus region.

Russia has already reached an agreement on a joint missile defense
system with Belarus. After Moscow signs a similar document with
Yerevan, Russia, Armenia and Belarus will be able to use each other`s
air defense systems if necessary. It is fair to conclude that Russia`s
step primarily aims to undercut the influence of Western-leaning
Georgia and NATO on the South Caucasus region. Moreover, Russia plans
to set up such systems not only in the South Caucasus but also in
Central Asia and Eastern Europe, in an apparent move to counter the
United States` plans to station missile defense elements in Eastern
Europe.

Armenia`s being part of a collective missile shield poses a threat
to Azerbaijan`s interests. The fact that the arch-foe neighbor,
which occupies 20% of Azerbaijani territories, is gaining the right
to capitalize on the potential of such a military power as Russia
jeopardizes stability in the already volatile region.

Armenia, whose political will and economy is crumbling, does not appear
perturbed by surrendering its air defense system to the Kremlin. The
country`s foreign minister, Eduard Nalbandian, has openly admitted
that the South Caucasus republic is not capable of defending its air
space on its own.

"Azerbaijan is increasing its military potential by the day. They
[Azerbaijani officials] frequently state that they will return Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh, even by means of force. From this standpoint,
creating joint missile defense systems with Russia is acceptable for
Armenia," Nalbandian told the press in Yerevan.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN RECEIVED THE DELEGATION OF THE ARMENIAN EVANGELISTIC CHURCH

armradio.am
18.02.2009 18:07

President Serzh Sargsyan received the delegation of the Spiritual
Council of the Armenian Evangelistic Church, head by leader of the
Church Rene Levonyan, President’s Press Office reported.

During the meeting President Sargsyan was introduced to the activity
of the Evangelistic Church over the past few years, the programs
implemented in Armenia and Artsakh targeted at Christian upbringing,
social, cultural, educational development, etc.

Presenting the programs the Church envisages to implement in Armenia
and Artsakh in 2009, members of the delegation stressed that along with
charity initiatives, the Church is trying to proceed to development
programs.

President Sargsyan attached importance to the utilization of the
potential of all Armenians for the benefit of our Motherland and
people, appreciated the activity of all the organizations in the
field of maintaining the Armenian national identity, as well as their
involvement in Armenia’s life.

"The guarantee of our success is our unity, and our strength is in
our diversity. The only objective of this diversity is the development
and prosperity of our people," President Sargsyan said.

AZERBAIJANI AMBASSADOR MEETS CHIEF OF TURKISH PARLIAMENT’S COMMISSION

BSANNA NEWS
Feb 17 2009
Ukraine

ANKARA, February 17. (AzerTAc). Zakir Hashimov, Azerbaijani ambassador
in Turkey, met here with Murat Mercan, chairman of the commission
for foreign relations of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

The sides discussed Turkey-Azerbaijan bilateral ties. Zakir
Hashimov expressed concern over the latest media reports concerning
Turkey-Azerbaijan relations. The diplomat briefed Mercan on the
ongoing talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He noted the reports
saying Turks gave up Karabakh, plan of conflict resolution (Hurriyet
newspaper, Liberty radio) contradict existing principles of historical
friendship and fraternity between the two nations.

Murat Mercan said such kind of reports is sabotage. According to
him, rapprochement between Armenia and Azerbaijan is possible only if
Armenia gives up 1915 Genocide allegations, frees occupied Azerbaijani
territories and recognizes Turkish borders.

A VIOLENT COUNTRY WITH THE MOST VIOLENT CITY? ITS HERE
Kirsteen Paterson

Metro
February 16, 2009 Monday
UK

SCOTLAND has the fastest rising murder rate in western Europe,
a United Nations report reveals.

Homicides have increased by more than one third, reaching 2.1 killings
per 100,000 people.

Only Finland and Portugal have the same number of murders, making
Scotland joint top.

However, the UN survey shows Scotlands murder rate jumped almost 35
per cent over 2005 to 2006. This compares to a one per cent fall in
Finland and 30 per cent increase in Portugal.

Scotlands rise is the sixth biggest in the world, following Bahrain,
Jordan, Tajikistan, Armenia and Mauritius.

Of the 109 murders logged in Scotland during this period, 31 took
place in Glasgow. The number of killings in the city per 100,000
people rose from 4.49 to 5.34 between 2005-2006, making it the most
violent city in Western Europe. Meanwhile, Scottish government data
for 2006-2007 sees the death toll rise again to 114.

Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken said: What do we need to do to
smash this booze and blade culture that prevails among youths in west
central Scotland?

There should be a significant increase in stop and search. Anyone
caught carrying a weapon should be fast-tracked by the courts and
there should be a presumption of custody.A government spokesman said:
Knife crime is not a new problem in Scotland. Too many Scots especially
young men feel the need to carry a blade under the delusion that it
offers them protection. Through education and enforcement, we can
help Scotland to lose its reputation for knife crime.

ARMENIA, POLAND INTERESED IN DEEPENING TIES

armradio.am
17.02.2009 10:42

Within the framework of the visit to Warsaw the Foreign Minister of
Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, had a meeting with the Foreign Minister
of Poland Radoslav Sikorski. The meeting of the Foreign Ministers
was followed by talks in an extended format, during which reference
was made to a broad framework of issues related to Armenian-Polish
relations, regional and international questions.

Ministers Nalbandian and Sikorski attached importance to the conduct
of systematic consultations between the Foreign Ministers of the two
countries as another format of effective cooperation.

Edward Nalbandian and Rodoslav Sikorski discussed the steps to be taken
in the direction of deepening cooperation in the fields of economy,
education and culture. In particular, the interlocutors exchanged
views on the ways of developing the trade-economic and cultural ties.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Poland discussed the process of
cooperation between Armenia and the European Union and the steps to be
taken in that sphere. Welcoming the Eastern Partnership proposal of the
European Union, Minister Nalbandian attached importance to the signing
of the free trade agreement and the expected simplification of the
visa regime and the possible assistance of Poland in this direction.

Edward Nalbandian presented to his Polish counterpart the latest
developments in the negotiations on Nagorno Karaba kh and the
opportunities of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

The parties noted that there is no alternative to the peaceful
political settlement of the Artsakh issue.

Accepting Edward Nalabndian’s invitation, Rodoslv Sikorski said he
intedns to visit Armenia in 2009.

Following the meeting Ministers Nalbandian and Sikorski signed a
memorandum of cooperation between the Foreign Ministries of Armenia
and Poland in the field of European integration.

The meeting was followed by the joint press conference of the Foreign
Ministers.

The same day Edward Nalbandian visited the Warsaw University, where he
delivered an extended speech on Armenia’s foreign policy and answered
the questions of the faculty and students.

In response to the question about the process of settlement of the
Karabakh issue, Edward Nalbandian said that Azerbaijan’s negligence
of the provisions of the documents signed by its own leaders, the
ongoing militant statements, the arms race, the obvious violation
of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, the attempts
to justify the possible application of force, the propagation of
national hatred not only hamper the negotiation process, but also
comprise a serious threat to regional stability and security, which
requires an adequate response from the international community.

Today Minister Nalbandian is expected to have meetings with the
President of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, Chairm an of the Sejm Bronislav
Komorovski and Chairman of Senate Bogdan Borusewicz.

ICRC, ARMENIA’S MINISTRY OF DEFENSE SIGN THE 2009 COOPERATION PROGRAM

armradio.am
16.02.2009 16:46

On January 16 the Defense minister of Armenia, Seyran Ohanyan,
received James Reynolds, head of delegation for the International
Committee of the Red Cross in Armenia.

The Minister highly appreciated the mission of the International
Committee of the Red Cross in Armenia, assessing the cooperation as an
important and necessary activity targeted at the maintenance of highest
values of civilization, which is executed through collaboration with
the state bodies of the Republic of Armenia, including the Ministry
of Defense and refers to spheres like protection of human rights,
maintenance of the international humanitarian law, the teaching of
that law and the work based on it in the Armed Forces of Armenia.

Seyran Ohanyan and James Reynolds signed the "2009 Program of
Cooperation between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia
and the delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross
in the sphere of international humanitarian law (IHL)."

Hurriyet / Turkish Daily News
February 12, 2009 Thursday

FILM INSPIRED BY DINK’S ARTICLE

Volunteer actors and actresses coming together under the slogan, "Our
struggle is until this country becomes the land of brotherhood," have
shot a 32-minute short film in honor of slain journalist Hrant Dink

The product of months of work the film, "Kertenkel" (Lizard), was
inspired by a column published in daily Birgun in October 2004 written
by Agos editor-in-chief Dink, who was assassinated on Jan. 19, 2007.

Ozgur Aryk, a documentary maker who holds many national and
international awards, directed the film. The films budget was 40,000
Turkish liras, provided by the Green Agency and it was shot in the
Mediterranean city of Antalya

[HH] No movie theater to screen the film

Although the film cannot find a movie theater that will screen it,
there are plans to show it to audiences this year in many national and
international film festivals, including the International Istanbul
Film Festival that will be organized by the Istanbul Foundation for
Culture and Arts, or IKSV, in April.

One of the most important planned destinations for the film is the
International Golden Apricot Film Festival to be organized in Armenian
capital, Yerevan in July. From Feb. 17, the film will be screened with
English and Turkish subtitles at the Nazym Hikmet Culture Center on
Istanbuls Asian side in Kadykoy.

"Being inspired by the painful events Armenians went through and with
the words of Dink, this film aims to draw attention to the pain people
are experiencing throughout the world. Unfortunately, we fight to live
in an environment in which people are moving away from each other and
becoming enemies," said Aryk.

[HH] Abdullahs traumatic story

Aryk said the film was based around a character named Abdullah. "A
lizard, when it feels danger, it shelters in the smallest hole it can
find, just like Abdullah." He said the content of the story was
traumatic, "Yes, there is violence in the story but it is based on
causality. We wanted to highlight once again the cost of excess in
this film."

"I have read almost all articles written by Dink," said Aryk. He said
"Lizard" was very important to him, "As soon as I took the paper and
started reading the article, scenes from the film took shape in my
mind."

[HH] Supporting characters from local to general

Even though Aryk sticks to the original story in the film, he also
backs it up with supporting characters. "Rather than localizing the
story, we wanted to draw attention to pain in the world by showing
incidents in our own land. Materiality is what lies behind pain all
around the world. I think economic worries nourish nationalism," Aryk
said.

Aryk added a hodja character to the film. He said the character,
hiding behind religion, behaves cruelly toward people and confiscates
their land. "The hodja prays five times a day but all he thinks about
is owning more."

[HH] This film is not agitation but a call for brotherhood

Aryk said the film was set in the time of World War I, "While watching
the film, viewers will be able to see events that happened during the
war and the effect on people’s psychology."

He said he intentionally shot a short film and that its message was
very short and certain. He added the film had a mission in addition to
commemorating Dink. "With this film, rather than agitate, we try to
highlight once again that everyone who shares this land is a brother."

BOX BOX

The film depicts the end of World War I. A young Armenian person, who
survived the painful events of 1915, shelters in a village in the
slopes of Mount Suphan in eastern Anatolia. He does not play on the
streets like the other young people. He lives in the shed of a
villager named Ismail and tells people nothing except that his name is
Abdullah. One day when he is in the toilet, other children see he is
uncircumcised, and start throwing stones at him. With fear, Abdullah
shelters in the shed and circumcises himself with a sharp tool and
then throws the bloody piece of skin at the people.

Panorama.am
12:33 14/02/2009

FOREIGN MINISTRY: `IT SEEMS BRYZA WANTS TO IMPEDE NEGOTIATING PROCESS’

`It’s not clear, what is the mission of the announcement made by
Bryza? It seems that it is to impede the negotiating process which is
directed in the frames of Madrid principles,’ Tigran Balayan, the head
of press and information department of the Foreign Ministry commented
on Mattew Bryza’s statement made to `American Voice’ saying that `we
are close to draft an agreement on Nagorno Karabakh conflict which
should be directed by the principle of territorial integrity.’ The
OSCE Minsk Group American co-chairman has also mentioned that the
agreement should cover the right of self-determination of peoples and
refusing force implementation.

‘Those recommendations are based on three basic principles of the
international right: not implementing force, right of
self-determination and territorial integrity. Armenian party has been
always stressing that the highlight of the conflict should be the
self-determination right of Artsakh people,’ said Tigran Balayan.

`Currently the negotiations are hold to regulate the conflict, it is
early to speak about agreement,’ he said.

Source: Panorama.am