Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

CIVIL SOCIETY DEMANDS TRIAL OF COUP GENERALS

Today’s Zaman
Sept 12 2008
Turkey

Civil society organizations have become more adamant in their demand
that those involved in the Sept. 12, 1980 coup d’état be brought
to trial after being encouraged by an investigation launched into
the Ergenekon terror organization, a shadowy network whose members
with links to the state hierarchy allegedly worked to overthrow the
government and lay the groundwork for a new period of military rule
in Turkey.

Today, on the 28th anniversary of the coup, there will be many
demonstrations throughout Turkey, particularly in Ä°stanbul, Ä°zmir,
Ankara, Diyarbakır and Malatya, organized by various civil society
and rights organizations.

The participants will highlight the fact that the mentality of the
Sept. 12 coup is still alive today — as is proven by the Ergenekon
case — and that those responsible for the coup should be brought to
justice, just as suspects in the Ergenekon case will be.

The first hearing in the case of Ergenekon, which is accused of
orchestrating various murders and attacks with the intention
of creating chaos that would trigger a coup, is scheduled for
October. Among the suspects are three retired senior generals,
including former Gendarmerie Forces Commander Gen. Å~^ener Eruygur,
mafia bosses and public figures such as politicians, journalists and
academics. This is the first time in recent Turkish history that
a top commander — retired or on active duty — is facing charges
within the justice system. The generals of the Sept. 12, 1980 coup,
however, have never been called to account for the atrocities of the
brutal regime they led after granting immunity to themselves through
clauses in the constitution they drafted, which remains in place to
the present day. The Constitution has been amended many times since
then, but the provisions protecting the former generals have been
left unchanged. The one prosecutor, Sacit Kayasu, who campaigned to
change them, was permanently disbarred.

Civil society groups are planning protests around the country to
condemn the coup, with many using the slogan "Ergenekon trial not
good enough, Sept. 12 must be tried, too." The largest demonstration
is expected to be staged in Ä°stanbul on Sunday. The organizers,
which include the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers’ Unions
(DÄ°SK), the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK),
the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP), the Democratic Society Party
(DTP) and the Socialist Platform of the Oppressed (ESP), will urge the
public to meet in Istanbul’s Kadıköy Square to unite in demanding
that the coup generals be brought to justice.

Sinan Tutal, the chairman of the ODP’s Istanbul branch, said the
ongoing Ergenekon investigation and upcoming trial are only a small
part of a phenomenon often described in Turkey as the deep state, a
term used to refer to shadowy relations between the mafia, politicians,
intelligence agencies and security forces, usually governed by
ultranationalist groups that have their own political agenda.

"Democracy will never fully be established in Turkey as long as
the perpetrators of the Sept. 12 coup d’état are not brought to
justice. We will never be able to dismantle the deep state, and the
Sept. 12 Constitution will remain in place," Tutal stated. He also
accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) of not
having any real intention of bringing those responsible for the coup
to justice.

Another large demonstration will occur Saturday in Ä°zmir’s
Gundogan Square and Ankara’s Sıhhiye Square, in addition to smaller
demonstrations in the cities of Gaziantep, Malatya and Bursa.

Conscience Tribunal

The coalition known as "70 Million Steps Against Coups," a platform
bringing together many civil society groups, will today hold a
"Conscience Tribunal" in which it will symbolically try the Sept. 12
coup generals and its leader, Gen. Evren, who is living out his
retirement years quietly in the holiday resort town of Marmaris,
where he has taken up painting as a hobby.

The coalition is made up of the Amargi Women’s Cooperative,
the Anti-capitalist Group, the Women’s Rights Association against
Discrimination (AKDER), the Peace Council, the We Are Looking after
Each Other Platform, the Confederation of Turkish Real Trade Unions
(Hak-Ä°Å~_), the Helsinki Citizens Association (HYD), the We Are
Not Free Yet Platform, the Proletariat Movement Party (EHP), the
Revolutionary Socialist Workers’ Party (DSÄ°P), the Young Civilians,
the Initiative to Say No to Racism and Nationalism, the Global Action
Group (KEG), the Lambda Istanbul LGBTT Solidarity Association, the
Association of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed Peoples
(MAZLUM-DER), the Socialist Democracy Party (SDP), the Political
Horizon Movement and the Confrontation Association.

The initiative, which recently organized other mass protests against
coups and coup attempts in Ä°stanbul and Ankara, in a statement
about the Conscience Tribunal, underlined that the Constitution that
was drafted after the 1980 coup is a constant reminder of all the
violations of the generals involved in the coup.

"Turkey has not yet been able to bring [the perpetrators of]
Sept. 12 to justice, although the mentality of the Sept. 12 regime
will be before a court in the Ergenekon trial," a statement from the
coalition read.

Å~^enol KarakaÅ~_, a spokesperson for the initiative, recalled that
demonstrations against the Sept. 12 coup in the past were largely
ineffective, adding that he hopes this will change this year due to
the ongoing Ergenekon trial.

"Various demonstrations were also organized in the past, but they
mostly were about calling attention to the anguish and pain caused
to victims. Today, the obvious connection between anti-democratic
interventions, gangs and coups is much more visible and out in the
open," KarakaÅ~_ said.

The defendants in the Conscience Tribunal include generals Evren,
Sedat Celasun, Nurettin Ersin, Tahsin Å~^ahinkaya and Nejat Tumer. The
indictment will be read aloud by Engin Cinmen, the lawyer who organized
the "One Minute of Darkness for Light Forever" protest after the
Susurluk affair in 1996, when a car crash revealed questionable
relations between a deputy, a police chief and a mafia boss. The
campaign was Turkey’s first mass protest, with thousands in many
cities turning off their lights for a minute to show their opposition
to deep state formations. Some of the suspects in the Susurluk affair
are currently also suspects in the Ergenekon case.

The opening speech in the mock trial will be delivered by Fethiye
Cetin, a lawyer for the family of the Armenian-Turkish journalist
Hrant Dink, who was allegedly threatened by retired Gen. Veli Kucuk,
a key Ergenekon suspect, shortly before he was shot dead in January
of last year by an ultranationalist teenager. Several intellectuals
who witnessed some of the atrocities of the coup period will relate
their experiences as part of the day’s activities. There will also
be a protest march called "No to Coups."

Other civil society organizations such as the ’78ers Association,
whose members were victims of the 1980 coup, will organize mass
protests in a number of cities during the week. The main theme of
their protests will be Diyarbakır Prison, which, allegedly, was the
scene of human rights violations and torture during the Sept. 12 coup
and which some analysts consider to be the place that gave birth to
the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

In addition to the social democratic, democratic, socialist and
left-wing groups, right-wing organizations such as the Grand Unity
Party (BBP) will be among today’s protestors. The BBP Ä°stanbul branch
will organize an evening commemoration ceremony for the Sept. 12
victims and will condemn the coup.

——————————————- ————————————-

Crimes committed by coup generals According to Husnu Ondul, chairman
of the Human Rights Association (Ä°HD) — which was established in
1986 mainly to address serious and systematic violations of human
rights under military rule — it is possible to observe the effects
of the coup in every area of life even today, but the costs of it
were highest in the immediate aftermath.

In Ondul’s words, during the coup "49 people were executed, 171 people
were killed by torture and 650 detained for long periods, most of
whom were subjected to torture. In the military courts 210,000 cases
were opened; 85,000 people faced charges for thought crimes; 1,683,000
people were categorized by the state on the basis of their political
and religious beliefs. Prosecutors demanded capital punishment for
6,353 persons; 348,000 people were banned from traveling abroad;
14,509 civil servants were fired under the State of Emergency Law;
18,000 civil servants, 2,000 judges, 4,000 policemen and 5,000
teachers were forced to resign; 23,667 associations were banned,
while political parties and unions were shut down. More than 30,000
people were forced to leave Turkey. Thirty-nine tons of books were
destroyed, and 937 movies were banned; eight newspapers were closed
down for a period of 195 days." He added that the political, economic
and social effects of the coup are still evident today due to 675
laws currently in force that were passed during the coup regime.

–Boundary_(ID_xKPDpPw3WCHqwr/KT58GWQ)–

IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE TO EXPAND

PRESS TV
Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:39:50 GMT

Armenia’s Minister of Energy Armen Movsisyan says the capacity
of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline project will increase to 2.5 billion
cubic meters.

This would become feasible by increasing the capacity at the
Kadzharan-Yerevan section of the pipeline by November of 2008, Armen
Movsisyan said according to Interfax.

Mosvsisyan noted the main construction work on this section of the
pipeline is already completed and its testing will be initiated soon.

The Iran-Armenia gas pipeline project officially opened on March 19,
2007 by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Armenian President
Robert Kocharian and would provide Armenia with an alternative to
the gas it now imports from Russia.

The 140-km pipeline is estimated to cost of $220 million for the
two countries.

Based on the signed agreement between the two countries, for each
cubic meter of Iranian gas, Armenia will return 3 kilowatt hours of
electricity to Iran.

In case of suspension or limitations of Russian gas export to Armenia,
the country may commence importing gas from Iran before beginning of
the regular supply of the Iranian gas, the Minister said.

MINISTER EDWARD NALBANDIAN MEETS PETER SEMNEBY, EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE SOUTH CAUCASUS

ArmeniaForeignMinistry.am
Sept 10 2008

On June 7th, Minister Edward Nalbandian received Ambassador Peter
Semneby, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus.

On the request of the guest, Minister Nalbandian presented the
results of the Turkish President’s visit to Armenia. Edward Nalbandian
mentioned that the Armenian side is determined to continue its steps
directed to the normalization of relations with Turkey, the aim of
which is the establishment of confidence, stability, security and
cooperation in the region.

On his turn, Peter Semneby, praised Armenian initiative and
determination for the normalisation of relations with Turkey. He also
mentioned that EU is ready to support the process of normalization
of relations between the two neighbor countries.

Minister Nalbandian and Ambassador Semneby also discussed the recent
regional developments, as well as issues concerning Nagornao Karabakh
peace process.

ARMENIAN A CAPPELLA TO RING OUT AT RIC

Providence Journal
1_09-11-08_43BH3MF_v12.4cf629d.html
Sept 10 2008
RI

The female a cappella trio Zulal take the rural folk music of Armenia
and make it bewitching and transcendent; the tricky rhythms and subtly
bizarre (to American ears) structures go down easily when paired
with the women’s honeyed voices. On their latest record, last year’s
Notes To a Crane, the trio apply shimmering Western harmonies to old
folk songs from all corners of Armenia that reflect life, love and
happiness that are often subsumed by the painful history of the people.

>From the playful opener "Yaruhs Khorodig E (My Sweetheart is Cute! So
What If He’s Short?)" to the lullaby "Kele Lao (Come, Let Us Go, My
Son)," the non-Armenian speaker won’t know what they’re singing, and
yet he or she will, which is kind of what music’s all about, isn’t it?

All three members of Zulal were born and raised in the United States,
and Teni Apelian says that "all of us have had fairly different
cultural experiences." But Armenian folk music "has always been part
of my life."

Zulal apply elements of pop and jazz harmony to their interpretations
of Armenian songs, but they work from songbooks and archival recordings
to find the real stuff. Luckily, Apelian says, there’s plenty of
archival material to work from, and the Armenian folk tradition is
fairly good shape.

The Armenian a cappella tradition, on the other hand, isn’t as
well known, Apelian says — most of the best-known Armenian music
is instrumental. But singing a cappella, she says, establishes a
connection and an homage to the traditions of Armenian rural life —
"the village life from which these songs grew" — to perform them with
just voices. "It’s reminiscent of that simpler time. It was very much
a vocal tradition."

Apelian and her band mates, Yeraz Markarian and Anais Tekerian, have
varied backgrounds that include jazz a cappella, pop a cappella and
Slavic a cappella, and those influences get into Zulal’s version
of Armenian music. "There are some harmonies that are sort of
Armenian-sounding, but I think we are building chords that are a
little bit more — it’s not something that you hear and think ‘that
reminds me of a pop harmony,’ but there is a difference there….

"Sometimes, the archival recordings that we listen to are really very
raw, and kind of unpleasant to listen to for an outside ear. But our
interpretation and our harmonies tend to be a bit more Western. It’s
bridging two different worlds in that sense."

Apelian is a full-time mother; Markarian is a Ph.D. student in
psychology; Tekerian is a piano teacher. All three have children. Zulal
is an avocation for them, and they average about one show a month. They
spend their time off recording and unearthing and arranging new songs,
Apelian says, but they have also scored some high-profile gigs with
Cirque du Soleil ("I remember actively dreaming it and wanting it. It
was like a dream come true") and Les Mysteres des Voix Bulgares.

And in so doing, Apelian says she hopes that Zulal act as ambassadors
for Armenian history and culture. "We talk a lot in our show, and do
a lot of explaining of the meaning of our songs, and the symbols in
the life and the village life that we’re trying to connect to."

The other two members of Zulal go to Armenia once a year. Apelian has
been back three times, but not for a year now; with two small children
and no direct family in the country, it’s more difficult to manage.

But that culture and history is still a presence. "It’s an extremely
strong culture because we’re very small. When you’re that small and you
have a history of that much struggle as a nation, [there’s] a struggle
to keep your culture, and it creates a community among people."

There are strong pockets of Armenians in places such as Montreal and
California, and in New York, where the members of Zulal live.

"Overall, it’s a culture that’s devoted to itself because it’s had
such a painful past. And people have grown up with stories of their
grandparents marching through the desert, starving to death. As a young
kid, you’re told that this is what these people went through for you
to be who you are and to have this culture. And it affects you."

Zulal sing at Sapinsley Hall, on the campus of Rhode Island College,
400 Mount Pleasant Ave., Providence, Sunday at 3 p.m. at the top
of a bill of Armenian music that includes Harry Bedrossian, Leon
Janikian and Ken and Charles Kalajian. Tickets are $35 for adults,
$25 for those under 18. The show is a benefit for the Armenian Relief
Society to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Call (401) 354-8770 or
e-mail [email protected].

The Stone Soup Fest brings the folk music to the Pawtucket Arts
Festival, in Slater Memorial Park, on Saturday with Barnacle, Stingy
Brimm and Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem, and Sunday with The Low Anthem,
Jim’s Big Ego and Northern Lights. The shows start at 1 p.m. each day,
and it’s free; go to for more.

And the mighty Stone Soup’s season begins next weekend, with a
40th-anniversary performance by Joyce Katzberg, a Rhode Island
legend as a performer, an activist and just as a human being. Go to
for more.

ACCORDING TO RAFFI HOVANNISIAN, COURAGE OF AUTHORITIES SHOULD BE EXPRESSED FIRST OF ALL IN INTERNAL POLITICAL PROBLEMS

Noyan Tapan

Se p 9, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. As Raffi Hovannisian said during a
talk with reporters on September 9, the choice of Armen Martirosian
as the chairman of the RA National Assembly "Heritage" faction is
conditioned not so much by R. Hovannisian’s being busy as by the
necessity of natural alternation of generations. He added that
A. Martirosian is a young, promising and intelligent leader.

As regards the meeting of Armenian and Turkish Presidents in
connection with the Yerevan match of the football teams of two
countries, R. Hovannisian considered this step important, at the
same time advising not to have illusions that the whole set of
Armenian-Turkish problems can be solved by means of two or three
mutual visits. In his opinion, Armenian-Turkish relations will not be
established if the sides are not prepared to discuss and solve all
the problems – without exception. "The first step is praiseworthy,
but it presupposes a continuation based not only on mutual respect but
also on the pursuit of the national interests," R. Hovannisian noted.

Commenting on the decision of the Republican Party of Armenia to
change the speaker of the National Assembly, the leader of "Heritage"
party said that the necessity of transparency and being accountable
to society has been much spoken about recently, and the indicated
important decision should have been the result of public political
processes rather than "corridor discussions".

In his words, the society should know the expediency and motives of
such decisions.

R. Hovannisian informed reporters that he will not take part in the
upcoming session of the PACE. According to him, altough he continues to
be a member of the Armenian delegation in the PACE, he has suspended
his participation in the PACE work. He expressed a hope that that by
September 21 he will have reasons for reconsidering his decision and
resuming his participation. "If we speak about bold and courageous
steps in Turkish relations, they should be seen first of all within
Armenia, in internal political problems," R. Hovannsian said.

PETROL PRICE COMING DOWN

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
09 Sep 2008
Armenia

Company "Flesh" is going to reduce all types of petrol and other
diesel fuel prices from today. Head of the company Barsegh Beglaryan
announced about it yesterday.

He said the prices of fuel would be reduced by 20 dram, which is the
5% of today’s price, that is to say the same price that exists in the
international market. But the price drop will not be limited to this:
"In case no new force-majeure situation comes into view, next week
the prices will drop by another 2-5%." B. Beglaryan promised.

TURKEY PLAYS TO RUSSIA IN CAUCASUS

Sep. 08, 2008

Russia and Turkey have set to fulfilling the program of creating the
Caucasus Cooperation and Stability Platform. Past weekend, Turkish
President Abdullah Gul endeavored to persuade his Armenian counterpart
Serge Sarkisian of the need to set up a new alliance. The same issue
was discussed when Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mamediyarov
visited Moscow. The alliance will strengthen the Caucasus standing
of Moscow and Ankara and weaken the position of Washington there.

Gul that arrived in Armenia Saturday was the first Turkish leader
to set foot in that country. The highlights of the meeting were the
improvement of bilateral relations and the chances to create the
Caucasus Cooperation and Stability Platform. Erevan backed up the
initiative of Ankara, and President Sarkisian assured that Armenia had
been always welcoming the dialogue and had always stood for enhancing
the confidence, security and cooperation in the region.

The presidents will proceed with the talks when Sarkisian visits
Ankara by invitation of Abdullah Gul. For Erevan, the emergence of the
platform means its relations with Turkey will become normal, the border
will open and the goods of Armenia will flow to the markets of Turkey.

Azerbaijan didn’t hail that visit of Turkish president, which,
however, will hardly prevent Baku from joining a new alliance
initiated by Turkey should i t wish to do so, of course. Although
Azerbaijan has been manifesting the strive for cooperating with the
West and for joining the NATO, the war for South Ossetia might have
made some changes.

As to Moscow, it may offer two weighty arguments to Azerbaijan in an
attempt to win its support and abandon the western collaboration. Both
of them relate to settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, while
Georgia will serve as a negative example. That state failed to deal
with Abkhazia and South Ossetia all support of the United States
notwithstanding.

L’Express, France
Sept 6 2008

Football et diplomatie pour les présidents turc et arménien

Reuters

Les présidents de la Turquie et de l’Arménie ont assisté ensemble à un
match de football, samedi soir à Erevan, dans le cadre d’une rencontre
historique dont ils espèrent un début de rapprochement entre leurs
pays après une hostilité de près d’un siècle. Abdullah Gül est devenu
le premier chef de l’Etat turc à se rendre en Arménie. Erevan et
Ankara n’entretiennent pas de liens diplomatiques, mais les deux pays
voisins souffrent d’une relation dominée par le souvenir des massacres
d’Arméniens par les Ottomans pendant la Première Guerre mondiale.

Ankara rejette à ce propos l’accusation de génocide.

Les mesures de sécurité n’ont pas été laissées au hasard.

Des hélicoptères de l’armée arménienne ont escorté l’avion de Gül à
son arrivée à Erevan, ou des centaines de manifestants s’étaient
alignés sur son itinéraire. Certains ont brandi des pancartes "1915 –
Plus jamais ça" et "Nous voulons la justice".

Les deux présidents ont toutefois exprimé l’espoir que leur rencontre
sous le signe du football inaugure une époque nouvelle. Le match
Arménie-Turquie, qui comptait pour les éliminatoires de la Coupe du
monde de football 2010, s’est soldé par la victoire des Turcs sur le
score de 2-0.

Si les deux pays parviennent à une normalisation diplomatique, il peut
en résulter un changement de taille pour la Turquie en tant que
puissance régionale, pour les livraisons de pétrole et de gaz de la
mer Caspienne vers l’Europe de l’Ouest et pour l’influence de
l’Occident dans le Sud-Caucase, ou la Russie a fait montre de sa force
militaire en Géorgie.

"Nous espérons faire preuve de bonne volonté afin de régler les
problèmes qui existent entre nos pays et de ne pas les transmettre aux
générations futures", a déclaré le président arménien Serj Sarksian
lors d’une conférence de presse après avoir reçu Gül.

GÜL REPART "OPTIMISTE"
Le dirigeant turc a dit qu’il "partait optimiste".

"Si nous créons un bon climat pour ce processus, ce sera un véritable
accomplissement, qui favorisera aussi la stabilité et la coopération
dans le Caucase", a-t-il déclaré aux journalistes après le match.

Sarksian a fait savoir qu’il assisterait au match retour en octobre
2009, en notant que l’invitation que lui avait faite Gül à cette fin
laissait penser que le leader turc entretenait "aussi quelque espoir
de mouvement entre ces deux rencontres".

La Turquie n’a jamais ouvert d’ambassade en Arménie et a fermé en 1993
sa frontière terrestre avec ce pays, en signe de solidarité avec
l’Azerbaïdjan turcophone sur le dossier du Haut-Karabakh..

Toutefois, lorsque les deux présidents ont pris place côte à côte au
stade Hrazdan, les défis à relever ont vite été évidents.

Des supporters arméniens ont hué l’hymne national turc et, sur une
colline située derrière le stade, des dizaines de manifestants ont
brandi flambeaux et fleurs en silence devant un imposant monument aux
morts de la Première Guerre mondiale.

La crise entre la Russie et la Géorgie le mois dernier à propos de
l’Ossétie du Sud a convaincu Ankara et Erevan qu’il était temps de
tenter un rapprochement.

Les oléoducs et gazoducs reliant la Caspienne au littoral turc de la
Méditerranée contournent l’Arménie par le nord en traversant la
Géorgie. L’intervention russe ayant mis en évidence la vulnérabilité
de cet itinéraire, l’Arménie pourrait fournir une voie de substitution
attrayante.

Les opérations militaires de Moscou, qui ont perturbé les pays voisins
et suscité des condamnations occidentales, incitent la Turquie à
briguer un rôle d’arbitre régional plus important. Mais cette ambition
est contrariée par son absence de liens formels avec l’Arménie.

Dans une interview accordée à Reuters en France, en marge d’une
réunion ministérielle de l’UE, le chef de la diplomatie turque Ali
Babacan a estimé que la visite du président Gül à Erevan pourrait
ouvrir la voie à une reprise des relations diplomatiques.

Avec Hasmik Mkrtchian à Erevan et Paul Taylor à Avignon, version
française Guy Kerivel, Philippe Bas-Rabérin

/depeches/infojour/reuters.asp?id=78510

NECESSARY TO REMIND THE TURKISH PRESIDENT ABOUT CERTIN THINGS

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
05 Sep 2008
Armenia

"If it is possible, in our country, to hold a protest against the
President, then it is also possible to protest against the guest
invited by the President provided such protest remains within the
accepted political norms.

It should be kept in mind that this is the first time the Turkish
President is visiting our country, and it is necessary to remind
him that this visit will have no importance if the existing problems
between our states are not resolved.

We should express our political attitude in a normal way, within the
accepted norms. In that case, both our President will realize it,
and, I am sure, our people will participate in the protests," KIRO
MANIOYAN said yesterday.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF CSTO MINISTERIAL COUNCIL

arminfo
2008-09-05 13:21:00

ArmInfo. Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan has been appointed
Chairman of CSTO Ministerial Council. As adviser of CSTO Information
Department Vitaliy Strugovets told ArmInfo, the relevant decision
was made on 4 September in Moscow at CSTO Ministerial Council summit.

Tense situation at the Caucasus region because of Georgia’s attacking
South Ossetia was discussed over the summit in details. Special
Statement of CSTO foreign ministers was made.

Members of Ministerial Council discussed annual report of CSTO
secretary general and the draft declaration of the CSTO forthcoming
session. They also coordinated the projects on drawing out, financing
and fulfillment of purposeful inter-state programmes of the CSTO.