Spezzatura

YEREVAN Armenia's Foreign Minister, Edward Nalbnadian, reiterated on Thursday his government's strong opposition to direct Turkish involvement in international efforts to settle the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, ArmRadio reported. “Turkey will not play the role of a mediator in the Karabakh peace process,” Nalbandian said in a joint press conference in Yerevan with Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mamedguliev. “The Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations are underway between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group and with the support of the [Minsk Group] co-chairs,” Nalbandian said Mamedguliev, in contrast, reaffirmed Baku's strong opposition to the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations before Karabakh peace. “Our position is the following: the restoration of links between Turkey and Armenia may only be conditional on the resolution of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” he said. Nalbandian and Mamedguliev were speaking to journalists after the meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) organization in Yerevan. Western and Turkish media had speculated that the Armenian Foreign Minister and his visiting Turkish counterpart, Ali Babacan, would use the meeting to announce an agreement on a gradual normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations. But that announcement never came. The recent rapprochement between Turkey-Armenia has hit a major bump in recent weeks, with Ankara echoing Baku's stern opposition to the establishment of diplomatic relations with Yerevan before a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Babacan refrained from making any public statements to that tune during his one-day trip, which ended with a meeting with President Serzh Sarkisian. He did, however, reaffirm the linkage between the Karabakh conflict and the establishment of diplomatic ties with Yerevan as he spoke to CNN-Turk television on his way to Yerevan. According to the Turkish Hurriyet Daily News, he said the Turkish-Armenian dialogue must run parallel with international efforts to settle the Karabakh conflict. ссылка

Первая реакция из Баку на приезд главы МИДа Турции Бабахана в Ереван

Turkish foreign minister participates in BSEC meeting in Armenia ISTANBUL - Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan participated Thursday in a meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, or BSEC, in the Armenian capital of Yerevan. Babacan's trip to Yerevan coincides with stepped up efforts between Turkey and Armenia, which have no diplomatic ties, to resolve disputes stemming from history. "We want a comprehensive solution and full normalization," Babacan was quoted by broadcaster CNNTurk as telling reporters aboard his plane when asked about the ongoing talks with Armenia. Babacan is expected to deliver a speech in the 20th meeting of the organization, which groups 12 regional countries seeking closer economic ties, the Anatolian Agency reported. Ankara and Yerevan have no diplomatic relations. Their border was closed in 1993 over Armenia's invasion of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory and Armenia's pressure on the international community with the backing of the diaspora to recognize the so-called "genocide" claims instead of accepting Turkey's call to investigate the allegations. Turkey and Armenia, however, have been engaged in a normalization process, including the reopening of the border, since Gul paid a landmark visit to Armenia last year to watch a World Cup qualifying football match between the countries’ national teams. ссылка

Я представляю степень истерики в Баку, когда это комплексы дойдут до Армении

В рамках развития единой региональной системы противовоздушной обороны Россия поставит Белоруссии новейшие зенитные ракетные системы С-400 "Триумф", сообщает РИА новости. Об этом заявил первый замглавкома ВВС РФ генерал-лейтенант Вадим Волковицкий. Даты поставки Волковицкий не назвал. Он лишь отметил, что переговоры с белорусской стороной все еще ведутся. О том, что РФ разместит С-400 на территории Белоруссии 8 апреля заявил командующий ВВС и войсками ПВО Вооруженных сил Белоруссии генерал-майор Игорь Азаренок. Официального подтверждения этой информации до заявления Волковицкого не поступало. Москва и Минск заключили соглашение о совместной охране внешней границы Союзного государства и создании Единой региональной системы противовоздушной обороны в феврале 2009 года. Ожидается, что в боевой состав единой системы ПВО войдут пять авиационных частей, десять зенитно-ракетных частей, пять радиотехнических частей и одна часть радиоэлектронной борьбы. ЗРС "Триумф" способны уничтожать самолеты, выполненные с применением технологии "стелс", а также крылатые и оперативно-тактические ракеты на дальности до 400 километров. ссылка

OPEC again revised down its estimate for world crude demand on Wednesday, saying a "devasting contraction" in consumption would keep prices under pressure in the months ahead. "In the coming months, the market is expected to remain under pressure from uncertainties in the economic outlook, demand deterioration and the substantial overhang in supply," the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries wrote in its latest monthly report. It said "vigilant monitoring is essential" ahead of the cartel's next meeting at the end of May at which some members are expected to push for further output cuts to help support prices. "Oil demand is suffering more and more from the world economic recession," it said, saying this had resulted in another downward revision in its forecast for demand this year of 0.4 million barrels per day (bpd). OPEC estimated that demand would contract by 1.37 million bpd or 1.6 percent in 2009. In its previous monthly bulletin released in March, OPEC had been pencilling in a contraction of 1.01 million bpd for 2009. "World oil demand is already out of its high demand seasonality achieving nothing but devastating contraction," OPEC said. Earlier this week, Iran's OPEC minister, Mohammad Ali Khatibi, had suggested the cartel could cut oil production again if global demand for crude continues to fall in the near future. "If demand continues to fall until the next meeting of OPEC, a further output cut is possible," Khatibi was quoted as saying by Iranian daily Hamshahri. OPEC's next meeting is in Vienna on May 28. OPEC has reduced its oil production target by an overall 4.2 million barrels per day since September to 24.84 million bpd, the lowest level since just after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. On Sunday, Iran's Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari said the reductions adopted by OPEC up to now have helped stop prices from falling further in the past few months. Iran, OPEC's second largest crude producer, favours a global oil price of between 75 and 80 dollars a barrel. Oil prices hit a peak above 147 dollars in July last year but have fluctuated this year between 40 and 55 dollars. OPEC has said it sees 75 dollars as the price at which investment in exploration and production becomes profitable. On Wednesday, world oil prices were up as traders eyed a fresh supply disruption in crude producer Nigeria ahead of the weekly energy stocks report in key consumer the United States. London's Brent North Sea crude for May delivery added 60 cents to 52.56 dollars per barrel. New York's main futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in May, rose 68 cents to 50.09 dollars a barrel. A fire at a key Shell pipeline in volatile southern Nigeria has led to a production loss of 180,000 barrels a day involving a range of companies, an industry source said Wednesday. The loss includes 130,000 barrels per day for Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell, 30,000 barrels for French group Total and another 20,000 barrels from various other operators, the source told AFP on condition of anonymity. ссылка

Armenia calls for boosting all-out relations with Iran Iran and Armenia signed 8 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) and a joint statement as Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian is preparing to wrap up his two-day trip to Iran. Cooperation on rail transportation and construction of Iran-Armenia direct railroad, investment on building Aras hydro plant, free trade regime and building a pipeline for petrochaemical products transport were among the documents. The MoUs also involve close cooperation on energy, banking and insurance. Also the joint statement was signed by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian. During a meeting between Sarkisian and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran on Monday, Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian called for boosting Iran-Armenia relations in all spheres appreciating Tehran's support for his country's all-out development. The two sides urged the bilateral growing cooperation needs to be secured and that global condition makes it necessary for the two neighbors to increase the level of cooperation. Armenia's President stepped in Iran on Monday afternoon for talks with Iranian officials on mutual ties as well as regional and international developments. He got a red-carpet welcome from Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki upon his arrival at Tehran's Mehrabad airport. Ahmadinejad on his part said Sarkisian's trip to Iran will help make a leap in bilateral ties and added the two countries must closely work on trading, energy, transportation and international relations. Iran's President continued "an advanced and sustainable Armenia will be beneficial to the whole region". Also according to Press TV, Iran and Armenia are expected to finalize a deal over building a railway that will connect the two countries. In April the two states agreed on building a 470-kilometer railway to connect the two neighbors. The venture needs some five years to be constructed and is expected to cost 1.2 billion dollars. ссылка

Armenia has started the construction of a 240-million-dollar pipeline to import oil products from Tabriz oil refinery in north eastern Iran. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan told journalists that the 300-km pipeline will pump Iranian oil products including gasoline and diesel fuel into Armenia. In December 2008 Iran and Armenia reached an agreement in a number of fields including energy, oil, petrochemistry and tourism. "The pipeline would be a safe route for importing oil products to Armenia that will increase security of energy supply and decrease the cost of fuel import," Movsisyan said on Tuesday. Iran and Armenia have also inaugurated a 140-km gas pipeline intended to reduce Yerevan's reliance on Russian gas. The 220-million-dollar project was launched in March 2007. Russia's recent row with Ukraine, which disrupted gas flow to Europe during Christmas holidays, triggered many countries to consider alternative sources of energy in a bid to cut their dependency on Russia. Based on agreements signed by Iran and Armenia, for each cubic meter of Iranian gas, Armenia will return 3 kilowatt of electricity to Iran. ссылка

Iran, Armenia to finalize railway accord Iran and Armenia will finalize an agreement on the construction of a railway that will connect the two countries and enhance economic cooperation. "Iran and Armenia should promote relations in different areas including trade, energy and transportation," Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said in a Monday meeting with his visiting Armenian counterpart, Serzh Sargsian. Earlier this month, the two neighboring countries agreed to implement a joint project on the construction of a 470-kilometer (292-mile) railway, the bulk of it passing through Armenian territory. The project will take at least five years and cost up to USD 1.2 billion (EUR 892 million). The railway, which will amount to a restoration of the historic Silk Road, is especially important to Yerevan as it will connect the northern lake city of Sevan to the southern city of Meghri, which borders Iran. "An advanced and sustainable Armenia will be beneficial to the entire region," Ahmadinejad said. Sargsian, for his part, called for bolstering of relations with Iran. The Armenian president arrived in Tehran on Monday at the head of a high-ranking politico-economic delegation and was officially welcomed by President Ahmadinejad. Armenian-Iranian trade amounted to a modest USD 226.6 million last year. The amount is expected to rise sharply when the railway is completed. ссылка

Алиев и Медведев поговорят о Карабахе В Баку полагают, что без Москвы территориальную целостность страны не восстановить Сегодня начинается двухдневный рабочий визит в Москву президента Азербайджана Ильхама Алиева. Он осуществляется по приглашению президента РФ Дмитрия Медведева. Как стало известно «НГ», главной темой на переговорах станет урегулирование карабахской проблемы, разблокирование коммуникаций и вопросы обеспечения мира и безопасности в регионе. О программе визита ничего не сообщается. Учитывая последние события, в частности, интенсивные переговоры между Анкарой и Ереваном на предмет возможного открытия армяно-турецкой границы, а также демарш Баку в связи с этим вопросом, ряд аналитиков считают, что именно карабахский вопрос станет основным на переговорах между президентами России и Азербайджана. По мнению члена экспертного совета медиахолдинга «Лидер» Тофика Аббасова, в настоящее время однозначно можно сказать, что стратегический перевес в решении карабахского вопроса на стороне Азербайджана. Недавний отказ Ильхама Алиева от участия в работе международного форума в Стамбуле стоит расценивать как четко выверенный ход, продемонстрировавший наличие в багаже Азербайджана целого набора средств, с помощью которых Баку в состоянии повлиять на процесс урегулирования конфликта. Ведь неспроста Ильхам Алиев заявил, что «мы в переговорах ради переговоров участвовать не собираемся и не будем». «Потому сейчас все заинтересованные стороны, в том числе и сопредседатели Минской группы ОБСЕ, вынуждены считаться с требованиями Азербайджана. Они носят конкретный характер, а именно: Армения должна уйти с оккупированных территорий, а уж потом должен быть рассмотрен вопрос разблокирования коммуникаций в регионе», – считает эксперт. Между тем известный политолог Зардушт Ализаде уверен, что «в Москве состоятся очень тяжелые и сложные переговоры, и если Азербайджан сможет убедить Россию в возвращении шести оккупированных Арменией районов, то это будет большим успехом для Баку». Естественно, возникает вопрос, согласится ли Армения на такой вариант урегулирования конфликта. «Армения сильно зависит от России, поэтому она не станет перечить ей. Но, конечно, Москва тоже не будет возвращать нам эти территории безвозмездно. Ввод сюда ее миротворческих сил для нас неприемлем, так как мы получим вторую Абхазию или Приднестровье, но если она от нас потребует газ, то, думаю, надо соглашаться. Тогда ни Запад, ни Турция, никто не сможет нам что-то сказать, потому что мы свой газ меняем на наши земли, а для этого ничего не жалко. Но еще раз повторяю, переговоры будут очень тяжелыми, поэтому от нас требуется максимум выдержки и дипломатии», – заявил «НГ» Зардушт Ализаде. Любопытно, что некоторые местные оппозиционные газеты, комментируя визит азербайджанского лидера в Москву, на фоне трений Баку с Анкарой из-за возможного открытия турецко-армянской границы поспешили предположить, что Азербайджан решил отказаться от сбалансированной внешней политики и делает ставку на Россию. Однако авторитетный в этих вопросах политолог Расим Мусабеков придерживается иного мнения. «Не вижу никакого намека на скатывание в сторону Кремля в том, что президент Ильхам Алиев отправится в Москву переговорить со своим российским коллегой Дмитрием Медведевым», – заявил он. При этом Мусабеков подчеркнул, что «Азербайджан последовательно придерживается сбалансированного внешнеполитического курса и никаких изменений пока в этой выбранной стратегии не наблюдается». «Что же касается разговоров о якобы предложенном со стороны Турции посредничестве в возвращении пяти оккупированных районов и открытии взамен турецко-армянской границы, то Азербайджан может согласиться с этим, но с условием дальнейшего продолжения переговорного процесса по урегулированию карабахского вопроса в рамках суверенитета Азербайджана. Эта тема может быть поднята во время переговоров Ильхама Алиева и Дмитрия Медведева. Остается выяснить, что хочет взамен Москва и насколько ее предложение приемлемо для нас», – отметил Расим Мусабеков. ссылка

Turkish PM to visit Armenia for Black Sea meeting Turkish FM Babacan will attend a meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation in Yerevan. Wednesday, 15 April 2009 Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan will travel to Armenia on Thursday for a regional summit in a step towards restoring diplomatic ties after a century of hostility between the neighbours. Babacan will attend a meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation in Yerevan, the Foreign Ministry said in an e-mailed statement on Wednesday. Turkey and Armenia, which have no diplomatic ties, have been engaged in high-level talks since last year. Turkish President Abdullah Gul travelled to Yerevan last year to attend a football match between the two countries. Turkey is considering opening the border with Armenia, which it closed in 1993 in solidarity with its traditional, Muslim ally Azerbaijan. Armenia and Azerbaijan are in dispute over the breakaway enclave of Nagorno Karabakh, controlled by ethnic Armenians. Turkey accepts that many Christian Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks during World War One and that Muslims also died in internecine fighting, but denies that up to 1.5 million died Reuters ссылка

Debates over Armenian border intensify in Turkey (Джяна Пашаева после встречи с Байкалом, земляком по Алтаю.) The thaw in Turkey's relations with Armenia after last September's "soccer diplomacy" and the ongoing discussions about possibly reopening the border with Armenia have become a challenging test for the current government in its renewed diplomatic engagement in the Caucasus. Faced with the need to address Azerbaijan's concerns, which have raised many eyebrows, Ankara is struggling to find a balance in its dialogue with Yerevan and looking to come up with the best possible scenario to achieve positive results on both ends. Experts and politicians in Turkey seem to be divided over the policy issues, but they agree on the ultimate goal of establishing friendly relations with Armenia and are all certainly committed to avoiding upsetting decision makers in Baku. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has embarked on a policy of approaching the border issue and Nagorno-Karabakh in parallel, removing pre-set conditions before the resolution of both issues. President Abdullah Gül confirmed that "What we are trying to do is break a vicious cycle and push both issues forward at the same time," said Murat Mercan, head of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission. "Hence, progress will be achieved on both issues simultaneously," he told Today's Zaman. President Abdullah Gül confirmed that comprehensive work was under way to normalize ties with Armenia, but declined to provide details, saying he would not engage in televised diplomacy -- a sign that Turkey would like to keep negotiations secret while trying to hammer out details to obtain a breakthrough. "What Turkey wants to do is clear. Our desire is stability in the Caucasus," Gül told reporters before departing for Bahrain on Tuesday. Mercan stressed, however, that they would never waver on the condition of removal of Armenian forces from occupied Azerbaijani soil. "This is hardly a new policy, but may merely be a new tactical approach to broker a lasting peace in the region," he added. It appears that Turkish diplomats have tried to re-energize the Minsk Group, established under the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and co-chaired by Russia, France and the United States. Coincidence or not, Turkish diplomat Bilge Cankorel took office last Friday as the new head of the OSCE office in Baku. Government accused of cracking under pressure On the other hand, Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Onur Öymen, who is also a member of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission, opposes parallel diplomacy and accuses the government of yielding to pressure brought to bear upon Turkey by the US. He demanded further preconditions to reopening the border between Turkey and Armenia, such as Armenia renouncing Armenian genocide claims against Turkey as well as its efforts to have these claims accepted by the world and removing territorial demands from Turkey from its official documents, in addition to Armenia's withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory it occupies. Some politicians, however, urge a "carrot-and-stick policy" in Turkey's dealings with Armenia and suggest immediately opening up the border as soon as Armenia agrees to a specific deadline for removal of its forces from the occupied territory. Speaking to Today's Zaman, Süleyman Soylu, head of the conservative Democrat Party (DP), said, "We can seal the border again if they fail to meet the obligations set in advance." Noting that around 50,000-100,000 Armenian people are illegally working in Turkey and repatriating their earnings to support their homeland economy, Soylu said the government could use this as a bargaining chip in the negotiations. "If relations with Armenia go south because of hard-line Armenian nationalists, we could possibly ship these workers back to their country," he noted. Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli claimed the process of normalization with Armenia had reached a level of making unilateral concessions. Mustafa Aydın, who chairs the department of international relations at the Ankara-based Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges University of Economics and Technology (TOBB ETÜ), pointed out difficulties in pursuing foreign policy with regard to the Caucasus. Speaking at a panel discussion on Tuesday, he said, "The issue is a domestic policy as much as a foreign one," underlining the difficulties stemming from public opinion in countries involved in the region. "The goals may fall victim to the processes sometimes," he said, indicating the gap in confidence between Azerbaijan and Turkey that has emerged recently. Old policy is not working Yet others insist on a change in the Turkish government's policies and demand more active engagement vis-à-vis the Caucasus. "We have sealed the border for 17 years now and have not achieved any result," said Güven Sak, director of the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV). He emphasized that Turkey needed to develop new tools and change the ones that have not worked as well as originally thought. "We have to acknowledge and come to terms with the fact that there have been changes in the region recently," he added, in an apparent reference to the war Russia fought with Georgia last year. Sak argued that Turkey needed to stabilize the region to reap the benefits of booming freight and energy trade routes across the region. Still Öymen remained defiant against a change in policies toward the Caucasus and reiterated his opposition. "Nothing has changed in the region," he said. "The only thing that changed is the immense pressure applied on this government by foreign actors, especially the US, and they [AK Party decision makers] are signaling that they might reverse long-held foreign policies." Hasan Kanbolat, president of the Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies, takes a more "middle of the road approach" in dealing with the intricacies of the region. He conceded that there had not yet been a fundamental change in the main policies adopted by Turkey, but stressed that Turkey needed to be more active. Kanbolat argued that foreign policy decision makers should develop a new strategy for the region while keeping the sensitivities of Azerbaijan in mind. Mitat Çelikpala, a professor of international relations at TOBB ETÜ, pointed out a possible pitfall the Turkish government may have succumbed to. "Turkey should refrain from pursuing a policy under the shadow of bilateral Turkish-US relations, but rather engage in a policy that reflects the will of the domestic audience," he said. Çelikpala also warned that Turkey should not minimize all its relations with the Caucasus region to the Armenian issue. ссылка

В Анкаре приземлился десант с бакинскими джянами Azerbaijani women MPs make contacts in Turkish capital A group of women deputies from Azerbaijan met with the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) in Ankara on Wednesday and delivered their opinions about recent developments in bilateral ties in terms of Turkey's relations with Armenia. The delegation, including Lale Abbasova, Aynur Guliyeva, Ganire Pasayeva, Guler Ahmedova, Gultekin Hacıbeyli, Melahat Ibrahimkızı, Tenzile Rustemhanlı and an expert from the presidency, came to Turkey upon the invitation of Şenol Bal, a deputy from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). After meeting with CHP leader Deniz Baykal at the party's headquarters, deputy Pasayeva made a statement to the press, saying: "The country that takes the first step in resolving problems should be Armenia. Turkey is pressured to open its borders with Armenia. Armenia should be pressured instead. Armenians should put an end to their occupation in Nagorno-Karabakh, recognize Turkey's territorial unity and drop Armenian genocide claims. We cannot understand why the Turkish-Armenian border would be opened if Armenia doesn't do these things." Pasayeva also stated that they came to deliver their thanks to MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli for his remarks calling on Armenia to end the Nagorno-Karabakh occupation. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in response to Armenia's occupation of the Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. ссылка

Лучше один раз увидеть оригинал Turkey and Armenia: Opening Minds, Opening Borders Europe Report N°199 14 April 2009 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS Turkey and Armenia are close to settling a dispute that has long roiled Caucasus politics, isolated Armenia and cast a shadow over Turkey’s European Union (EU) ambition. For a decade and a half, relations have been poisoned by disagreement about issues including how to address a common past and compensate for crimes, territorial disputes, distrust bred in Soviet times and Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani land. But recently, progressively intense official engagement, civil society interaction and public opinion change have transformed the relationship, bringing both sides to the brink of an historic agreement to open borders, establish diplomatic ties and begin joint work on reconciliation. They should seize this opportunity to normalise. The politicised debate whether to recognise as genocide the destruction of much of the Ottoman Armenian population and the stalemated Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh should not halt momentum. The U.S., EU, Russia and others should maintain support for reconciliation and avoid harming it with statements about history at a critical and promising time. Turks’ and Armenians’ once uncompromising, bipolar views of history are significantly converging, showing that the deep traumas can be healed. Most importantly, the advance in bilateral relations demonstrates that a desire for reconciliation can overcome old enmities and closed borders. Given the heritage and culture shared by Armenians and Turks, there is every reason to hope that normalisation of relations between the two countries can be achieved and sustained. Internal divisions persist on both sides. Armenia does not make normalisation conditional on Turkey’s formal recognition as genocide of the 1915 forced relocation and massacres of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire. But it must take into account the views of Armenians scattered throughout the global diaspora, which is twice as large as the population of Armenia itself and has long had hardline representatives. New trends in that diaspora, however, have softened and to some degree removed demands that Turkey surrender territory in its north east, where Armenians were a substantial minority before 1915. Over the past decade, Turkey has moved far from its former blanket denial of any Ottoman wrongdoing. Important parts of the ruling AK Party, bureaucracy, business communities on the Armenian border and liberal elite in western cities support normalisation with Armenia and some expression of contritition. Traditional hardliners, including Turkic nationalists and part of the security services, oppose compromise, especially as international genocide recognition continues and in the absence of Armenian troop withdrawals from substantial areas they occupy of Turkey’s ally, Azerbaijan. These divisions surfaced in events surrounding the assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink in January 2007. That the new tendencies are gaining ground, however, was shown by the extraordinary outpouring of solidarity with Armenians during the Dink funeral in Istanbul and a campaign by Turkish intellectuals to apologise to Armenians for the “Great Catastrophe” of 1915. The unresolved Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh still risks undermining full adoption and implementation of the potential package deal between Turkey and Armenia on recognition, borders and establishment of bilateral commissions to deal with multiple issues, including the historical dimension of their relations. Azerbaijan has strong links to Turkey based on energy cooperation and the Turkic countries’ shared linguistic and cultural origins. Ethnic Armenian forces’ rapid advance into Azerbaijan in 1993 scuttled plans to open diplomatic ties and caused Turkey to close the railway line that was then the only transport link between the two countries. For years, Turkey conditioned any improvement in bilateral relations on Armenian troop withdrawals. Baku threatens that if this condition is lifted, it will restrict Turkey’s participation in the expansion of Azerbaijani energy exports. While Azerbaijani attitudes remain a constraint, significant elements in Turkey agree it is time for a new approach. Bilateral détente with Armenia ultimately could help Baku recover territory better than the current stalemate. Outside powers have important interests and roles. The U.S. has long fostered Armenia-Turkey reconciliation, seeking thereby to consolidate the independence of all three former Soviet republics in the south Caucasus and to support east-west transit corridors and energy pipelines from the Caspian Sea. Washington was notable in its backing of efforts that kick-started civil society dialogue between Turkey and Armenia. The Obama administration is working hard at repairing the damage done to U.S. relations with Turkey by the war in Iraq. Although Obama repeatedly promised on the campaign trail to formally recognise the 1915 forced relocation and massacres of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire as genocide, he should continue to steer the prudent middle course he has adopted as president. The U.S. Congress, which has a draft resolution before it, should do the same. At this sensitive moment of Turkish-Armenian convergence, statements that focus on the genocide term, either to deny or recognise it, would either enrage Armenians or unleash a nationalist Turkish reaction that would damage U.S.-Turkish ties and set back Turkey-Armenia reconciliation for years. U.S. support for Turkey-Armenia reconciliation appears to be mirrored in Moscow. Russian companies have acquired many of Armenia’s railways, pipelines and energy utilities and seek to develop them; Russian-Turkish relations are good; and Moscow is looking for ways to mitigate the regional strains produced by its war with Georgia in August 2008. If sustained, the coincidence of U.S.-Russian interests would offer a hopeful sign for greater security and prosperity in the South Caucasus after years of division and conflict. All sides – chiefly Armenia and Turkey but potentially Azerbaijan as well – will gain in economic strength and national security if borders are opened and trade normalised. RECOMMENDATIONS To the Government of Turkey: 1. Agree, ratify and implement a normalisation package including the opening of borders, establishment of diplomatic relations and bilateral commissions; continue to prepare public opinion for reconciliation; cultivate a pro-settlement constituency among Armenians; and avoid threatening or penalising Armenia for outside factors like resolutions or statements in third countries recognising a genocide. 2. Avoid sacrificing implementation of the normalisation package to demands for immediate resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and withdrawal of Armenian troops from occupied territories in Azerbaijan; and seek opportunities to show Baku that by easing Yerevan’s fears of encirclement, normalised Turkey-Armenia relations may ultimately speed up such an Armenian withdrawal. 3. Make goodwill towards Armenia clear through gestures such as joint work on preserving the ancient ruins of Ani, stating explicitly that Turkey will recognise and protect Armenian historical and religious heritage throughout the country. 4. Encourage universities and institutes to pursue broader research on matters pertaining to the events of 1915, preferably with the engagement of Armenian and third-party scholars; modernise history books and remove all prejudice from them; and increase funding for cataloguing and management of the Ottoman-era archives. To the Government of Armenia: 5. Agree, ratify, and implement a normalisation package including the opening of borders, establishment of diplomatic relations and bilateral commissions; continue to prepare public opinion for reconciliation; and avoid statements or international actions relating to genocide recognition that could inflame Turkish public opinion against the current process. 6. Agree together with Azerbaijan to the OSCE Minsk Group basic principles on a Nagorno-Karabakh settlement; then start withdrawals from Armenian-occupied territories in Azerbaijan; and pursue peace with Azerbaijan in full consciousness that only in this way can normalisation with Turkey be consolidated. 7. Make clear that Armenia has no territorial claim on Turkey by explicitly recognising its territorial integrity within the borders laid out in the 1921 Treaty of Kars. 8. Encourage universities and institutes to pursue more research on matters relating to the events of 1915, preferably with the engagement of Turkish and third-party scholars; modernise history books and remove all prejudice from them; and organise the cataloguing of known Armenian archives pertaining to the events in and around 1915 wherever they may be located. To the United States, Russia and the European Union and its Member States: 9. Avoid legislation, statements and actions that might inflame public opinion on either side and so could upset the momentum towards Turkey-Armenia normalisation and reconciliation. 10. Raise the seniority and intensify the engagement of the U.S., Russian and French co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group until Armenia and Azerbaijan reach final agreement on Minsk Group basic principles for a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. 11. Back up Turkey-Armenia reconciliation with projects to encourage region-wide interaction, heritage preservation and confidence building; and support as requested any new bilateral historical commission or sub-commission, development of archive management and independent Turkish- or Armenian-led scholarly endeavours to research into aspects of the 1915 events. Istanbul/Yerevan/Baku/Brussels, 14 April 2009 ссылка

Милиардер-невидимка Ховард Хьюз у которого на старости лет чердак совсем поехал, каратал дни тем что шаркал по своему особняку и бормоча что-то под нос подбирал с полу стриженные ногти, собирая их в кулек. И ещё коллекционируя банки наполненные своей мочей которыми очень скоро засрал - пардон за каламбур - весь дом. Армянская революционная оппозиция в последнее время мне все больше напоминает маразматика Ховарда Хьюза...

Россия от открытия границы не потеряет. Люди забывают что за икслючением 2-х мугамных республик, Грузия окружена российскими базами. Открытая граница даст России выход к Армении через турецкие порты. Турецкая казна в год пополняется на $30-плюс миллиардов за счет России. Так что если Медведев попросит, я не думаю что турки будут вор хахцнел.

Police detain DTP members in massive anti-PKK operation Nearly 50 people, the majority of whom are members of a pro-Kurdish political party, were detained yesterday in operations conducted across 13 cities at the order of the Diyarbakır Prosecutor’s Office over alleged links to the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Officials said raids were the culmination of a year-long investigation into the PKK’s “urban extensions.” The operations, which have largely targeted members of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), were conducted simultaneously at 90 locations across 13 cities including Diyarbakır, Adana, Ankara, Aydın, Elazığ, Gaziantep, İstanbul, Mardin, Şanlıurfa, Şırnak, Bingöl and Hakkari. Three of the party’s deputy chairmen and deputy mayors were also detained. The suspects are being charged with membership in the terrorist PKK organization, working to promote the politicization of the PKK and inciting acts of vehicle arson perpetrated by PKK sympathizers in some cities. Seracettin Irmak, a lawyer for the PKK’s jailed leader Abdullah Öcalan, is also among the detained. Some of the key DTP members in custody include Deputy Chairman Kamuran Yüksek, Deputy Chairman Bayram Altun, Deputy Chairwoman Selma Irmak, Bartın Mayor’s Office Public Works Director Heval Erdemli, Tunceli Deputy Mayor Halil Ünlü and Diyarbakır Mayor Osman Baydemir’s prime aide, Ahmet Zirek. In the Ankara operations, nobody was detained but houses were searched. DTP member Mustafa Sayar’s house in Balgat, DTP Deputy Chairman Yüksek’s house in Yenimahalle and another house in Dikmen, used as a meeting point for DTP youth organizations, were searched and some documents seized. The first response from the DTP came from its chairman, Ahmet Türk, who said the investigation was an attempt to push the DTP out of democratic politics. “These kinds of operations and pressures are the sign of a new era in which our party is being pushed away from the democratic struggle. But everybody should know that we will not give up,” he said while addressing the DTP’s parliamentary group. In the same speech Türk suggested that some forces in Turkey are trying to take the country into a violent phase in the light of these provocations. “If they insist on clashes, everything will be worse than the past. If the ship sinks, all of us will drown,” he added. Some observers note that the operations came one day after the DTP called on the state to recognize the PKK as a valid counterpart in the talks to find a solution for the Kurdish question; however, security forces claimed that the operation against the DTP had been planned for a long time. The DTP mayors newly elected in the local elections on March 29, the administrative boards and the rank-and-file of the DTP met over the weekend in Ankara and discussed the party’s new policies. It was on Monday, after the meeting, that the DTP made an announcement suggesting the PKK and its leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is serving a life sentence on İmralı Island in the Sea of Marmara, should be treated as counterparts in the quest to find a solution to the Kurdish problem. Although the government, European Union and the United States made frequent recommendation to the DTP to make a distinction between itself and the PKK, the party refused to do so. The DTP did not denounce the PKK as a terrorist organization -- exactly the opposite; after the overwhelming success in the local elections in Kurdish- populated areas, the DTP decided to step up its policy sanctioning the PKK. According to DTP officials, their campaign during the local elections based on Kurdish identity paid off, and the support of the voters meant acceptance of the suggestion. “The world will take time to analyze the results of the local elections. We will not change, but the world has to accept us as we are,” a DTP official said while explaining their new strategy. “Our party thinks that the local elections will give a new direction to the politics of Turkey, and in this new era the mission of our party will be greater than the past,” the DTP announced on Monday. The DTP was expecting that after their success in the local elections, there would either be amendments in the anti-terror laws or constitutional changes relating to party closures and that the situation will either be resolved or the former policies will continue. There is a closure case against the DTP at the Constitutional Court with the claim that it has become of the focus of separatist activities. The indictment of the closure case also demands a political ban for 221 persons, some of them the newly elected mayors and deputies. “When we take into consideration the election results, we do not think the DTP will be closed down politically,” the same official told Today’s Zaman a couple of days ago. “This is the first time the idea of a solution to the Kurdish question in a non-conflict atmosphere has emerged,” the PKK declaration underlined. The same declaration also underlined the importance of the local elections and claimed that “the local elections showed strongly that this situation cannot be solved without taking the DTP, PKK and Öcalan into consideration. Now there is a high expectation for solving the Kurdish problem with new policies.” The same declaration claimed that ratification of the policies of the DTP brought responsibilities to the PKK and that in order to prove that that the Kurdish problem can be solved within the framework of democracy in a conflict-free atmosphere, the PKK will refrain from its attacks until June 1. Selahattin Demirtaş, deputy chairman of the DTP parliamentary group, said the arrests were a politically motivated reaction to the DTP’s success in the local elections. “This is an illegal operation against the DTP and an attempt to manipulate the DTP’s political support and break its will,” Demirtaş told Reuters in a telephone interview. “It’s no coincidence the operation comes so soon after the election.” DTP deputy Hasip Kaplan echoed this opinion and added, “We get used to operations against us, but these operations are risking the search for solutions.” Emine Ayna, a DTP deputy chairwoman, also spoke to the press yesterday, sharing her views on the detentions. She said both the cause and the consequences of the operation were “dangerous.” She reiterated Türk’s position that the operation was an attempt to push the DTP out of legitimate politics. ссылка

Armenia gives assurances on border recognition Armenia has given assurances that it will make no territorial claim on Turkey, as officials of the two countries inch closer to an agreement that would pave the way for normalization of relations after a 16-year hiatus. Sources in Yerevan who are close to the talks also say the final deal is likely to be declared in a third country, most probably Switzerland, which has reportedly hosted closed-door negotiations since 2007. The Turkish-Armenian talks have been held in strict secrecy and officials are tightlipped on what a possible deal would include. But as expectations grow higher for a breakthrough soon, details are beginning to emerge, such as the Armenian guarantee on recognition of the current Armenian-Turkish border. Ankara, which closed the border and severed its diplomatic ties with Armenia in 1993, links normalization to a set of conditions that include formal guarantees from Armenia recognizing the current border with Turkey. Yerevan has never formally claimed any rights on Turkish territory but the Armenian constitution describes eastern Anatolia as western Armenia. Asked whether Armenia recognizes a 1920 treaty on the border with Turkey, an Armenian source said: "We are talking about the opening of the border. Which border is to be opened? Can a border be opened if it is not recognized?" The final Turkish-Armenian deal is now expected to include provisions that the two countries respect each other's territorial integrity and borders. The agreement is also expected to unveil plans to establish low-level diplomatic relations and create an intergovernmental committee to study history. Armenia claims 1.5 million Armenians were killed in a systematic genocide campaign at the hands of the late Ottoman Empire during the World War I, while Turkey categorically rejects the accusations of genocide. However, it is expected to take years for the committee to be established and announce findings on its study. Even so, although no progress is seen to be forthcoming, Armenia's nod to the establishment of such a committee of historians underlines that the dispute over the World War I events is a matter of history, not a legal or a political one. On another problematic issue, the ongoing Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territory in the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, the agreement is expected to make a general reference to the problem. But there will be no deadline mentioned for a resolution. The government has been holding closed-door talks with Armenia since 2007 on the normalization of ties, signaling a shift in Turkey's longstanding policy, which links restoration of relations to Armenian withdrawal from Azerbaijani territory and a reversal in the Armenian policy of lobbying for international recognition of Armenian genocide claims at the hands of the late Ottoman Empire. Armenian recognition of the current border is another condition. Azerbaijan, which fears it would lose a key leverage in its Nagorno-Karabakh dispute with Armenia if Ankara agrees to have normal ties with Yerevan anyway, has expressed concern over the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement and Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev boycotted a the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) meeting held in İstanbul on April 6-7. The issue has sparked heated debates in Parliament as well. Opposition parties yesterday lashed out at the government for its plans to normalize relations with Armenia without Yerevan ending its occupation of Azerbaijani territory. "How can we ignore the ongoing occupation of Azerbaijan?" Deniz Baykal, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), told a weekly meeting of his party in Parliament. "How can Turkey follow a policy that would legitimize seizure of Azerbaijan's legitimate territorial rights?" The closed border with Armenia is a source of irritation in Ankara's relations with the European Union, which it aspires to join, and the United States. It also hampers the government's plans to expand influence in the southern Caucasus. "No one can open the border with Armenia unless claims based on the genocide lies are withdrawn and Nagorno-Karabakh is returned to Azerbaijan," said Devlet Bahçeli, head of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and a vehement opponent of normalization in Armenia ties. "I am warning the government: Your approach to Armenia harms our dignity," Bahçeli said, maintaining that he completely shared the Azerbaijani people's "rightful concerns." A group of three deputies from Bahçeli's MHP departed for Baku yesterday for talks with Azeri officials. Dismissing calls from the opposition to share with the public details about the ongoing talks, President Abdullah Gül said Turkey wants a normalization that would help stability and peace in the whole of the Caucasus and added that it would not be in line with diplomatic tendencies to disclose details of the talks. остальное тут

Трем странам в мире: Исландии, Ирландии и Австрии – в большей степени, чем другим, грозит дефолт, заявил нобелевский лауреат в области экономики за 2008 год Пол Кругман. В группе риска находятся Эквадор, Филиппины, Малайзия, Таиланд, Колумбия, Турция и Украина. Об опасности дефолта для этих стран говорили МВФ, Всемирный банк, агентство Moody's и другие. Украину, кстати, эксперты называли страной, балансирующей на грани дефолта. В апреле о близости к дефолту экономики Украины заявил американский миллиардер и инвестор Сорос. По его мнению, «серьезные проблемы» также имеются у стран Балтии, которые, как и Украина, считаются одними из наиболее пострадавших от кризиса государств. остальное тут

После менстраульной истерики Эрдогана в Швейцарии, на кое каких армянских ресурсах некоторые юзеры кичер мнум чтобы чалахачи начали мариновать от радости. Типа, израильские туристы ач у дзах отменяют туры в Турцию, то другое. Да и и вообще они туда больше не ногой ! Но Spezzatura будучи старым, коварным дашнаком™ знал что все эти разговоры фуфло для наивных.

Цинизм конечно из категории ахереть не встать. Кто-то приплыл из Польши, а кто-то благодаря им оказался в лагере для беженцев. Теперь беженцы развлекают новых хозяев своего дома

After the concert, Ms. Zelevski, the survivor, said she was “surprised” and “very excited,” seeing things were possible “not by war.” Debating the rights and wrongs of the conflict among themselves, some of the elderly Israelis commented that the Palestinian musicians were “only children” and were not to blame. остальное тут

По правительственным каналам прошла инфа что гигантский метериот на пути к Соединенным Штатам и завтра к вечеру вероятно их уничтожит при падении. Заголвки в газетах на следующее утро: Wall Street Journal пишет - Гигантский метеoрит сегодня уничтожит страну New York Times пишет - Гигантский метеoрит падает на Америку. Нацмены и гомосексуалисты будут среди самых незащищенных

Лидеры антиправительственных демонстраций в столице Таиланда Бангкоке, которые в минувшие выходные переросли в беспорядки, призвали во вторник своих сторонников завершить акции протеста, сообщает агентство Ассошиэйтед Пресс. В понедельник произошел ряд стычек между правительственными войсками и оппозиционерами. За время беспорядков в Бангкоке погибли два человека, 120 получили ранения. В воскресенье власти ввели в Бангкоке чрезвычайное положение после того, как около 50 демонстрантов прорвались в здание МВД Таиланда. Министру удалось покинуть здание. "Организатор протестов призвал толпу своих сторонников, собравшихся у офиса премьер-министра страны, расходиться по домам", - передают местные телеканалы TPBS и Nation. Корреспондент агентства, оказавшийся на месте событий, подтвердил, что после прозвучавших заявлений люди начали расходиться. Участники многотысячных демонстраций, поддерживающих бывшего премьер-министра Таиланда Таксина Чинавата, требуют отставки нынешнего премьера Аписита Ветчачивы. Акции протеста начались в марте, когда правительство выделило 9 миллионам низкооплачиваемых тайских рабочих помощь в размере 2 тысяч батов (55 долларов) каждому с целью стимулировать экономику на фоне мирового кризиса. Оппозиция назвала это "подкупом" и утверждает, что правительство получило власть незаконно. Из-за массовых демонстраций 10 апреля было отменено проведение в городе Паттайя саммита Ассоциации стран Юго-Восточной Азии (АСЕАН), в котором должны были принять участие лидеры еще пяти стран - Австралии, Индии, Китая, Новой Зеландии и Южной Кореи. ссылка