Armeian News

DFID rounds up its programme in Armenia

25.11.2008 16:50 After more than 10 years of operations, the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) rounds up its bilateral programme in Armenia, following the country’s classification as a Middle Income Country by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia Mr. Charles Lonsdale said: “The UK Government’s decision to close its bilateral aid programme in Armenia s a clear sign of the country’s successful efforts to reduce poverty and create a stronger economy. Although DFID may be leaving, the UK remains strongly committed to supporting development and reform in Armenia.” The UK began providing assistance to Armenia in 1993 – first through direct cooperation with the Armenian Ministry of Finance and Economy, then through the Know How Fund (KHF), managed by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). DFID became involved in Armenia in bilateral and multilateral aid in 1997. Throughout this period the UK has supported Armenia on its path to democracy and a market economy. Over that time DFID has provided a total of over £70 million to Armenia, in bilateral and multilateral aid. Pauline Hayes, Deputy Director, Central Asia and South Caucasus, DFID, said: “DFID came to Armenia to work with the government at all levels to deliver policies and programmes which help the poor and improve governance. We are confident that our projects have made a real difference to the lives of Armenians, from modernising central government to improving the quality of life in remote villages.” DFID’s assistance has focused on reforming the public sector, managing public finances, and supporting economic and social development in the regions. DFID has contributed to improvements in the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of public administration at all levels. Over the last five years DFID worked with the regional administrations of Gegharkunik and Tavush in identifying their key economic and social needs and helped them to prepare and implement Regional Development Plans (RDP). A key priority within the RDPs was supporting small and medium sized enterprises to grow and create more jobs in rural areas. Since 2005 funds have been used to provide business-training courses and help businesses to access loans. DFID also provided around 1.5 billion AMD to fund projects in the two marzes, such as repairing schools and hospitals and improving water supplies. DFID, together with the Government of the Netherlands, has helped the Government of Armenia to establish a more coherent and integrated approach to budgeting by introducing new processes to manage the way the public finances are allocated within the State budget. Since January 2008 the new revised budget format, in parallel with the old formats, has been rolled out across the whole of government. The Government intends to produce the country’s entire 2011 budget using the new budgeting format. In cooperation with local and international partners, DFID has supported a series of activities to strengthen Armenia’s cooperation with the EU and raise public awareness of the roles of the key European institutions. Although DFID is leaving, the UK is continuing to work for a stable, prosperous and secure Armenia, founded on democracy, good governance and respect for human rights. This work includes support for conflict prevention; assistance with defence reform and military training; projects to support democracy and vulnerable social groups; EU integration; and raising awareness of climate change and the environment. The UK will continue to support Armenia’s development through the multilateral institutions, such as the European Commission, the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the UN Agencies, to which the UK makes significant financial contributions. ARMENIA IN BORDER PLEA TO TURKEY BBC NEWS 2008/11/24 15:57:33 GMT Armenia has urged Turkey to re-open the two countries' common border, which has been closed since 1993. Speaking in Istanbul, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said improving relations would boost regional peace and stability. The two nations have waged a war of words over what Armenia says was the genocide of Armenians by Ottoman forces during World War I. Turkey denies any genocide, saying the deaths were a part of the war. "Relations should be improved without any preconditions," Mr Nalbandian told a news conference in Istanbul. "I think re-opening the border is also among Turkey's priorities; it is important for both countries' interests," the minister added. The two countries have had no diplomatic ties since Armenia became independent after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Their common border has remained closed since the war between Armenia and Turkey's ally, Azerbaijan, over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Earlier this year, Turkish President Abdullah Gul made a landmark visit to Armenia - the first Turkish leader to do so.

SARAFIAN: FOCUS ON THE DIASPORA
Hurriyet
Nov 24 2008
Turkey

ISTANBUL - Multilateral efforts to improve relations between Armenia
and Turkey is the wrong way to resolve the Armenian issue, says
respected historian Ara Sarafian, arguing that the solution lies in
the huge and influential diaspora.

Sarafian, the head of the London-based Gomidas Institute, said Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's offer to Armenia to establish a
commission of historians to resolve the Armenian issue was positive,
but Armenia was the wrong address.

Armenians argue that the death of hundreds of thousands of Armenians
in 1915 constituted genocide while Turkey says many Turks also died
in the wartime circumstances and denies there was a state-enforced
policy to kill Armenians.

Sarafian was invited to Turkey by the Bogazici, Bilkent and Sabancı
Universities and the Hrant Dink Foundation to attend a history
conference in the Mediterranean province of Adana.

Sarafian said there were two problems that would arise out of any
effort to improve relations with Armenians through closer ties with
Armenia. "Freedom of expression for historians in Armenia is limited
and the genocide issue has become a political tool," he said.

He said Turkey should continue with its plan to form a commission
of historians who would discuss the matter, but suggested Turkish
historians to meet with moderate Armenian historians in the diaspora
rather than Armenia. "The solution should start from the diaspora,"
he said.

"The members of the diaspora who still have Anatolia in their hearts
should not be ignored," he said, adding that the diaspora was not
part of Armenia but part of Anatolia. He also said Turkey needed to
fund the commission of independent historians. "I believe Turkey is
not how it used to be. It has a modern perception and wants solutions
to the problems," said Sarafian.

Armenian archives Prime Minister Erdogan's suggestion to form a
commission also involves the opening of the state archives of both
Armenia and Turkey. Sarafian said the archives in Armenia were
inadequate. "The real documents on the genocide are in the Zoryan
archives in Boston and the Armenian Patriarchy archives in Jerusalem,"
he said.

He said the most important question was whether Armenians wanted
to overcome this chronic problem. He asked, "Will we be able to free
ourselves from this instinct of revenge and share our grief?" Armenians
should stop seeing themselves as the victims, said the historian.

"We cannot compare the Armenian genocide with the Holocaust. Those who
were banished from their land suffered a lot but survived," he said.

He also said Turkish society could not be blamed for what happened in
the past. "No one can deny the genocide but the entire Turkish nation
cannot be held responsible. Moreover, many Turks rescued Armenians
from death," he said.

The lobbies had turned the issue into a political tool, said
Sarafian. "They want to control everything and fear historians opening
a brand new page," he said. He said a language of peace should be
created between Turks and Armenians.

He still had to be careful when he undertook research in Turkey and
added, "I, as a historian, try not to display a wrong stance and
create tension. I know I need to be objective. Additionally, Turkey
is being constructive and it would be wrong to miss this chance."

He said the restoration of the Armenian Akdamar Church in the recent
past could have created an environment of dialogue but had become a
missed chance. "Armenians did not want to take that chance because
it did not suit their interests," he said.

The Armenian response, both from the diaspora and Armenia, to Turkish
calls to work together was complete silence, he said. "The diaspora
boycotted any cooperation with Turkey because it only wants to blame
and lay accusations against Turkey. Unfortunately, radical groups
within the diaspora have turned a sensitive issue, like genocide,
into a political tool.

He said it was important for future generations to free themselves
from the victim psychology, concluding his remarks by saying, "We
need to ensure our children live in peace. The revenge instinct will
do no one any good."

TURKISH AIRLINES PREPARES FOR CHARTER FLIGHTS TO YEREVAN
ArmInfo
2008-11-24 13:57:00

ArmInfo. Turkish Airlines (THY) has recently sent unofficial letters
to both the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM) and the
Foreign Ministry, asking for information regarding charter flights
by Armenian national air company Armavia from Yerevan to Istanbul
and the Mediterranean coastal city of Antalya.

As Turkish Today's Zaman newspaper says, in its response, the SHGM
said the flights have been taking place with the Foreign Ministry's
approval and that permission for Armavia's charter flights to Turkey is
renewed every two or three weeks. In the coming days, THY is expected
to send another letter to the Foreign Ministry asking whether launching
charter flights to Yerevan would "comply with the national interests"
of the country. The final decision will be made after receiving the
Foreign Ministry's response outlining Ankara's stance on the issue.

A senior Turkish official, speaking with Today's Zaman, said THY has
been assuming an important role in Turkish foreign policy. Describing
THY as "an important tool of Turkey's policy of strategic initiatives,"
the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the company
always requests the Foreign Ministry's view when it prepares to launch
a new flight route abroad.

Currently, Atlas jet, a private Turkish airline company, has been
conducting charter flights between Istanbul and Yerevan.

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