Armenian News
RFE/RL REport
Turkey Demands Armenian `Gestures' On Karabakh
18.09.2010
Karine Simonian
Turkey continues to link the implementation of its normalization
agreements with Armenia with significant progress towards the
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, a Turkish Foreign
Ministry official said on Friday.
Speaking to RFE/RL's Armenian service in Ankara, the official, Selim
Yener, indicated that Ankara would settle for a partial Armenian troop
withdrawal from Azerbaijani territories surrounding Karabakh.
`It is a sensitive matter for both Armenia and Turkey, and we hope
that there could be gestures and some movements on the Armenian side
so that our parliament can go ahead and approve this important
document,' he said, referring to the two `protocols' signed by the
Armenian and Turkish foreign ministers in Zurich a year ago.
`We do hope that if Armenia could take some steps with regard to
removing some of its troops from certain regions, I think this would
be extremely helpful,' added Yener. `This would show that Armenia is
taking peace efforts seriously and that it is going in the right
direction.'
Official Yerevan is bound to reject this precondition. Armenian
leaders have argued all along that neither protocol makes any
reference to the Karabakh conflict, a view shared by the United
States, the leading international backer of the Turkish-Armenian
rapprochement.
Visiting Yerevan in July, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
urged Ankara to unconditionally implement the normalization deal.
18.09.2010
Karine Simonian
Turkey continues to link the implementation of its normalization
agreements with Armenia with significant progress towards the
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, a Turkish Foreign
Ministry official said on Friday.
Speaking to RFE/RL's Armenian service in Ankara, the official, Selim
Yener, indicated that Ankara would settle for a partial Armenian troop
withdrawal from Azerbaijani territories surrounding Karabakh.
`It is a sensitive matter for both Armenia and Turkey, and we hope
that there could be gestures and some movements on the Armenian side
so that our parliament can go ahead and approve this important
document,' he said, referring to the two `protocols' signed by the
Armenian and Turkish foreign ministers in Zurich a year ago.
`We do hope that if Armenia could take some steps with regard to
removing some of its troops from certain regions, I think this would
be extremely helpful,' added Yener. `This would show that Armenia is
taking peace efforts seriously and that it is going in the right
direction.'
Official Yerevan is bound to reject this precondition. Armenian
leaders have argued all along that neither protocol makes any
reference to the Karabakh conflict, a view shared by the United
States, the leading international backer of the Turkish-Armenian
rapprochement.
Visiting Yerevan in July, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
urged Ankara to unconditionally implement the normalization deal.
`Now the ball is in the other court,' she said.
Turkish officials insist, however, that the protocols contain an
implicit linkage between their parliamentary ratification and the
Karabakh issue. `We have to think of everything in a context,' said
Yener. `The protocols were not signed in isolation from reality.'
Turkish officials insist, however, that the protocols contain an
implicit linkage between their parliamentary ratification and the
Karabakh issue. `We have to think of everything in a context,' said
Yener. `The protocols were not signed in isolation from reality.'
SERZH SARGSYAN: ARMENIA AWAITING TURKEY TO
DISPLAY POLITICAL WILL
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 17, 2010 - 11:03 AMT 06:03 GMT
Establishment of diplomatic relations and opening of the border with
Turkey will be of benefit not only to Armenia and Turkey but the
entire region, Armenian President said.
"The decision to launch a process of normalization of relations with
Turkey was one of the hardest ones I have ever taken. Yes, Turks
committed Genocide and continue denying this fact even 100 years
later. Denial of a crime is the worst crime. But, on the other hand,
almost all countries across the globe experienced historical problems.
Civilized response to such problems is cooperation without
preconditions," Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview with Profile
Ukrainian magazine.
"Our initiative was perceived in different ways, specifically by
Diaspora Armenians. It's quite understandable, because each Armenian
family suffered at that time. However, opinions tend to change and
more people believe that the Armenian authorities took the right step,"
he said.
"Our initiative did not conflict with our national interests.
Normalization of relations with Turkey does not mean renouncement of
the Armenian Genocide worldwide recognition campaign. Now, Armenia
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 17, 2010 - 11:03 AMT 06:03 GMT
Establishment of diplomatic relations and opening of the border with
Turkey will be of benefit not only to Armenia and Turkey but the
entire region, Armenian President said.
"The decision to launch a process of normalization of relations with
Turkey was one of the hardest ones I have ever taken. Yes, Turks
committed Genocide and continue denying this fact even 100 years
later. Denial of a crime is the worst crime. But, on the other hand,
almost all countries across the globe experienced historical problems.
Civilized response to such problems is cooperation without
preconditions," Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview with Profile
Ukrainian magazine.
"Our initiative was perceived in different ways, specifically by
Diaspora Armenians. It's quite understandable, because each Armenian
family suffered at that time. However, opinions tend to change and
more people believe that the Armenian authorities took the right step,"
he said.
"Our initiative did not conflict with our national interests.
Normalization of relations with Turkey does not mean renouncement of
the Armenian Genocide worldwide recognition campaign. Now, Armenia
is awaiting the Turkish to display political will," President Sargsyan
concluded.
concluded.
TURKEY'S DAVUTOGLU MULLS ARMENIA ACCORDS WITH
CLINTON (UPDATED)
AzerNews
Sept 15 2010
Azerbaijan
ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu discussed the
Turkish-Armenian protocols with the U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary
Clinton, over the phone on Wednesday, CNN Turk reported.
Davutoglu said Turkey hopes that the protocols will be ratified in
the future, after a peace agreement on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
between Armenia and Azerbaijan is reached.
Turkey and Armenia have faced differences for decades. Turkey
closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to Armenian occupation of
Azerbaijani territory and claims on 1915 genocide in Ottoman Turkey.
In a bid to normalize ties, Turkey signed protocols to establish
diplomatic relations and reopen its border with Armenia in Zurich on
October 10. The move has triggered a cool-down in its relations with
Azerbaijan, Turkey's ally. However, Turkish officials have pledged
that Ankara could normalize ties with Yerevan only after the Karabakh
conflict has been fairly settled.
AzerNews
Sept 15 2010
Azerbaijan
ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu discussed the
Turkish-Armenian protocols with the U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary
Clinton, over the phone on Wednesday, CNN Turk reported.
Davutoglu said Turkey hopes that the protocols will be ratified in
the future, after a peace agreement on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
between Armenia and Azerbaijan is reached.
Turkey and Armenia have faced differences for decades. Turkey
closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to Armenian occupation of
Azerbaijani territory and claims on 1915 genocide in Ottoman Turkey.
In a bid to normalize ties, Turkey signed protocols to establish
diplomatic relations and reopen its border with Armenia in Zurich on
October 10. The move has triggered a cool-down in its relations with
Azerbaijan, Turkey's ally. However, Turkish officials have pledged
that Ankara could normalize ties with Yerevan only after the Karabakh
conflict has been fairly settled.
55% OF TURKS AGAINST RATIFICATION OF ARMENIA-TURKEY
PROTOCOLS
news.am
Sept 16 2010
Armenia
According to the results of a survey conducted by the German Marshall
Fund of the United States (GMF), 55% of Turks are against ratification
of the Armenian-Turkish protocols signed in Zurich on October 10,
2009. On the other hand, 27% are for restoring relations with Armenia
and reopening of the Armenian-Turkish border.
The survey was conducted this July, and the results were published
in Brussels on September 15.
Most Turkish citizens prefer strengthening of ties with the Middle
East states to ties with the 27 EU member-states.
The poll found that 20% of Turks believed their primary partners
should be Middle East countries, while 13% favored the EU, the
Guardian reports.
news.am
Sept 16 2010
Armenia
According to the results of a survey conducted by the German Marshall
Fund of the United States (GMF), 55% of Turks are against ratification
of the Armenian-Turkish protocols signed in Zurich on October 10,
2009. On the other hand, 27% are for restoring relations with Armenia
and reopening of the Armenian-Turkish border.
The survey was conducted this July, and the results were published
in Brussels on September 15.
Most Turkish citizens prefer strengthening of ties with the Middle
East states to ties with the 27 EU member-states.
The poll found that 20% of Turks believed their primary partners
should be Middle East countries, while 13% favored the EU, the
Guardian reports.
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 17, 2010 - 13:51 AMT 08:51 GMT
The Oxford University Stars and Stones expedition to Qarahunge (Zorats
Qarer, dating 7500 years back), which started on September 6, 2010,
aimed to describe and raise awareness of the site and investigate
astronomical significance of the stones and the mysterious holes in
the megaliths.
Expedition leader Mihran Vardanyan said that the stone circles are
highly controversial with some scholars highly skeptical of the
astronomical designation of the site.
"The most commonly accepted theory about Qarahunge is that it is an
ancient burial ground, or necropolis - a place to act as a bridge
between the earth and the heaven in the cyclical journey of the soul
involving life, death and rebirth. The necropolis thesis is certainly
true, but after our initial investigations of the central circle,
it is clear the site was aligned to the sun, most likely aligned to
the moon and - what is really exciting, possibly to some starts or
planets - owing to the placement of small holes drilled through the
monoliths and aimed to the horizon. It is these holes which makes this
exceptional megalithic site unique out of all similar European sites,"
he told a news conference in Yerevan on September 17.
Vardanyan also said that their research bases on the works by prominent
Armenian scientist Paris Heruni.
D.Phil. Geography Nicholas Howarth said, "It's incredible how rich the
Neolithic and Bronze Age collection is here at the National Historic
Museum. The most exciting find for me was a Bronze Age Model of the
Solar System, which has the sun, the moon and five easily observable
planets suspended above rings of concentric circles, representing
the earth, separated by a double headed axe. In addition to show
how important the sun, the moon and planets were to people who
were probably using the stone circle at Qarahunge as a ritual site,
this would also seem to provide new evidence into the much disputed
link between the idea of a Labyrinth, mother goddess and the double
headed axe."
The scientists are planning to make laser scanning to get a 3D map
of the site.
"Two months ago we requested the government to assist our research
but haven't received any response so far," Vardanyan said, adding
that they will also call for introduction of Qarahunge in UNESCO
World Heritage List.
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