ErdoFascism turks In Their Natural Behavior

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

 

Well-known figure in the Armenian community was attacked in Turkey

Read the article in: FrançaisՀայերենРусский

 

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS. Garo Kaprielyan, a well-known figure in the Armenian community, was attacked by employees of a market in Kinali. Reported by the weekly newspaper “Agos”. 

It was learned that discriminatory insults were shouted at Kaprielyan during the attack.

Kaprielyan stated that his finger was broken and there were signs of assault on his face. The police said that the incident would be transferred to the prosecutor's office.

The attack was condemned by the Armenian Church in Istanbul. The statement said that they condemn this unpleasant and racist attack, and wish him a speedy recovery.

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1196981?fbclid=IwY2xjawEacb5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXxHWEKIuf8sn-XIPcvGgpZ1c-Rs5JJ403NmM8yLmCrD48Ek44koNUyW_A_aem_QDc_09wQsWFP-dXQzYsTLA

[Yervant1]

Arab News, Pakistan Edition

Aug 3 2024

 

 

Realpolitik guiding Turkish-Armenian normalization process

Sinem Cengiz

A notable milestone was achieved on Tuesday, when the special representatives from Turkiye and Armenia, who have been tasked with the normalization of relations between the two nations, met at the Margara-Alican border crossing, which has been closed since 1993. The representatives reportedly began their meeting on the Armenian side of the border before proceeding to the Turkish side.

The potential for a breakthrough had been hinted at the previous week, when Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan inspected the fully prepared Margara checkpoint on the Armenian side, as residents on both sides of the border watched such developments with cautious interest. While the meeting at the border was symbolically significant, those familiar with Turkish-Armenian normalization efforts understand that symbolism plays a crucial role in their diplomatic engagements.

In February 2023, following devastating earthquakes in Turkiye, the sole land border crossing between the two countries was reopened for the first time in more than 30 years to facilitate the passage of humanitarian aid. This reopening was symbolically important as the two nations do not have formal relations, although a rapprochement process is ongoing. The same border crossing had also been used in 1988 following a major earthquake in Armenia, when the Turkish Red Crescent Society sent aid to the affected areas.

Tuesday’s meeting marked the first encounter of the special representatives since the one held in Vienna in July 2022, which was their fifth meeting. At that time, the two sides agreed to allow third-country citizens to cross the border, although this agreement was never put into practice.

The idea of opening the border crossing as a step toward normalization is not new and this is not the first time Turkiye and Armenia have come close to normalizing their bilateral relations. In 2008, then-Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan to watch a football match between the two national teams, an effort termed “football diplomacy.” This visit followed a historic reconciliation process initiated in 2009, when the two sides signed protocols in Zurich aimed at normalizing diplomatic relations and reopening the border.

However, this initiative, which was part of Turkiye’s “zero problems with neighbors” policy, was unsuccessful due to unresolved territorial disputes over Nagorno-Karabakh. The protocols were never ratified, though the effort was seen as a significant moment in Turkish-Armenian relations.

The current regional and domestic context is markedly different from 2009. In the post-2009 era, Turkiye has been preoccupied with issues related to the Arab uprisings, particularly in Syria, shifting its foreign policy focus away from Armenia. Meanwhile, for Yerevan, relations with Turkiye have consistently been a top priority. An Armenian journalist once noted: “Armenia occupies the ninth or 10th place in Turkiye’s foreign policy agenda, overshadowed by Syria, Iraq, the EU and the US. In Armenia, however, issues related to Turkiye are at the forefront of foreign policy and media coverage.” This highlights the disparity in how the two countries prioritize their interests and perceived threats.

This is not the first time Turkiye and Armenia have come close to normalizing their bilateral relations

Sinem Cengiz

However, currently, both nations face urgent issues that necessitate cooperation, including the climate crisis, migration challenges and economic difficulties. Regional events are also playing a role in shaping attitudes toward the stalemate in bilateral diplomatic relations.

With Russia focusing on Ukraine and Iran dealing with its own problems, Turkiye’s outreach to Armenia and the Armenian government’s pragmatism and willingness to seize this opportunity to advance bilateral relations is important. However, Armenian officials face domestic opposition from nationalists and hard-liners, as well as from the global diaspora. There are existing anti-Turkish and anti-Armenian sentiments in both countries that complicate the normalization efforts.

In the Turkish-Armenian context, it is important to distinguish between normalization and reconciliation, which are two different processes. While normalization requires the opening of borders and establishment of diplomatic relations between states, reconciliation is a thorough process that requires the establishment of positive relations between two societies. This is tougher than just inking deals at the diplomatic table because there are ongoing historical and ideological sensitivities among the respective publics.

That is why Turkiye’s normalization phase with Armenia differs significantly from its efforts with Egypt, Israel or the Gulf states. Various material and nonmaterial issues are in play, as well as the involvement of third parties such as Azerbaijan and the US, which have played both constructive and destructive roles at times in the Turkish-Armenian normalization efforts. Previous normalization attempts have gone through several contradictory phrases, ultimately bearing no fruit.

In the current context, the long-awaited reopening of the border between these two neighboring countries would not only help in bridging the psychological divide between their societies but also provide substantial economic benefits to both sides. Armenia is grappling with severe economic challenges, with many families relying on remittances from relatives abroad.

Armenia, which has a population of about 3 million, shares borders with Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Georgia and Iran. The first two of these neighbors have closed their borders, Iran is under sanctions and Georgia is not in a position to support the Armenian economy. Given the economic and moral toll from the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, reopening the border with Turkiye could be crucial for Armenia. The economic advantages of this development can be expected to materialize swiftly, leading to significant improvements. Moreover, for Armenia, the opening of the border would pave the way for opening a path to the West, while for Turkiye it would widen its influence in the Caucasus region.

While significant challenges and domestic opposition remain, the potential reopening of the Turkiye-Armenia border offers a promising opportunity for both nations to address economic needs and bridge historical divides. This is why, maybe, this time, both states have been prioritizing realpolitik over idealpolitik.

• Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who specializes in Turkey’s relations with the Middle East. X: @SinemCngz

https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2561526

 

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

 

Turkey to join lawsuit against Israel in International Court of Justice

Read the article in: العربيةՀայերենРусский

 

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. Turkey plans to file an application with the UN International Court of Justice (ICJ) to join South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel, today said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague held hearings on May 16-17 regarding South Africa's request for additional measures against Israel due to the Jewish state's operation in Rafah. On May 24, the court ordered Israel to halt the military operation in Rafah and to take measures to ensure access to Gaza for missions investigating accusations of genocide.

 “We will submit to the International Court of Justice our dossier on Israel on Wednesday so that we could participate in the trial,” Fidan said at a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart in Cairo.

Fidan arrived in Egypt on August 4 and managed to visit the Rafah checkpoint on the border with the Gaza Strip, noting the importance of ensuring the supply of humanitarian aid and a ceasefire.

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1197100?fbclid=IwY2xjawEeoTpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfqMYReOsJ4wAvu4inf5e0GGYnMBEzC3v3EQd_dpwyMQ2r88tqcCKgxoNg_aem__Td1JhAhBdRwRhGX9DtkNg

[Yervant1]

ArmenianWeekly.com

 

The Grey Wolves and the role of German intelligence in its establishment

August 6, 2024 Ara Nazarian, PhD Op-Eds 0

The Grey Wolves, formally known as Ülkü Ocakları or Idealist Hearths, is a Turkish ultranationalist and neo-fascist youth organization closely affiliated with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Founded in the late 1960s, the organization has become synonymous with militant nationalism in Turkey, involved in political violence and organized crime over the decades. They are named after a mythical wolf that led the Turks out of Central Asia, a symbol deeply ingrained in Turkish nationalism.

The group has been implicated in numerous acts of violence, including assassinations, massacres and bombings aimed at leftists, Kurds and other perceived enemies of Turkish nationalism. Notably, they have been accused of being involved in destabilization efforts during the political chaos of the 1970s and 1980s in Turkey, often clashing with left-wing groups and committing major human rights abuses. Their activities have not been confined to Turkey; they have also been active in several European countries with significant Turkish diaspora populations, promoting Turkish nationalist ideology and engaging in violence and intimidation against political foes.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu flashed the Grey Wolves’ hand sign at Armenian protesters in Montevideo, Uruguay on April 23, 2022 (screenshot)

The role of German intelligence in establishing and operating the Grey Wolves in Germany is a contentious topic. 

Historically, the Grey Wolves has been linked to far-right ideologies and anti-constitutional activities, marked by its involvement in violence and organized under groups such as the Federation of Turkish Democratic Idealist Associations in Germany (ADÜTDF). This organization was established in Frankfurt in 1978 and is considered one of the largest of such umbrella organizations, symbolizing the widespread reach of the Grey Wolves in Europe.

The genesis of the Grey Wolves in Germany is deeply intertwined with geopolitical strategies during the Cold War, particularly the shared anti-communist agenda between Turkish and German state officials. In the 1970s, significant interactions, such as meetings between German politician Franz Josef Strauss and Turkish leader Alparslan Türkeş, were pivotal in shaping the group’s formation and ideology. These meetings underscored a mutual commitment to combating communism, which inadvertently facilitated the growth of the Grey Wolves in Germany as a counter-movement against left-wing Turkish and Kurdish migrants who were actively organizing worker strikes at the time.

Moreover, indirect support by German intelligence, such as providing logistical help for the establishment of organizations associated with the Grey Wolves, highlights the covert operations aimed at bolstering right-wing elements as a buffer against leftist influences within the Turkish diaspora. Over the years, this has led to accusations that the Grey Wolves engage in activities that threaten public security and constitutional integrity in Germany, leading to calls from various political corners to ban their symbols and curtail their influence.

This complex interplay between domestic policy, foreign political strategies and intelligence operations illustrates the nuanced and often controversial role of German intelligence in the socio-political dynamics of Turkish nationalist movements within Germany.

•  Bio
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Ara Nazarian, PhD

Ara Nazarian is an associate professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a degree in mechanical engineering, followed by graduate degrees from Boston University, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and Harvard University. He has been involved in the Armenian community for over a decade, having served in a variety of capacities at the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center, Armenian National Committee of America, St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.

 

 

https://armenianweekly.com/2024/08/06/the-grey-wolves-and-the-role-of-german-intelligence-in-its-establishment/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEfn6RleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfC-SS6I8K5ggGf7aAUO-2lZX4Y5LHGIMNJH3MoXIsqAVnrS2jThbUUmow_aem_Br-vKe3zogHzRrSyDMXtfw

[MosJan]

Erdogan Is Said to Have Divine Attributes: “Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely” – By Harut Sassounian

www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

In his article in the Nordic Monitor, Abdullah Bozkurt wrote about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shrouding himself with the attributes of God or Allah. Erdogan’s subservient inner circle reinforces that self-aggrandizing and exaggerated view of himself by claiming that he has divine powers. The article is titled, “Turkey’s president suffers from a God complex, revered for attributes belonging to Allah and the Prophet.”

Bozkurt starts his article by describing Erdogan as “a leader who believes he possesses superior abilities and apparently suffers from a God complex…. Erdogan has decimated the opposition, imprisoned his critics and opponents, consolidated all levers of power in his hands, destroyed checks and balances and become the sole decision-maker on all matters in his own country. His inflated view of his abilities and infallibility, coupled with the presence of yes-men surrounding him, reinforces his narcissistic personality and shores up his superiority complex. He considers himself the caliph, the leader of the entire Muslim community worldwide, and therefore believes he deserves special consideration.”

Bozkurt recalls that after Erdogan’s party’s (AKP) defeat in the March 2024 Parliamentary elections, he said on April 17: “Ladies and gentlemen! Let everyone see and know this: Nothing is over until we say it’s over.” This innocent sounding statement turns out to have “shocking ramifications… in the context of political Islamic circles, [challenging] the divine will of Allah, one of the six main pillars of Islam, which means Allah is the ultimate decision-maker and everything happens only according to His divine will. The remark reflects Erdogan’s inner thinking as he has become accustomed to being the final arbiter in Turkish matters after a long rule of near-absolute power. Erdogan did not utter these words in a vacuum; he has a long track record of seeing himself in such a godly manner. The worshipful praise from his followers has certainly contributed to shaping the president’s psyche.”

While speaking at a campaign rally in March 2024, Erdogan said, “We have come for mercy, not for wrath. Our mercy will prevail over our wrath.” By describing his government’s reaction to his critics and opponents in such a manner, Erdogan made “a direct reference to Allah’s unique attribute in the conventional Islamic school of thought, which was described in a saying of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad: ‘When Allah decreed the creation, He pledged Himself by writing in His Book which is laid down with Him: My Mercy prevails over My Wrath.’ Milli Gazete, the newspaper of the opposition Islamic political Saadet Party wrote: Erdogan “associating himself with the attributes of Allah astonished the audience.”

Erdogan’s associates and senior member of his ruling party, engaging in sycophancy, make exaggerated statements reinforcing his claim of possessing superior powers. Here are some of the examples Bozkurt provided:

“In July 2011, the AKP’s then-Bursa deputy Huseyin Shahin stated after talking and visiting Erdogan that ‘even touching our esteemed Prime Minister [Erdogan], I believe, is an act of worship. I’m saying this because even his presence energizes us.’”

“Fevai Arslan, another lawmaker from Erdogan’s ruling AKP, said in January 2014, ‘There is Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a leader who embodies all the attributes of Allah. They wanted to thwart him.’”

“Zulfu Tolga Aghar, a long-time AKP lawmaker, likened Erdogan to God in a speech he made in August 2019, stating, ‘When we are told about the President, it feels like we are being told about Allah.’”

“Addressing some 1,500-party faithful in November 2009, Ismail Hakkı Eser, the AKP’s then-Aydın provincial office head, told the crowd, ‘Let no one doubt the love and respect our people under this roof have for our Prime Minister [Erdogan]. We are devoted to our Prime Minister; he is like a second prophet to us.’”

“Former EU affairs minister Egemen Baghish declared several cities to be holy, akin to the Islamic holy sites of Mecca and Medina, in February 2013, saying, ‘Rize, Istanbul and Siirt are holy cities because these three cities have been instrumental in the birth of the greatest leader in the history of the Republic of Turkey.’ Rize is Erdogan’s family’s home province, while Istanbul is where he was brought up and entered politics. Siirt, his wife’s home province, is the constituency where he was elected to parliament for the first time in a March 2003 repeat election. Despite being incriminated in a multi-million dollar graft scheme, Erdogan stood by Baghish and appointed him ambassador to the Czech Republic.”

“Some went as far as saying that Erdogan surpassed the Islamic Prophet. Efkan Ala, then interior minister, said, ‘Prophet Muhammad was overtaken by pride, so God warned him. We, on the other hand, will not be tempted by pride.’ Ala’s successor, Suleyman Soylu, claimed in December 2021 that the work of the Erdogan government was the work of Allah. ‘Don’t just look at what we do. We don’t do it by ourselves. We believe that it is Allah who makes us do it.’”

“In February 2010, Oktay Saral, an AKP politician who governed the Of district of Trabzon province, called for the worship of Erdogan and said that a prayer of gratitude, similar to Muslim rituals for God, must be performed because Erdogan is the blessed leader of the Islamic world.”

“Some of Erdogan’s deputies likened his speeches to the Sunnah, which refers to the sayings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad and is considered to be the second authoritative source of knowledge for Muslims after the holy Quran.”

Bozkurt added: “There have been dozens of instances of God-like attributions made for Erdogan during his more than two decades of rule in Turkey. None of them were challenged by Erdogan himself, who appeared to enjoy such praise. In his self-perception, perhaps he feels like a god or a God-chosen messenger who came to power to lead Muslims all over the world.”

“Compounding matters further is that President Erdogan is surrounded by yes-men and women who worship him and dare not utter views that would displease him. The profile of people he has chosen to include in his inner circle paints a picture of those who shy away from critical thinking and avoid challenging views in the governance of the country. In reality, Erdogan is nothing but a thug, a narcissistic dictator who abuses religion for his political ambitions while enriching his family members and associates with billions of dollars through pervasive corruption in his administration and profits from all sorts of illicit business activities and criminal enterprises,” Bozkurt concluded.

[Yervant1]

Aug 14 2024

 

 

“The cost of being able to speak freely about the Armenian Genocide was undoubtedly enormous.”

Vartan Estukyan is a dissident journalist belonging to the Armenian community in Turkey. He writes for the Agos newspaper, one of the few Turkish-Armenian media outlets in Turkey which aims to make the voices of Armenians in Turkey heard by the wider public. Vartan Estukyan is Agos’ editor of the culture and arts and reports on human rights and politics. In 2023/24, he was a fellow in the ECPMF’s Journalists-in-Residence Programme.

 

Interview conducted by Henriette Wenderoth, support intern at ECPMF.

 

In 2024, Turkey is ranked 158th place in the World Press Freedom Index. Journalists suffer from discriminatory practices, online censorship, and arbitrary lawsuits. The strained economic situation is adding additional hardship, especially on independent media houses. How do you as an Armenian journalist working for the Turkish-Armenian independent newspaper Agos experience the current state of press and media freedom? How freely can you write about topics of importance for the Armenian community, which suffers from discrimination, also from a critical perspective?

It is an indisputable fact that Turkey is one of the worst countries in the world in terms of press freedom, in line with the data you have shared. However, Agos can now freely cover taboo subjects and red lines in its pages. I say ‘now’ because it has cost us a great deal to reach this point: Hrant Dink, the founder and former editor-in-chief of Agos, was shot in the back and killed in front of the newspaper building at noon on January 19, 2007. Hrant Dink was not the first journalist to be murdered in Turkey. Unfortunately, the political situation in Turkey shows that he will not be the last either. However, the murder of Hrant Dink provoked a reaction that the Turkish state never expected. This reaction came not from Armenians, but from Turks and Kurds. A crowd of hundreds of thousands of people marched on the evening of the day Dink was killed and blocked kilometres of roads, demanding the arrest of the perpetrator of the murder.

 

The cost of being able to speak freely about the Armenian Genocide was undoubtedly enormous. After all, Agos was a newspaper that was published as the voice of the Armenian community in Turkey, which at that time numbered 70 to 80 thousand people. Since then, its mission has changed a little and it has started to attract the attention of the whole of Turkey. With its news, interviews and publications, Agos used to be considered a reference in Turkey on the Armenian Genocide. However, after the 100th anniversary of the genocide, it was no longer on Turkey’s news agenda. In spite of all this, Agos’ harsh reports criticising the state have not been sanctioned by the state, as a huge price has already been paid and the Dink murder case has not been properly tried. Agos is thus able to continue writing what the state does not like.

 

Today, especially the Kurdish media is subjected to pressure and threats. Many Kurdish journalists are in prison. This is because the state sees Kurds as a bigger threat than Armenians as the population of Armenians today is 50 thousand, whereas Kurds are said to number more than 10 million. We can say that Agos publishes more freely. But this does not mean that there is freedom of the press in Turkey. We can see this in the pressure and threats against the Kurdish media.

 

How does the Armenian media landscape differ from the Turkish public media and what role does Agos play in the media landscape? Do Armenian media houses experience special forms of repression as representatives of a marginalised group? What is the importance of establishing independent Armenian media houses in Turkey? 

There are currently three Armenian newspapers and a television channel in Turkey. Two of these three newspapers are published only in Armenian, while Agos is published in both Armenian and Turkish. The TV channel was founded by an Armenian journalist known to be close to the state, and it generally broadcasts the national and world agenda in mainstream language, with culture and arts content in the remaining sections. The other Armenian-language newspapers often use the state’s language, and even when they oppose the state, they do so in a very low-key tone, in a way that does not disturb anyone.

 

Since its foundation, Agos has pursued a completely different policy from these three media organisations. It is the only Armenian media organisation that publishes about the Armenian Genocide, the problems faced by Armenians and all other ethnic/religious/gender minority groups in Turkey, and the oppression they face without any concerns. So much that this is sometimes a problem even among Armenians. When Agos publishes a news item about the Kurds, ridiculous questions such as ‘Did the Kurds buy Agos?’ can be asked. As if reporting on and criticising the injustice suffered by Kurds makes us Kurds…

 

As I have just mentioned, the other three media organisations face almost no threats or pressure because they have a policy close to the state. But Agos, again as I mentioned earlier, is a newspaper that has paid a price, perhaps the biggest price of all. Therefore, I cannot say that Armenian media organisations in general were subjected to pressure, but Agos individually certainly was. Dink’s murder made Agos a bit ‘untouchable’.

 

You already mentioned the assassination of Agos’ co-founder and chief editor Hrant Dink. Advocating for Turkish-Armenian reconciliation, Dink was several times prosecuted for “denigrating Turkishness” under the widely criticised article 301. His murder sparked international outrage. What has changed, or not, since then? What consequences did the murder have on the public opinion on Armenian rights and freedom of _expression_? Did an improvement in the protection of (Armenian) journalists follow?

After Dink’s murder, there were people who were tried under Article 301. Since then, both a lot has changed and nothing has changed. Nothing has changed, because just these days, Açık Radyo, a radio organisation known for its alternative broadcasts, was first banned from broadcasting and finally had its licence cancelled for not ‘correcting’ the ‘Armenian Genocide’ remarks made by a commentator who was a guest on one of the radio’s programmes. Although the Court of Cassation ruled for the cancellation of the decision, this was enough of a threat for the radio station to watch its words from now on. Yes, they may not touch Agos anymore, and we do not have to practise any self-censorship, but this does not mean that all opposition publications in the country act with the same confidence and ease. The Kurdish media and Kurdish journalists I have just mentioned are the most concrete examples of this.

 

Again, as I have just mentioned, the murder of Hrant Dink provoked a reaction that the state did not expect. There was not only a domestic reaction, but there was also an international reaction. This international reaction led Turkey to be extra sensitive towards all non-Muslim minorities, especially Armenians, and to apply positive discrimination. Of course, again, only to a certain extent. However, I must remind you that no non-Muslim minority or Kurd in Turkey demands positive discrimination, they only want to have equal rights with Turks.

 

Dink’s murder caused the Armenian Genocide issue to be spoken about more loudly. Because Hrant Dink had already been targeted and killed for constantly keeping this issue on the agenda. However, as I have repeated, this murder did not go as planned by the state and the society reacted very strongly. Today, not only Armenians but also Turks can speak loudly about the genocide. Hrant Dink ensured that even though the genocide has not yet been recognised norconfronted, it is at least a subject that can be talked about.

 

In the years 1915-1916, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians and Assyrians were massacred by the Ottoman authorities. Several countries have recognised this mass murder as genocide whereas Turkey refuses to this day. What does the public debate about Armenian genocide looks like today and which role does the mainstream media play in that discourse? How do Armenian-Turkish media manage to publish counter-narratives?

Genocide is still the biggest taboo in Turkey. There are Turks and Kurds who individually recognise the genocide, but unfortunately it is still not possible to say the same for any political party. The voice that was much louder in 2015, on the 100th anniversary of the genocide, has been replaced by a great silence today. So much so that, in recent years, even the DEM Party (the Kurdish party), which is the political party that most Armenians feel closest to, refrains from using the word ‘genocide’ in its statement issued on 24 April, which is accepted as the date of the beginning of the Armenian Genocide. Although this saddens me as a voter, I understand the reason behind it, but I do not agree with it. Because I don’t think things will get better in Turkey without confronting 1915. In order to focus on its future, a country must first confront its past fairly and without leaving any question marks. Turkey is far away from this today.

 

Publishing critical news challenging regime loyal narratives remains relevant until today, for example when reporting about the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War which took place in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding occupied territories in 2020. It lasted for 44 days and resulted in displacement of inhabitants and dissolvement of the Armenian enclave. During the armed conflict Turkey provided military support to Azerbaijan. How did the war affect Armenian journalists and the Armenian community in Turkey? How is reporting possible if the truth is so much under attack?

Azerbaijan’s attack on Karabakh in 2020 was the turning point in the complete severing of my ties with Turkey. My former good or hopeful feelings about Turkey were completely replaced by pessimism. After that date, I minimised my contact with my Turkish friends, with whom I felt very close, and cut off direct communication with many of them. The war was taking place in Karabakh, and of course what we experienced in Turkey was nothing compared to it. However, in those days (later, when I talked to my friends, I found out that they had similar feelings), I could not go out on the streets or even go to the market. I lived in a neighbourhood where there were many Armenians. Despite this, I was uneasy about going out on the streets because the public in Turkey can be manipulated very easily with huge lies by the mainstream and pro-government media, blaming the Armenians, and this was the case in that period. I was sure that none of the people I met on the street wanted me in the country, including my neighbours who knew I was Armenian. Atatürk’s saying “Turkey belongs to the Turks” is very famous. For the first time in those days I felt this saying in a real sense. Turkey was Turkish and no one other than Turks were welcome there. Especially Armenians, in those days…

 

The media was, of course, in a pro-Azerbaijan and therefore pro-Turkey stance. Unfortunately, it also includes even alternative websites. During that period, only one to two websites other than Agos did not cover the events in a one-sided manner. I can give the following as the simplest example: While all Turkish media wrote that the war started with Armenia’s attacks, when the 44-day war ended, Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ilham Aliyev admitted that they had started the war. Nevertheless, the Turkish media ignored this confession and even today claims that the Armenian side started the war.

 

You’re a journalist in the field of culture and arts. What is the state of affairs of Armenian arts and culture in Turkey? Can culture and arts and the reporting about it contribute to higher visibility and empowerment of Armenians? 

Arts and culture has been an area in which Armenians have been prominent in Turkey throughout history. It was Armenians who brought theatre to the country in Ottoman times. Armenians have always played an important role in Turkish cinema and music. However, in doing so, many of them had to hide their identity. For example, Onno Tunçboyacıyan, one of the most important arrangers of Turkish pop music, used the name ‘Onno Tunç’, and hid the suffix ‘yan’ because it would have revealed his Armenianness.

 

Since they used to have a larger population in the past, Armenians were more visible in the field of culture and arts. However, discrimination existed in the past as well. We can exemplify this as follows: Vahakn Nigoğosyan was an instrument maker and the first Stradivarius repairman in Turkey. As we learnt from his narrations , when he requested the opening of an instrument-making department at the Istanbul State Conservatory, his request was rejected solely on the grounds that he was Armenian. Today, it may not be possible to speak of such a great discrimination, but the extent to which Armenians can produce ‘reasonable’ or ‘objective’ work in the field of culture and arts is still controlled.

 

Against this backdrop it must be exhausting to keep reporting. What does solidarity and support among Armenian people and journalists look like?

Agos is currently experiencing the greatest difficulty due to the fact that it is a printed publication. This is because, as in the rest of the world, the number of newspaper readers in Turkey has dwindled considerably and continues to do so day by day. At the same time, however, almost every Armenian family buys Agos and two other Armenian-language daily newspapers and continues to show solidarity with them. This is an example of solidarity that cannot be matched in mainstream newspapers. However, I must also point out that in today’s economic conditions, the future of any newspaper that produces content focussed on such a small community is not guaranteed.

 

https://www.ecpmf.eu/the-cost-of-being-able-to-speak-freely-about-the-armenian-genocide-was-undoubtedly-enormous/

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

 

Garo Paylan weighs in on Aliyev’s ‘biggest fear’ and Erdogan’s deliberations regarding Armenian border opening

Read the article in: EspañolՀայերեն

 

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Residents of Turkish towns near the border with Armenia want the border to be opened because they realize it would be beneficial for them, according to former Turkish Member of Parliament Garo Paylan. 

“The Turkish cities and settlements near the border of Turkey and Armenia are very poor,” Paylan told Armenpress at Yerevan Dialogue forum when asked about the possible opening of the land border. “Therefore, these cities are waiting for the Armenian-Turkish border to open, because it would be beneficial for them. Elsewhere in Turkey people also understand that the opening of borders would be beneficial, and from this perspective there is certain pressure on [President] Erdogan.”

Paylan claimed that Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan is weighing up the pros and cons to make a decision in this regard: If the benefits are greater than the losses he will open the border, but it will remain closed if Erdogan deems losses would exceed the benefits in case of opening.

Paylan said Erdogan was in favor of opening the Armenian-Turkish land border after the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, but not anymore. “Western countries are trying to convince Erdogan to open the borders, and the future roads and connection routes to be used by regional countries,” he said.

Speaking about the Armenian-Turkish normalization process, Paylan said, “Unfortunately the Turkey-Armenia relations aren’t normal now. Both sides have issues, Turkey has problems with Greece too, but their borders are open, they have trade, flow of tourists, they have diplomatic relations. The problems between Armenia and Turkey won’t end, but first of all it is necessary to open the borders and then for the parties to start resolving these issues.”

Paylan described Erdogan as an “opportunist” who advances his own interests above all. He said Erdogan doesn’t care what’s happening elsewhere around the world, he only cares about where to gain bigger benefits from. The former Turkish MP attached importance to Crossroads of Peace project developed by the Armenian government in terms of achieving regional peace. Paylan said Armenia’s geographic location is the key in terms of unblocking of regional connections.

“The United States and the European Union should talk to Erdogan, so that he convinces Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to sign the peace treaty with Armenia,” Paylan said, stressing that now is the time to do so.

Speaking about the likelihood of Armenia and Azerbaijan eventually signing a peace treaty, Paylan said, “Unfortunately Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is maximalist, because as a leader of an authoritarian country he thinks he would lose his enemy in person of Armenia if he were to establish peace with Armenia. This is Aliyev’s biggest fear, because after establishing peace and the start of contacts between the peoples, the Azerbaijanis will ask him why Armenians are prospering while they are living in poverty.”

Turkey and other countries must pressure Azerbaijan to establish peace with Armenia, according to Paylan. At the same time, Paylan said that Erdogan and Aliyev are alike in terms of having the need for artificial or made-up enemies.

Paylan highlighted the Yerevan Dialogue forum for bringing together renowned individuals from around the world to discuss the future. 

“Armenia needs to strengthen its economy, diplomacy, its universities, to build a more powerful country,” Paylan said.

 

[see video]

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1199587?fbclid=IwY2xjawFPQaFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdmFNK-pEOT46z3URZvYimacRHt5nkOy1QRg-rQL5aBhuRND663GkD8YUg_aem_i0snPEluGhdbRR5yVrUrJQ

[Yervant1]

Sept 27 2024

 

'First stop Istanbul': Mayor Eric Adams accused of taking bribes to do Turkey's bidding in New York City

 

Federal prosecutors say New York City mayor pushed through permits for Turkey's diplomatic headquarters in Manhattan

 

By Sean Mathews

Published date: 26 September 2024 21:38 BST | 

New York City mayor Eric Adams threatened to fire a city employee if he did not certify that Turkey's Turkevi Center near UN headquarters met safety standards, and refused to comment on the Armenian genocide in return for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of campaign donations and free flights, federal prosecutors say.

The explosive allegations are part of a 57-page indictment unsealed on Thursday which make Adams the first mayor in modern New York City history to be criminally charged. The crimes include wire fraud, soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations and bribery conspiracy.

The unsealed indictment spans from 2015 to 2024 and alleges that Adams took bribes, committed wire fraud and received illegal campaign donations in several different forms, and from at least one Turkish government official from 2021-2022.

A Turkish entrepreneur - referred to as "The Promoter" in the indictment -  allegedly helped to arrange a heavily discounted stay in 2017 at the St Regis Hotel in Istanbul, owned by a wealthy Turkish businesswoman who is accused of seeking "to ingratiate herself with Adams".

“As Adams’s prominence and power grew, his foreign-national benefactors sought to cash in on their corrupt relationships with him, particularly when, in 2021, it became clear that Adams would become New York City’s mayor,” the indictment said.

Adams is said to have reaped more than $100,000 worth of "freebies". 

Prosecutors say Adams enjoyed free or discounted trips on airlines and stays at luxury hotels, thanks to his contacts who also poured thousands of dollars into his mayoral election campaigns.

Once Adams’ was elected mayor in 2021, he is alleged to have paid back those perks by aiding Turkey through its diplomatic presence in Manhattan and defending its interests.  

Prosecutors say a senior Turkish official provided illegal campaign contributions to Adams and facilitated the free or discounted travel on Turkish Airlines to destinations including France, China, Sri Lanka and Turkey. The Turkish government owns 49.12 percent of Turkish Airlines.

“The Turkish Official and other Turkish nationals further arranged for Adams and his companions to receive, among other things, free rooms at opulent hotels, free meals at high-end restaurants, and free luxurious entertainment while in Turkey,” the indictment says. 

Adams rejected the indictment. “I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defence before making any judgments,” he said. “From here my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city.”

Turkish House

The senior Turkish official called in a quid pro quo from Adams after he was elected.

In September 2021, the official asked Adams to facilitate the opening of the 36-story Turkevi Center, or Turkish House, across from the United Nations, saying now it was “his (Adams) turn” to support Turkey,

The Turkish government building serves as the headquarters of multiple Turkish diplomatic missions, including the Turkish consulate, and contains space for residences as well as event space. 

In 2021, the Turkish consulate was working to ensure the building was finished ahead of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to New York City in September but was having trouble passing building inspection.

According to the indictment, pressure from Adams started in 2021. He told the New York Fire Department official responsible for the skyscraper inspection that he could lose his job if he did not certify the building met New York City’s code, which he did certify. At the time, prosecutors said the building would have failed inspection.

Adams is alleged to have continued receiving benefits from his Turkish contacts after his 2021 election. 

Gulenists and free-flights 

The indictment says that Adams went to great lengths to mask his foreign relationships and donors. The senior Turkish official and others used “nominee” or “straw” campaign contributions, in which they would pass their funds to Adams’ campaign via second parties who falsely claimed they were contributing their own money.

Adams was elected mayor in 2021, but the indictment paints a picture of a local New York City politician who cultivated and enjoyed good ties to Turkish government officials and insiders years before he assumed office.

Adams travelled to Turkey twice in 2015 when he was the Brooklyn Borough president. Those trips were disclosed as required by law, but prosecutors say they laid the foundation for “corrupt relationships” that Adams would exploit going forward.

During the visit, Adams made contact with a Turkish entrepreneur prosecutors dubbed “The Promoter” whose business includes networking between politicians and celebrities. He was also introduced to a Turkish entrepreneur who owned "a Turkish University", an Istanbul-based for-profit educational conglomerate well as the owner of the St Regis Hotel in Istanbul.

During the 2015 trips, Adams also moved closer to a Brooklyn borough volunteer who he would later name his "Liaison to Eastern Europe Muslim Countries", including Turkey. The unnamed volunteer was promoted to a paid staffer when Adams was elected mayor and coordinated illegal campaign contributions, according to prosecutors.

After the 2015 Istanbul visits, Adams began cashing in on corrupt travel, prosecutors say.

In one case, dating back to 2016, Adams and his partner were travelling to India on roughly $2,286 worth of economy-class seats with Turkish Airlines. Those tickets were upgraded to business class at no cost. The tickets would have cost approximately $15,000 in total.

At the same time, the Turkish official is said to have started calling in favours from Adams. He warned Adams not to associate with a community centre in Brooklyn that he claimed was linked to a political movement hostile to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government. 

The indictment does not name the organisation, but the Brooklyn neighbourhood of Sheepshead Bay is home to a tight-knit Turkish community with a cultural centre reportedly close to exiled Turkish imam, Fethullah Gulen, who Erdogan accused of orchestrating a 2016 failed coup against him.

The imam has been a source of tension for Turkey, as the US has refused to extradite the 83-year-old who lives in Pennsylvania. 

St Regis stay

In 2017, Adams accepted $35,000 worth of free Turkish Airlines tickets for himself and his friends as they jetted between France, Turkey, Colombia, and China. Prosecutors say that because the flights were free, Adams even travelled with the airline when it was inconvenient, texting his partner at one time: “You know first stop is always Istanbul”.

But Adams reportedly enjoyed a plush lifestyle in the city, bankrolled by Turkish businesspeople. During the summer of 2017, he stayed at the St Regis Hotel in the upscale neighbourhood of Nisantasi, paying just $600 for a two-night stay at a suite that would normally cost $7,000.

In 2018, Adams started leaning on the senior Turkish official, the Promoter, and a Turkish Airlines manager for campaign donations when he was eyeing New York’s mayorship. The prosecutors paint a picture of a cynical and ruthless politician. In one text, Adams told a supporter, ”You win the race by raising money. Have to raise money. Everything else is fluff.”

In text messages obtained by prosecutors, an Adams staffer goes back and forth with the Promoter about raising funds. The Promoter offers to make a donation through an American citizen in the US, “a Turk” to whom he will give cash in Turkey or directly to an American citizen.

The staffer expressed doubt that Adams would agree to the plan, saying, “They might cause a big stink later on…but I’ll ask anyway”. The Promoter said he could raise $100,000, and prosecutors allege that Adams instructed his staff to pursue the scheme.

As the mayoral race was underway in 2021, the senior Turkish government official arranged for what prosecutors say was “a prominent member of New York City's Turkish community” to make "straw" donations to Adams on behalf of the official.

'Done' the Bosporus boat tour 

During a November 2021 layover in Istanbul, he received special treatment including an escort at the airport gate, a chauffeured luxury vehicle dubbed "BMW 7" and dinner at a high-end restaurant that included drinks with the Turkish official.

Adams was also offered a luxury Bosporous cruise but turned it down, with his staffer explaining that Adams had "done the boat tour a few times".

The Turkish official clarified to Adams’ staffer that his offer was different. "Don't let [the airline manager] and others confuse [Adams]. We are the state."

Adams continued to take, and abide, by requests from the senior Turkish official after intervening on the Turkish House. In April 2022, the official reminded Adams' staffer that the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day was approaching, and asked for a pledge that Adams would not comment on the Ottoman era killing of 1 million Armenian Christians. Adams did not comment. 

In 2023, Adams started raising illegal funds from Turkish donors for his re-election campaign, prosecutors say.

In September 2023, Adams attended an event at a New York City hotel organised by the senior Turkish official and his campaign staff, where he met donors who had provided illegal contributions to his campaign through "straw" contributors.

Most of the attendees were foreign donors. Adams' campaign said he raised $22,800 from attendees before the event. 

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/first-stop-istanbul-eric-adams-did-turkeys-bidding-armenian-genocide-and-un-compound-federal

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

 

Sports13:11, 30 September 2024

Turkish fans attack Armenian players of Homenetmen Valence during FC Turquoise match in France, two in critical condition

Read the article in: العربيةEspañolՀայերենРусскийTürkçe简体中文

 

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Two Armenian football players of Homenetmen Valence are in critical condition after Turkish fans attacked them on the field after the first half of the match against FC Turquoise in France, Nouvelles Armenie reported. 

FC Turquoise represents the local Turkish community. 

Homenetmen Valence was winning 2:0 when the Turkish fans stormed the field and attacked the Armenian players.

Jean-Christophe Buisson, the Deputy Director of France’s Le Figaro Magazine, commented on the incident, stating: “During a district football match, Turkish supporters, unhappy to see their team, FC Turquoise, trailing 2-0 against the French-Armenian club from Valence (Homenetmen), attacked the Armenian-origin players with knives. This is called a racially motivated attack.”

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1201035?fbclid=IwY2xjawFoZIpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdppq9-XygbbQDdF2YUsjwOUWQwR9tt6drMn7mWdR2pBKsNiVsVFzlcYDQ_aem_2nGu2YtjSG6swjzikB8wEA

[Yervant1]

Turkish Diplomats Accused

In D.C. Court of Violating U.S. Laws

By Harut Sassounian

www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

Turkish investigative reporter Abdullah Bozkurt wrote in the Nordic Monitor an article titled, “Senior Turkish diplomats accused of human trafficking, fraud in Washington, D.C., court.”

Bozkurt reported that Husnu Sinan Ertay, the former deputy chief of mission -- the second-highest ranking diplomat at the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C., -- and his wife, Anil Ozge Ertay, a diplomatic Counselor at the Embassy, were “accused of human trafficking, fraud, unjust enrichment, breach of contract and violations of U.S. labor and wage laws.” The civil suit was filed in May in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by their nanny, Philippine national Sharon Thomas Agdipa. If the judge agrees to accept the case, the court will determine the couple’s guilt or innocence.

The Turkish diplomats lived in a million-dollar, 1,330-square-foot townhouse in a gated community on Embassy Park Drive, in the Washington neighborhood of Wesley Heights. Their babysitter claims that “she was lured from the Philippines to the U.S. with promises of a job, fair wages and a private room, only to be subjected to forced labor.” According to her lawyers, “she endured emotional and physical suffering, was deprived of regular meals, denied a private bedroom, grossly underpaid, threatened with deportation and frequently subjected to verbal abuse.”

Bozkurt wrote that his “sources in the Turkish diplomatic community who spoke to Nordic Monitor expressed little surprise at the charges, citing the nature and character of the Ertay couple. ‘Mrs. Ertay is known to be a vicious person among her colleagues,’ one source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Other sources claimed that her husband secured his position at the foreign ministry largely due to his father’s influential role as deputy undersecretary responsible for personnel.”

Bozkurt wrote that “Agdipa’s ordeal began in November 2019, when Mrs. Ertay offered her a job in Washington, D.C. However, when Agdipa began working for the couple in February 2020, her duties extended beyond caring for their 5-year-old son, to include various housekeeping tasks, from cleaning and cooking to gardening.”

Bozkurt reported: “Although her contract specified a 35-hour workweek at $14 an hour, Agdipa was working over 80 hours a week and was required to remain on standby at all hours to accommodate the couple’s demands. She received no compensation for overtime, a clear violation of the contract’s terms. The suit alleges that the couple compelled Agdipa to return a portion of her salary by instructing her to withdraw cash from an ATM and hand it back to them…. Over the course of 15 months of working for the couple, Agdipa was required to return approximately one-third of her total wages, amounting to $9,450.”

The lawsuit alleges that the Turkish couple “was abusive toward her, using insults and curses, threatening to evict her and inflicting emotional and psychological distress. She was told that she would be deported from the country if she complained about the working conditions.”

Agdipa alleges that she was denied regular meals contrary to the contract, was not allowed to prepare her own food and was refused medical care and sick leave when needed. Bozkurt reported: “Although the contract stipulated that she would receive private room and board, Agdipa was assigned to sleep in a windowless basement. This space was regularly accessed by the Turkish deputy chief of mission.”

On May 5, 2021, the babysitter fled from the diplomats’ house, leaving most of her belongings behind. The labor attaché for the Embassy of Philippines in Washington, learning of her situation, referred Agdipa to a law firm to defend her.

The law firm notified the U.S. government of the case after Agdipa testified about the abuse and forced labor she had endured. However, to date, no criminal charges have been filed against the diplomats by the U.S. authorities.

The lawsuit alleges that “the actions of the Ertays -- ranging from recruiting Agdipa and convincing her to travel to the US, to threatening her with deportation and stealing her wages -- violate multiple laws…. Moreover, their conduct is alleged to have involved breaches of contract, unjust enrichment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and fraud.”

On May 20, 2024, Agdipa’s attorneys -- Olamide S. Orebamjo, Melissa L. Patterson and Elizabeth S. Fassih of the Jones Day law firm in Washington, D.C. – asked the court for a jury trial.

It is not known how the judge will deal with the case, given the fact the Turkish couple had returned to Turkey and enjoyed diplomatic immunity.

Buzkurt reported that the Turkish couple is working at the Turkish Foreign Ministry in Ankara. “Mr. Ertay currently serves as head of department at the Directorate General for East Asia” while Mrs. Ertay is “head of department at the Directorate General for North America.”

[Yervant1]

Panorama, Armenia

Oct 12 2024

 

 

Armenian envoy reveals major obstacle in normalization with Turkey

 

Ruben Rubinyan, a deputy parliament speaker and Armenia’s envoy in normalization talks with Turkey, has named the lack of a “political decision” in Turkey as a big obstacle in the normalization process with Armenia.

“There is a major obstacle – the lack of a political decision in Turkey regarding the normalization of relations with Armenia. If such a decision is made tomorrow, the borders will be opened tomorrow as well," he told a forum in Yerevan on Saturday.

“It’s crucial that the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations remain a process between the two states,” Rubinyan underlined.

He again dismissed the claims that the Armenian Diaspora remains an “obstacle" to the normalization between Armenia and Turkey as misconception.

 

https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2024/10/12/Armenia-Turkey/3064548

[Yervant1]

POLITICO

Oct 16 2024

 

Turkey shutters independent radio over Armenian genocide reference

Station plays Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations” at sign-off and resolves to return to airwaves.

 

October 16, 2024 7:47 pm CET

By Csongor Körömi

 

Turkey finally shut down independent radio station Açık Radyo on Wednesday after a lengthy legal dispute with the channel. 

The Istanbul station’s license had been revoked in July by the Turkish Radio and Television Council, a state media regulator, after a guest on one of its programs referred to the atrocities committed against the country’s Armenian minority during World War I as genocide, a term Turkey vehemently rejects. 

Administrative hiccups prevented the station from being shut down before Wednesday. Although its last listenership data dates back to 2001, Açık Radyo has 187,000 followers on X.

“As millions of listeners can easily attest, Açık Radyo cannot be silenced thanks to the social impact it has created over the years,” the station wrote in a post on X, vowing to return to the airwaves.

“We invite all our listeners, professional organizations and the international community to raise their voices much more clearly and loudly this time against this decision, which has caused an irreparable loss in terms of press and broadcasting freedom in Turkey.”

The media regulator didn’t comment on the closure of the station, but İlhan Taşçı, a member of the main opposition party CHP, said it was “unacceptable” to close the station as it had “complied with all the rules” during its 30 years on the air.

According to Açık Radyo’s post, the community radio station has amplified civic voices in many areas including on climate and environmental issues, gender equality and multiculturalism. 

The station’s slogan — “open to all the sounds, colors and vibrations of the universe” — was echoed in the last song it played on the air, the 1966 Beach Boys hit “Good Vibrations.”

Under the autocratic leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey has become a hostile environment for independent media, and several international organizations have called on European Union institutions to protect freedom of _expression_ and the rights of journalists in the country. 

https://www.politico.eu/article/turkey-radio-istanbul-radio-media-x-legal-dispute/

[MosJan]

 

[MosJan]

Self-exiled Turkish spiritual leader Fethullah Gülen dies in Pennsylvania

 

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/21/nx-s1-5159564/fethullah-gulen-turkish-opposition-death

 

SAYLORSBURG, Pa. — Fethullah Gülen, a reclusive U.S.-based Islamic cleric who inspired a global social movement while facing accusations he masterminded a failed 2016 coup in his native Turkey, has died.

Abdullah Bozkurt, the former editor of the Gülen-linked Today’s Zaman newspaper, who is now in exile in Sweden, said Monday that he spoke to Gülen's nephew, Kemal Gülen, who confirmed the death. Fethullah Gülen was in his eighties and had long been in ill health.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the death has been confirmed by Turkish intelligence sources.

[Yervant1]

Turkish Minute

Oct 26 2024

 

 

Turkey, Armenia to discuss reopening of Gyumri-Kars railroad line: report

Representatives of Armenian and Turkish government agencies will soon meet to assess the conditions for the resumption of the Gyumri-Kars railroad line, the Massispost news website reported, citing Armenia’s deputy parliament speaker.

The Kars–Gyumri–Tbilisi railway, completed in 1899, was a key link between Turkey, Armenia and Georgia during the Soviet era, facilitating transit between the USSR and Turkey.

The line has been largely inactive since 1993, when Turkey closed its border with Armenia in response to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“The date of the meeting is not yet set. As in the past, such as with the joint study on the Margara Bridge, representatives from the Armenian and Turkish departments will soon meet to conduct a similar study to implement this agreement. This involves assessing the conditions necessary for resuming the Gyumri-Kars railway,” Deputy Speaker Ruben Rubinyan, who is also Armenia’s envoy for the normalization of relations with Turkey, told Azatutyun Radio.

He emphasized that Armenia expects all the agreements reached to be implemented and assumes that the settlement process will be completed with the establishment of diplomatic relations and the opening of borders.

The special representatives of Armenia and Turkey last met in July at the renovated Margara checkpoint, where Rubinyan and his Turkish counterpart agreed to jointly examine the technical conditions for crossing the border via the Gyumri-Kars railroad line.

On October 15 Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan met with Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu in Istanbul during the World Congress of the International Road Federation. Details of the meeting were not disclosed.

As Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated on October 18 at the 3+3 regional consultative platform ministerial meeting in Istanbul, the commissioning of the Gyumri-Kars railroad line together with the rail link between Armenia and Azerbaijan will enable effective communication between the Persian Gulf, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

https://www.turkishminute.com/2024/10/26/turkey-armenia-discussed-reopen-gyumri-kars-railroad-line-report/

[Yervant1]

I guess without preconditions has no value to them!

 

 

Quote

 

Armenpress.am

 

Politics10:34, 6 November 2024

Turkey again says normalization with Armenia depends on Yerevan-Baku peace process

Read the article in: العربيةEspañolفارسیՀայերենქართულიРусский简体中文

 

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has once again said that the normalization of its relations with Armenia would depend on the latter’s peace process with Azerbaijan.

The statement comes despite Armenia and Turkey earlier agreeing to normalize relations without preconditions.

Fidan told Turkiye newspaper that Ankara’s relations with Yerevan will be normalized after a peace treaty is signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“The relations of Turkey and Armenia will be normalized after the signing of the peace [treaty] between Azerbaijan and Armenia,” Fidan said.

He added that Ankara views the establishment of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan as an important element for ensuring stability in South Caucasus. “We are providing maximal support to achieving agreements and we are happy to see that the parties are coming closer to it,” the Turkish FM said.

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1204157?fbclid=IwY2xjawGYmSlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHWv32d3gkLDVeIpxVh9yk_JMAENxa7eZI70ddQjKmIsFuGGUifysjy7WHw_aem_MdqADcFHxMa2P_1C-IKnyA

 

 

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

 

Turkey19:05, 13 November 2024

Turkey severs relations with Israel

Read the article in: العربيةFrançaisՀայերենРусский

1 minute read

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Turkey has severed diplomatic ties with Israel, RIA Novosti reported citing President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“We, as the government of the Republic of Turkey, have severed relations with Israel,” RIA Novosti quoted Erdogan as saying.

He said Ankara isn’t taking any steps to develop cooperation in the future.

Israeli media, responding to the statement, said that the Israeli government has not received a formal notification about suspension of the diplomatic ties.  Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv continues to function. 

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1204846?fbclid=IwY2xjawGiR3tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHd6Jtlpgp3VwyNP5ZV8ax2zGLXtAjkRmlFga_iYVqiJxV6BrTXsZrLY16Q_aem_-R09g6_G9ZrkWD_n_ZxfpA