Rail Rzayev (Раиль Рзаев) the general in charge of Azeri air force and air defense was assassinated in central Baku this morning, as even Cuba's Prensa Latina is reporting.
The first weird coincidence is that Rzayev's counterpart, Armenia's air force commander Gen. Ararat Hambarian passed away last month; no foul play was reported. The Azeri conspiracy theorists have yet to find out, but when they will there is likely to be much speculation.
Second weird coincidence is that domestically the immediate suspicion has fallen on Kamaleddin Heydarov, one of the most influential officials in the ruling clique and a multi-millionaire. Last December Rzayev reportedly interfered with Heydarov's helicopter flight from Baku to his villa in Gabala. So here is the coincidence: before 1991 Gabala was known by its Armenian-sounding name Kutkashen and Rzayev was murdered on corner of Ismail Kutkashenli street in Baku.
You can't make this stuff up.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
"Obama" for sale in Baku: cake=$12, lecture by campaign manager...
...$50,000 plus incidentals.
Azeri service of RFERL and Azeri-Press Agency (APA, their photo to the left) reported over the weekend that David Plouffe, Obama's presidential campaign manager, was coming to give a lecture in the Windy City. He did. The report has created a bit of storm cloud with the Post, Politico and Ken Silverstein at Harper's all taking note.
The White House is saying that he went as a "private citizen," although just this Saturday I and 13 million others received an e-mail from Plouffe about President's stimulus package or something or other.
Local media, including local branch of U.S.-funded RFE/RL, were reportedly kicked out from Plouffe's lecture in Baku which focused on democratic activism.
Plouffe is currently promoting his book about the campaign and generally cashing in on his otherwise well-earned celebrity. As part of that effort, he signed on with this Alexandria-based outfit that has a list of other heavyweight "lecturers for rent," including Bill Clinton and George W.
They have a "bargain list" of speakers under $15,000 and Plouffe is not on it. So it is safe to say Plouffe's trip cost Aliyev more than that plus first class roundtrip/hotel and incidentals - all in all closer to six digits.
UPDATE: According to Wall Street Journal Mr. Plouffee will be donating his speaking fee - now reported at about $50,000 - to "pro-democracy" groups. Let's see which ones.
On not much "lighter" (I really mean calories) note, Lenta.ru reports that Baku residents can now buy their own "Obama" in the form of this rather bland looking cake prepared by a company called "Cudo Pecka."
Azeri service of RFERL and Azeri-Press Agency (APA, their photo to the left) reported over the weekend that David Plouffe, Obama's presidential campaign manager, was coming to give a lecture in the Windy City. He did. The report has created a bit of storm cloud with the Post, Politico and Ken Silverstein at Harper's all taking note. The White House is saying that he went as a "private citizen," although just this Saturday I and 13 million others received an e-mail from Plouffe about President's stimulus package or something or other.
Local media, including local branch of U.S.-funded RFE/RL, were reportedly kicked out from Plouffe's lecture in Baku which focused on democratic activism.
Plouffe is currently promoting his book about the campaign and generally cashing in on his otherwise well-earned celebrity. As part of that effort, he signed on with this Alexandria-based outfit that has a list of other heavyweight "lecturers for rent," including Bill Clinton and George W.
They have a "bargain list" of speakers under $15,000 and Plouffe is not on it. So it is safe to say Plouffe's trip cost Aliyev more than that plus first class roundtrip/hotel and incidentals - all in all closer to six digits.
UPDATE: According to Wall Street Journal Mr. Plouffee will be donating his speaking fee - now reported at about $50,000 - to "pro-democracy" groups. Let's see which ones.
On not much "lighter" (I really mean calories) note, Lenta.ru reports that Baku residents can now buy their own "Obama" in the form of this rather bland looking cake prepared by a company called "Cudo Pecka."
Monday, February 2, 2009
President Barack Obama sworn in amid high hopes
First published on January 23, 2009 at Armenian Reporter web site.
Armenian-Americans outline priorities in joint letter
by Emil Sanamyan
Barack Obama, joined by his wife Michelle, takes the oath of office to become the 44th president of the United States, Jan. 20, 2009. AP Photo: Elise Amendola
Washington, - In a joint letter, twenty leading Armenian-American organizations warmly welcomed the election and inauguration of Barack Obama, who on January 20 was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States.
Establishing priorities
The letter, dated January 17, was signed by major Armenian-American advocacy, civic, religious, charitable, and educational organizations "on behalf of some two million Americans of Armenian heritage." In the letter, Mr. Obama was asked to keep his pre-election promises to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide, support Armenia's development and security through the expansion of bilateral ties, and work toward a lasting peace with Azerbaijan on the basis of the right of Karabakh Armenians to self-determination. (See full text of the letter.)
Rep. Frank Pallone (D.-N.J.), the founding co-chair of the congressional Armenian Caucus, expressed hope that "the new administration will bring about change in U.S. foreign policy" toward the Caucasus.
"The Georgia-Russia war has shed light on the importance and troubles of the region," Mr. Pallone told the Armenian Reporter this week. "I am confident that President Obama's policies will be fair and robust leading to improved relations between the nations of the Caucasus."
On the subject of affirmation, the Armenian-American letter stressed that "the term, Armenian Genocide, is the only one that can meaningfully be used to characterize the crime committed by Ottoman Turkey." The community groups said they expected that, unlike both the Bush and Clinton administrations, President Obama would show "firm and principled leadership in clearly and unambiguously ending the sad chapter of the U.S. Executive Branch's capitulation to pressure from Turkey."
Facing entrenched opposition
In 2000, 2004, and 2007, when congressional resolutions affirming the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide came close to a vote in the House of Representatives, the measure's opponents argued that while the Genocide is a fact, its public recognition would undermine U.S. security interests and even the lives of U.S. military personnel in Turkey and Iraq.
In his inaugural address, President Obama promised the world to "reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals." He added that the United States has "duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world" to remain true to American values.
Over the past decade, Turkey's concerns have taken priority over these values among the U.S. political class. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the new White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, opposed past congressional resolutions on the Armenian Genocide.
The community letter noted, however, that the president himself, the vice president, the secretary of state, and several other senior members of the administration have been active and outspoken in their support for such resolutions.
Turkish officials indicated they will continue to oppose third countries, especially the United States, from speaking out on the issue on the threat of retaliation.
Opponents of affirmation have also been heartened that in addition to several statements of support for Armenian-American concerns, the Obama campaign has stressed the need to "restore the strategic partnership with Turkey."
The position outlined in a campaign fact sheet, "A stronger partnership with Europe for a safer America," did not address Armenian issues directly, but promised to deal with the "terrorist threat" posed to Turkey by Kurdish rebels and "support the promotion of democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression in Turkey and its efforts to join the European Union."
In anticipation of these concerns, the community letter notes, "The inevitable consequence of Turkey's refusal to acknowledge" the Armenian Genocide "has been its inability to adapt to the changing realities in the region. Rather than being a factor for peace, Turkey has actively contributed to increased tension in the South Caucasus."
Recalling campaign support
Also this week, "Armenians for Obama" issued its final activity report detailing the role Armenian-Americans played in the Obama campaign.
The report recalled that "Armenians for Obama led a base of several hundred organizers, thousands of activists, and several hundred thousand voters to help deliver victory" for Barack Obama.
The group worked to turn out voters in swing states, generating community endorsements and media coverage, and encouraging financial contributions, including $1.5 million donated by businessperson and philanthropist Kirk Kerkorian to the Denver 2008 Democratic Party Convention Host Committee, as well as numerous smaller donations.
Joining inaugural events
Echoing Mr. Obama's call for service, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) launched a food drive ahead of Martin Luther King Day on January 19.
On January 20, scores of Armenian-Americans both from Washington area and arriving from as far as the Republic of Armenia braved freezing temperatures to join nearly two million Americans on the National Mall to welcome Barack Obama into the presidency.
Eleeza Agopian volunteered as an usher for the inaugural parade route. She described the day as "14 of the most interesting, coldest, and exciting hours I've experienced since moving to Washington" from Southern California in 2006.
"In the evening, we were invited into the president's box and sat a few feet away from President Obama and Vice President Biden" observing the inaugural parade, Ms. Agopian told the Armenian Reporter.
"I was very proud of our country for coming together and to vote for someone who doesn't fit the mold," said Karoon Panosyan, an Illinois native who moved to Washington several years ago and was out with the crowds on Inauguration Day.
"Americans seem to have a more positive attitude and are willing to contribute in order to make this country a better place," she added.
Armenian-Americans outline priorities in joint letter
by Emil Sanamyan
Barack Obama, joined by his wife Michelle, takes the oath of office to become the 44th president of the United States, Jan. 20, 2009. AP Photo: Elise AmendolaWashington, - In a joint letter, twenty leading Armenian-American organizations warmly welcomed the election and inauguration of Barack Obama, who on January 20 was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States.
Establishing priorities
The letter, dated January 17, was signed by major Armenian-American advocacy, civic, religious, charitable, and educational organizations "on behalf of some two million Americans of Armenian heritage." In the letter, Mr. Obama was asked to keep his pre-election promises to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide, support Armenia's development and security through the expansion of bilateral ties, and work toward a lasting peace with Azerbaijan on the basis of the right of Karabakh Armenians to self-determination. (See full text of the letter.)
Rep. Frank Pallone (D.-N.J.), the founding co-chair of the congressional Armenian Caucus, expressed hope that "the new administration will bring about change in U.S. foreign policy" toward the Caucasus.
"The Georgia-Russia war has shed light on the importance and troubles of the region," Mr. Pallone told the Armenian Reporter this week. "I am confident that President Obama's policies will be fair and robust leading to improved relations between the nations of the Caucasus."
On the subject of affirmation, the Armenian-American letter stressed that "the term, Armenian Genocide, is the only one that can meaningfully be used to characterize the crime committed by Ottoman Turkey." The community groups said they expected that, unlike both the Bush and Clinton administrations, President Obama would show "firm and principled leadership in clearly and unambiguously ending the sad chapter of the U.S. Executive Branch's capitulation to pressure from Turkey."
Facing entrenched opposition
In 2000, 2004, and 2007, when congressional resolutions affirming the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide came close to a vote in the House of Representatives, the measure's opponents argued that while the Genocide is a fact, its public recognition would undermine U.S. security interests and even the lives of U.S. military personnel in Turkey and Iraq.
In his inaugural address, President Obama promised the world to "reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals." He added that the United States has "duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world" to remain true to American values.
Over the past decade, Turkey's concerns have taken priority over these values among the U.S. political class. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the new White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, opposed past congressional resolutions on the Armenian Genocide.
The community letter noted, however, that the president himself, the vice president, the secretary of state, and several other senior members of the administration have been active and outspoken in their support for such resolutions.
Turkish officials indicated they will continue to oppose third countries, especially the United States, from speaking out on the issue on the threat of retaliation.
Opponents of affirmation have also been heartened that in addition to several statements of support for Armenian-American concerns, the Obama campaign has stressed the need to "restore the strategic partnership with Turkey."
The position outlined in a campaign fact sheet, "A stronger partnership with Europe for a safer America," did not address Armenian issues directly, but promised to deal with the "terrorist threat" posed to Turkey by Kurdish rebels and "support the promotion of democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression in Turkey and its efforts to join the European Union."
In anticipation of these concerns, the community letter notes, "The inevitable consequence of Turkey's refusal to acknowledge" the Armenian Genocide "has been its inability to adapt to the changing realities in the region. Rather than being a factor for peace, Turkey has actively contributed to increased tension in the South Caucasus."
Recalling campaign support
Also this week, "Armenians for Obama" issued its final activity report detailing the role Armenian-Americans played in the Obama campaign.
The report recalled that "Armenians for Obama led a base of several hundred organizers, thousands of activists, and several hundred thousand voters to help deliver victory" for Barack Obama.
The group worked to turn out voters in swing states, generating community endorsements and media coverage, and encouraging financial contributions, including $1.5 million donated by businessperson and philanthropist Kirk Kerkorian to the Denver 2008 Democratic Party Convention Host Committee, as well as numerous smaller donations.
Joining inaugural events
Echoing Mr. Obama's call for service, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) launched a food drive ahead of Martin Luther King Day on January 19.
On January 20, scores of Armenian-Americans both from Washington area and arriving from as far as the Republic of Armenia braved freezing temperatures to join nearly two million Americans on the National Mall to welcome Barack Obama into the presidency.
Eleeza Agopian volunteered as an usher for the inaugural parade route. She described the day as "14 of the most interesting, coldest, and exciting hours I've experienced since moving to Washington" from Southern California in 2006.
"In the evening, we were invited into the president's box and sat a few feet away from President Obama and Vice President Biden" observing the inaugural parade, Ms. Agopian told the Armenian Reporter.
"I was very proud of our country for coming together and to vote for someone who doesn't fit the mold," said Karoon Panosyan, an Illinois native who moved to Washington several years ago and was out with the crowds on Inauguration Day.
"Americans seem to have a more positive attitude and are willing to contribute in order to make this country a better place," she added.
Obama foreign policy projections
First published on January 15, 2009 at Armenian Reporter web site.
Obama administration charts foreign policy course
Both continuity and departures from Bush presidency expected
by Emil Sanamyan and Nareg Seferian
Washington, - President-elect Barack Obama and his nominee for Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, have in recent weeks provided rough outlines of what U.S. foreign policy will look like under the new administration, in which officials from the Clinton and Bush administrations and retired military officers have been recruited for key roles.
The new administration takes over amid the "worst recession since the Great Depression," the president-elect told ABC News on January 11.
Presenting the Obama administration's foreign policy vision to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on January 13, Secretary-designate Clinton acknowledged the impact of the economic crisis on the United States and the persistent need to "establish priorities." She said foreign-policy initiatives would represent a "marriage of principles and pragmatism, not rigid ideology."
"I would not expect U.S. policy to change radically in the foreseeable future," Ambassador John Evans, who served from 2004 to 2006 as U.S. envoy to Armenia, told the Armenian Reporter when asked to comment about the direction he sees the new administration taking. "I just hope for more consistent and effective attention to some of the areas that have been overlooked in recent years."
Another former envoy to Armenia, Ambassador Michael Lemmon, also said he expected "a pragmatic and thoughtful look at both challenges and opportunities" and "need to talk with those who you disagree with."
Middle East policy
Asked whether his Middle East policy would be building on his predecessor's, Mr. Obama responded, "If you look not just at the Bush administration, but also what happened under the Clinton administration, you are seeing the general outlines of an approach."
Mr. Obama declined to take a position on the Israeli invasion of Gaza, which as of this week had claimed more than 1,000 lives. He explained his silence by saying that the United States should speak with one voice and that President George W. Bush remains in office until January 20.
At the same time, Mr. Obama said he planned "a new approach" on Iran, emphasizing engagement and "respect for aspirations of the Iranian people," but also U.S. concerns with Iran's policies.
Mrs. Clinton said the administration would use all possible measures "to try to prevent" Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, adding that "we are not taking any option off the table at all." She also said initial talks with Iran would be handled by her subordinates.
And according to Mrs. Clinton, the United States will deal only with those Palestinian groups that recognize Israel, ruling out direct contact with Hamas, the Islamist organization elected to power in Gaza.
The incoming administration also promised to close the Guantanamo detention center and to enforce the ban on torture.
Mrs. Clinton also pledged to "responsibly" end the war in Iraq, possibly within 16 months, thus allowing for an increased U.S. focus on threats in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The United States would also work to "strengthen relationships" with friendly Arab states and Turkey to achieve its Middle East objectives, she said.
Other priorities
Challenges emanating from Middle East will likely continue to top the list of U.S. priorities under the Obama administration. Vice-President-elect Joseph Biden was touring Kuwait, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq in the last several days.
But Secretary-designate Clinton's testimony also emphasized "cooperative engagement with the Russian government on matters of strategic importance," including new agreements on the reduction of nuclear weapons holdings and nonproliferation.
At the same time, Russia's "interactions with Ukraine, Georgia, other European countries, its recent purchase of the Serbian gas utility" according to Mrs. Clinton, represent "a significant security challenge that we ignore at our peril."
In response to questions from the committee's ranking member, Sen. Richard Lugar (R.-Ind.), Mrs. Clinton said the United States would stay focused on European energy-security matters.
At the same time, according to the Cable, a blog affiliated with Foreign Policy magazine, the Obama team is considering downgrading the National Security Council position handling Russian affairs to make it subordinate to the senior director for Europe, which is something that already happened in the State and Defense Departments in the Bush administration.
Armenian concerns
Toward the end of the committee hearing, Sen. Robert Menendez (D.-N.J.) expressed hope that positions Mrs. Clinton took as a senator on issues such the Armenian Genocide and the Turkish occupation of Cyprus "won't change drastically as you move to the secretary of state."
Mrs. Clinton, like Me. Obama, has been a proponent of U.S. affirmation of the Genocide.
In response, Mrs. Clinton said the administration "will be looking very closely at those and other challenging issues with the eye of moving forward and being effective in responding to these very legitimate concerns."
Amb. Evans, when asked to comment on the issue, said, "Armenian-Turkish relations hold out some promise of improving, ideally in a way that both does justice to the historical record and opens up new positive perspectives for the region." He reserved judgment on potential changes in U.S. policy on the Armenian Genocide.
In the hearing, Mrs. Clinton made no mention of regional conflicts, such as the one in Karabakh, which Ambassador Evans hopes would remain in focus of U.S. attention.
"The five-day conflict in Georgia last August reminded everyone of the continuing challenges to peace and stability in the Caucasus," he said. "Near the top of the list of problems to be dealt with there is the unresolved conflict over Karabakh."
"I think a new administration will want to build on what has been done so far" in the Karabakh peace process, "and perhaps to intensify those efforts," Amb. Evans predicted.
But Amb. Lemmon, who served in Armenia from 1998 to 2001, cautioned that "it is immensely difficult for any outsiders to be more interested in conflict settlement than for the parties to the conflict themselves."
While the United States could potentially compel parties to reach a deal, he said, this would not be an agreement that is likely to bring about a viable and sustainable peace in the long term.
What the State Department under Hillary Clinton would look like:
James Steinberg, deputy national security advisor under President Bill Clinton between 1997 and 2000, will be deputy secretary of state. In recent years, Mr. Steinberg has been dean of the Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.
According to the New York Times, the State Department's number three, William Burns, appointed in 2007, is staying on as undersecretary for political affairs, the department's most senior career post.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Richard Holbrooke and Dennis Ross - who were top Clinton-era envoys for former Yugoslavia and Israel-Palestine, respectively - are expected to deal with Middle East issues as special advisers to the secretary of state; Mr. Holbrooke would focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Mr. Ross on Israel and Iran.
According to The Associated Press, Philip Gordon of the Brookings Institution, who was in charge of European affairs in the Clinton era, is considered as most likely to be the next assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs, the position now held by Dan Fried.
And according to the Foreign Policy, Russia expert Michael McFaul of Stanford University is also being considered for a senior State Department or National Security Council position.
Obama administration charts foreign policy course
Both continuity and departures from Bush presidency expected
by Emil Sanamyan and Nareg Seferian
Washington, - President-elect Barack Obama and his nominee for Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, have in recent weeks provided rough outlines of what U.S. foreign policy will look like under the new administration, in which officials from the Clinton and Bush administrations and retired military officers have been recruited for key roles.The new administration takes over amid the "worst recession since the Great Depression," the president-elect told ABC News on January 11.
Presenting the Obama administration's foreign policy vision to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on January 13, Secretary-designate Clinton acknowledged the impact of the economic crisis on the United States and the persistent need to "establish priorities." She said foreign-policy initiatives would represent a "marriage of principles and pragmatism, not rigid ideology."
"I would not expect U.S. policy to change radically in the foreseeable future," Ambassador John Evans, who served from 2004 to 2006 as U.S. envoy to Armenia, told the Armenian Reporter when asked to comment about the direction he sees the new administration taking. "I just hope for more consistent and effective attention to some of the areas that have been overlooked in recent years."
Another former envoy to Armenia, Ambassador Michael Lemmon, also said he expected "a pragmatic and thoughtful look at both challenges and opportunities" and "need to talk with those who you disagree with."
Middle East policy
Asked whether his Middle East policy would be building on his predecessor's, Mr. Obama responded, "If you look not just at the Bush administration, but also what happened under the Clinton administration, you are seeing the general outlines of an approach."
Mr. Obama declined to take a position on the Israeli invasion of Gaza, which as of this week had claimed more than 1,000 lives. He explained his silence by saying that the United States should speak with one voice and that President George W. Bush remains in office until January 20.
At the same time, Mr. Obama said he planned "a new approach" on Iran, emphasizing engagement and "respect for aspirations of the Iranian people," but also U.S. concerns with Iran's policies.
Mrs. Clinton said the administration would use all possible measures "to try to prevent" Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, adding that "we are not taking any option off the table at all." She also said initial talks with Iran would be handled by her subordinates.
And according to Mrs. Clinton, the United States will deal only with those Palestinian groups that recognize Israel, ruling out direct contact with Hamas, the Islamist organization elected to power in Gaza.
The incoming administration also promised to close the Guantanamo detention center and to enforce the ban on torture.
Mrs. Clinton also pledged to "responsibly" end the war in Iraq, possibly within 16 months, thus allowing for an increased U.S. focus on threats in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The United States would also work to "strengthen relationships" with friendly Arab states and Turkey to achieve its Middle East objectives, she said.
Other priorities
Challenges emanating from Middle East will likely continue to top the list of U.S. priorities under the Obama administration. Vice-President-elect Joseph Biden was touring Kuwait, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq in the last several days.
But Secretary-designate Clinton's testimony also emphasized "cooperative engagement with the Russian government on matters of strategic importance," including new agreements on the reduction of nuclear weapons holdings and nonproliferation.
At the same time, Russia's "interactions with Ukraine, Georgia, other European countries, its recent purchase of the Serbian gas utility" according to Mrs. Clinton, represent "a significant security challenge that we ignore at our peril."
In response to questions from the committee's ranking member, Sen. Richard Lugar (R.-Ind.), Mrs. Clinton said the United States would stay focused on European energy-security matters.
At the same time, according to the Cable, a blog affiliated with Foreign Policy magazine, the Obama team is considering downgrading the National Security Council position handling Russian affairs to make it subordinate to the senior director for Europe, which is something that already happened in the State and Defense Departments in the Bush administration.
Armenian concerns
Toward the end of the committee hearing, Sen. Robert Menendez (D.-N.J.) expressed hope that positions Mrs. Clinton took as a senator on issues such the Armenian Genocide and the Turkish occupation of Cyprus "won't change drastically as you move to the secretary of state."
Mrs. Clinton, like Me. Obama, has been a proponent of U.S. affirmation of the Genocide.
In response, Mrs. Clinton said the administration "will be looking very closely at those and other challenging issues with the eye of moving forward and being effective in responding to these very legitimate concerns."
Amb. Evans, when asked to comment on the issue, said, "Armenian-Turkish relations hold out some promise of improving, ideally in a way that both does justice to the historical record and opens up new positive perspectives for the region." He reserved judgment on potential changes in U.S. policy on the Armenian Genocide.
In the hearing, Mrs. Clinton made no mention of regional conflicts, such as the one in Karabakh, which Ambassador Evans hopes would remain in focus of U.S. attention.
"The five-day conflict in Georgia last August reminded everyone of the continuing challenges to peace and stability in the Caucasus," he said. "Near the top of the list of problems to be dealt with there is the unresolved conflict over Karabakh."
"I think a new administration will want to build on what has been done so far" in the Karabakh peace process, "and perhaps to intensify those efforts," Amb. Evans predicted.
But Amb. Lemmon, who served in Armenia from 1998 to 2001, cautioned that "it is immensely difficult for any outsiders to be more interested in conflict settlement than for the parties to the conflict themselves."
While the United States could potentially compel parties to reach a deal, he said, this would not be an agreement that is likely to bring about a viable and sustainable peace in the long term.
What the State Department under Hillary Clinton would look like:
James Steinberg, deputy national security advisor under President Bill Clinton between 1997 and 2000, will be deputy secretary of state. In recent years, Mr. Steinberg has been dean of the Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.
According to the New York Times, the State Department's number three, William Burns, appointed in 2007, is staying on as undersecretary for political affairs, the department's most senior career post.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Richard Holbrooke and Dennis Ross - who were top Clinton-era envoys for former Yugoslavia and Israel-Palestine, respectively - are expected to deal with Middle East issues as special advisers to the secretary of state; Mr. Holbrooke would focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Mr. Ross on Israel and Iran.
According to The Associated Press, Philip Gordon of the Brookings Institution, who was in charge of European affairs in the Clinton era, is considered as most likely to be the next assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs, the position now held by Dan Fried.
And according to the Foreign Policy, Russia expert Michael McFaul of Stanford University is also being considered for a senior State Department or National Security Council position.
Bush goodbye, DC ratings and U.S.-Georgia charter
This was first published in January 17, 2009 Armenian Reporter.
Washington Briefing
by Emil Sanamyan
Bush thanks Armenia for Iraq war role
U.S. President George W. Bush thanks Iraq coalition countries in a speech at U.S. Central Command headquarters, May 1, 2007. The Armenian flag is next to the U.S.flag. White House photo
President George W. Bush expressed the "deep gratitude of the United States" for Armenia's contribution to the U.S.-led Iraq coalition in a letter released by the office of Armenia's President Serge Sargsian on January 13.
The letter noted "particular appreciation for the transportation and convoy security, de-mining, and medical support" that the 46-person Armenian peacekeeping unit provided.
Armenia did not support the U.S. military invasion of Iraq in 2003, but soon after, the Armenian government agreed to join the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq with a peacekeeping unit. The deployment went ahead despite concerns that the Iraqi-Armenian community, numbering tens of thousands, could be targeted as a result.
In the period of deployment from early 2005 until late 2008, several hundred Armenian military men served in Iraq, with one officer seriously wounded in action.
Mr. Bush's letter said also that "the United States looks forward to pursuing further cooperation with Armenia on other common interests within the South Caucasus region and around the world."
The letter was the second known communication from President Bush to President Sargsian since the Armenian president's election in February. Last September, while presenting her credentials to Mr. Sargsian, U.S. ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch transmitted President Bush's message of congratulations on Armenia's Independence Day.
President Bush spent the last weeks of his presidency defending his record amid the worsening global economic crisis and continuing U.S. occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. He also thanked foreign leaders who were his closest allies and otherwise assisted U.S. efforts worldwide.
On January 14, President Bush awarded the highest U.S. civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to former British prime minister Tony Blair, the former Australian prime minister, and the president of Colombia.
Ratings: Armenia remains economically liberal, “partly free” politically
Two Washington think tanks this week issued annual reports comparing the countries of the world. Armenia's ranking in both reports counts toward its continued eligibility for U.S. Millennium Challenge grants.
The "Economic Freedom Index" jointly prepared by the Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation noted improvements in Armenia in the categories of freedom from corruption, government size, business, trade and fiscal freedom; it reported a deterioration in the monetary and labor categories. Overall, Armenia received the same score it had last year and was ranked 31st in the world, once again placing ahead of its neighborhood and many European Union countries.
Among others in the Index, Georgia was 32nd, Israel 42nd, Latvia 45th, France 64th, Turkey 75th, Azerbaijan 91st, Russia 146th, and Iran 168th. Once again, the list was topped by Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States.
The "Freedom in the World" ranking put together by Freedom House, released on January 12, reported a global "retreat" for freedom for a third consecutive year.
In Armenia the report noted a decline in political freedoms "because of obstacles placed in the way of the political opposition during the presidential election, as well as the use of violence to disperse opposition protesters and the incarceration of over 100 people after the voting."
Setbacks were also recorded in Georgia, Moldova, and Kyrgyzstan, which, like Armenia, were ranked "partly free." Ukraine was the only former Soviet republic described as free, while all others, including Russia and Azerbaijan, were rated "not free."
In addition, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic retained its "partly free" rating, while Abkhazia and South Ossetia - now bound by security treaties to Russia - were both ranked as "not free."
U.S. pledges support for Georgia “to defeat threats”
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze of Georgia signing a Strategic Partnership Charter on January 9. Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and recently appointed Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze of Georgia signed a Strategic Partnership Charter on January 9 outlining a mutual interest in bilateral cooperation on military, political, economic, and humanitarian issues.
The document points to a "vital" U.S. interest "in a strong, independent, sovereign, unified, and democratic Georgia, capable of responsible self-defense" and promises "to expand the scope of [U.S.-Georgia] defense and security and cooperation programs to defeat threats" that Georgia faces. The charter also refers to Georgia's function as conduit for Caspian oil and gas to Europe.
Last month, the United States signed a similar charter with Ukraine. Earlier in 2008, the United States lobbied for both Ukraine and Georgia to formally begin the process of joining the U.S.-led NATO alliance.
The Bush administration moved to sign charters with both countries on a bilateral basis after European allies declined to support NATO arrangements they see as unnecessarily irritating to Russia.
Discussing the charter in Tbilisi on January 12, Mr. Vashadze described it as "yet another nail in the coffin, which will bury Russia's goals," Civil.ge reported. According to the Georgian foreign minister these goals include turning Georgia into a source of "instability" and "lawlessness."
There has been little Russian reaction to the signing. The official ITAR-TASS news agency cited an anonymous Russian Foreign Ministry source that dismissed the charter as a "legally non-binding . . . collection of propagandistic clichés."
Washington Briefing
by Emil Sanamyan
Bush thanks Armenia for Iraq war role
U.S. President George W. Bush thanks Iraq coalition countries in a speech at U.S. Central Command headquarters, May 1, 2007. The Armenian flag is next to the U.S.flag. White House photo President George W. Bush expressed the "deep gratitude of the United States" for Armenia's contribution to the U.S.-led Iraq coalition in a letter released by the office of Armenia's President Serge Sargsian on January 13.
The letter noted "particular appreciation for the transportation and convoy security, de-mining, and medical support" that the 46-person Armenian peacekeeping unit provided.
Armenia did not support the U.S. military invasion of Iraq in 2003, but soon after, the Armenian government agreed to join the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq with a peacekeeping unit. The deployment went ahead despite concerns that the Iraqi-Armenian community, numbering tens of thousands, could be targeted as a result.
In the period of deployment from early 2005 until late 2008, several hundred Armenian military men served in Iraq, with one officer seriously wounded in action.
Mr. Bush's letter said also that "the United States looks forward to pursuing further cooperation with Armenia on other common interests within the South Caucasus region and around the world."
The letter was the second known communication from President Bush to President Sargsian since the Armenian president's election in February. Last September, while presenting her credentials to Mr. Sargsian, U.S. ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch transmitted President Bush's message of congratulations on Armenia's Independence Day.
President Bush spent the last weeks of his presidency defending his record amid the worsening global economic crisis and continuing U.S. occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. He also thanked foreign leaders who were his closest allies and otherwise assisted U.S. efforts worldwide.
On January 14, President Bush awarded the highest U.S. civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to former British prime minister Tony Blair, the former Australian prime minister, and the president of Colombia.
Ratings: Armenia remains economically liberal, “partly free” politically
Two Washington think tanks this week issued annual reports comparing the countries of the world. Armenia's ranking in both reports counts toward its continued eligibility for U.S. Millennium Challenge grants.
The "Economic Freedom Index" jointly prepared by the Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation noted improvements in Armenia in the categories of freedom from corruption, government size, business, trade and fiscal freedom; it reported a deterioration in the monetary and labor categories. Overall, Armenia received the same score it had last year and was ranked 31st in the world, once again placing ahead of its neighborhood and many European Union countries.
Among others in the Index, Georgia was 32nd, Israel 42nd, Latvia 45th, France 64th, Turkey 75th, Azerbaijan 91st, Russia 146th, and Iran 168th. Once again, the list was topped by Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States.
The "Freedom in the World" ranking put together by Freedom House, released on January 12, reported a global "retreat" for freedom for a third consecutive year.
In Armenia the report noted a decline in political freedoms "because of obstacles placed in the way of the political opposition during the presidential election, as well as the use of violence to disperse opposition protesters and the incarceration of over 100 people after the voting."
Setbacks were also recorded in Georgia, Moldova, and Kyrgyzstan, which, like Armenia, were ranked "partly free." Ukraine was the only former Soviet republic described as free, while all others, including Russia and Azerbaijan, were rated "not free."
In addition, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic retained its "partly free" rating, while Abkhazia and South Ossetia - now bound by security treaties to Russia - were both ranked as "not free."
U.S. pledges support for Georgia “to defeat threats”
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze of Georgia signing a Strategic Partnership Charter on January 9. Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and recently appointed Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze of Georgia signed a Strategic Partnership Charter on January 9 outlining a mutual interest in bilateral cooperation on military, political, economic, and humanitarian issues.
The document points to a "vital" U.S. interest "in a strong, independent, sovereign, unified, and democratic Georgia, capable of responsible self-defense" and promises "to expand the scope of [U.S.-Georgia] defense and security and cooperation programs to defeat threats" that Georgia faces. The charter also refers to Georgia's function as conduit for Caspian oil and gas to Europe.
Last month, the United States signed a similar charter with Ukraine. Earlier in 2008, the United States lobbied for both Ukraine and Georgia to formally begin the process of joining the U.S.-led NATO alliance.
The Bush administration moved to sign charters with both countries on a bilateral basis after European allies declined to support NATO arrangements they see as unnecessarily irritating to Russia.
Discussing the charter in Tbilisi on January 12, Mr. Vashadze described it as "yet another nail in the coffin, which will bury Russia's goals," Civil.ge reported. According to the Georgian foreign minister these goals include turning Georgia into a source of "instability" and "lawlessness."
There has been little Russian reaction to the signing. The official ITAR-TASS news agency cited an anonymous Russian Foreign Ministry source that dismissed the charter as a "legally non-binding . . . collection of propagandistic clichés."
Ergenekon - mother of all Turkish coups?
First published in January 17 2009 Armenian Reporter.
Coup investigation dominates Turkish politics
Conspiracy targeting Armenians, others alleged
by Emil Sanamyan
A rendering of Turks' departure from Ergenekon, with a she-wolf pointing the way.
Washington, - Archbishop Mesrop Mutafyan, the Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul, and other Turkish-Armenian leaders were targeted for assassination by ultranationalist conspirators aiming to overthrow Turkey's Islamist-leaning government, according to government sources cited in Zaman newspaper on January 13.
Police investigators claim that conspirators established an undercover group called Ergenekon, which included members of the military and prominent media and political figures, dozens of whom were arrested and are currently on trial on charges stemming from an alleged coup plot. The group is named after the mythical place in the Altay Mountains of present-day Russia, to which Turks trace their origins.
Some of the defendants are accused of plotting to assassinate Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, former Turkish Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, and writer Orhan Pamuk.
Several Ergenekon figures were linked to threats against Turkish-Armenian editor Hrant Dink, who was assassinated two years ago. Reports in mid-2007 suggested religious leaders of the Armenian, Greek, and Jewish communities were among those targeted; in the same period there were several attacks targeting Christians in Turkey.
An additional 38 individuals were detained on January 7 in connection with the Ergenekon case. They include retired General Tuncer Kilinc, former head of the National Security Council, and nine mid-level active-duty officers.
Mr. Kilinc captured foreign media attention when he suggested several years ago that Turkey should forge a closer alliance with Russia and Iran and distance itself from the West.
The Turkish military command issued a statement expressing "concern" over the arrests, in which police seized weapons, ammunition, and explosives.
Also being investigated is a former chief prosecutor of the Supreme Court. The prosecutor in 2007 had worked to prevent Mr. Erdogan from being elected president; the impasse led to an early election, in which Mr. Erdogan's party, AKP, only strengthened its control over parliament and the government.
Government critics see the Ergenekon investigation as a tit-for-tat between AKP and its ultranationalist opposition, which last year sought to legally banish Mr. Erdogan and AKP from power.
The parliamentary opposition is divided on the issue. The Republican People's Party (CHP) condemned the investigation as an Islamist plot aiming to undermine Turkish secularism, while the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has given it conditional support.
“Apology” campaigners under investigation
Meantime, Turkish intellectuals who last month launched an online petition apologizing to Armenians for Turkey's attitude toward the Armenian Genocide are under government investigation, the Anatolia news agency reported on January 9.
The probe underway could result in criminal proceedings against petition organizers on charges of "insulting the Turkish nation." In line with last year's amendments to the criminal code, state prosecutors would need the government's approval to open a criminal case.
The report of the investigation came shortly after President Abdullah Gül appeared to have changed tack on the petition, joining other officials in criticizing it.
In an interview with ATV and Zaman newspaper published on January 2, Mr. Gül suggested that debates caused by the petition could interfere with efforts to normalize relations between Armenia and Turkey. Mr. Gül had been assailed by opponents for initially welcoming the petition, which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other Turkish officials had quickly condemned.
As of January 14, the petition at www.OzurDiliyoruz.com (We Are Sorry) had gathered nearly 27,000 names of individual Turks despite apparent hacker attacks.
Coup investigation dominates Turkish politics
Conspiracy targeting Armenians, others alleged
by Emil Sanamyan
A rendering of Turks' departure from Ergenekon, with a she-wolf pointing the way. Washington, - Archbishop Mesrop Mutafyan, the Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul, and other Turkish-Armenian leaders were targeted for assassination by ultranationalist conspirators aiming to overthrow Turkey's Islamist-leaning government, according to government sources cited in Zaman newspaper on January 13.
Police investigators claim that conspirators established an undercover group called Ergenekon, which included members of the military and prominent media and political figures, dozens of whom were arrested and are currently on trial on charges stemming from an alleged coup plot. The group is named after the mythical place in the Altay Mountains of present-day Russia, to which Turks trace their origins.
Some of the defendants are accused of plotting to assassinate Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, former Turkish Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, and writer Orhan Pamuk.
Several Ergenekon figures were linked to threats against Turkish-Armenian editor Hrant Dink, who was assassinated two years ago. Reports in mid-2007 suggested religious leaders of the Armenian, Greek, and Jewish communities were among those targeted; in the same period there were several attacks targeting Christians in Turkey.
An additional 38 individuals were detained on January 7 in connection with the Ergenekon case. They include retired General Tuncer Kilinc, former head of the National Security Council, and nine mid-level active-duty officers.
Mr. Kilinc captured foreign media attention when he suggested several years ago that Turkey should forge a closer alliance with Russia and Iran and distance itself from the West.
The Turkish military command issued a statement expressing "concern" over the arrests, in which police seized weapons, ammunition, and explosives.
Also being investigated is a former chief prosecutor of the Supreme Court. The prosecutor in 2007 had worked to prevent Mr. Erdogan from being elected president; the impasse led to an early election, in which Mr. Erdogan's party, AKP, only strengthened its control over parliament and the government.
Government critics see the Ergenekon investigation as a tit-for-tat between AKP and its ultranationalist opposition, which last year sought to legally banish Mr. Erdogan and AKP from power.
The parliamentary opposition is divided on the issue. The Republican People's Party (CHP) condemned the investigation as an Islamist plot aiming to undermine Turkish secularism, while the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has given it conditional support.
“Apology” campaigners under investigation
Meantime, Turkish intellectuals who last month launched an online petition apologizing to Armenians for Turkey's attitude toward the Armenian Genocide are under government investigation, the Anatolia news agency reported on January 9.
The probe underway could result in criminal proceedings against petition organizers on charges of "insulting the Turkish nation." In line with last year's amendments to the criminal code, state prosecutors would need the government's approval to open a criminal case.
The report of the investigation came shortly after President Abdullah Gül appeared to have changed tack on the petition, joining other officials in criticizing it.
In an interview with ATV and Zaman newspaper published on January 2, Mr. Gül suggested that debates caused by the petition could interfere with efforts to normalize relations between Armenia and Turkey. Mr. Gül had been assailed by opponents for initially welcoming the petition, which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other Turkish officials had quickly condemned.
As of January 14, the petition at www.OzurDiliyoruz.com (We Are Sorry) had gathered nearly 27,000 names of individual Turks despite apparent hacker attacks.
Gaza, Gazprom and Turkish broadcasts
This was first published in January 10, 2009 Armenian Reporter.
Washington Briefing
by Emil Sanamyan
World reacts to Israel’s attack on Gaza
A firefighter rinsing blood off Gaza street. Reuters photo
Foreign governments issued a mixed reaction Israel's massive assault on the Palestinian-populated Gaza Strip on December 27. More than ten days into the fighting an estimated 660 Palestinians and at least 10 Israelis died in the war.
While the United States endorsed Israel's actions as "defensive," European Union members struggled to present a unified position. French president Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in the region to seek an end to violence in an effort reminiscent to his diplomacy between Russia and Georgia last August.
In Armenia's neighborhood, only Georgia openly sided with Israel, blaming the violence on the Palestinians. Azerbaijan said it backed "Palestinians' aspirations" but stopped short of criticizing Israel; there were a number of anti-Israeli protests in Baku, some broken up by police.
Armenia limited itself to an expression of "concern" over the "tragic events" and a call for an end to violence. According to Armenian media reports, several dozen families from Armenia now living in southern Israeli, particularly the town of Beer Sheba, were affected by the conflict.
Russia called the fighting a "dangerous escalation" and demanded a halt to Israel's offensive.
Turkey's leaders condemned Israeli actions as a "crime against humanity" and there were numerous anti-Israeli protests throughout the country.
Iran threatened to retaliate and Iranian-backed Hezballah forces in Lebanon, which bloodied Israeli forces in the 2006 war, launched several rockets into northern Israel.
Israeli officials said the operation targeted the infrastructure of Gaza's Islamist governing party, which is blamed for attacks launched on Israel from Gaza. Palestinian militant groups say the attacks are in response to continued Israeli occupation of the West Bank and blockade of Gaza.
The attack, which according to Israeli media has been planned for months, came shortly before a general election in Israel in which the ruling moderate coalition is facing a strong challenge from a more hawkish opposition. The Tel Aviv stock market initially gained more than 10 percent on news of war.
In 2005, Israeli forces pulled out from Gaza after a 38-year occupation. Since then the tempo of attacks on Israel from Gaza - mostly by means of rocket launchers and mortars - increased significantly, although a six-month cease-fire from June to December 2008 brought a temporary respite.
According to figures compiled by Canadians for Peace and Justice in the Middle East, 13 Israeli civilians died in rocket attacks from Gaza between 2004 and 2008 (none of the fatalities occurred during the cease-fire). In the same period, and before launching the current campaign, Israeli military strikes killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
Russia, Ukraine in fresh row over natural gas supplies
Charging Ukraine with siphoning off supplies transited through the country to European markets and leaving bills unpaid, the Russian government began to cut off supplies to the former Soviet republic.
The new dispute became public just days after Ukraine signed a charter on strategic partnership with the United States.
Georgia was due to sign a similar agreement with U.S. on January 9. Russian officials already criticized Tbilisi for halting the transit pipeline that supplies the breakaway republic of South Ossetia.
While Georgia began to switch to Azerbaijan-supplied gas, it still relies on Russian supplies. A potential cut in Russian supplies to Georgia would also threaten Armenia, which has relied on its gas reservoir to ride out past interruptions.
By January 7, countries without gas reservoirs or alternative sources of fuel, including Bosnia, Serbia, and Bulgaria, began to experience heating shortages. Other large recipients of Russian gas, including Germany and Turkey, were not immediately affected as Russia increased supplies to them via pipelines that bypass Ukraine.
European Union leaders met and demanded that Russia and Ukraine resolve their disputes to allow the resumption of supplies. Gazprom said on January 8 that it would resume supplies once international observers are deployed to monitor the supplies.
Turkey launches Kurdish-language TV station, plans one in Armenian
Kurdish women listed to shortwave radion near Turkish-Iranian border. AP
In a new public relations push targeting its largest ethnic minority, Turkish state television launched a 24-hour Kurdish-language station on January 1, Turkish and international news agencies reported.
The station TRT-6 is intended to compete with Denmark-based Roj TV, which can be viewed in Turkey via satellite and is sympathetic to Kurdish rebel forces known as the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Prior to the rise of satellite television, Turkey's Kurds relied on Armenia-based Kurdish-language radio.
For decades, Turkey refused to recognize Kurds as an ethnic group and prohibited public use of the Kurdish language. The government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan began to change that with TRT launching its first 30-minute Kurdish-language broadcasts in 2004.
Ahmet Turk, leader of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party which boycotted TRT-6's launch, suggested that the move intended to strengthen the ruling party's electoral appeal among ethnic Kurds.
According to Turkish press reports carried by Regnum news agency, TRT will begin radio broadcasts in the Armenian language in February and is looking into launching an Armenian-language TV station by late 2009. Turkey would in turn permit TV broadcasts from Armenia.
Washington Briefing
by Emil Sanamyan
World reacts to Israel’s attack on Gaza
A firefighter rinsing blood off Gaza street. Reuters photoForeign governments issued a mixed reaction Israel's massive assault on the Palestinian-populated Gaza Strip on December 27. More than ten days into the fighting an estimated 660 Palestinians and at least 10 Israelis died in the war.
While the United States endorsed Israel's actions as "defensive," European Union members struggled to present a unified position. French president Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in the region to seek an end to violence in an effort reminiscent to his diplomacy between Russia and Georgia last August.
In Armenia's neighborhood, only Georgia openly sided with Israel, blaming the violence on the Palestinians. Azerbaijan said it backed "Palestinians' aspirations" but stopped short of criticizing Israel; there were a number of anti-Israeli protests in Baku, some broken up by police.
Armenia limited itself to an expression of "concern" over the "tragic events" and a call for an end to violence. According to Armenian media reports, several dozen families from Armenia now living in southern Israeli, particularly the town of Beer Sheba, were affected by the conflict.
Russia called the fighting a "dangerous escalation" and demanded a halt to Israel's offensive.
Turkey's leaders condemned Israeli actions as a "crime against humanity" and there were numerous anti-Israeli protests throughout the country.
Iran threatened to retaliate and Iranian-backed Hezballah forces in Lebanon, which bloodied Israeli forces in the 2006 war, launched several rockets into northern Israel.
Israeli officials said the operation targeted the infrastructure of Gaza's Islamist governing party, which is blamed for attacks launched on Israel from Gaza. Palestinian militant groups say the attacks are in response to continued Israeli occupation of the West Bank and blockade of Gaza.
The attack, which according to Israeli media has been planned for months, came shortly before a general election in Israel in which the ruling moderate coalition is facing a strong challenge from a more hawkish opposition. The Tel Aviv stock market initially gained more than 10 percent on news of war.
In 2005, Israeli forces pulled out from Gaza after a 38-year occupation. Since then the tempo of attacks on Israel from Gaza - mostly by means of rocket launchers and mortars - increased significantly, although a six-month cease-fire from June to December 2008 brought a temporary respite.
According to figures compiled by Canadians for Peace and Justice in the Middle East, 13 Israeli civilians died in rocket attacks from Gaza between 2004 and 2008 (none of the fatalities occurred during the cease-fire). In the same period, and before launching the current campaign, Israeli military strikes killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
Russia, Ukraine in fresh row over natural gas supplies
Charging Ukraine with siphoning off supplies transited through the country to European markets and leaving bills unpaid, the Russian government began to cut off supplies to the former Soviet republic.
The new dispute became public just days after Ukraine signed a charter on strategic partnership with the United States.
Georgia was due to sign a similar agreement with U.S. on January 9. Russian officials already criticized Tbilisi for halting the transit pipeline that supplies the breakaway republic of South Ossetia.
While Georgia began to switch to Azerbaijan-supplied gas, it still relies on Russian supplies. A potential cut in Russian supplies to Georgia would also threaten Armenia, which has relied on its gas reservoir to ride out past interruptions.
By January 7, countries without gas reservoirs or alternative sources of fuel, including Bosnia, Serbia, and Bulgaria, began to experience heating shortages. Other large recipients of Russian gas, including Germany and Turkey, were not immediately affected as Russia increased supplies to them via pipelines that bypass Ukraine.
European Union leaders met and demanded that Russia and Ukraine resolve their disputes to allow the resumption of supplies. Gazprom said on January 8 that it would resume supplies once international observers are deployed to monitor the supplies.
Turkey launches Kurdish-language TV station, plans one in Armenian
Kurdish women listed to shortwave radion near Turkish-Iranian border. APIn a new public relations push targeting its largest ethnic minority, Turkish state television launched a 24-hour Kurdish-language station on January 1, Turkish and international news agencies reported.
The station TRT-6 is intended to compete with Denmark-based Roj TV, which can be viewed in Turkey via satellite and is sympathetic to Kurdish rebel forces known as the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Prior to the rise of satellite television, Turkey's Kurds relied on Armenia-based Kurdish-language radio.
For decades, Turkey refused to recognize Kurds as an ethnic group and prohibited public use of the Kurdish language. The government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan began to change that with TRT launching its first 30-minute Kurdish-language broadcasts in 2004.
Ahmet Turk, leader of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party which boycotted TRT-6's launch, suggested that the move intended to strengthen the ruling party's electoral appeal among ethnic Kurds.
According to Turkish press reports carried by Regnum news agency, TRT will begin radio broadcasts in the Armenian language in February and is looking into launching an Armenian-language TV station by late 2009. Turkey would in turn permit TV broadcasts from Armenia.
Top three stories of 2008: Obama, Ossetia and legacy of genocide
This was first published in January 3, 2008 Armenian Reporter
Washington Briefing: 2008 Review
by Emil Sanamyan
With most of the world’s newsmakers enjoying the holidays with their families, this week’s Briefing looks back at three major stories covered in 2008.
Barack Obama
The meteoric rise of the junior senator from Illinois, elected just four years earlier, to President-elect of the United States became the biggest news event of 2008.
Barack Obama ran on a platform of changing the United States and moving away from policies of the George W. Bush administration. Mr. Obama promised to end the war in Iraq, work to restore U.S. image abroad, and keep America prosperous amid the global economic downturn.
Mr. Obama also promised to properly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and step up U.S. support for Armenia, including Karabakh's right to self-determination.
By all available accounts, Armenian-American campaigning and votes went overwhelmingly for Mr. Obama and against his Republican opponent.
The Bush Administration's record on these issues has been a checkered one.
On the Genocide, while President Bush issued annual April 24 messages commemorating Armenian losses, in deference to Turkey he refused to use the term genocide. In 2007 Mr. Bush actively lobbied against a congressional resolution on the matter. His predecessor President Bill Clinton did something similar, albeit less publicly, in 2000.
Another policy that began under the Clinton administration and largely continued under Mr. Bush was the U.S. approach to address the Karabakh conflict in a way that affirmed the central fact on the ground: Karabakh's effective reunification with Armenia.
At the same time, the United States spent billions of dollars to buy oil from Azerbaijan and offered only occasional words of caution to Azerbaijani government over its preparations for and relentless threats of new war against Armenia.
And on aid to Armenia, the Bush administration continued to cut the overall allocations. While Armenia was found eligible for the Millennium Challenge Assistance program, and a compact was signed, only a fraction of the allocated funds was approved for release by yearend on the pretext of irregularities in Armenia's political process.
Unlike the governments of neighboring Georgia and Turkey, the Armenian government has not yet publicly reached out to President-elect Obama to raise any of these issues.
Judging by Mr. Obama's picks for national security positions and initial foreign policy gestures in recent weeks, there is little indication of a radical departure from many of the Bush administration's policies.
This week, Israel's air campaign in Gaza was condemned by most of the world, with Turkish leaders in particular condemning Israel for "crimes against humanity."
The European Union called the attacks that killed more than 300 Gazans "unacceptable" and cause for "grave concern."
In the United States, President Bush put the blame squarely on the Islamist political party that forms Gaza's government and supported Israel's right to "defend itself." One Israeli so far has died in the campaign.
Congressional Democrats took similar positions. And president-elect Obama has so far refused to take a position, deferring to the president still in office.
The Ossetia war
Russian tanks in Ossetia last August. AFP photo.
In 2008, Mr. Obama became Time magazine's Person of the Year, succeeding Vladimir Putin, who was that person in 2007. And although in 2008 he was succeeded as president by former aide Dmitry Medvedev, Mr. Putin became Russia's prime minister and remained its undisputed leader.
In August, as Georgia attempted to overrun its former province of South Ossetia - which has been outside Tbilisi's control since the 1991-92 war as a de-facto Russian protectorate - it was Mr. Putin who first announced and then oversaw the implementation of a devastating Russian response.
The official reasons for Russian intervention were humanitarian: Georgia launched an indiscriminate bombing campaign against South Ossetian civilians, many of them Russian citizens, and targeted 500 Russian peacekeepers deployed there.
But Georgia's attack against Ossetia also provided a useful opportunity for Russia to demonstrate its determination to defending its interests in the Caucasus, and broadly in Europe, and the unwillingness of the United States to challenge Russia militarily so close to Russian borders, indicating a shift in the perceived regional balance.
Militarily, Russia proved capable of routing a U.S.-trained and equipped military with relative ease. Its air force, although much inferior to its American counterpart, was able to effectively target Georgia's military infrastructure, causing relatively little civilian damage.
Diplomatically, Russia unleashed an unprecedented public relations campaign - both domestically and internationally - to accompany its military actions much as the United States did before invading Iraq.
The war affected Armenia in two major ways.
On the one hand, it noticeably tamed Azerbaijan's appetite for a military escalation over Karabakh - at least in the foreseeable future. This was reflected in a joint declaration signed by the presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia, that pledged a political solution to the conflict, and a change in the Azerbaijani posture along the Line of Contact with Armenian forces.
But a nearly complete disruption in Russian-Georgian relations has also hit Armenia's already restricted trade routes and made Georgia more dependent on Azerbaijan and Turkey.
In Georgia, ongoing political recriminations over the war may lead to a leadership change in 2009. That could be accompanied by more instability but might also begin to clear the air in Russian-Georgian relations.
But there is a silver lining to this situation as well. The de facto Georgian bulwark against Russia helps moderate the exercise of Moscow's influence over Armenia, leaving its leadership with more room for maneuver than it could otherwise have.
As in the past, Armenia continues to perform a difficult balancing act between its strategic Russian ally, its most important neighbor Georgia, as well as the European Union and the United States, which have promised continued economic support to Georgia and the region.
The Armenian Genocide
President Abdullah Gül with President Serge Sargsian in Yerevan, September 6. Photolure.
It has been more than 90 years since the Armenian Genocide, but its unresolved legacy remains newsworthy. The Genocide remains the Armenian subject most frequently discussed by the world, even more so than Armenia's contemporary security and development challenges.
This interest appears to be driven by three sets of factors: increased awareness of contemporary genocidal crises such as those in Rwanda and Sudan; the Armenian advocacy for acknowledgement and amends; and the Turkish government's denial campaign.
In 2007, the Turkish public's reaction to assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink and debates over congressional resolution were the main news stories on the subject.
In 2008, Armenia's renewed effort to reach out to Turkey, and Turkish intellectuals' "I apologize" petition, which led to passionate debates on the Genocide inside Turkey, both generated media interest.
Turkish leaders offered mixed and sometimes contradictory remarks on Armenian issues.
Early in the year, they were quick to congratulate Armenia's new president, Serge Sargsian, on his election victory in February.
Turkey's President Abdullah Gül accepted Mr. Sargsian's invitation and in September made the first-ever visit by a Turkish president to Armenia. Turkish officials have since reiterated their desire to normalize relations with Armenia, but they also stuck to Turkey's pre-conditions: an end to the campaign for recognition of the genocide foremost among them.
On a visit to the United States in November, Turkey's top leader, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan characterized Armenian-Americans' advocacy on the issue as "cheap political lobbying," and in December he condemned the apology petition. Earlier in the year he branded Mr. Obama an "amateur" for his pledge to recognize the Genocide.
These developments were taking place in the context of the Turkish secular nationalist establishment's attempts to judicially ban and effectively unseat Mr. Erdogan's ruling political party - efforts that continued through mid-summer - and the government's case against about 100 nationalist figures who were charged with an attempted coup - the so-called Ergenekon case that continued at yearend.
Meanwhile, Turkish foreign policy shifted its emphasis away from the country's pro-Western orientation and efforts to win a European Union membership.
Turkey's positions have become increasingly distant from those of the United States and closer to those of Russia and the Islamic world.
Ankara also successfully completed a multiyear campaign to win international support for a two-year United Nations Security Council seat.
Last May, when the first indications of newly elected President Sargsian's initiative on Turkey became known, the Armenian Reporter conducted a survey among Armenia experts, asking them, "In the next year or two, do you expect relations between Armenia and Turkey to improve, deteriorate, or remain unchanged?"
Nearly three-fourths of those who responded said they expected the relations to remain unchanged. And in terms of actual policies - Turkey's refusal to establish diplomatic relations, open its border with Armenia and an end to genocide denial - they were accurate so far.
Nevertheless, shifts in Turkey's rhetoric on Armenia were sufficient to make Azerbaijan nervous. Turkey's defection from Azerbaijan's campaign to pressure Armenia would spell an effective end to the efforts to alter the facts on the ground in the Karabakh conflict.
Washington Briefing: 2008 Review
by Emil Sanamyan
With most of the world’s newsmakers enjoying the holidays with their families, this week’s Briefing looks back at three major stories covered in 2008.
Barack Obama
The meteoric rise of the junior senator from Illinois, elected just four years earlier, to President-elect of the United States became the biggest news event of 2008.
Barack Obama ran on a platform of changing the United States and moving away from policies of the George W. Bush administration. Mr. Obama promised to end the war in Iraq, work to restore U.S. image abroad, and keep America prosperous amid the global economic downturn.
Mr. Obama also promised to properly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and step up U.S. support for Armenia, including Karabakh's right to self-determination.
By all available accounts, Armenian-American campaigning and votes went overwhelmingly for Mr. Obama and against his Republican opponent.
The Bush Administration's record on these issues has been a checkered one.
On the Genocide, while President Bush issued annual April 24 messages commemorating Armenian losses, in deference to Turkey he refused to use the term genocide. In 2007 Mr. Bush actively lobbied against a congressional resolution on the matter. His predecessor President Bill Clinton did something similar, albeit less publicly, in 2000.
Another policy that began under the Clinton administration and largely continued under Mr. Bush was the U.S. approach to address the Karabakh conflict in a way that affirmed the central fact on the ground: Karabakh's effective reunification with Armenia.
At the same time, the United States spent billions of dollars to buy oil from Azerbaijan and offered only occasional words of caution to Azerbaijani government over its preparations for and relentless threats of new war against Armenia.
And on aid to Armenia, the Bush administration continued to cut the overall allocations. While Armenia was found eligible for the Millennium Challenge Assistance program, and a compact was signed, only a fraction of the allocated funds was approved for release by yearend on the pretext of irregularities in Armenia's political process.
Unlike the governments of neighboring Georgia and Turkey, the Armenian government has not yet publicly reached out to President-elect Obama to raise any of these issues.
Judging by Mr. Obama's picks for national security positions and initial foreign policy gestures in recent weeks, there is little indication of a radical departure from many of the Bush administration's policies.
This week, Israel's air campaign in Gaza was condemned by most of the world, with Turkish leaders in particular condemning Israel for "crimes against humanity."
The European Union called the attacks that killed more than 300 Gazans "unacceptable" and cause for "grave concern."
In the United States, President Bush put the blame squarely on the Islamist political party that forms Gaza's government and supported Israel's right to "defend itself." One Israeli so far has died in the campaign.
Congressional Democrats took similar positions. And president-elect Obama has so far refused to take a position, deferring to the president still in office.
The Ossetia war
Russian tanks in Ossetia last August. AFP photo. In 2008, Mr. Obama became Time magazine's Person of the Year, succeeding Vladimir Putin, who was that person in 2007. And although in 2008 he was succeeded as president by former aide Dmitry Medvedev, Mr. Putin became Russia's prime minister and remained its undisputed leader.
In August, as Georgia attempted to overrun its former province of South Ossetia - which has been outside Tbilisi's control since the 1991-92 war as a de-facto Russian protectorate - it was Mr. Putin who first announced and then oversaw the implementation of a devastating Russian response.
The official reasons for Russian intervention were humanitarian: Georgia launched an indiscriminate bombing campaign against South Ossetian civilians, many of them Russian citizens, and targeted 500 Russian peacekeepers deployed there.
But Georgia's attack against Ossetia also provided a useful opportunity for Russia to demonstrate its determination to defending its interests in the Caucasus, and broadly in Europe, and the unwillingness of the United States to challenge Russia militarily so close to Russian borders, indicating a shift in the perceived regional balance.
Militarily, Russia proved capable of routing a U.S.-trained and equipped military with relative ease. Its air force, although much inferior to its American counterpart, was able to effectively target Georgia's military infrastructure, causing relatively little civilian damage.
Diplomatically, Russia unleashed an unprecedented public relations campaign - both domestically and internationally - to accompany its military actions much as the United States did before invading Iraq.
The war affected Armenia in two major ways.
On the one hand, it noticeably tamed Azerbaijan's appetite for a military escalation over Karabakh - at least in the foreseeable future. This was reflected in a joint declaration signed by the presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia, that pledged a political solution to the conflict, and a change in the Azerbaijani posture along the Line of Contact with Armenian forces.
But a nearly complete disruption in Russian-Georgian relations has also hit Armenia's already restricted trade routes and made Georgia more dependent on Azerbaijan and Turkey.
In Georgia, ongoing political recriminations over the war may lead to a leadership change in 2009. That could be accompanied by more instability but might also begin to clear the air in Russian-Georgian relations.
But there is a silver lining to this situation as well. The de facto Georgian bulwark against Russia helps moderate the exercise of Moscow's influence over Armenia, leaving its leadership with more room for maneuver than it could otherwise have.
As in the past, Armenia continues to perform a difficult balancing act between its strategic Russian ally, its most important neighbor Georgia, as well as the European Union and the United States, which have promised continued economic support to Georgia and the region.
The Armenian Genocide
President Abdullah Gül with President Serge Sargsian in Yerevan, September 6. Photolure. It has been more than 90 years since the Armenian Genocide, but its unresolved legacy remains newsworthy. The Genocide remains the Armenian subject most frequently discussed by the world, even more so than Armenia's contemporary security and development challenges.
This interest appears to be driven by three sets of factors: increased awareness of contemporary genocidal crises such as those in Rwanda and Sudan; the Armenian advocacy for acknowledgement and amends; and the Turkish government's denial campaign.
In 2007, the Turkish public's reaction to assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink and debates over congressional resolution were the main news stories on the subject.
In 2008, Armenia's renewed effort to reach out to Turkey, and Turkish intellectuals' "I apologize" petition, which led to passionate debates on the Genocide inside Turkey, both generated media interest.
Turkish leaders offered mixed and sometimes contradictory remarks on Armenian issues.
Early in the year, they were quick to congratulate Armenia's new president, Serge Sargsian, on his election victory in February.
Turkey's President Abdullah Gül accepted Mr. Sargsian's invitation and in September made the first-ever visit by a Turkish president to Armenia. Turkish officials have since reiterated their desire to normalize relations with Armenia, but they also stuck to Turkey's pre-conditions: an end to the campaign for recognition of the genocide foremost among them.
On a visit to the United States in November, Turkey's top leader, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan characterized Armenian-Americans' advocacy on the issue as "cheap political lobbying," and in December he condemned the apology petition. Earlier in the year he branded Mr. Obama an "amateur" for his pledge to recognize the Genocide.
These developments were taking place in the context of the Turkish secular nationalist establishment's attempts to judicially ban and effectively unseat Mr. Erdogan's ruling political party - efforts that continued through mid-summer - and the government's case against about 100 nationalist figures who were charged with an attempted coup - the so-called Ergenekon case that continued at yearend.
Meanwhile, Turkish foreign policy shifted its emphasis away from the country's pro-Western orientation and efforts to win a European Union membership.
Turkey's positions have become increasingly distant from those of the United States and closer to those of Russia and the Islamic world.
Ankara also successfully completed a multiyear campaign to win international support for a two-year United Nations Security Council seat.
Last May, when the first indications of newly elected President Sargsian's initiative on Turkey became known, the Armenian Reporter conducted a survey among Armenia experts, asking them, "In the next year or two, do you expect relations between Armenia and Turkey to improve, deteriorate, or remain unchanged?"
Nearly three-fourths of those who responded said they expected the relations to remain unchanged. And in terms of actual policies - Turkey's refusal to establish diplomatic relations, open its border with Armenia and an end to genocide denial - they were accurate so far.
Nevertheless, shifts in Turkey's rhetoric on Armenia were sufficient to make Azerbaijan nervous. Turkey's defection from Azerbaijan's campaign to pressure Armenia would spell an effective end to the efforts to alter the facts on the ground in the Karabakh conflict.
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