Category: Main Issues

Cyprus Foreign Ministry calls on Turkey to halt threats

THE GOVERNMENT has described as totally unfounded and contrary to international law Turkeys claims on Cyprus exclusive economic zone, and called on Ankara to end its illegal, provocative and arrogant behaviour with regard to the Republics exploratory drilling for hydrocarbons.

Nicosia told Ankara to steer clear from issuing threats, pointing out that it is determined to proceed with exploitation of its natural resources and to protect its rights with peaceful means in line with international law.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release issued here on Friday replies to an announcement by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday, which warns that should the Republic continue with the second licensing round for the exploration of natural gas within Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone, then Turkey will increase tension in the region.

The Republic of Cyprus calls on Turkey to end its illegal, provocative and arrogant behaviour to steer clear from issuing threats and to adhere to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Foreign Ministry states.

It further calls on Turkey to try to resolve any problems it allegedly has in accordance with international law, which it continues to violate and treat with contempt.

Creating tension in the region is neither to the benefit of any country, nor to the benefit of peace and prosperity in the region, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes.

It is further stated that the Republic of Cyprus, a UN and EU member state, exercises in the same way as any other state of the international community, all its sovereign rights deriving from international law, within its territory and its maritime boundaries, including within its EEZ and its continental shelf, as provided by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which the Republic has ratified in 1988.

The Republic of Cyprus is determined to proceed with the exploitation of its natural resources, particularly with regard to hydrocarbons, for economic development and prosperity of its entire people without any discrimination, the Ministry stresses.

Exploitation and use of these reserves may significantly enhance energy security, particularly for the EU, the Ministry adds.

The Ministry recalls that the EU General Affairs Council has reaffirmed in its Conclusions of December 2011, all sovereign rights of member states which include among others the signing of bilateral agreements as well as the exploration and exploitation of their natural resources in accordance with the acquis communautaire and international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Ministry further recalls that the EU Council called for refraining from threats or action against any EU member state or moves which could endanger neighbourly relations and the peaceful resolution of differences.

The message sent by the EU to Turkey was clear and strong, the Ministry points out, adding that it seems that Turkey chose to completely ignore the EU.

Referring to Turkeys allegations that part of Cyprus blocks included in the second licensing round belong to Turkeys continental shelf, the Ministry states that they are unfounded and contrary to international law.

According to the Ministry, Turkeys allegations prove once more that its aim is not the protection of the rights of the Turkish Cypriots, as it claims, since it alleges that a significant part of western, southern and northern areas of Cyprus EEZ and continental shelf belong to Ankara, to the detriment of the entire people of Cyprus

Expressing the view that it is obvious that Turkeys aim is to promote its expansionist designs, the Republic of Cyprus expresses confidence that Turkish demands and threats will be condemned once more by the international community as a serious provocation against international legality.

The Republic, the Ministry states, is determined to protect its rights using all peaceful means at its disposal, in line with international law.

Referring to the ongoing UN led negotiations which aim to reunite the island, divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third, the Ministry states that the government participates in the talks with good will and is committed to the reunification of Cyprus and its people.

The second licensing round for the exploration of hydrocarbons within the Republics EEZ has nothing to do with the ongoing process for the resolution of the Cyprus issue, it is pointed out.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalls that in the context of the talks it has already been agreed that the exploitation of natural resources will fall within the remit of powers exercised by the federal government.

Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus northern part since they invaded in 1974, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus.

Recently, Nicosia announced in the Official Journal of the EU a call for an international tender for off-shore hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation within the Republics Economic Exclusive Zone, signaling the initiation of a second round of licensing.
On Wednesday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Nicosias new licensing round in the area could lead to tension in the region.

In response to Cypriot exploration activities, Ankara has deployed in the past warships in the Eastern Mediterranean and has signed an illegal agreement with the Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus to delineate what it calls continental shelf.

The government of Cyprus has protested to the UN and the EU Turkeys moves, saying it has a sovereign right to exploit its natural resources, pointing out that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will benefit from any benefits that may come from oil drilling.

Cyprus has signed an agreement to delineate the Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Israel with a view to exploit any possible natural gas and oil reserves in its EEZ. A similar agreement has been signed with Lebanon but the Lebanese Parliament has not yet ratified it.

February 18, 2012
Matthew Bryza: politicians shouldn’t characterize events as genocide or not as genocide

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 11 / Trend A.Badalova /

“It’s not the business of any politician in any country to characterize events as genocide or not as genocide,” former U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza said in an interview with Turkish Hurriyet Daily newspaper.

On Jan 23, after an eight-hour debate, the French senate adopted the law criminalizing the denial of the so-called “Armenian genocide”. The bill demands a year’s imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euro for denying the so-called genocide.

French senators who did not agree with the adoption of the law appealed to the Constitutional Council on Jan. 31 with a request to cancel it. The council should examine issue on the law adopted in the both chambers of the French parliament and which many consider violating the Constitution and freedom of expression.

Armenia and the Armenian lobby claim that the predecessor of the Turkey – Ottoman Empire had committed the 1915 genocide against the Armenians living in Anadolu, and achieved recognition of the “Armenian Genocide” by the parliaments of several countries.

Mr Bryza said it has to be up to societies, not to others, to have a decision taken based on a political calendar.

He noted truth is on everyone side, especially on Turkey’s side. The debate about this issue is really one-sided right now.

“If you believe there was a genocide committed, you can equally argue looking from a narrow definition of the word that genocide was committed to many others, against Turks or Muslims, in eastern Anatolia,” Mr Bryza said

February 12, 2012
Take action – Email your MP

Dear Friends of Azerbaijan,

20th Anniversary of the Khojaly Tragedy – EDM 2690

The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) is currently running a campaign to encourage MPs to sign Early Day Motion 2690, to be tabled on 26 February 2012 in the House of Commons to highlight the Khojaly tragedy when 613 men, women and children were killed by invading Armenian forces. EDM 2690 further notes that Armenia still illegally occupies 18 per cent of Azerbaijani territory in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions; and hopes that the Government can facilitate progress towards a peaceful resolution of this long-running conflict.

If you are resident in the UK, please send a pre-written letter to your local MP at:

Thank you.

Best wishes from TEAS

February 8, 2012
‘French business interested in Azerbaijan and Turkey more than in Armenia’

News.Az interviews Ruslan Kostyuk, doctor of historical science, professor of the International Relations Faculty of the St.Petersburg State University.

Can you predict the decision of the Constitutional court regarding the law criminalizing the so-called ‘Armenian genocide’ recently passed in lower and upper chamber of the French parliament?

It is difficult to predict the decision of the Constitutional Court. The issue of this bill causes concern among socio-political forces in France less than political events. France is looking forward presidential elections soon, and, frankly, the issue of the Armenian “genocide” (hence the quotes below are ours – Ed.) Is not even among top seven issues, which are being actively discussed.

We know that Nicolas Sarkozy himself has initiated the adoption of the aforementioned bill. But in every French party, there are certain forces that favor the adoption of this law, and the forces that believe that the law should not have been adopted and disputes must be left to historians. Therefore, it is very difficult to predict the decision of the Constitutional Court. If the judgment is not in favor of the law, it will still be likely moral and political defeat of the current president of France. After all, everyone knows the anti-Turkish stance of Sarkozy primarily in Ankara’s membership in EU.

Is this law important for Sarkozy? It is primarily the intention to drag Armenian party to their side in anticipation of presidential elections or the reluctance to see Turkey inside the EU?

On the eve of the previous presidential election, he repeatedly said that Turkey’s accession to the EU is hardly possible. He said that for its geographical location Turkey is supposedly not a political Europe. So, by this bill Sarkozy complicates opportunities and prospects of the Turkish Republic in the EU. With regard to the fact that he may have done it before the presidential election, in order to win the Armenian Diaspora on its side, it is worth noting that the French of Armenian origin are really going to support Sarkozy, according to all sorts of polls. However, the French sociologists say that in this case, Sarkozy can count on the votes of 300,000-400,000 people. This is much less than the votes of all the Muslim diasporas in France put together. Sarkozy should better arrange the hunt to win them on his side before the election.

Today we see that the French-Turkish relations are going through not the best of their times. Ankara has already reacted and further plans to take adequate measures on the ‘French’ law. How do you think Azerbaijan should act, as the Turkish partner?

I would not make hasty conclusions, especially as this law does not apply directly to Azerbaijan. It is clear that there are special Turkish-Azerbaijani relations, it is clear that there is the Karabakh conflict, and the condition of the Azerbaijani-Armenian relations. However, I repeat, this law does not apply directly to Baku

I have to note that the French business is interested in Azerbaijan and Turkey to a much greater extent than in Armenia. We know perfectly well that the French car manufacturers control up to 25% of the Turkish car market. About a thousand of French companies have direct investments in Turkey. The French patronage took quite a strained position and its representatives tried to dissuade Sarkozy from doing so.

With regard to the issue of the Minsk Group and France, it is obvious that Paris has not been too neutral in Karabakh issue. There were certain actions in favor of Armenia. At the same time, France is one of the leading players in the EU. And if Baku puts the question of removing France from among the Minsk group co-chairs, won’t it harm relations between Azerbaijan and the EU?

Finally, France will soon have presidential elections and Sarkozy may probably be removed from power. And after this the foreign policy of France will likely be corrected by the new government.

Is the same law likely to be adopted in Russia too?

In my opinion, Russia and Turkey have far more complex and fast-evolving relationship, than it was before. In many ways, Turkey comes in the first place as an economic partner of Russia. For example, the sale of certain goods and tourism. Given the weight, which Turkey has, given the fact that the Russian-Turkish political, economic, scientific-technical relations have grown markedly in recent times, I do not think that at the moment the dominant forces of the State Duma will tolerate such a law.

Moreover, here is one more thing, albeit insignificant. It should be noted that representatives of the Yedinaya Rossiya party sit in the same group with representatives of the ruling Justice and Development Party of Turkey in PACE. This may not be the most obvious caveat, but still means something.

So I do not think that the adoption of this law is actual for Russia in the nearest perspective.

Hamid Hamidov

News.Az

via News.Az – ‘French business interested in Azerbaijan and Turkey more than in Armenia’.

February 8, 2012
Time for President Obama, MSM, To Tell the Truth About the Armenian Genocide

Pamela Geller

Pamela Geller is the editor and publisher of the Atlas Shrugs website and is former associate publisher of the New York Observer. She is a regular columnist at Newsmax and her Op-Eds appear in the Washington Times, Human Events, the American Thinker, Israel National News, and other publications.

Another stunning rebuke to Barack Obama: Armenian American groups have for decades sought Congressional recognition as genocide of the murder of just under two million Armenian Christians by the Islamic Ottoman Empire. Last week, they cleared an important hurdle in getting this recognition: the House Foreign Affairs Committee, over Obama’s opposition, approved a resolution calling the Turkish mass murder of the Armenians a genocide.

The Islamic supremacists haven’t infiltrated as deeply as they thought. As long as Turkey was secular, we pretended it wasn’t genocide. And now Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who once said that “there is no moderate or immoderate Islam, Islam is Islam and that’s it,” is taking on the secular military in Turkey. Traditionally, the secular army kept Turkey a “moderate” secular Muslim country, but with the election of the devout Muslim Erdogan, Turkish secularism is on the ropes. And now that Turkey is returning to the dark side, we don’t have to lie for jihadis anymore.

The Turks were furious over the Foreign Affairs Committee vote, and withdrew their ambassador to the U.S. Turkish President Abdullah Gul issued a veiled threat: “Turkey will not be responsible for the negative results that this event may lead to.”

Turkey threatens…what? Another genocide?

This should be interesting. Obviously the Muslim world thinks it can bully the U.S. President. Let’s watch and see if Obama heeds the decent and humane call from the American people, or heeds Islam.

Unfortunately, the answer is already clear. The committee’s vote is difficult for the Islamophilic Obama. He campaigned on the promise that he would officially recognize the Turkish mass murders of Armenians as a genocide. As with so many of his other promises, Obama lied and has backtracked since he became President, as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton admitted Thursday: “Circumstances have changed in very significant ways,” she said. And she said that the Obama Administration would oppose the resolution as it goes to Congress:

We do not believe that the full Congress will or should act upon that resolution and we have made that clear to all the parties involved.

Change you can’t believe in.

And my, isn’t Turkey very thin-skinned and sensitive, considering its propensity for genocide? The Turks should be busying themselves apologizing and making amends, as Germany did after World War II. But no. Instead the non-Muslim world is still stepping and fetching and covering up for over a millennium of jihad wars, land expropriations, enslavements, and humiliations of the conquered non-Muslim populations on three continents — and genocide.

Abdullah Gul also said:

We are determined to normalise Turkish-Armenian ties but we are against this being secured through the intervention of third parties and through pressure.

This is rich. How can you normalize relations when you mass murdered close to two million of the Armenian people and won’t admit it, or express regret and apologize? It was a genocide, and the covering up of Islamic genocides must end.

Let us not forget the other Christian minorities who were massacred in the same way and for the same reason. Approximately 250,000 Assyrian-Chaldeans were massacred, as well as 250,000 Greeks. Countless others were forced to convert to Islam, especially young girls. Another thing we should remember about this period is that Greece itself was occupied by the Ottoman empire for centuries, as well as Bulgaria and so on, and the non-Muslim populations in all those countries were terrorized for centuries. These nations were only freed because of World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman empire.

This is a history we must not forget.

Above all, we must not forget that the Nazis were inspired by the Armenian genocide.

The Turks used primitive gas chambers and developed other murderous templates that were later adopted by the Nazis. Hitler was inspired by the Mufti of Jerusalem, Hajj Amin al-Husseini, who was an officer of the Ottoman empire who participated in the Armenian genocide, and who during World War II met with Hitler and frequently with high Nazi officials. During the Nuremberg Trials in July 1946, Adolf Eichmann’s assistant, Dieter Wisliczeny, testified that Mufti was a central figure in the planning of the genocide of the Jews:

The Grand Mufti has repeatedly suggested to the Nazi authorities – including Hitler, von Ribbentrop and Himmler – the extermination of European Jewry. … The Mufti was one of the initiators of the systematic extermination of European Jewry and had been a collaborator and adviser of Eichmann and Himmler in the execution of this plan… He was one of Eichmann’s best friends and had constantly incited him to accelerate the extermination measures.

Covering for Islam’s acts of genocide encourages more Islamic genocide. Think Sudan. Congress should recognize the Armenian genocide for what it was, and call on the Turks to stop covering up and take responsibility for what they did. Barack Obama should do the same thing.

And the media should finally tell the truth.

February 5, 2012
“Armenian Government Not Courageous Enough To Accept Turkey’s Of

Turkish EU minister said that the government of Armenia was not courageous enough to accept Turkey’s offer that archives should be examined by scholars.

EU Minister Egemen Bagis attended a program “Talk to Al Jazeera” on news channel, Al Jazeera English.

Recalling that Turkey offered that all archives of Turkey and Armenia must be examined by scholars, he said but Armenian government did not accept it.

Asked whether he could apologize for what had happened in 1915 in the future, Bagis said, “if it is an unanimously accepted and historical truth, why not-”

Bagis said the French law penalizing the denial of Armenian allegations regarding 1915 incidents during Ottoman Empire period limited free speech in France.

Replying to questions on Turkey’s EU membership, Bagis said that the key word was Turkey for several problems in Europe, stating that it was key word in economic crises in Europe.

Turkey is the fastest economy in Europe, he said.

Bagis said that Turkey was proving that it had a solid base for strong growing sustainable economy.

AA

February 5, 2012