| Turkey is an important state for the United States, therefore, I do not think that Washington will take any step against Ankara, said chairman of the American Azerbaijani Society Tomris Azeri, speaking about possible recognition of the so-called “Armenian genocide” by B.Obama.
She noted that any possible anti-Azerbaijani step of any US president will depend on the effectiveness of the activity of the Azerbaijani diaspora of America. “It is possible to inform them about the Azerbaijani position, in case our diaspora is strong”, said she. Speaking about the Baku charter adopted this year, she voiced hope that the charter will make an important contribution to the development of the diaspora movement. “I took part in the second session of the World Azerbaijanis in Baku in 2001 and I remember this event well. I also spoke there. I remember well the speech of deceased Heydar Aliyev. He said important words to us: “Unite, be united, be strong and do not separate”. But, after seven years I state with regret that we have not done all things that he told us to do”, noted Tomris Azeri, adding that she has always been pessimistic and hopes that the charter will promote the development of the diaspora movement. According to her the Azerbaijani diaspora is closely cooperating with the Turkish and Jewish communities, as there are many Jews, originating from Azerbaijan and Turkey who are devoted to the land where they were born. “At the time, it would be better for us to cooperate more a greater number of ethnic groups. We do not contend ourselves only with the said two groups. Why not cooperate with the Georgian community? Georgia is a close friend to Azerbaijan. Or Pakistani community and so on. There are many ethnic groups in the United States and we are open for cooperation with all of them”, noted the head of the Azerbaijani Society in the United States. As for the plans to inform the Americans with reliable information about Azerbaijan and its problems, she said a large conference will be held in the Yale University in February when our compatriots commemorate the victims of Khojaly tragedy. “It is necessary to stress the important of the constant work wth congressmen. It is necessary to meet each of them, hold talks. The US policy forms not only in Washington. Each member of our community must meet with his congressman and tell him: “I can vote for you but our problems are …” This is done by Armenians. They have two big organizations in New Jersey and they constantly invite congressmen and disinform them/ For example, New Jersey is a large and important state, where there are many Turks, coming from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and so on. There are all opportunities for this state to become exemplary for Turks. Few currently know about Khojaly. Therefore, I try to invite for Americans to each of our event. More Americans should know about it. Therefore, I think that the planned event in Yale University is of great importance in this sense. /Day.Az/ URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/49695.html |
Category: Asia and Pacific
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Tomris Azeri: “I do not think that Obama will recognize the so-called “Armenian genocide”
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Turkish Military Opposes Armenian Apology Campaign
Turkey’s powerful generals on Friday stepped into a deepening controversy over an apology by Turkish intellectuals for the mass killings of Armenians in World War One, saying the campaign had “harmful consequences”.
The Internet initiative, which has drawn criticism from Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and nationalists, coincides with a diplomatic rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia to end almost 100 years of hostility. Nearly 14,000 people have signed the apology.
“We definitely think that what is done is not right. Apologizing is wrong and can yield harmful consequences,” Brigadier General Metin Gurak, spokesman for the General Staff, told a news conference.
On Wednesday, Erdogan said the campaign had no other benefit than “stirring up trouble, disturbing our peace and undoing the steps which have been taken”.
President Abdullah Gul has distanced himself from those comments, hailing the initiative as proof of Turkey’s democratic health. He became the first Turkish leader to visit Armenia in September as Turkey sought to improve ties.
Turks, including Nobel prize-winning author Orhan Pamuk, have been prosecuted in the European Union candidate country for affirming that the mass killings of Armenians in 1915 amounted to genocide.
Turkey accepts that many Armenians were killed during the waning years of the Ottoman Empire, but strongly reject Armenian assertions it was genocide, saying that Muslim Turks also died in inter-ethnic conflicts. Western historians have backed Armenian arguments that the killings amounted to genocide.
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Soyun Sadikhov: “Vladimir Zhirinovsky should publicly apologize to Azerbaijani People”
Moscow – APA. “We want the court to assess the book “The last march to the south” by Vladimir Zhirinovsky and publicly apologize to Azerbaijani people.
We can not allow anyone to stir up national and religious conflicts,” says the article written by Soyun Sadikhov, president of “AzerRos” National-Cultural Autonomy of Azerbaijanis in Russia, member of Public Council of Russian Regional Development Ministry.
AzerRos sued Vladimir Zhirinovsky grounding that Azerbaijanis people were insulted in the above-mentioned book. The article says that the book written by Vladimir Zhirinovsky insults Islamic world and Azerbaijani people.
“Separation of Muslim world is to the advantage of the entire humanity. The danger coming from the Islamic world should be prevented. Other religions are not able to conduct large-scale religious wars. We should realize finally who has brought civilization? Who conquered space and invaded other countries? Who plundered other nations, turned them into slaves, turned Christian churches into mosques? What culture did the Turks bring to the Central Asia? There is no such a notion as Turkish culture, those riding horses with swords in their hands can not have culture. Janissaries forming the basis of the Turkish army are Slavonic children captured together with their parents. They killed their parents and brought up their children in Turkish, Muslim spirit, and strengthened their army. Slavonic children killed Slavonic peoples under the Turkish flag, this is horrible. Who will answer for this? Who will answer for the humiliation of Byzantine culture, Slavonic peoples?”
Zhirinovsky’s unique ideas about the Nagorno Karabakh conflict were also involved in the article. “How long will the confrontation between Azerbaijanis and Armenians continue? Will it continue until the liquidation of all Armenian people by not the Turks already, but by Azerbaijanis, the another Turkic-speaking people? The Turks and Azerbaijanis are the same people in substance. The Turks killed one and half million Armenians in 1915 and Azerbaijanis started to do it in 1988. The Turks committed it within three days, but Azerbaijanis are doing it for almost 15 years. They intend to wipe out both Armenian people and state. Why? because, they are Christians. Armenians tackled uniting of Turks and Azerbaijanis. What is Nakhchivan? It is an artificial institution, the place in Armenian lands populated by Azerbaijanis, the territory set for direct links with Turks. Those lands always belonged to Armenia, the great Armenia from sea to sea. What is Armenia today? It is only small piece remained after the Urartu, a powerful state with a great culture. The civilization began there and moved to other territories. Azerbaijanis are the Persian tribe revived by the way of conquest. Seldjug Turks moved from the East in that time and made this Persian tribe the Turks. Who are the Azerbaijanis? It is a tribe lived in the Caspian cost. It is a country equaled to the territory of one district of Moscow. Can you imagine the Sokolniki is the state and people living there are Sokolniki nation. Azerbaijan is like this, the populated region in the Caspian cost”.Soyun Sadikhov said many offensive phrases were used in the book against Azerbaijani and Turkish peoples and made some refreshers for Zhirinovsky: “I would like to remind Mr. Zhirinovsky that Azerbaijan’s history and culture have very ancient roots. Unfortunately Vladimir Zhirinovsky doesn’t know Ismayil bin Yassar, Musa Shehevat, Abdul Faraj Isfahani, Khatib Tabrizi, Ibn Sina’s student Bahmanyar, genius poets Nizami, Fuzuli, Molla Panah Vagif, great dramatist Mirza Fathali Akhundov, or their names are not interesting for him. A list of Azerbaijani world-known doctors, philosophers, writers, poets, musicians, architects can be extended more and more. But if you consider it not as culture, but barbarism, there is no need to extend this list. I believe that any person not depending on his nationality and religion must secure the national solidarity. The government officials have to take responsibility for these issues, because these persons are heard. We asked the court to evaluate the Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s book “Attack toward the South” and demanded the author to apologize demonstratively to the Azerbaijani people. We cannot allow the building up a fire in the ethnic and religious conflicts”.
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Turkey-based apology net campaign
Ankara-APA. A group of persons starting net campaign under title “I apologize” on so-called Armenian genocide in 1915 face dissatisfaction, APA reports.
A group of persons started campaign under title “We wait for apology” against above-mentioned campaign. They created an analogous website like www.ozurdiliyoruz.com established by persons, who demanded apology from Armenians and allocated many photos related to Khojaly massacre. www.ozurbekliyorum.com website covers a list of Turkish diplomats killed by Armenian terrorists, archives of Turkish Armed Forces on Armenian terrorism, persons, who wait for apology from Armenians for their genocide committed against Turkish People. As of today, Over 6000 people joined campaign under title “We wait for apology”. The campaign started three days before and less than 6000 people have signed internet letter by now.
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Foreign Currency Mechanism in Azerbaijan
Trade banks started to work by permission of Russian Gosbank in 1991. They had been founded by state organs. As field of activity, giving credits to industry, special sector and small enterprises. In this area Azakbank and Ilkbank were famous. Important point is that these banks had a speciality as authority to foreign currency regulations.
Azerbaijan declared Manat as national monetary in 1994 and founded Baku Interbanks Foreign Currency Market to regulate foreign currency activities in country. Azerbaijan decided to increase flow of Manat activities. Early time government used ruble as minor rate by giving them from Russian Central Bank. But this function as 4 billiard Ruble was inefficient to pay salaries and fees. So government decided to create a mechanism for regulating Manat and foreign currency. Firstly Manat had been published as 1, 10 and 250 Manat banknotes and gave to common market with ruble.
In that time official foreign currency values was determined accordingly values of Moscow Interbank. But market foreign currency values was determined by Azerbaijan International Bank. So there are two value lines in market.
Additionally, trade firms decided values according to their agreements.
On the other hand, fourth value borned in foreign exchange in free market.
National Bank of Azerbaijan defined rates of authoritative banks to declare Manat and ruble exchange rate. So 16 monetary values of other countries had been agreed as convertible by International Bank. (Turkish Lira, American Dolar, German Mark, Norway Cron…)
According to decides of Baku Interbanks Foreign Currency, International Bank and other banks which have a right to determine foreign currency are in common market. Law regulated that any external body can not decide and activite in foreign currency. So illegal and other mix functions came to an end.
Since 1995 these banks can determine rate of foreign currency. Main actor National Bank declares buy and sell of foreign currency on second day of every week. Also National Bank keeps stability every year according to situations of state.
National Bank have an obligation as save and administration of foreign currency reserves of state. In a time, functions of National Bank and International Bank united to stabilize Manat. But after law declared a point as all corporations should give % 30 profits which are gaining foreign currency to Interbanks Foreign Currency. So National Bank is a unique unit to save and stabilize foreign currency reserves.
National Bank can give a right to some special banks for foreign currency transaction. These banks can activite in transfer of foreign currency.
Mehmet Fatih ÖZTARSU
Qafqaz University – Interes Club
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Turkish universities to open Armenian language departments
Trakya and Nevşehir universities will accept a total of 40 students in the department.In a move to contribute to Turkish-Armenian ties, Turkey’s Higher Board of Education, or YÖK, will open Armenian language and literature departments at Turkish universities, the Anatolia News Agency reported Friday.
Trakya and Nevşehir universities will accept a total of 40 students in the department. Boğaziçi University has been teaching Armenian language since last year.