Month: March 2007

SARAFIAN AND HALACOGLU DISPROVE RADIKAL’S INSISTENCE ON THEIR AVOIDING
HOLDING JOINT RESEARCH

ISTANBUL, MARCH 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Historians Ara
Sarafian and Yusuf Halacoglu stated that the Radikal journalist’s
interpretation about their refusal to hold a research in Kharberd
concerning the Armenian Genocide and having a rest are wrong. Marmara
states about it.

Halacoglu showed his correspondence with Sarafian and insisted that he
was not the one to avoid. And Sarafian was insulted from the Radikal
journalist’s words, according to which he proposed difficult
conditions before holding researches in Kharberd. Sarafian said that
his goal is to create clear working conditions.

After all these the Turkish newspaper journalist said that he is
obliged to emphasize that in his opinion, Ara Sarafian avoided the
work. He also mentioned that here the issue is not the one who
avoided. The important thing is that such a valuable occasion was lost
as Turkey for the first time has a possibility to do public work with
a historian like Ara Sarafian, and though Sarafian was sure in the
Genocide, Turkey was to show respect towards him. This valuable
possibility was lost, the journalist said.

EGEMEN BAGIS: U.S. TWO CONGRESSMEN NOT TO ASSIST ARMENIAN RESOLUTION

ANKARA, MARCH 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Egemen Bagis, the
head of the delegation of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey left
for Washington on March 12 to do lobby work against the U.S. Congress
draft concerning the Armenian Genocide, a deputy from the Justice and
Development Party ruling in Turkey stated that owing to their "works,"
two American congressmen who previously assisted the Armenian
resolution, "changed their position and will vote against the
resolution appeared in the House of Representatives."

As the Turkish Sabah daily states, in the interview with journalists
Bagis expressed a hope that the U.S. legislative body will not adopt
such a resolution as, in his words, Washington will not lose an
important ally like Turkey.

The Turkish parliamentarian did not mention names of those two
congressmen.

ATTORNEYS OF HRANT DINK’S FAMILY DEMAND TO HOLD LEGAL INVESTIGATION
TOWARDS OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN CRIME

ISTANBUL, MARCH 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Attorneys of the
family of Hrant Dink, the Istanbul Armenian Agos weekly murdered
editor-in-chief, demanded to hold a legal investigation towards those
officials who "were involved in the crime."

According to the Istanbul Marmara daily, Fethiye Cetin from the
attorneys of Dink’s family showed a copy of the note by which the
Trapizon policemen informed their Istanbul colleagues about the murder
being prepared. According to the attorney’s evidence, 17 notes of the
same contents were sent to the Istanbul Police.

U.S. SUPPORTS AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, BUT CONSIDERS THAT
ISSUE OF NKR STATUS SHOULD BE SOLVED THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS

YEREVAN, MARCH 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The statement of U.S. Embassy in
Armenia was published in press, which was made in response to the
bewilderment expressed by the Armenian side about the formulation
naming Nagorno Karabakh as "occupied territory" making part of
Azerbaijan in 2006 annual report on Human Rights of U.S. State
Department. As the document mentioned, the policy of U.S. in
connection with U.S. government’s report on human rights and NKR has
not changed: U.S. supports Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and
considers that the issue of Nagorno Karabakh status should be solved
through negotiations. "As an OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairing country, we
diligently work to reach an agreement over the main principles of
settlement soon," the Embassy’s statement read.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by RA Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
Vladimir Karapetian, the Armenian Foreign Ministry has not received
any official answer from U.S. Embassy in connection with the above
mentioned report and has been informed about the statement from
Armenia media.

Earlier V. Karapetian had stated that the Foreign Minister during the
meeting with Acting U.S. Ambassador to RA Anthony Godfrey had
mentioned the above indicated expression included in the report of
State Department asking to be attentive in formulations. Oskanian had
expressed an opinion that the formulation naming Nagorno Karabakh as
"occupied territory" making part of Azerbaijan is the consequence of a
mistake.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARAM HAMBARIAN: I HOPE ALL EMPLOYEES OF U.S. EMBASSY IN RA WILL SPEAK ABOUT
GENOCIDE WITH SAME BRAVERY AS JOHN EVANS DID

YEREVAN, MARCH 16, NOYAN TAPAN. "Candidate for U.S. Ambassador to RA
Richard Hoagland answered to Senators Kerry and Boxer in a written
form that there has been no Genocide and questioned the massacres of
Armenians in the Ottoman Empire." Aram Hambarian, Executive Director
of Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), stated this in his
commentary given to the Yerkir web-site touching upon the statement
spread the day before by U.S. Embassy in RA.

A. Hambarian once more stated that firstly, Richard Hoagland
pretending to the post of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia refuted the
Armenian Genocide. "Secondly, if you want to understand the position
of U.S. government, you should form a clear idea about the position of
the authorities in this issue of great importance for Armenians. They
can play on words, but for us, the most important is the legislation,"
Hambarian emphasized.

In the words of the Armenian lobbyist, it is very sad that the
American government does not respect the moral aspect of this
issue. "The U.S. Foreign Ministry with its conduct considerably lags
behind U.S. Congress, American public, American media and U.S.
states. We call American authorities for recognizing the Genocide, but
the American government remains the protector of Turkish interests,"
he added.

The Executive Director of Armenian National Committee of America
expressed the hope that all employees of U.S. Embassy in RA should
speak with the same sincerety and bravery about the Armenian Genocide
as former Ambassador John Evans did.

YOUTH PARTY OF ARMENIA PROPOSES CREATING RUSSIA-ARMENIA UNION

YEREVAN, MARCH 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The Youth Party of Armenia will take
part in the forthcoming parliamentary elections by both proportional
and majoritarian systems with the motto "May 12: Change of
Generations." As Party Chairman Sargis Asatrian informed journalists
at the March 16 press conference, Party’s majoritarian list includes
22 candidates for deputacy and 6 candidates have been nominated by
majoritarian system. At that, Tigran Nalbandian nominated at polling
station N 4 withdrew his candidature, as in A. Asatrian’s words,
"there is a more experienced candidate at that electoral district."

Touching upon the post-electoral program of Youth Party of Armenia, S.
Asatrian attached importance to amendments to the Code of Criminal
Procedure to be proposed by them, according to which the punishment
for use of drugs should be liquidated and the state should render
medical assistance to people using drugs. Those selling up to 10 g
drugs should be sentenced to 10-14 years’ imprisonment and those
selling more should be sentenced to life imprisonment.

S. Asatrian said that in the sphere of foreign policy the Youth Party
of Armenia considers primary creation of Russia-Armenia Union and zone
of rouble in Armenia. He also stated that the Russian language should
be given the status of "language of interracial relations."

Aram Hambarian comments on the statement of the US Embassy

ArmRadio.am
16.03.2007 17:33

Speaking to Yerkir weekly, Armenian National Committee of America
executive director Aram Hambarian commented today on the statement
issued by the US Embassy in Yerevan. Hambarian reiterated that
Ambassador-designate Richard Hoagland has denied the Armenian
Genocide.

"He has replied in writing to Senators Kerry and Boxer that there was
no genocide and has questioned the Armenian killings in the Ottoman
Empire. Secondly, if you wish to understand the position of the US
government, you have to clearly understand the position of this issue
crucial to Armenians.

They can play with words, but what matters to us is the
legislation. It is very sad that the US government does not respect
the moral aspect of the issue. In this respect, the US State
Department lags behind the US Congress, the American society, the
American media and the states.

We call on the American authorities to recognize the Armenian Genocide
but the Administration continues to defend the Turkish interest. Both
in Yerevan and Washington, representatives of the US government know
that the policy conducted in this field is not fair," Hambarian
said. He conveyed hope that everybody in the US Embassy in Yerevan
talks about Armenian Genocide as sincerely and bravely as John Evans
did.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The US has no intention to locate radar in the Caucasus

ArmRadio.am
16.03.2007 17:17

The US Government has taken no decision connected with anti-missile
defense in the Caucasus region and does not negotiate on the issue
with any of the countries of the region.

Commenting on the information of Azeri media that during the visit of
the Head of the US Missile Defense Agency Henry Obering to Azerbaijan
and Georgia in April an attempt will be made to get the support of the
leadership of these countries to the installation of an air defense
radar, RA Embassy in Armenia told Armenpress that the US has no
program of locating a radar in the Caucasus.

Let us remind that Obering had also declared that the United States
has not applied to any country for locating radar except for Czech
Republic and Poland.

Attorneys of Dink’s family demand legal investigation

ArmRadio.am
16.03.2007 17:42

Attorneys of the family of the slain editor-in-chief of the Istanbul
based Armenian Agos weekly have demanded to carry out a legal
investigation against those officials who `have been involved in the
crime.’

Istanbul based `Marmara’ newspaper informs that attorney Fettie Chetin
has shown the copy of the document in which Trabzon policemen inform
their colleagues in Istanbul about the murder being prepared.
According to the layer, 17 documents with the same content have been
sent to Istanbul Police.

DANIEL FRIED: IF CONGRESS ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON GENOCIDE, INJIRLIK
MILITARY BASE CAN BE CLOSED BEFORE U.S.

ANKARA, MARCH 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. "If the Congress’
House of Representatives adopts the bill on Armenian Genocide, the
Injirlik military base of Adana can be closed before American
servicemen and use of the airport for our planes will be limited."
According to the Hurriyet Turkish daily, Daniel Fried, Deputy U.S.
Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, declared this in
his testimony given before the Foreign Relations Committee of
Congress’ House of Representatives.