Month: March 2007

TURKISH JEWS JOIN STRUGGLE AGAINST ARMENIAN RESOLUTION AT CONGRESS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 15 2007

ANKARA, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. "A delegation composed
of Jews living in Turkey is trying to do lobbyist work at the US
Congress that intends to adopt a resolution, according to which
massacres of Armenians in 1915 in the Ottoman Turkey are qualified
as genocide", Jewish Telegraph Agency reported.

According to the same source, the delegation composed of 3 members
and headed by Silvio Ovadi, leader of Turkey’s Jewish community,
participated in a conference organized by the American-Israeli Public
Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and met with US Congressmen and heads of
Jewish lobbyist organizations.

"Turkish diplomats failed to receive wide support of Jews in the
struggle against adoption of the resolution, which was proposed by
Adam Shif, a Jew who enjoys support of Armenians," Jewish Telegraph
Agency reported.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

JOHN EVANS CALLS FOR PASSAGE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

ArmRadio.am
15.03.2007 11:41

Ambassador John Evans, the most recent US Ambassador to Armenia, called
upon the US Congress to pass the Armenian Genocide resolution. Evans
addressed a capacity crowd of over 400 guests gathered in San
Francisco for the Bay Area Armenian National Committee’s annual Hai
Tahd Evening banquet.

In his speech at the ANC banquet, Ambassador Evans discussed the book
he will be writing about the Genocide issue and explained how he came
to embrace the importance of the issue of addressing US policy on
the Armenian Genocide, stating "I do believe that in the long run,
my stance in support of recognition, will be vindicated, if not this
Spring, then at least by this Congress."

He continued later to state "The Armenian Genocide should be recognized
as such by this Congress." Evans also highlighted the importance
of genocide recognition efforts by the community. "…those of you
who’ve devoted hours of your days, years of your lives, fighting for
recognition for what happened to your forebears. I stand here tonight
in admiration of all of you. I salute you tonight, and I also thank
you for your efforts on my behalf, when it seemed to you as if I was
being done an injustice."

Elizabeth Chouldjian, ANCA Communications Director introduced
Ambassador John Evans. In her opening remarks she described the
ANCA’s key role in defending Ambassador Evans’ courage to speak openly
about the Armenian Genocide. " Our message to the State Department is
clear – come clean on the firing of Ambassador Evans, withdraw the
Hoagland nomination, and end the shameless pandering to the Turkish
Government," stated Chouldjian. "And if the State Department doesn’t
have the guts to stand by one of its own, to honor the man who tried
to bring dignity and morality to American foreign policy, then the
ANC and Armenian American community will."

FOCUS WILL BE ON KASHATAGH

KarabakhOpen
15-03-2007 10:21:24

"From last year we grant certificates of settlers to the inhabitants
of the region of Kashatagh. And we will try to improve the quality
of life of the inhabitants of the region," said the head of the
Department of Migration, Refugees and Resettlement Serge Amirkhanyan
in an interview with KarabakhOpen.com.

The head of the department confessed that the population of Kashatagh
was 13 thousand but recently most settlers have left the region
because they were dissatisfied with life there.

Serge Amirkhanyan says this year the focus will be on Kashatagh. The
inhabitants will get certificates of settlers and privileges. Serge
Amirkhanyan said the settlers have reconstructed about 3500-3800
houses and apartments but they lack conveniences. "We first need
to provide normal conditions to go on to think about resettlement,"
said the head of the Department.

He said last year only 5 families migrated to Kashatagh, the members
of 96 families were granted status of settlers.

RESETTLEMENT SHOULD BE ATTRACTIVE

KarabakhOpen
15-03-2007 10:20:47

According to Serge Amirkhanyan, the head of the NKR Department
of Migration, Refugees and Resettlement, the government gives aid
to emigrants but it is too. For two years now 1 billion drams is
allocated from the state budget for the needs of new settlers.

Serge Amirkhanyan said it is necessary to make this program attractive
for the 35 thousand refugees in Armenia to move to live in Karabakh
through privileges.

R. SUNY: ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS CAN BE NORMALIZED WITHOUT GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.03.2007 14:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Recognition of the Armenian Genocide by scholars,
the general public, and even officially by governments is an important
step towards clearing the air that fouls relations between Armenians
and Turks, Armenia and Turkey, Professor of Social and Political
History of the University of Michigan Ronald Grigor Suny stated
to the PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. He said, efforts to prevent such
recognition only pollutes the atmosphere and makes progress in
improving relations more difficult. "But this does not mean that
official recognition of the Genocide by one or another government
should be a prerequisite for discussion, negotiation, or other kinds
of relationships. Armenian-Turkish relations can be normalized without
official recognition. Indeed, relations can lead to recognition rather
than the other way round," Suny noted. At the same time he thinks
that opening the Armenian-Turkish border would be a very useful first
step to improving relations between the two neighboring countries,
it would help the economies of both countries. "Trade can have
positive political and social effects. Armenia’s official position
on Turkish membership in the EU is a sound and correct one: Turkish
membership will aid democratization in Turkey and therefore improve
the situation for Armenians in Turkey and relations between Turkey and
Armenia. However, at the moment Europe is reluctant to open itself to
Turkish membership, particularly given the dismal human rights record
in Turkey, the repression of the Kurds and other non-Turkish peoples,
the murder of Hrant Dink, and the persecutions of Orhan Pamuk, Elif
Shafak, and other intellectuals. Turkish democracy and membership in
the EU go hand in hand, and as they develop, Turkish-Armenian relations
will also be affected positively," Professor Ronald Suny underscored.

EMBASSY "DISAPPOINTED" WITH ARMENIAN DIASPORA REP’S REMARKS ON US ENVOY

Mediamax news agency
15 Mar 07

Yerevan, 15 March: The US embassy informed today about its "deep
disappointment" in connection with the statement of the executive
director of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), Aram
Hambarian, made in Yerevan on 13 March.

Mediamax reports that the statement reads that "his remarks were
a wilful distortion of reality and have no place in any serious
discussion about policy differences".

"Mr Hambarian’s comments are particularly out of place in Yerevan,
where the government of Armenia has already signalled its readiness to
work with Ambassador [Richard] Hoagland. Neither Ambassador Hoagland
nor the administration has ever denied the mass murders and forced
exile of over 1.5m Armenians that occurred in the final years of the
Ottoman Empire.

"During the hearing on his approval [as US ambassador to Armenia]
before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on 28 June 2006,
Ambassador Hoagland specifically said, on the record: `No one in
the administration has ever denied the events.’ He has read broadly
the history of the period. However, the administration and therefore
Ambassador-designate Hoagland, does not use the word `genocide’ to
describe these events", the statement of the US embassy in Armenia
reads.

ARPLAC TO PRESENT THE 9TH VOLUME OF THE "EUROPEAN INTEGRATION LIBRARY" SERIES

ArmRadio.am
15.03.2007 10:45

On 16 March 2007 AEPLAC will organize the presentation of the 9th
volume of " European Integration Library" series, i.e. "Scientific and
Technological Potential: Modern International Approaches and Practice."

This manual is rather unique since for the first time in Armenia
it covers the above-mentioned topic. It was prepared with the
collaboration of RA National Academy of Sciences.

The material will be interesting and useful not only for bodies,
organisations and individuals dealing with science policy, but also
for those dealing with industrial policy, general economic growth
and social policy, and other issues.

Representatives of the Government, international organisations,
of business community, education, science institutions and civil
society are invited to participate in the event.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US EMBASSY DISAPPOINTED BY ANCA STATEMENTS

ArmRadio.am
15.03.2007 12:35

The US Embassy noted with deep disappointment the statement made in
Yerevan on March 13 by ANCA Executive Director Aram Hambarian.

"His remarks were a willful distortion of reality and have no place
in any serious discussion about policy differences. Mr. Hambarian’s
comments are particularly out of place in Yerevan, where the Government
of Armenia has already signaled its readiness to work with Ambassador
Hoagland. Neither Ambassador Hoagland nor the Administration has ever
denied the mass murders and forced exile of over 1.5 million Armenians
that occurred in the final years of the Ottoman Empire. During his
confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on
June 28, 2006, Ambassador Hoagland specifically said, on the record,
"No one in the Administration has ever denied the events." He has
read broadly the history of the period. However, the Administration,
and therefore Ambassador-designate Hoagland, does not use the word
"genocide" to describe these events," says the statement of the
US Embassy.

THEY WANT TO INVOLVE STEPANAKERT IN THE TALKS TO BLAME FOR THEIR FAILURE

KarabakhOpen
15-03-2007 10:21:49

After his recent meeting with Ilham Aliyev the French co-chair of
OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier stated that the Karabakh issue may
be resolved this year. He made several other interesting statements.

First the French diplomat said Kosovo cannot be a precedent for
Karabakh, and perhaps for the first time he tried to explain why. He
said Kosovo is an internal problem of a country. In Karabakh, two
factors are present: the internal factor, "for some time Karabakh
was a sovereignty within Azerbaijan", and the external factor, the
conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. There is also a difference
in terms of deployment of the international force.

According to Davit Babayan, a political scientist, the attempt to
explain why Kosovo is not a precedent is commendable. However, he says
these points do not answer the question: will the independence of
the unrecognized countries be recognized? Apparently yes in Kosovo,
not in Karabakh. Fassier also gave lengthy explanations why the fast
return of the Azerbaijani refugees to Karabakh is impossible.

All this happened on the day when the first congress of the Azerbaijani
and Turkish organizations was held in Baku. The Azerbaijani president
Aliyev made several notable statements on this day. Particularly,
he said Armenia was built on the native land of Azerbaijan, and if
Armenia does not give up its present policy, it will stake its own
future. He also said Azerbaijan will never agree to lose Karabakh
and will return its land by all means.

"Mr. Fassier must have heard this. Moreover, he stated that the sooner
Karabakh joins the talks, the better, to keep the balance. Some time
ago this statement would be commendable but now the situation has
changed. The participation of Karabakh in the talks is not an end in
itself. The problem is how they will participate and how it will be
helpful to the settlement.

It is already clear to everyone that the Prague process is about
to die.

Even the defensive stance of Armenia is unable to overcome
revanchist and aggressive Azerbaijan. The only way to reanimate
the process is to involve Karabakh. However, even in this case the
process is doomed. Everybody believes now that the mechanisms on
the ground are not real. If at this point Karabakh joins the talks
and rejects the proposals, Azerbaijan, which is to blame for the
constant failure of the talks will blame Karabakh. So will do the
international organizations. This state of things is not favorable
for Karabakh. The Prague process is doomed. This does not imply the
end of the resolution. No. simply the talks should start anewm and
Karabakh should participate in them," Davit Babayan says.

TURKEY, AZERBAIJAN AND GEORGIA JOIN IN A MILITARY ECSTASY?
By Gayane MOVSISSIAN

Yerkir.am
March 10, 2007

The process of formation of the military alliance between Turkey,
Azerbaijan and Georgia (this possibility has been widely discussed
in the context of protection of regional oil- and gas pipelines) has
recently emerged in the context of Azerbaijan’s possible accession
to NATO.

This week Baku-based Zerkalo newspaper wrote, referring to diplomatic
sources, that Azerbaijan is in principle ready to address Brussels
with an official request for joining NATO but does not do so because
there are no security guarantees. NATO gives no security guarantees
to applicant countries in the 3-5 year period when membership in the
organization is being negotiated. Baku is afraid that the "unfriendly
countries" surrounding Azerbaijan – Russia, Armenia and Iran – will
exert additional mechanisms to pressure Azerbaijan.

In such cases, the issue of security guarantees for NATO applicant
states is usually solved through a bilateral treaty for military and
political cooperation with USA. However, USA has limited possibilities
for such a treaty with Azerbaijan. "Article 907 of the Freedom Support
Act does not allow violating the parity between military assistance
to Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Today US can provide military assistance to Azerbaijan indirectly
through various NATO programs. However, this will not be sufficient
in case a crisis situation arises," Zerkalo’s source stated. This
is why several alternatives for settling this issue are currently
under discussion.

The first option is connected with Washington’s expectations of
settling the Karabagh conflict in the first half of 2007, an option
that is not likely to take place.

The second option would be signing a treaty that would allow temporary
dislocation of "foreign primarily American troops" in Azerbaijan in
case of " threats to the pipelines and oil fields". However, this
option is not 100% viable either.

The third option is that another NATO member state, for instance
Turkey, could be the guarantor of Azerbaijan’s security. Zerkalo’s
source indicated that active negotiations are underway in this
direction. A package of treaties is under development to regulate
military and political cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey on
the one hand, and Turkey and Georgia on the other.

The recent exchange of high-ranking military delegations between Baku
and Ankara is connected with preparation of these treaties. However,
this option has its drawbacks as well. Turkey’s increased military
presence in Azerbaijan can result in aggravation of relations
between Turkey and Russia on the one hand, and Turkey and Iran on
the other. This goes against Turkey’s interests because the latter
depends on the energy resources of Russia and Iran. Besides, not all
western countries are interested in increased Turkish presence in the
South Caucasus. Armenia would be the first country not to be happy
with Turkey’s increased military presence in the region because the
latter’s policies pose a direct threat to Armenia’s national security.

The possible consequences of military actions against Iran are equally
disturbing for Armenia and the region in general. The Russian experts
comment on Pentagon’s plans to explode Iran from within in a book
titled "Introduction to the Future. The World in 2020." Commenting
on Pentagon’s plans to use 25-30 million Azeris living in Iran to
divide the country the Russian experts assume that if something like
this takes place, Turkey will emerge as the only stabilizing force
in the region. At the same time, the Turks will not be able to avoid
interference in a conflict in which their kin nation is involved.

They would have to take up the military control of Southern Azerbaijan.

Therefore, irrespective of how this will be formulated in terms of
treaties, a united military and political space involving Turkey,
Northern Cyprus, Southern Azerbaijan and the Republic of Azerbaijan
will emerge with a population of 110 million people. Turkmenistan,
including Turk-populated regions of Iran and Azerbaijan, as well as
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbek-populated Mazari-Shariff
region of Afghanistan will inevitably join such an alliance. In
other words, Turkey’s foreign policy vector will change its European
direction and move towards the Caspian region, Caucasus and the
Central Asia.

There is no need to speak about the consequences of such developments.