Month: July 2009

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE

July 30, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

OVER 80 HOUSE MEMBERS SLAM TURKEY’S REVERSAL ON PROPOSED "ROADMAP"

— Congressional Letter Urging "Administration to separate the
issues of normalization and genocide recognition" Comes as Turkish
Leaders Reiterate Preconditions on Dialogue

WASHINGTON, DC – Over 80 House House Members, today, expressed
concern about Turkey’s backtracking on a so-called "roadmap" to
advance Armenia-Turkey dialogue, urging President Obama to separate
Armenian Genocide recognition from normalization of ties between
the two countries, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA.)

"We commend the leadership of Representatives Pallone, Kirk,
Schiff, Radanovich and their 78 colleagues in calling attention to
Turkey’s efforts to inject the resolution of the Karabagh conflict
as a precondition to lifting the its illegal blockade of Armenia,"
said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "U.S. affirmation of the
Armenian Genocide should not be held hostage to a sham ‘roadmap’
designed to prolong U.S. complicity in the denial of that crime
against humanity."

In a July 29th letter to President Obama, initiated by
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and
Mark Kirk (R-IL) as well as Armenian Genocide resolution lead
sponsors Adam Schiff (D-CA) and George Radanovich (R-CA), Members
of Congress questioned Turkey’s commitment to talks normalizing
relations with Armenia, as stated in a "roadmap" agreement signed
just two days prior to April 24th, the international day of
commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. Turkey has since added
preconditions to continued discussions, which have led most
observers of the process to conclude the effort to be stalled
indefinitely.

"It would appear that Turkey, in an effort to block U.S.
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, agreed to a roadmap it did
not intend to uphold," notes the letter to the President.
"Therefore, we urge your Administration to separate the issues of
normalization and genocide recognition. We hope that renewed
efforts and focused resources from the Administration can be
utilized to nurture the Armenia-Turkey normalization process
without preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe, and
continue to remain strongly supportive of your stated campaign
policy to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide."

Joining Reps. Pallone, Kirk, Schiff and Radanovich in cosigning the
letter to President Obama were Representatives: Gary Ackerman (D-
NY), Joe Baca (D-CA), Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Shelley Berkley (D-
NV), Howard Berman (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Bruce Braley, (D-
IA), John Campbell, (R-CA), Lois Capps (D-CA), Michael Capuano (D-
MA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jerry Costello (D-
IL), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Peter DeFazio (D-
OR), Steve Driehaus (D-OH), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Chaka Fattah (D-PA),
Bob Filner (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Elton Gallegly (R-CA),
Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY),
Rush Holt (D-NJ), Michael Honda (D-CA), Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL),
Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Dale Kildee (D-MI), Leonard Lance (R-NJ),
James Langevin (D-RI), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Sander Levin (D-MI),
Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Daniel Lungren (R-
CA). Stephen Lynch (D-CA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Edward Markey
(D-MA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), James
McGovern (D-MA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Candice Miller (R-MI), Walt
Minnick (D-ID), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Richard Neal (D-CA), Devin
Nunes (R-CA), John Olver (D-MA) Payne, Donald (D-NJ), Gary Peters
(D-MI), Collin Peterson (D-MN), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Peter Roskam
(R-IL), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Edward Royce (R-CA), Bobby Rush (D-
IL) Paul Ryan (R-WI), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD)
James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Chris Smith (R-
NJ), Mark Souder (R-IN), Zack Space (D-OH), Jackie Speier (D-CA),
John Tierney (D-MA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Niki
Tsongas (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tim Walz (D-MN) Henry
Waxman (D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Frank Wolf (R-VA), and Lynn
Woolsey (D-CA).

The letter comes just days following a statement by Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu once again citing that the resolution of
the Nagorno Karabagh conflict as a precondition to Armenia-Turkey
normalization efforts. In recent weeks, Western diplomats have
stated that dialogue between Armenia and Turkey is virtually
frozen. An ANCA fact sheet outlining Turkey’s backtracking from
the April 22nd "roadmap" agreement can be viewed at:
_nowhere.pdf

Over the past two weeks, Armenian Americans have been contacting
their legislators to cosign the Congressional letter. ANCA Leo
Sarkisian intern Nareg Aghjayan documented the grassroots community
efforts to educate Congress about Turkey’s backtracking on the
roadmap in a "Capital Perspectives" piece issued today, posted on
the ANCA Leo Sarkisian 2009 blog page:
/30/grassroots-making-our-cause-a-reality/

The full text of the letter to President Obama follows.

#####

July 30, 2009

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We write to you with our concerns about Turkish backpedaling on the
agreed upon roadmap to normalize relations between Turkey and
Armenia.

On April 22, 2009, just two days before the 94th commemoration of
the Armenian Genocide, the Department of State released the
following statement:

"The United States welcomes the statement made by Armenia and
Turkey on normalization of their bilateral relations. It has long
been and remains the position of the United States that
normalization should take place without preconditions and within a
reasonable timeframe. We urge Armenia and Turkey to proceed
according to the agreed framework and roadmap. We look forward to
working with both governments in support of normalization, and thus
promote peace, security and stability in the whole region."

Two days later, instead of recognizing the Armenian Genocide, the
Administration opted to focus on this new roadmap to Armenian-
Turkish normalization. "I also strongly support the efforts by
Turkey and Armenia to normalize their bilateral relations," you
wrote. "Under Swiss auspices, the two governments have agreed on a
framework and roadmap for normalization. I commend this progress,
and urge them to fulfill its promise."

While the Government of Armenia remains committed to this roadmap
and has long offered to establish ties with Turkey without
preconditions, Turkey’s public statements and actions since April
24th stand in sharp contrast to this agreement and undermine U.S.
policy that normalization take place without preconditions.

On May 13, 2009, Prime Minister Erdogan publically conditioned
normalization of relations with Yerevan on Azerbaijan’s approval of
a future settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict that fully
meets Baku’s satisfaction. "I want to repeat once more that until
the occupation ends, the border gates [with Armenia] will remain
closed," Erdogan told the Azeri Parliament.

On June 17, 2009, EU South Caucasus Envoy Peter Semneby said Turkey
had taken "tactical steps backwards" in the normalization process
with Armenia.

It would appear that Turkey, in an effort to block U.S. recognition
of the Armenian Genocide, agreed to a roadmap it did not intend to
uphold. Therefore, we urge your Administration to separate the
issues of normalization and genocide recognition. We hope that
renewed efforts and focused resources from the Administration can
be utilized to nurture the Armenia-Turkey normalization process
without preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe, and
continue to remain strongly supportive of your stated campaign
policy to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Sincerely,

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

GREEK CATHOLIC PATRIARCH GREGORIOS III LAHAM THANKS
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

On Wednesday 29 July 2009, the representative of Patriarch Gregorios III,
Auxiliary Bishop of the Patriarchate Michel Abrasss, visited His Holiness
Aram I to express their gratitude for the participation of the Armenian
Orthodox Church in activities celebrating the Year of Saint Paul (28 June
2008 to 28 June 2009).

On this occasion they also discussed relations between the two churches
historically and in present times particularly in the Middle East.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

Housing proposal for St. Stanislaus Hall postponed

The Nashua Telegraph (Nashua, NH)
July 29, 2009

NASHUA’A hearing scheduled for Tuesday on a proposal by developer
Vatche Manoukian to construct two multi-family buildings at 45 Pine
Hill Road was postponed at the at request of Manoukian’s lawyer,
Gerald Prunier.

The hearing will be held Sept. 22 in the City Hall auditorium at 6:30
p.m.

In a letter to the board, Prunier said he asked for the delay because
of the possible impact of the planned housing project on the proposed
second landing strip at Boire Field, located near the Manoukian
property.

The Federal Aviation Administration `has to consider all new
construction within a distance of the line of flight or severe
penalties could be imposed,” Prunier said.

Prujier said he will be working with Royce Rankin of the Nashua
Airport Authority to get FAA permission for his client’s proposed
project.

— Tom West

/article?AID=/20090729/NEWSBLOG/907299929

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES HIS KIRGHIZ COUNTERPART ON RE-ELECTION TO PRESIDENTIAL POST

ArmInfo
2009-07-30 15:43:00

ArmInfo. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has congratulated President
of Kirghizia Kurmanbek Bakiyev on re-election to the presidential post.

The Armenian presidential press-service told ArmInfo that Serzh
Sargsyan expressed confidence that over the period of the second stage
of ruling Kirghizia President Bakiyev will continue implementing
all programs for the welfare of Kirghiz people. "I am sure that in
the future we’ll keep our interstate relations at a high level in
both bilateral and multilateral format, and we’ll be consistent in
developing and consolidating our cooperation", he said. The Armenian
president wished good health and further success to his Kirghiz
counterpart and peace and prosperity to the friendly Kirghiz people.

CENTRAL BANK OF ARMENIA: INFLATION IN ARMENIA TO MAKE UP 3.5% IN 2009

ArmInfo
2009-07-30 15:39:00

ArmInfo. The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) forecasts 3.5% inflation in
the country by the end of 2009, and 2.7% inflation – by the end of II
qt 2010, the program of the CBA monetary policy for III qt 2009 says.

As a consequence of the global economic crisis, maintenance of big
negative severance in domestic demand will remain in the forecasted
12-month period the main factor conditioning the inflation tendency. At
the same time, restoration of economic growth rates may become possible
as a result of anti-crisis measures of the government and reduction
in interest rates.

As the results of the CBA model of quarterly forecasting, under
these conditions the current inflationary pressure will gradually
dampen and throughout the whole 12-month forecasted period inflation
will be maintained in the target corridor 4+1,5%. At the same time,
according to the CBA forecasts, there may be risks connected with
both reduction of inflation and its growth connected with the rates of
increasing liquidity by means of anti-crisis programs, terms of global
economy recovery, as well as with the processes of implementation of
large-scale regional transport and energy programs.

To note, in Jan-Dec 2008 5.2% inflation was fixed in the consumer
market of Armenia. Inflation was fixed at 5.2% in Jan-June 2009
as well.

SOUTH CAUCASIAN RAILWAYS OPENS REPAIRED MASIS STATION

ArmInfo
2009-07-30 15:47:00

ArmInfo. Today South Caucasian Railways opened repaired Masis station.

Chief Engineers of SCR Samvel Haroutyunyan says that Masis is a
very important station. The company has spent 50mln AMD on this
project. "This is the first station where we have launched a
computerized control system. We have significantly enhanced the
efficiency of our repairs by obtaining modern repair equipment,"
says Haroutyunyan.

In 2009 the investments of SCR will total 2.7bln RUR. 70% of the
money will be spent on infrastructure.

South Caucasian Railways is 100% subsidiary of Russian Railways and
has 30-year concession over Armenian Railways.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT TAKES A DECISION ON SIMPLIFICATION OF CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE WHEN EXPORTING AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS

ArmInfo
2009-07-30 15:40:00

ArmInfo. At July 30 sitting the Armenian government took a decision on
simplification of certification procedure when exporting agricultural
cargoes of no more than 2.5 tons.

Armenian Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan said in government that
the fee for provision of a certificate of conformity by the Chamber of
Commerce and Industry will be 2 thsd AMD as against the fixed amount
of over 15 thsd AMD.

The certificate will be provided within a day, and the agriculture
products are to undergo phitosanitary inspection instead of laboratory
analysis, the minister said.

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan pointed out that thereby the
government stimulates export of agricultural products for small and
medium enterprises. "Our research showed that this change will be of
great importance in agriculture. This regime allows small and medium
business to independently export their products to neighboring Georgia
by simplified procedure",- the prime minister said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARTAK ZAKARIAN APPOINTED HEAD OF RA MINISTRY OF DIASPORA STAFF WITH THREE-MONTH PROBATION PERIOD

Noyan Tapan
July 30, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. By a decision made at
the RA government’s July 30 session Artak Zakarian was appointed Head
of the RA Ministry of Diaspora Staff with a three-month probation
period. Noyan Tapan was informed about it by the RA government
Information and Public Relations Department.

ALL-ARMENIAN CONFERENCES OF LAWYERS AND BANKERS TO BE HELD IN 2009 IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
July 30, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The RA government
at the July 30 session decided to organize and hold conferences
of lawyers and bankers Armenian by nationality from Armenia and
foreign states in 2009 in Armenia for the purpose of consolidating,
assessing the all-Armenian scientific and professional potential,
creating all-Armenian professional associations and commissions in
the sphere of Armenia-Diaspora cooperation.

Noyan Tapan was informed about it by the RA government Information
and Public Relations Department.

RA GOVERNMENT DISAPPROVES A NUMBER OF LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES BY DEPUTIES ARMEN MARTIROSIAN AND VIKTOR DALLAKIAN

Noyan Tapan
July 30, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA government at the July 30
session disapproved the RA bill On Making Amendments and Addenda to
the RA Electoral Code submitted by RA National Assembly deputy Armen
Martirosian by the order of legislative initiative and substantiated
its conclusion.

The RA government also spoke against the RA bills submitted by RA
National Assembly deputy Viktor Dallakian by the order of legislative
initiative: the package of RA laws On Making an Amendment and Addenda
to the RA Law On Mass Media and to the RA Criminal Code, On Making
an Amendment to the RA law On Operative-Investigation Activity, On
Making Addenda to the RA Law On National Security Bodies, On Making
an Amendment to the RA Law On RA Budget System substantiating its
negative conclusions.

According to a report by the RA government Information and Public
Relations Department, the government did not present an objection of
principle on another legislative initiative by V. Dallakian, RA bill
On Making an Amendment to the RA Law On Civil Service by proposing
editorial changes. The above mentioned bills will be submitted to
the RA National Assembly in the established order.