Month: September 2009

ARMENIA, TURKEY AGREE PLAN FOR ESTABLISHING TIES
by Mariam Harutunian

Agence France Presse
August 31, 2009 Monday 9:14 PM GMT

Armenia and Turkey said Monday they had agreed on a plan to establish
diplomatic ties and re-open their border, seeking to end decades of
distrust and resentment on both sides.

The two countries have no diplomatic relations, a closed frontier and
a long history of hostility rooted in massacres of Armenians under
the Ottoman Turks during World War I.

Ankara and Yerevan said they would hold six weeks of domestic
consultations before signing two protocols on establishing diplomatic
ties and developing bilateral relations.

"The political consultations will be completed within six weeks,
following which the two protocols will be signed and submitted to
the respective parliaments for ratification," the countries’ foreign
ministries said in a joint statement with mediator Switzerland.

According to copies of the protocols released by the Armenian foreign
ministry, the two countries have agreed to re-open their common border
"within two months" of the deal taking effect.

The agreement also calls for the creation of a joint commission
to examine the "historical dimension" of their disagreements,
"including an impartial scientific examination of the historical
records and archives."

The two countries said in April that they had agreed to a road map
for normalising diplomatic ties after years of enmity.

Turkey has long refused to establish diplomatic links with Armenia
over Yerevan’s efforts to have World War I-era massacres of Armenians
by Ottoman Turks recognised as genocide — a label Turkey strongly
rejects.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin were systematically killed
between 1915 and 1917 as the Ottoman Empire, Turkey’s predecessor,
was falling apart.

Turkey categorically rejects the genocide label and says between
300,000 and 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil
strife when Armenians took up arms in eastern Anatolia and sided with
invading Russian troops.

Turkey also closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with
ally Azerbaijan over Yerevan’s backing of ethnic Armenian separatists
in the breakaway Nagorny Karabakh region.

Rare talks between the two neighbours gathered steam last September
when Turkish President Abdullah Gul paid a landmark visit to Yerevan
to watch a World Cup qualifying football match between the countries’
national teams. It was the first such visit by a Turkish leader.

Gul invited Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian to attend a rematch
in Turkey in October. Sarkisian said in July that he would not attend
unless Ankara took "real steps" at mending ties.

Washington has backed the reconciliation effort, with President Barack
Obama calling on Armenia and Turkey to build on fence-mending efforts
during a visit to Turkey earlier this year.

Late Monday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s office issued a
statement saying France encourages Turkey and Armenia to "redouble
their efforts so they can quickly sign an accord… which will be an
historic event and contribute to stability in the region."

But Azerbaijan has demanded that any final deal be linked with the
withdrawal of Armenian forces from Nagorny Karabakh, which broke from
Baku’s control during a war in the early 1990s.

Officials there have hinted that energy-rich Azerbaijan would consider
cutting gas supplies to Turkey if Ankara ignored the Karabakh issue
in its talks with Armenia.

The plan could also face domestic opposition in both countries, where
the issue of the Ottoman-era massacres continues to raise strong
emotions. One of Armenia’s most influential political parties, the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), left the country’s
governing coalition in April in protest over the talks with Ankara.

"OROROTS" FOR THE FAMILIES IN NEED HAVING NEWBORNS

Aysor
Aug 31 2009
Armenia

"Hayastan" All-Armenian fund in the frameworks of "Ororots" project on
August 25 in Tavush region handed packages containing first necessity
items for the newborns to 30 socially vulnerable families and families
having one year old children.

The charity was realized by the German married couple Vaydemans due
to 5000 euro donation.

Gohar Mkhitaryan, citizen of Berd city, believes that this type of
attention helps the socially vulnerable families such is theirs to
ease the routine troubles and get warmth.

"Ororots" project that has received the appreciation of Fund Board
of Trustees is acting since 2002, June 1. The project aims at aiding
socially vulnerable families in organizing the care of the children
in Armenian Republic.

"Since 2002 we have showed aid to 1150 families which speaks about
the success of "Ororots" project. I hope in the future too there
will be Vaydemans and will continue the started good work showing
their support to the babies that are in need", – said adviser to the
"Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund’s acting executive director, reports
the public relation department of the "Hayastan" All-Armenian fund.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A. PETROSYAN EXTENDS CONDOLENCES ON EDWARD KENNEDY’S DEATH

Aysor
Aug 31 2009
Armenia

Today a Condolence Book was opened at the US Embassy in Yerevan
connected with the death of Senator Edward Kennedy, reports the
RA NA public relations department. Vice-Speaker of the National
Assembly Arevik Petrosyan visited the US Embassy to leave a note in
the Condolence Book.

"On behalf of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, we
extend our deep condolences to the American people and the Kennedy
family on the death of an outstanding representative of the Democratic
Party, experienced Senator an a sincere friend of the Armenian people
Edward Kennedy. His memory will remain bright in our hearts."

WE DO NOT CONSIDER RECOGNITION OF GENOCDE PRECONDITION: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

Today.Az
ics/55132.html
Aug 31 2009
Azerbaijan

The Turkish and Armenian Presidents will meet if the border is opened
or countries are close to make this decision, the Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview with BBC’s Russian service.

"I will go to Turkey for this football match if our border is opened
or we are on the eve to achieve it," Sargsyan said.

Term ‘football diplomacy’ appeared a year ago when the Turkish
President Abdullah Gul arrived in Yerevan. A formal cause was a
football match between teams of the two countries.

The return football match will be held in Turkey in mid-October.

"We have agreements. I think that a normal, correct way for sides to
fulfill their agreements. Unfortunately, I have not seen any great
wiling or strive to fulfill these agreements," Sargsyan said.

He said that the Armenian still favors establishing relations without
preliminary terms.

"We have not considered recognition of genocide as a preliminary term
to establish relations," Sargsyan said.

TURKEY AND ARMENIA TO ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC TIES

AlArabiya.net
August 30, 2009 Sunday
UAE

Armenia and Turkey have agreed to begin "internal political
consultations" on establishing diplomatic relations within six weeks,
the two countries’ foreign ministries said Monday, after almost a
century of hostility.

"The political consultations will be completed within six weeks,
following which the two Protocols will be signed and submitted to
the respective Parliaments for the ratification on each side," the
foreign ministries of Turkey and Armenia, and mediator Switzerland,
said in a joint statement. The landmark agreement would provide
for the normalization of ties "within a reasonable timeframe", said
the statement.

"The normalization of bilateral relations will contribute to regional
peace and stability," it added.

Armenia and Turkey said in April that they had agreed to a road map
for normalizing diplomatic ties after years of enmity.

Turkey has long refused to establish diplomatic links with Armenia
over Yerevan’s efforts to have World War I-era massacres of Armenians
by Ottoman Turks recognized as genocide — a label Turkey strongly
rejects.

Turkey also closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with
ally Azerbaijan over Yerevan’s backing of ethnic Armenian separatists
in the breakaway Nagorny Karabakh region.

ARMENIA, TURKEY TO SIGN PROTOCOLS IN SIX WEEKS

urkey-announce-relations-protocols/
Aug 31, 2009

BERNE, YEREVAN, ANKARA (Foreign Ministry Press Service)-The
foreign ministers of Armenia, Turkey and Switzerland issued a joint
announcement Monday outlining the protocols that will guide the
establishment and development of relations between Turkey and Armenia.

Below is the text of the announcement and the protocols, which we
received from the foreign ministry.

The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey have agreed to
start their internal political consultations on the two protocols –
the "Protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations" and the
"Protocol on the development of bilateral relations" – which have
been initiated in the course of their efforts under Swiss mediation.

The two Protocols provide for a framework for the normalization of
their bilateral relations within a reasonable timeframe. The political
consultations will be completed within six weeks, following which
the two Protocols will be signed and submitted to the respective
Parliaments for the ratification on each side. Both sides will make
their best efforts for the timely progression of the ratification in
line with their constitutional and legal procedures.

The normalization of bilateral relations will contribute to the
regional peace and stability. The Republic of Armenia and the Republic
of Turkey are committed are pursuing their joint efforts with the
assistance of Switzerland.

Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations

Between Republic of Armenia and Republic of Turkey

The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey,

Desiring to establish good neighborly relations and to develop
bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, cultural and other
fields for the benefit of their peoples, as envisaged in the Protocol
on the development of relations signed on the same day,

Referring to their obligation under the Charter of the United Nations,
the Helsinki Final Act, the Charter of Paris for a New Europe,

Reconfirming their commitment, in their bilateral and international
relations, to respect and ensure respect for the principles equality,
sovereignty, non intervention in internal affairs of other states,
territorial integrity and inviolability of frontiers,

Bearing in mind the importance of the creation and maintenance of
an atmosphere of trust and confidence between the two countries that
will contribute to the strengthening of peace, security and stability
of the whole region, as wll as being determined to refrain from the
threat or the use of force, to promote the peaceful settlement of
disputes, and to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Confirming the mutual recognition of the existing border between the
two countries as defined by the relevant treaties of international law,

Emphasizing their decision to open the common border.

Reiterating their commitment to refrain from pursuing any policy
incompatible with the spirit of good neighborly relations.

Condemning all forms of terrorism, violence and extremism irrespective
of their cause, pledging to refrain from encouraging and tolerating
such acts and to cooperate in combating against them,

Affirming their willingness to chart a new pattern and course for
their relations on the basis of common interests, goodwill and in
pursuit of peace, mutual understanding and harmony,

Agree to establish diplomatic relations as of the date of the entry
into force of this Protocol in accordance with the Vienna Convention
on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 and to exchange Diplomatic Missions.

Protocol on Development of Relations Between the Republic of Armenia
and the Republic of Turkey Guided by the Protocol on the Establishment
of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the
Republic of Turkey signed on the same day,

Considering the perspectives of developing their bilateral relations,
based on confidence and respect to their mutual interests,

Determining to develop and enhance their bilateral relations, in the
political, economic, energy, transport, scientific, cultural issues
and other fields, based on common interests of both countries,

Supporting the promotion of the cooperation between the two countries
in the international and regional organizations, especially within the
framework of the UN, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the Euro-Atlantic
Partnership Council and the BSEC,

Taking into account the common purpose of both States to cooperate
for enhancing regional stability and security for ensuring democratic
and sustainable development of the region,

Reiterating their commitment to the peaceful settlement of regional
and international disputes and conflicts on the basis of the norms
and principles of international law,

Reaffirming their readiness to actively support the actions of the
international community in addressing common security threats to
the region and world security and stability, such as terrorism,
transnational organized crimes, illicit trafficking of drugs and arms,+

1. Agree to open the common border within 2 months after entry into
force of this Protocol,

2. Agree to

Conduct regular political consultation between the Ministries of
Foreign Affairs of the two countries; Implement a dialogue on the
historical dimension with the aim to restore mutual confidence between
the two nations, including an impartial and scientific examination
of the historical records and archives to define existing problems
and formulate recommendations;

Make the best possible use of existing transport, communications and
energy infrastructure and networks between the two countries and to
undertake measures in this regard;

Develop the bilateral legal framework in order to foster cooperation
between the two countries;

Cooperate in the fields of science and education by encouraging
relations between the appropriate institutions as well as promoting
the exchange of specialists and students, and act with the aim of
preserving the cultural heritage of both sides and launching common
cultural projects;

Establish consular cooperation in accordance with the Vienna Convention
on Consular Relations of 1963 in order to provide necessary assistance
and protection to the citizens of the two countries;

Take concrete measures in order to develop trade, tourism and economic
cooperation between the two countries; Engage in a dialogue and
reinforce their cooperation on environmental issues.

3. Agree on the establishment of an intergovernmental bilateral
commission which shall comprise separate sub-commissions for the prompt
implementation of the commitments mentioned in operation paragraph
2 above in this Protocol. To prepare the working modalities of the
intergovernmental commission and its sub-commissions, a working
group headed by the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs shall be
created 2 months after the day following the entry into force of
this Protocol. Within 3 months after the entry into force of this
Protocol, these modalities shall be approved at ministerial level. The
intergovernmental commission shall meet for the first time immediately
after the adoption of the said modalities. The sub-commissions shall
start their work at the latest 1 month thereafter and they shall work
continuously until the completion of their mandates. Where appropriate,
international experts shall take part in the sub-commissions.

The timetable ans elements agreed by both sides for the implementation
of this Protocol are mentioned in the annexed document (See below),
which is an integral part of this Protocol.

This Protocol and the Protocol on the Estblishment of Diplomatic
Relation between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey
shall enter into force on the same day, i.e. on the fist day of the
first month following the exchanges of instruments of ratification.

Annexed Document: Timetable and elements for the implementation of
the Protocol on development of relations between the Republic of
Armenia and the Republic of Turkey

Timetable and elements for the implementation of the Protocol on
development of relations between the Republic of Armenia and the
Republic of Turkey

Steps to be undertaken Timing

1. to open the common border Within two months after the entry into
force of the Protocol on the development of relations between the
Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey

2. to establish a working group headed by the two Ministers of Foreign
Affairs to prepare the working modalities of the intergovernmental
commission and its sub-committees 2 months after the day following
entry into force of the Protocol on development of relations between
the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey

3. to approve the working modalities of the intergovernmental
commission and its sub-commissions and ministerial level Within
3 months after entry into force of the Protocol on development of
relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey

4. to organize the first meeting of the intergovernmental commission
Immediately after the adoption of the working modalities of the
intergovernmental commission and its sub-commissions at ministerial
level

5. to operate the following sub-commissions:

– the sub-commission on political consultations; – the sub- commission
on transport, communications, and energy infrastructure and networks,
– the sub-commission on legal matters – the sub-commission on science
and education – the sub-commission on trade, tourism, and economic
cooperation; – the sub-commission on the historical dimension to
implement a dialogue with the aim to restore mutual

confidence between the two nations, including an impartial scientific
examination of the historical records and archives to define existing
problems and formulate recommendations, in which Armenian, Turkish
as well as Swiss and other international experts shall take part.

At the latest 1 month after the first meeting of the intergovernmental
commission

For the Republic of Armenia

For the Republic of Turkey

LENA CHAMAMYAN STUNS CAIRO AUDIENCE WITH POWERFUL VOCALS

Daily News Egypt
x?ArticleID=24183
August 30, 2009 Sunday

The fusion of Arabic musical traditions with jazz has become an
established subgenre slowly gaining popularity among both Egyptian
and Arab listeners alike.

The large attendance of Lebanese singer Rima Kcheich’s April concert
came as a surprise to many, partially due to the occasional avant-garde
aberrations that distinct this fusion. Two consecutive sold-out
concerts by singer Lena Chamamyan at Al-Azhar Park’s El-Geneina
Theater was another surprise not only to this reviewer but to
Chamamyan herself, who was overwhelmed by the warm reception she
received in Cairo.

"It’s flattering you know … to get such good feedback from people who
are keen on listening to this alternative kind of music," Chamamyan,
whose Egyptian debut was in 2007, said prior to the show.

"It’s like meeting up with an old friend who is dear to you, and
them being really excited about seeing you again," she told Daily
News Egypt.

The young Syrian/Armenian vocalist enchanted a packed theater with
her engaging voice and free-spirited presence on Friday and Saturday
as part of Al-Mawred Al-Thaqafy’s Ramadan’s annual program "Hay."

Faced with rapid ticket sales and calls from avid fans requesting
an additional performance, Al-Mawred extended the show to include a
Saturday rerun after it was originally scheduled only for Friday.

Fans swayed to the tunes, others sang along, asking for songs not
included in the line-up. The audiences were simply enamored by the
music, at instances falling into nostalgia and reliving in past times.

After a fascinating solo entrance epitomized in a Sufi number,
Chamamyan sprang to her earlier works, "Ala Mawj Al-Bahr" (On the Sea
Waves) and "Ya Mayla Al-Ghusson" (Swaying Branches), from her first
album "Hal Asmar Ellon" (My Dark-Skinned Love).

The line-up also included tracks from her second album, "Shamat," as
well as crowd-pleasing covers of great Egyptian folk composer Sayed
Darwish such as "El Helwa Di Amet Te’gen Fel Fagreya" (The Beauty is
Baking in the Morning).

In numbers that echoed Lebanese legend Fairuz, Chamamyan constantly
engaged an upbeat audience with her powerful, pure and rich voice,
in effortless manifestations of vocally difficult numbers.

With every song, she journeyed with the viewer through a series of
emotions, and used her body language and vocal meanderings to lead
such transitions. Her music ranges from Syrian muwashahat and inventive
reworking of Andalusian and traditional Armenian tunes to contemporary
jazzy love songs infused with Chamamyan’s distinctive oriental touch.

"I feel like I sing Arabic songs in an Armenian way, and this is
what makes me different," said Chamamyan, adding that Armenians are
known to express their long harsh history through musical creations,
which is why their music usually carries a somber element.

She is yet to perform to Armenian audiences, however. "There has
always been this longing to go to Armenia, so when I do I want to do
it right, you know?" Chamamyan said, adding that there might be an
Armenian album in the pipelines.

Accompanied by a bassist, a drummer, a keyboardist and Bassel Rajoub,
talented saxophonist and partner in the project, Chamamyan transported
her audience to different worlds. Throughout the two-hour performance,
she accompanied her listeners to Syria, its coasts and its fields,
Al-Maghreb (North West of Africa), early 20th century Egypt and,
her beloved homeland, Armenia.

It was easy to get lost in her angelic voice. Every once in a while,
a strong instrumental solo pierced the air in a harmonious fusion
with the carefully constructed ambiance Chamamyan orchestrated with
her band members.

Since the inception of the band project in 2006, Chamamyan has
performed in several Arab cities as well as Germany, Austria and
France. "Syrian people are very festive and the audience usually
very energetic… [while European audiences] listen really well but
they are never fully engaged. That’s their nature. They could laugh
between the pieces, they could sometimes clap, but that’s about it."

After the project got on its feet, Chamamyan witnessed a festive
couple of years. In 2006, Al-Mawred Al-Thaqafy granted the project
a fund to produce their first album which landed them a Monte Carlo
award in 2007 that subsequently laid the ground for the next album,
"Shamat," also produced in 2007, to materialize.

"This prize is what made me think of music as a profession," said
Chamamyan of the grant.

"It is like the first you get from your mother." The Monte Carlo award,
she said, made it easy to flourish as an artist.

Among Chamamyan’s idols is renowned opera singer Maria Callas. "She
transformed classical music from having too many rules to being very
simple. She sang very naturally, like it’s effortless," she said,
also citing Ella Fitzgerald as another powerful inspiration.

Her third album, "Rasa’el 2009," (2009 Messages) was due to be released
this year.

Chamamyan is planning next to join a music school in Graz, Austria,
where she was recently awarded a scholarship by the ministry of culture
in Austria. At Graz, she will work with jazz musicians from different
parts of the world, with hopes to release an album compiling their
collaborative work.

With a voice as commanding as hers and determination to revive
traditional music in a new form, Chamamyan is surely on the right
track, and we will definitely be seeing her in Egypt again soon.

EYEWITNESS TO GENOCIDE; MEMOIR A RIVETING INDICTMENT OF THE SLAUGHTER OF ARMENIANS

Ottawa Citizen
August 30, 2009 Sunday
Canada

SECTION: BOOKS; Pg. B4

Armenian Golgotha

By Grigoris Balakian (translated by Peter Balakian and Aris Sevag)
Knopf, $42

"Finally, the horrible year of 1915 passed, leaving in its wake
mourning and wailing, blood and tears."

These words, full of pathos and grief, summarize the collected memory
of Grigoris Balakian concerning the Armenian genocide during the
second year of the First World War.

The epicentre of that monstrous affair was Der Zor, a city on the banks
of the Euphrates River surrounded by the vast desert that runs across
southeast Turkey, Mesopotamia and Syria. There, the author states,
lies the true "Armenian Golgotha." His figures are staggering. Of the
1.5 million Armenians deported to Der Zor from the interior provinces
of the Ottoman Empire in the summer and fall of 1915, about 800,000
were massacred, mainly by Turkish mobile killing squads (chetes),
and another 400,000 died en route from disease and starvation. Of
the Armenians who reached Der Zor, by August 1916 some 250,000 had
fallen victim to starvation and roughly 150,000 had been murdered by
roaming chetes; by August 1918, between 400 and 500 of the original
deportees were left.

Balakian’s narrative is the story of horrible suffering and tragic
murder.

The outbreak of war in September 1914 had caught Balakian in Berlin
studying theology. He at once decided to return to Constantinople,
and was among a group of about 250 Armenian assemblymen, bankers,
doctors, editors, merchants and teachers arrested by the Ittihad
(Committee for Union and Progress) government of Enver Ismail Pasha,
Jemal Pasha and Mehmet Talaat Pasha on April 24, 1915. What then was
dubbed the "night of Gethsemane" is today the date of the worldwide
commemoration of the Armenian genocide.

For the next three years, Balakian was taken on a march of death
into the interior of Turkey: Ekishedir, Chankiri, Kayseri, Hajin and,
finally, Ayran on the Euphrates River. As most of his colleagues fell
by the wayside due to starvation and murder, and as dozens of other
caravans of Armenian deportees joined his, Balakian became obsessed
with surviving in order to write the "horrific story" of the genocide.

Somewhere on that march he decided on the title, Armenian Golgotha. In
September 1918, back in Constantinople with the help of Austrian,
German and Swiss engineers working on the Berlin-to-Baghdad Railway,
Balakian began to write. A volume of his narrative appeared in Vienna
in 1922. After a brief stint as prelate of Manchester, Balakian became
bishop of Marseilles, where he died on Oct. 8, 1934. A limited edition
of his memoir was published in Paris in 1959.

The book, newly published in English, is a powerful personal
narrative. The descriptions of the Armenian genocide are striking
and the author spares his readers none of the gruesome details. The
weapons of choice were those of the farmer, butcher and tanner
— axes, sickles, meat cleavers, pitchforks and knives — and the
tortures inflicted were horrendous: beheading, disembowelling, genital
mutilation and eye-gouging. Sexual violence was an integral part of
the genocide. Balakin repeatedly provides details of abductions and
gang rapes of women. The book is not for the faint of heart.

But those seeking a scholarly history of the Armenian genocide will
be disappointed. Balakian revels in stereotypes. The Armenians "for
thousands of years" were master craftsmen, architects, merchants,
physicians and scholars. The Turks "in their 600-year history" were
deceitful, duplicitous, and perfidious, a people who "left no trace of
memory of civilization except massacre, plunder, forced Islamization,
and abduction."

He also writes that the Germans were more than idle bystanders of the
genocide, they were its willing helpers in order to realize their
grandiose dream of using the Berlin-to-Baghdad railway to assault
India, the "crown jewel of the British Empire."

Even Balakian’s great hope for restoring the Armenian nation —
the Entente — proved to be a bitter disappointment. When a united
Entente fleet finally anchored off Constantinople in November 1918,
its commanders showed no interest in the Armenian genocide or in
Armenian nationhood, and instead allowed themselves to be debauched
by Turkish bribes and women. "God," in Balakian’s bitter assessment,
"remained silent."

The book would have lost none of its impact with careful editing,
removing countless repetitious accounts and phraseology and correcting
the many historical inaccuracies for the non-professional reader.

Its greatest shortcoming, of course, is the lack of source
materials. Throughout, and especially in Chapter 11 of Vol. 1, Balakian
refers to the "Plan for the Extinction of the Armenians in Turkey,"
yet he offers no solid evidence for the existence of such a formal
national "plan." Addressing this critical matter in the introduction
would have allowed the book to stand for what it is: a riveting and
powerful indictment of a genocide that became a paradigm for future
genocides, but that remains to be researched in Turkish archives by
Turkish scholars.

Holger H. Herwig is a professor of history at the University of
Calgary.

SARKISIAN SAYS HISTORICAL JUSTICE MUST BE RESTORED

Asbarez
1/sarkisian-says-historical-justice-must-be-restor ed/
Aug 31, 2009

YEREVAN-In an interview published Monday, President Serzh Sarkisian
emphasized the importance of restoring historical justice and told
the BBC what he envisions to be the course of Armenia-Turkey relations.

This interview was conducted prior to Monday’s announcement of
protocols governing the establishment and development of Armenia-Turkey
relations, which was publicized via a joint statement by the Armenian,
Turkish and Swiss foreign ministers.

The announcement stated that political consultations around the
protocols will be completed within six weeks, following which the two
countries will sign the protocols and present it to their respective
parliaments for ratification.

Below is the translated text of Sarkisian’s interview.

BBC: President Sarkisian will you attend the return match in Turkey?

Serzh Sarkisian: The question has two answers. The fist answer is as
follows. It’s not important whether I’ll visit Turkey or not. I’d
like to say that my visit to Turley should not be linked to the
relations between the two countries. There are two scenarios. Let’s
assume that Armenia freezes the negotiation process with Turkey and I
leave for that country to watch the soccer match. The second option
is that the two countries continue negotiating, but I don’t attend
the match. Which is more important? This is my answer if you ask the
question in the context of our talks with Turkey.

BBC: What signals is Armenia expecting from Turkey in order to resume
the talks?

S.S.: I have already announced and will say once again that I will
leave for Turkey only in case of opening of the border or at the
threshold of the event. We have an agreement with Turkey. I think it’s
the right thing for the parties to stick to the agreement reached
earlier. Unfortunately, so far I have not seen a great desire and
aspiration to implement those agreements. Our wish remains the same –
to establish relations without preconditions

BBC: Is Armenia ready to make concessions in regard to the events of
1915 and do you believe Turkey will call the events genocide?

S.S: Of course, it’s very important for our people, for Turkey and the
entire world. It’s important that historical justice be restored. It’s
important for our nations to be able to establish normal relations. At
last, it’s important that it never reoccurs in the future. But we
do not see the recognition of genocide as a precondition for the
establishment of relations.

BBC: Do you mean to say that there is an opportunity of compromise?

S.S.: It is not the case when one can talk about a compromise. We say
– yes, there was genocide, and no matter whether Turkey today admits
that or not, this is a fact that is recognized by all specialists
on genocides in the world; it is recognized by many countries of the
world. But in current conditions, we do not view it as a precondition
for establishing relations with the Turks

BBC: Anyway, that problem is an obstacle to regulate ties with
Turkey. A man, with whom I spoke earlier in Yerevan, recommended
another solution: when you drive you should look into the rear view
mirror to be mindful of what’s going on in the back, but the important
aspect is what’s in front of you. How well does this example describe
the current situation?

S.S.: Right, I can see quite well what the man wanted to say. He wants
to say that we should look toward the future, but we do not have the
right to forget the past.

US HOPES FOR PROGRESS IN TURKEY-ARMENIA TALKS

Asbarez
s-hopes-for-progress-in-turkey-armenia-talks/
Aug 31, 2009

ANKARA, YEREVAN (Combined Sources)-The US reiterated its support
for normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkish Monday,
when Secretary State Hillary Clinton discussed the matter with her
Turkish counterpart and US Ambassador to Armenia said the matter was
"an important issue" in the region.

Clinton underscored the importance of normalizing relations during a
35-minute phone call on regional matters with Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Dovlatoglu.

Speaking at an event hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan on Monday,
Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch described Turkey-Armenia
normalization as an important issue for Turkey, Armenia and the region,
reported RFE/RL.

"Turkey-Armenia rapprochement is an important issue. It’s important for
Turkey, it’s important for Armenia, it’s important for the region. The
U.S. supports normalization of relations and the opening of the
border, and our hope remains that there will be tangible progress
soon," said Yovanovitch during the opening of a condolence book at
the U.S. Embassy for Senator Edward Kennedy, according to RFE/RL.

In her remarks, Yovanovitch described Senator Kennedy as a great
American and a great citizen of the world.

"His death is a huge loss both for America and the world and I also
believe for Armenia. Because from the very first days of Armenia’s
independence Senator Kennedy supported a newly independent Armenia
and stood firm with Armenia in all of its causes and also with the
Armenian-American community in the United States," she said.

RFE/RL reported that Yovanovitch also answered a journalist’s question
regarding the process of the recognition of the Armenian genocide in
the United States.

She said: "I would point you to President [Barack] Obama’s April 24
statement on this issue. He was very clear about what his personal
views are. He was also very clear about how he sees the process
forward, and that right now there are important talks between Armenians
and Turks and it is important that we support that process."