Author: Andres-Papazian

SASSOUNIAN: BIDEN’S SENSATIONAL REVELATION OF PHONE CALLS WITH SARKISIAN
By: Harut Sassounian

Tue, Nov 2 2010

Armenians worldwide were scandalized last week by Vice President Joe
Biden’s revelation that Pres. Sargsyan had told him: “look, do not
force this issue [Armenian Genocide recognition] now, while we are
in negotiations [with Turkey].”

Biden’s statement posted later that day on
YouTube- so shocking that
most Armenians refused to believe that Pres. Sarkisian would have
discouraged the American President from recognizing the Armenian
Genocide! Some went as far as to question if the speaker shown on
video was really Biden, and if his words had been altered. Others
wondered about the identity of the young man conversing with Biden,
suspecting him to be an impostor or a foreign agent.

Given the far-reaching consequences of the words attributed to Pres.

Sargsyan, his press secretary immediately issued a categorical denial.

Two days later, the US Embassy in Armenia issued a
clarification/retraction. Taking into account these confusing and
contradictory statements, I will try to shed some light on the lesser
known aspects of this episode:

1) The young man speaking with VP Biden on YouTube is not an
impostor. He is an Armenian-American activist.

2) It is not widely known that right after Pres. Obama issued his
April 24, 2009 commemorative statement, Biden phoned three prominent
Armenian-Americans. He informed them that Pres. Obama had omitted
the Genocide word from his statement after Pres. Sargsyan gave his
consent during a phone call with the Vice President. Clearly, Biden
was using his conversation with Sargsyan to excuse Pres. Obama’s
failure to keep his campaign promise to Armenian-Americans.

3) Biden repeated the same statement last week, this time on video.

He was trying to win over Armenian-Americans to support Democratic
candidates in the tightly contested November 2nd elections. When
the young man asked Biden what message did he have for the Armenian
community which was “burned” or deceived by Pres. Obama, the Vice
President reassured him that the administration was “not backing off”
from its promise on the Genocide. He added: “The Turks have to come
to the realization of what the reality is.” Biden then conveniently
blamed Sarkisan for Pres. Obama’s lack of acknowledgment of the
Armenian Genocide. The Vice President concluded his comments by
cynically stating with a chuckle: “Reality has a way of intruding.”

4) Armen Arzumanian, Pres. Sarkisian’s press secretary, issued a
prompt rebuttal, stating that the President “did not use the expression
ascribed to him in the video, directly or indirectly.”

Arzumanian boldly called upon the White House to release the
transcripts of the two phone conversations between Pres. Sargsyan
and VP Biden in April 2009.

5) On October 29, the US Embassy in Armenia reacted by announcing
that during his two phone conversations with Biden in April 2009,
“Pres. Sarkisian did not raise the issue of the content of Pres.

Obama’s statement for Armenian Remembrance Day or seek a delay in
consideration of House Resolution 252.” This carefully worded statement
was meant to soothe the Armenian government’s severe irritation at
Biden’s surprising disclosures.

It would have been far more informative, however, had the U.S.

government released the transcripts of the two phone conversations
between Pres. Sarkisian and VP Biden. The Armenian side could have
also clarified matters by releasing its transcripts of the phone
calls, if they were taped, or a summary record. Furthermore, since
the two leaders were using an interpreter, it would be interesting
to compare Pres. Sargsyan’s Armenian words with those translated into
English-which was what Biden actually heard!

In the absence of a transcript, outsiders have no knowledge of what was
actually said during these phone calls. Yet it is clear that starting
in early 2009, Obama administration officials were pressuring the
Armenian government to sign an agreement with Turkey, so they could
use it as an excuse for not recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

And that is exactly what happened, when Armenia and Turkey signed a
preliminary agreement, “a roadmap,” on the eve of April 24, 2009.

Pres. Obama quickly capitalized on it. In his “Armenian Remembrance
Day” statement, he avoided the word genocide by claiming that Armenia
and Turkey “have agreed on a framework and roadmap for normalization.”

The controversy regarding what Pres. Sarkisian may have told Vice
President Biden is one more unwelcome outcome of the Armenia-Turkey
Protocols. However, the video had the unintended side effect of
raising the Armenian Genocide issue to the highest echelons of the
U.S. government and received coverage by worldwide media. A week before
the Armenian activist’s conversation with Vice President Biden, Armine
Babayan of Los Angeles also had an important personal encounter. She
had the rare opportunity to speak directly with Pres.

Obama about the Armenian Genocide during his campaign stop in Las
Vegas. Turkish denialists must not be too pleased that within one week
the President and Vice President of the United States were reminded
of their unfinished agenda on the Armenian Genocide.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY CANDIDATES REPRESENTED IN ALL U.S. STATES

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 2, 2010 – 12:41 AMT 08:41 GMT

The Armenian community of the U.S. endorses 160 candidates running
for the House of Representatives, Senate, Supreme Court and Governors
at the midterm elections to be held today, November 2.

The community supports Representatives Adam Schiff and George
Radanovich, co-chairmen of Congressional Armenian Caucus Frank Pallone
and Mark Kirk, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid, as well as Senators Barbara Boxer and Robert Menendez.

For the Armenian-American community most important is protection
of the interests of the community and Armenia as a whole, said Aram
Hamparian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).

In California, the Armenian community supports Jerry Brown for the
post of Governor.

From: A. Papazian

CONGRESSMAN SCHIFF OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE ELECTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 2, 2010 – 16:39 AMT 12:39 GMT

Congressman Adam Schiff is optimistic about the election, based on
the feedback he has been receiving from constituents, Congressman
Schiff’s campaign office said.

“They know of his efforts to create new jobs by improving access
to credit for small businesses, lowering taxes on small business and
investing in vital infrastructure,” the office told PanARMENIAN.Net
“In particular, they are grateful for his work to recognize the
Armenian Genocide, provide assistance to Armenia, and safeguard
Karabakh from Azeri aggression.”

“Congressman Schiff has had a very busy last couple of days, making
numerous campaign stops, participating in get-out-the-vote drives,
appearing frequently on Armenian TV,” the campaign office said.

From: A. Papazian

ADAM SCHIFF PROUD TO REPRESENT ARMENIAN COMMUNITY

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 2, 2010 – 16:46 AMT 12:46 GMT

Congressman Adam Schiff is very proud to represent such a large and
vibrant Armenian community, his campaign office said.

“He is greatly appreciative of how supportive the community has been
of all his efforts, and he wants to encourage all Armenian community
members to be sure to vote today,” it said.

“Every vote counts, and please call your aunts, uncles, parents,
grandparents and cousins and make sure they get out to vote for Adam
Schiff so he can continue his efforts on behalf of the community. And
when you see Adam Schiff in a store, restaurant or other public place,
please say hello and introduce yourself. He loves meeting members of
his warm, extended Armenian family.”

From: A. Papazian

KAREN BEKARYAN: ASTRAKHAN DECLARATION DOESN’T DAMAGE ARMENIA’S INTERESTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 2, 2010 – 15:58 AMT 11:58 GMT

The Astrakhan declaration signed by the Armenian and Azerbaijani
Presidents doesn’t damage Armenia’s interests, according to chairman
of European Integration NGO.

“I assess the declaration as a positive step, since it is based
on Maindorf declaration which stipulates for confidence-building
measures,” Karen Bekaryan told a news conference on November 2.

“The only negative nuance is the absence of the signature of Artsakh
Republic President,” he noted.

Bekaryan also emphasized that the reaction of Washington and Brussels
evidences of certain consent and balance between the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairing countries.

From: A. Papazian

GALUST SAHAKYAN: MAIN TASK OF RPA IS KEEPING OF ITS PROMISES PRIOR TO PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
November 2, 2010 – 15:57 AMT 11:57 GMT

Head of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary group
Galust Sahakyan said that the RPA is always ready for the parliamentary
elections.

Many party offices of the RPA implement daily work with the Armenian
society, Sahakyan told a press conference in Yerevan.

He added that it is too early to speak about the votes to be gained
by parties during the 2012 parliamentary elections in Armenia.

According to Sahakyan, the opposition should launch its electoral
campaign earlier, as it has not done a great work over the past years.

“It is a natural process. The political force, which I represent,
does not face such problems,” said Sahakyan, adding that the main
goal of the RPA is keeping of its promises prior to the parliamentary
elections.

From: A. Papazian

ARMROSGAZPROM WILL PUT INTO ACTION NEW UNDERGROUND NATURAL GAS STORAGE RESERVOIR AT ABOVIAN FACILITY

ARKA
November 2, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, November 2, /ARKA/. Armenia’s natural gas operator,
ArmRosGazprom (ARG), a joint venture with Russian Gazprom, will
put into action a new underground natural gas storage reservoir at
its Abovian facility, Roland Adonts, an aide to ARG CEO, said today.
Speaking at a news conference he said it will be the 27-th underground
reservoir, which is located 1000 meters deep with a capacity to hold
19-20 million cubic meters of gas, 1.6 times more than any of the
currently used reservoirs can do.

This, he said, will increase the current capacity of the gas storage
to 140 million cubic meters. He said in the facility’s capacity will
be raised to 170 million cubic meters in 3-4 years and to 200 million
cubic meters in nine years.

Vyacheslav Asriyan, head of an ARG department in charge of the
system’s operation and maintenance, said ARG will have invested one
billion Drams by the yearend in upgrading the Abovian facility.

The Abovian gas storage is one of the principal elements of Armenia’s
gas transmission system ensuing the country’s energy security. It
was constructed in 1962 on rock salt deposits at a depth of 800-1,000
meters. The gas storage regulates also the seasonal gas consumption
by Armenia’s industrial sector and supplies gas to the country’s most
important gas consumers.

From: A. Papazian

EX-ARMENIAN TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER AWARDED RUSSIAN RAILWAYS ORDER

ARKA
November 2, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, November 2, /ARKA/. Andranik Manukian, Armenia’s ambassador
to Ukraine, who served earlier as transport and communications
minister, was awarded a Russian order for his contribution to
development of government-owned Russian Railways Company, the South
Caucasus Railways (SCR) company, running Armenian railroads, said
in a press release. It said Manukian was awarded first degree order
For Merits in Development of OAO Russian Railways company by its CEO
Vladimir Yakunin.

SCR chief executive director, Shevket Shaydulin, was quoted as saying
that ‘it is a serious decoration recognizing Mr. Manukian’s weighty
contribution to securing the sustainable operation of Russian and
other CIS member countries’ railroads and also in recognition of
his input to strengthening of business and friendly relations between
Armenia and Russia.’

Andranik Manukian was quoted as saying that he was proud that the
decision to place Armenian railroads under concessional management
of Russian Railways was passed during his tenure of minister.

‘I hope that Armenia will eventually have a developed railroad
system,’ he said.

The South Caucasus Railways is run by Russian Railways. The
concessional agreement was concluded in 2008 for 30 years, with a
right of extension for another 20 years after the first 20 years
of operation.

From: A. Papazian

THE ARMENIAN MILITARY UNIT RETURNED FROM “COOPERATION 2010” MILITARY EXERCISES

29.10.10

On 12-29 October the ARM AF infantry unit was in the Russian Federation
in order to take part in “Cooperation 2010” operative-tactical military
exercise held in the frames of the CSTO.

The aim of the exercise was to ensure cooperation and harmonize the
joint activities between different units of the operative reaction
collective forces in times of danger and military activities.

The outcomes of the exercise were satisfying, and the organizers of
the exercise and the representatives of the participant countries
highly evaluated the joint activities of the participants. After
the final phase of the military exercise there was an award giving
ceremony where the infantry unit representing Armenia received the
cup of the exercise managers for a best result in a battle attack.

On the 29th of October the ARM AF infantry unit returned to Armenia.

The Chief of the ARM AF GS, Colonel-General Yuri Khachaturov and
other high ranked servicemen met the unit on their return.

RA MoD Department of Information and Public Affairs

From: A. Papazian

NO ROADMAP WILL BE SIGNED IN ASTANA, POLITICIANS SAY
Siranush Muradyan

“Radiolur”
02.11.2010 16:42

“There are no prerequisites today that would allow to suppose that
a road map on the Karabakh conflict will be signed in Astana,”
Republican MP Artakh Zakaryan told a press conference today.

Leader of the New Times Party Aram Karapetyan also excludes the
possibility of signing a road map at the forthcoming OSCE summit. He
believes, however, that the parties may possibly sign a document
reiterating the willingness to continue the process.

Aram Karapetyan said the process of recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic had to have started earlier. “Today the recognition will
not bring about qualitative changes, because eth political situation
suggests that no country will ever recognize this independence,”
he said.

According to Aram Karapetyan, the decision to delay the vote on the
bill on recognition of NKR was wise, saying that the recognition of
NKR independence would destabilize the situation in the region.

Artak Zakaryan reconfirmed the position of his party that recognition
of Nagorno Karabakh at this moment could harm the negotiation process.

From: A. Papazian