Author: Antonian Lara

COMMEMORATIVE EVENT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS TO TAKE PLACE IN MONTEBELLO

Noyan Tapan
Apr 24, 2009

MONTEBELLO, APRIL 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The principal
event in observance of the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
will take place on Friday, April 24, 2009 at the Armenian Martyrs
Memorial Monument in Montebello, California.

According to the Armenian Genocide United Commemorative Committee,
a solemn Divine Liturgy service will take place before the monument,
immediately followed by a political rally and commemorative observance,
during which a number of public officials representing local, county,
state and federal governments will address the audience. After the
political rally, a requiem service will take place at the monument
under the direction of the clerical leaders of the three Armenian
Christian denominations. During both the Divine Liturgy as well
as the political rally, those in attendance will be able to place
flowers at the monument and pay their respects in memory of our 1.5
million martyrs.

THERE IS A TURKISH REMEDY FOR ANTI-AMERICANISM IN TURKEY
Soner Cagaptay

Daily Star
April 24 2009
Lebanon

President Barack Obama’s visit to Turkey could not have gone better
in terms of winning Turkish hearts and minds. Obama did all the right
things, visiting Ataturk’s mausoleum, the Blue Mosque and the Turkish
Parliament, capturing the complexity of a country that is Turkish by
birth, Muslim in culture and Western in its political identity.

Yet Washington still faces a challenge among the Turks: after a
debilitating downturn in recent years, America’s favorability rating
is at rock bottom. Obama should be concerned about this phenomenon
that, if it continues to be ignored, will eat into the foundations of
the new United States-Turkish relationship that he wants to promote
on key issues, including Iraq, Iran and Pakistan. As serious as the
problem is, though, Turkish anti-Americanism can be fixed.

Obama cannot and should not ignore anti-Americanism in Turkey, because
as a democracy, Turkish politics and politicians are ultimately
accountable to public opinion. Washington can sustain cooperation
with all sorts of authoritarian Muslim states, such as Egypt,
despite pervasive anti-Americanism in those countries, because
these authoritarian regimes do not care for public opinion. In
Turkey, however, these sentiments will sooner or later erode,
reshape and then cripple governmental cooperation with the United
States. Anti-Americanism in Turkey presents a larger, more immediate
challenge to the Obama administration than it does in other Muslim
majority societies.

Obamamania will help face this challenge. According to a recent poll
by Infacto, whereas only 9 percent of Turks thought favorably of the
US president four years ago, at the time George W. Bush, today 39
percent have a positive view of Barack Obama. However, this jolt has
not lifted America’s standing in Turkey to match political ambitions
for long-term and grand cooperation with Ankara as laid out by Obama’s
speech to the Turkish Parliament on April 6. The Infacto poll also
shows that 44 percent of Turks view the United States as the biggest
threat to Turkey.

Lately, the United States has done the right things to win Turkish
hearts and minds. First, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, during her
March visit to Turkey, and then Obama gave the Turks a needed bear hug,
emphasizing that the United States likes the Turks, respects their
faith and supports their Western vocation. Washington is assisting
Turkey in its struggle against the terror attacks of the Kurdistan
Workers Party (PKK), a key security concern for many Turks. Obama has
even shied away from his campaign promise to support the "Armenian
Genocide" bill in the US Congress, which many Turks find extremely
offensive.

At this stage, there is little more that Washington can do to charm
the Turks. As I learned during a recent sabbatical in Turkey, the
Turks form their views of the world based upon what they hear from
their leadership. Turkey is a rare fence-sitting country between East
and West, in which pro-American and Western statements have the same
weight in shaping public views as do views that oppose the United
States and the West.

Since the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) assumed power
in 2002, the Turks have not heard anything positive about the West
from their leadership. In fact, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan has often lambasted the West, suggesting, for instance, that
"the West uses terrorism to sell Turkey weapons" or that "Turkey
has borrowed only immoral stuff from the West." Anti-Americanism has
become pervasive in Turkey as not just the AKP, but also even secular
and nationalist leaders now vehemently voice such views.

The United States cannot stop entrenched anti-Americanism altogether;
only the Turkish leadership can do that. Hence, the first step toward
combating anti-Americanism would be zero anti-American and anti-Western
rhetoric from opinion makers in Turkey, whether they are on the
side of the government or on the side of the opposition. By avoiding
anti-American rhetoric, the Turkish leadership could demonstrate that
it is ready to receive Obama’s extended olive branch.

The next step is targeting existing anti-Americanism, which can be
alleviated precisely because the Turks are a fence-sitting people. What
the Turks hear about the United States and the West shapes their
views. In battling anti-Americanism, the Turkish leadership needs to
highlight for the Turks the common interests of Turkey and the US,
such as a stable Iraq; shared institutions, such as NATO; and shared
values, such as democracy. Ankara should also give Washington major
credit for intelligence assistance to Turkey in its attempt to stop
the terror attacks launched by the PKK. Many Turks are not only unaware
of this fact, but also think that the United States supports the PKK,
as many news reports and government allegations have insinuated. The
situation on the PKK shows best how Turkish views of the United States
can be distorted.

Barack Obama should not despair when faced with evidence of
anti-Americanism in Turkey. This is indeed an immediate and big
problem, but it can be fixed. There is a Turkish solution to
anti-Americanism in Turkey.

Soner Cagaptay is a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for
Near East Policy and the author of "Islam, Secularism and Nationalism
in Modern Turkey: Who Is a Turk?" This commentary first appeared at
bitterlemons-international.org, an online newsletter that publishes
articles on Middle Eastern and Islamic issues.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATED AT ROME’S HOUSE OF MEMORY AND HISTORY

ArmInfo
2009-04-23 20:07:00

An event entitled "Stories Without History: Armenians" took place at
the Casa della Memoria e della Storia (House of the Memory and the
History, Rome) Apr 22 2009 on the occasion of the 94th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide.

The press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia reports
that the event was organized with the support of the Armenian community
of Rome.

Well-known Italian writer, correspondent of La Stampa Marco Tosatti
took part in the event.

Charge d’Affaires of Armenia to Italy Tigran Samvelyan thanked the
organizers for their initiative.

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
April 24, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

PRESIDENT OBAMA RETREATS FROM ARMENIAN GENOCIDE PLEDGE

— April 24th statement avoids "genocide" characterization

WASHINGTON, DC — Despite repeated statements properly
characterizing the Armenian Genocide during his Senate career and a
clear pledge stating that "As President, I will recognize the
Armenian Genocide," President Barack Obama today issued an April
24th statement evading the proper characterization of the Armenian
Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).

ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian issued the following statement
regarding President Obama’s April 24th statement:

"I join with all Armenian Americans in voicing our sharp
disappointment with President Obama’s failure to honor his solemn
pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide."

"In falling short of his repeated and crystal clear promises, which
reflected a thorough knowledge of the facts, the practical
implications, and the profound moral dimension of Armenian Genocide
recognition, the President chose, as a matter of policy, to allow
our nation’s stand against genocide to remain a hostage to Turkey’s
threats."

"The President’s statement today represents a retreat from his
pledge and a setback to the vital change he promised to bring about
in how America confronts the crime of genocide."

"Genocide must be confronted unconditionally at the level of
American values and our common humanity. As Americans, we should
never allow the prevention or recognition of this crime to be
reduced to a political issue that can be traded away, retreated
from under pressure, or used to advance a political agenda, of any
kind."

"We urge the President to act quickly to correct his
Administration’s stand on the Armenian Genocide by properly
condemning and commemorating this crime, removing Turkey’s gag-rule
on its recognition by the United States, and working publicly
toward the adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution before
Congress," concluded Hachikian

As a Senator and presidential candidate, President Obama pledged
repeatedly to recognize the Armenian Genocide and promised
"unstinting resolve" to end the Darfur Genocide, stating, "America
deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide
and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that
President." View his record on the issue at:
_Genocide.pdf

President Obama’s complete statement is provided below.

#####

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
_____________________________
For Immediate Release
April 24, 2009

Statement of President Barack Obama on Armenian Remembrance Day

Ninety four years ago, one of the great atrocities of the 20th
century began. Each year, we pause to remember the 1.5 million
Armenians who were subsequently massacred or marched to their death
in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. The Meds Yeghern must live
on in our memories, just as it lives on in the hearts of the
Armenian people.

History, unresolved, can be a heavy weight. Just as the terrible
events of 1915 remind us of the dark prospect of man’s inhumanity
to man, reckoning with the past holds out the powerful promise of
reconciliation. I have consistently stated my own view of what
occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed. My
interest remains the achievement of a full, frank and just
acknowledgment of the facts.

The best way to advance that goal right now is for the Armenian and
Turkish people to address the facts of the past as a part of their
efforts to move forward. I strongly support efforts by the Turkish
and Armenian people to work through this painful history in a way
that is honest, open, and constructive. To that end, there has been
courageous and important dialogue among Armenians and Turks, and
within Turkey itself. I also strongly support the efforts by Turkey
and Armenia to normalize their bilateral relations. 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.

Together, Armenia and Turkey can forge a relationship that is
peaceful, productive and prosperous. And together, the Armenian and
Turkish people will be stronger as they acknowledge their common
history and recognize their common humanity.

Nothing can bring back those who were lost in the Meds Yeghern. But
the contributions that Armenians have made over the last ninety-
four years stand as a testament to the talent, dynamism and
resilience of the Armenian people, and as the ultimate rebuke to
those who tried to destroy them. The United States of America is a
far richer country because of the many Americans of Armenian
descent who have contributed to our society, many of whom
immigrated to this country in the aftermath of 1915. Today, I stand
with them and with Armenians everywhere with a sense of friendship,
solidarity, and deep respect.

"HOT LINE": SAYING NO TO ANTI ARMENIAN

Panorama.am
11:22 23/04/2009

In these days Panorama.am receives various telephone calls from people
concerned with the increasing anti-Armenian campaign in the internet,
which has been even strengthened on the eve of the day to commemorate
the memory of thousands of victims of Armenian Genocide. Panorama.am
requested the "Public relations and information center" of the
President’s Administration to find out what should be done in this
regard. It was said that soon "hot line" would be set to receive common
calls. According to the source an official statement will be made soon.

PROFESSOR CLAUDE MUTAFIAN – "FOR THE FUTURE OF ARMENIA THE KARABAKH ISSUE IS MORE IMPORTANT"
Liana Sayadyan

hetq.am/en/politics/klod-mutafian/
2009/04/22 | 16:14

Feature Stories important politics

Professor Claude Mutafian of the Sorbonne, visiting Armenia to
participate in the conference dedicated to the 100th anniversary of
the Adana massacres, stated that in terms of the on-going negotiations
between Armenia and Turkey, "The talks are one thing but the issue
of the 1915 Genocide will not be resolved in that manner since the
fact cannot be overlooked that the bulk of diaspora Armenians are
the inheritors of that tragedy."

Professor Mutafian, originally a mathematician who has specialized
in Armenian history for the past thirty years, noted that Turkey’s
position in linking a settlement of the Karabakh issue to the
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations raises concerns that
the Karabakh issue will be solved "by making concessions regarding
the Genocide".

"It is difficult to oppose the opening of the border, but the important
question to be asked is at what price? For me, as a by-product of 1915,
the recognition of the Genocide is important but, to put it somewhat
crudely, it terms of the future of Armenia the Karabakh issue is more
important," Professor Mutafian stated to Hetq.

When referring to the attitude in the diaspora regarding the
negotiations now taking place between Armenia and Turkey, Professor
Mutafian said, "The diaspora is in a difficult situation. Many
say that they don’t want to upset the talks but the reality is of
course different. I can’t say whether the talks are good or bad. On
principle, negotiations are a good thing. One must always be able
to sit down with the enemy and talk. The same holds true here; but
many are opposed to them. I, however, am opposed to those diaspora
Armenians that claim that this is treachery. I, on the other hand,
don’t say that the talks are a wonderful thing rather, like it or not,
this is the situation. Our interests are different. There are more
Armenians living in the diaspora than in Armenia and still today
what you have at the basis of the diaspora are the descendants of
the Genocide victims. The memories of the Genocide belong more to
the diaspora than to the Armenia of today."

Regarding France’s position on the Genocide, Professor Mutafian stated
that even though it has been recognized by law, legislation to punish
genocide deniers hasn’t been included into the agenda of the French
Senate since, "The French government states that Armenia and Turkey
are now negotiating and that we shouldn’t upset these talks."

Professor Mutafian also sounded a note of caution when it came to the
issue of the campaign, organized by Turkish intellectuals, to collect
signatures apologizing for the events of 1915. "Twenty thousand Turkish
intellectuals signed the statement and that’s good. But we must not
forget that statement refers to the ‘Great Calamity’ and doesn’t use
the word ‘Genocide’. The Turkish authorities understand their role
very well. On the one hand it was a good thing but, on the other hand,
we cannot forget that it lead to other measures. We should never say
thanks for these other actions."

When asked if he thought that demands made by Armenia would produce
results Professor Mutafian responded, "It’s hard to say, but one must
always demand a great deal in expectation of the day when the other
side might be ready to make concessions. You must always go with your
hands full. I find that the possibility of financial reparations is
more realistic. The issue of the supervision of cultural monuments
still exists even though some initial steps have been taken in this
direction. Turkey must, at the minimum, permit Armenian specialists
to oversee the repair and restoration of our monuments in Turkey."

FOREIGN MINISTERS OF CSTO MEMBER STATES APPRECIATED HIGHLY ARMENIA’S ACTIVITIES IN THE ORGANIZATION

Noyan Tapan
April 22,2009
Yerevan

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsian welcomed on April 17 foreign
ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization member
states and organization’s Secretary General, Nikolay Bordjuzha, who
participated in the meeting of the foreign ministers’ Council of CSTO
in Yerevan.

The President of Armenia expressed confidence that the Yerevan
session would contribute to the strengthening of the organization
and higher efficiency of cooperation of its member states. According
to Mr.Sargsian, recently held numerous events made CSTO’s activities
more dynamic.

Presenting the agenda of the session, CSTO Secretary General
N. Bordjuzha mentioned that discussions were held in the atmosphere
of mutual understanding and issues mainly related to topical problems
of international security, coordination of member-states’ foreign
policy and basic directions of the Organization’s cooperation with
international and regional institutions. The package of prepared
documents will be presented to the Heads of states for approval at
the June summit of the CSTO.

As the RA President’s press-service told to Noyan Tapan, the ministers
of foreign affairs of the CSTO member states highly appreciated
Armenia’s fruitful work during her presidency in the Organization.

The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsian noted with satisfaction that
works aimed at coordination of foreign policy in the framework of
the CSTO have already yielded tangible results.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA MEETS MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS

armradio.am
22.04.2009 11:42

President Serzh Sargsyan received the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Matthew Bryza (USA), Bernard
Fassier (France), and the Personal Representative of the Acting
Chairman-in-Office, Andrzey Kasprzyk.

Present at the meeting was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia,
Edward Nalbandian.

The parties discussed issues pertaining to the current stage of
the peace process on Nagorno Karabakh settlement, President’s Press
Office reported.

ARMENIAN AMERIABANK PLANS TO ISSUE BONDS BY END-2009

/ARKA/
April 20, 2009
YEREVAN

Armenia’s Ameriabank plans to issue its bonds by end-2009, Ameriabank’s
Director General Artak Anesyan reported.

The bank is currently working out offers for the USAID and, as part
of a relevant program, 50% of the bond issue will be guaranteed.

Anesyan did not give details of the issue, saying the bank is currently
surveying the demand and supply in the local market.

"The interest rate will definitely not exceed the maximum deposit
rate set at 11%, which, we believe, is rather objective," the bank’s
director general said, adding Ameriabank offers an interest rate
ranging from 6% to 8% for dollar deposits.

He said that the interest rate of bonds would not exceed the benchmark
market rate.

Anesyan stressed the importance of using the accumulated foreign
currency in Armenia, adding "everything depends on whether the bank
can change the ‘dollar-oriented psychology’ of clients."

"Indeed, Armenia has an investments market and our objective is to
develop it objectively," the banker said, adding results would be
tangible approximately in Q3 2009.

The main discrepancy in the local market is the imbalance between
the demand and supply, Anesyan said. He pointed out that the issuer
plans to sell bonds at 12% annual interest rate and the investors
expect a 16% yield.

Securities transactions on NASDAQ OMX Armenia stock exchange shrank
22.9% to 1,534mln drams between February and March 2009 (compared to
1,990.2mln drams in February). Corporate bond transactions amounted to
1,467.9mln drams, with government bond transactions totaling 66.1mln
drams. Stock transitions worth 32,000 drams were effected in the
reporting period.

A leading investment bank, Ameriabank delivers corporate, investment
and limited retail banking services. Ruben Vardanyan is Chairman
of the bank’s Board of Directors, and Artak Anesyan is the Director
General of Ameriabank.

The bank’s strategic partner is the leading Russian investment company
Troika Dialog. ($1 – 372.84 drams).

EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION For Justice & Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel/ Fax: +32 2 732 70 27/26
Website :Eafjd [1]

PRESS RELEASE

SATURDAY 18 APRIL 2009

CONTACT : VARTéNIE ECHO

TEL. / FAX. : +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
400 ORGANISATIONS FROM 22 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES URGE OBAMA TO RECOGNISE
THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Nearly 400 organisations from 22 European countries signed-on to the
letter launched by the European Armenian Federation urging the
president of the United States to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
This petition was submitted to the White House on April 3rd, the day
before President Obama’s trip to Turkey, at which time 340
organisations had already co-signed.

In the letter, the Federation reminds the President that "European
Armenians as well as the large democratic mainstream of Europe’s civil
society will continue to strongly oppose Turkey’s membership in the EU
for as long as the Turkish state denies the Armenian Genocide,
promotes racism and pursues a policy of discrimination towards its
minorities." The Federation further notes that "the commitment that
President Obama made to recognise the genocide will unleash the
momentum of true change and democratization inside Turkey" and that it
"will also provide an unprecedented momentum to the process of
dialogue between Turkey and Armenia" by clearly stating "that denial
of this crime against humanity will no longer be supported and that
the way forward will definitely require of Turkey a fundamental
commitment to just peace."

The European Armenian Federation concludes the letter by reminding
that "any retreat by the United States at this defining moment would
be interpreted by genocide-perpetrating governments as full license to
continue their bloody acts and criminal complicities, as witnessed in
Turkey’s recent support for the Sudanese president who is under an
arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court".

"President Obama has the opportunity to demonstrate a real political
sea-change compared to his predecessors, by promoting a policy of
ethical responsibility, respect, justice and truth on this issue as
well as others. The anticipation of this change has elicited
tremendous enthusiasm in Europe and in the World. If the US President
does not affirm his commitment to recognise the Armenian Genocide,
Europeans would view it as a disappointing reaffirmation of the same
old tactical schemes and manoeuvres which so harmed the United States
these last years," commented Hilda Tchoboian, the chairperson of the
European Armenian Federation.

A political change is expected from President Barack Obama on April
24th, the commemorative day of the Armenian Genocide, when the US
President expresses each year the United Statesâ?? remembrance for the
victims of this genocide. Contrary to his recent predecessors who used
euphemisms to describe the planned extermination of the Armenians by
the Turkish State, president Obama stated on several occasions "as
president of the United States, I will recognize the Armenian
Genocide."

The European call to Obama echoes the one that was launched in the
United States by various democratic forces such as the Armenian
American community and the International Association of Genocide
Scholars. Recently, Representative Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the
House of Representatives – the third highest-ranking person in the
United State s – declared that she supports the recognition of this
genocide.

Recent rumours of "understandings" between Turkey and a hostage
Armenia (Turkey has blockaded Armenia for more than 15 years), are
intended to cast doubts on what President Obama will say on April 24.

"The Armenian Genocide is an established fact that is independent of
any â?`understanding’ between Armenia and Turkey. Likewise,
condemnation and repression of this crime is essential in all
countries, independent of political circumstances, because it is about
a crime that is indefeasible and that struck the whole of Humanity,"
continued Hilda Tchoboian.

The recognition by the United States and other countries of an
unpunished genocide with the purpose of its reparation by the criminal
State constitutes an obligation under International law.

The list of signatory associations is available on the website of
the European Armenian Federation [4].
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