Author: Badalian Vardan

News.am

The stance of Diaspora is crucial: Galust Sahakyan
16:34 / 09/26/2009

`The stance of Diaspora is crucial for us,’ Head of the Republican
Party of Armenia Galust Sahakyan told NEWS.am commenting on Serzh
Sargsyan’s initiative to make a Pan-Armenian tour and hear out the
opinion of Diaspora representatives on Armenia-Turkey Protocols.

Asked whether Serzh Sargsyan will succeed in `finding a common ground’
with Diaspora considering that opinions on Protocols vary, the
Parliamentarian replied that he did not think there is outbreak in
Diaspora.

In addition, Sargsyan’s path had never been a `quest for common
ground’ and he reckons the President will be able to explain
everything to Diaspora.

Serzh Sargsyan will make a 7-day Pan-Armenian tour starting October 1,
2009. He will have meetings with the largest Armenian communities in
Paris, Los Angeles, Beirut and Rostov-on-Don to hear out their
positions on the current stage of Armenia-Turkey reconciliation.

AZG DAILY #173, 26-09-2009

Armenia – Turkey

Update: 2009-09-26 00:30:47 (GMT +04:00)

US CONGRESSMEN SUPPORTS TURKEY-ARMENIA THAW

U.S. congressmen supported normalization of Turkish-Armenian
relations.

U.S. congressmen supported on Wednesday normalization of
Turkish-Armenian relations.

Three congressmen who are the members of the Congressional Caucus on
Turkey sent a letter to other members of the U.S. House of
Representatives, supporting the rapprochement between Turkey and
Armenia.

In their letter, U.S. congressmen Robert Wexler, Edward Whitfield and
Kay Granger supported the August 31 joint declaration of Turkey,
Armenia and Switzerland and the normalization process between Turkey
and Armenia.

The three congressmen called on their other colleagues to support
normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations, and said the trilateral
declaration made by the governments of Turkey, Armenia and Switzerland
on August 31 made public two protocols and a schedule to normalize
relations.

In their letter, Wexler, Whitfield and Granger said as far as they
were concerned, Turkish and Armenian leaders would most probably meet
in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations (UN) General
Assembly.

The U.S. congressmen hoped this meeting would bring the two countries
closer to each other, and lay the groundwork for a planned visit of
Armenian President Serzh Sargsian to Turkey to watch a World Cup
qualifier on October 14.

The co-chairmen of the Congressional Caucus on Turkey said Turkey and
Armenia had been having internal consultations for six weeks, and they
were expected to sign protocols at the end of the six weeks and
present them to their parliaments for approval.

When protocols were ratified, they would pave the way for improving
bilateral relations between Turkey and Armenia, particularly
establishing diplomatic relations, commercial and economic
cooperation, the congressmen said.

In the letter, the U.S. congressmen said as far as they were
concerned, the protocol on establishment of diplomatic relations betw
nd establish full diplomatic relations once the protocols entered into
force.

Also, they said the protocol on improving bilateral relations would
ensure confidence for fulfilment of articles of the two protocols.

In the letter, U.S. congressmen said the significant progress of
Turkey and Armenia for normalizing their bilateral relations was
encouraging.

U.S. congressmen underlined the key importance of this historic
development between the two countries for ensuring peace, security and
welfare in the South Caucasus.

The three congressmen said unfortunately, South Caucasus had been a
region where cooperation and relations were overshadowed and where
economic growth, stability and political reforms were restricted due
to decades long clashes.

Therefore, they said in their letter, they were encouraging Turkish
and Armenian governments and parliaments to progress on the
rapprochement process, with the support of the Swiss government, and
to build a better future for Turkey, Armenia and the entire South
Caucasus, worldbulletin.net reports.

Two Russian companies to participate in construction of Iran-Armenia
railway

2009-09-25 16:27:00

ArmInfo. "Roszheldorproyekt" and "Zarubezhstroytechnology" will
participate in construction of Iran-Armenia railway. This was reported
at the 11th session of the Russian-Armenian Intergovernmental
Commission for Economic Cooperation in Yaroslavl, Friday.

The session covered issues of cooperation in the sphere of transport,
communication, information technologies. A decision was taken to hold
an expert meeting dedicated to issues of complex delivery of new
passenger and transport planes of OJSC "United Aircraft Building
Corporation" to Armenian air companies. At present a contract on
delivery of two modern regional Sukhoi SuperJet 100 planes to the
Armenian air company to Armavia has been concluded. In addition, a
draft general agreement on supplying jet fuel for the needs of the
Armenian Defense Ministry and "Armavia Air Company" LLC has been
prepared between OJSC "Gazpromneft" and the Armenian Government.

As the press-service of the Russian Transport Ministry told
Railway-Partner.Ru news agency, the Russian party reported about
possible using of relevant grounding of investments, assessment of
perspective cargo traffic and launching of the railway line between
Iran and Armenia designed by the Institute of Feasibility Work and
Railway Transport Design, as well as about possible participantion of
the Russian Railway OJSC branches ("Roszheldorptoyekt" OJSC and
"Zarubezhstroytechnology" OJSC) in construction of this railway line.
The Russian party told the Armenian one about the work being done at
reconstruction of Kavkaz port and measures on preparation of conditions
for modernization of access gate for movement and customs registration
of excisable commodities (alcohol and tobacco).

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER MEETS THE REPRESENTATIVES OF ARMENIAN
COMMUNITY IN RUSSIAN YAROSLAVL PROVINCE

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS:Today morning the delegation headed
by the Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian arrived in Yaroslavl on
two-day working visit to take part in the 11th session of the
Armenian-Russian inter-governmental commission for economic
cooperation between Armenia and Russian Federation.
Tigran Sargsian was met by the Minister of Transport of Russian
Federation, Chairman of the Russian side of the Commission Igor
Levitin, Governor of Yaroslavl province Sergey Vakhrukov,
representatives of the inter-governmental commission and authorities
of the province.
Public relations department of Armenian Government told Armenpress
that the meeting of the Prime Minister with the representatives of
Armenian community in Yaroslavl took place in the afternoon. During
the meeting with the representatives of the community the Armenian
Prime Minister referred to the socio-economic condition of Armenia and
spoke about the means through which our state overcomes the world
financial-economic crisis.
The Prime Minister stressed that there are prerequisites for
cautious optimism for 2010. According to the Prime Minister it will be
a year of recovery and during the next years our economy will enter a
phase of sustainable growth.
Tigran Sargsian underscored that the tendencies and developments
registered in the Russian economy also have a significant impact on
the economy of Armenia.
Refer has been made to the regional issues and the latest
developments of Armenian-Turkish relations. The Prime Minister noted
that Armenia is principal in its position to establish non
preconditioned relations with Turkey.
T. Sargsian answered the questions our compatriots are concerned
with, which referred to the peaceful regulation of Nagorno Karabakh
issue, development of road infrastructures, enhancement of
Armenian-Russian inter-state and inter-province ties, issues of
preservation of Armenia and the comp
increase of Armenian competitiveness, encouraging of qualitative
education, preservation of the historical-cultural heritage,
proportional development of the bordering villages and dual
citizenship.
The issues of participation of the Armenian manpower in the
construction works implemented for "Sochi 2014" Winter Olympic Games
as well as the export of construction materials of Armenian production
have been stressed as important.
Afterwards the meeting of Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian
with the Governor of Russian Yaroslavl province Sergey Vakhrukov took
place. The interlocutors discussed issues connected with the economic
cooperation with Yaroslavl province, particularly the opportunities of
mutually profitable cooperation between the enterprises of Armenia and
Yaroslavl province.
The importance of cooperation in scientific-technical and cultural
spheres has been stressed. The interlocutors referred to the
St. Gevorg Armenian Church which is being constructed in
Yaroslavl. The Prime Minister stressed that Armenia highly assesses
the careful attitude of the authorities of the Yaroslavl province
towards nearly 7000 representatives of Armenian community.
Accompanied by the co-chairman of the inter-governmental commission
Igor Levitin and Governor of Yaroslavl Province Sergey Vakhrukov
Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian also visited St. Vedenian
Tolgian temple and met one of the most renowned spiritual figures in
Russia, mother Varvara.
The plenary session of Armenian-Russian inter-governmental
commission for economic cooperation affairs will take place tomorrow,
on September 25.

Sarkisian to Visit Diaspora to Muster Support For Protocols

sian-to-seek-diaspora-support-for-turkey-diplomacy /
By Asbarez Staff on Sep 24th

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)-President Serzh Sarkisian said on Thursday that he
will tour major Armenian communities abroad early next month to
explain and promote his far-reaching diplomatic overtures to Turkey
which the Diaspora have been following with unease.

Sarkisian made the announcement as he met with His Holiness Karekin
II, the Catholicos of All Armenians at Echmiadzin. He said he will
start on October 1 a series of visits to Paris, New York, Los Angeles,
Beirut and Rostov-on-Don, Russia.

All of those cities and their surrounding areas have sizable Armenian
communities. Sarkisian was quoted by his press service as telling the
Catholicos that he wants to hear community leaders’ `views on the
process of the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations.’

Karekin II welcomed the initiative.

`The Diaspora is an important and inseparable part of our people and
it is only right for our Diaspora sons … to be able to hear answers
from you personally to questions preoccupying them,’ said Karakin II,
according to the presidential press service. `Also, you will expose
yourself to the thoughts, opinions and concerns of our Diaspora sons.’

Diaspora leaders have expressed serious concern about key points of
two Turkish-Armenian draft protocols envisaging the normalization of
bilateral relations. They are particularly critical of the planned
creation of a Turkish-Armenian panel of historians that would probe
the Genocide.

The Diaspora also opposes another protocol clause that commits Armenia
to recognizing its existing border with Turkey based on past relevant
treaties. This clause will preclude future Armenian claims to the
territories of historic Armenia illegally occupied by the Republic of
Turkey.

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia added
his voice to those concerns in a letter to Sarkisian made public on
Thursday. `The ongoing developments in the establishment of diplomatic
relations between Armenia and Turkey have become a cause for serious
concern in the Diaspora,’ he wrote.

Aram I singled out the planned `sub-commission’ of historians for
criticism. He said its existence would make it easier for Ankara to
deny the Armenian Genocide.

Etchmiadzin has rarely challenged Yerevan governments and will likely
be more supportive of the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement. Karekin II
told Sarkisian that the church’s Supreme Spiritual Council will meet
soon to discuss and formulate its position on the issue.

The planned meetings will be part of `internal political
consultations’ which Ankara and Yerevan pledged to initiate before
signing the controversial protocols by mid-October. Sarkisian
described the intensifying debates on the matter as `very useful.’

`Of course, they have some emotional manifestations and elements,’
Sarkisain told Karekin II. `And it could not have been otherwise
because a huge segment of our people are a generation of persons
subjected to genocide. Besides, we have our shrines, our churches, our
[medieval] capital and the remnants of many, many people’s ancestral
homes across the [Turkish] border.’

`I do realize this because often times I myself internally struggling
with my emotions,’ added Sarkisian.

GARBIS: ARMENIAN POLITICS STAGNATE WHILE THREAT TO STATEHOOD LOOMS
By Christian Garbis

garbis-armenian-politics-stagnate-while-threat-to- statehood-looms/
September 23, 2009

YEREVAN-On the surface, Armenian citizens seem to be divided into two
camps-those who enthusiastically support the government and those in
sheer defiance, regardless of whether those opinions are made public
or held secret. There are no popular parties per se, with none of them
actively campaigning for wide public support. The ruling Republican
Party is no exception, being overwhelmingly endorsed by government
employees and those with ties to the ruling elite.

At a time when Armenia has been courting Turkey to jumpstart relations
under highly controversial conditions against its own favor, the stew
of Armenian politics should be boiling over. Yet strangely enough,
concern over the protocols that are meant to forge Turkish-Armenian
relations once they are ratified in mid-October is faint.

President Serge Sarkisian’s Republican Party has been fervently
supporting the protocols in partnership with its junior coalition
parties, Prosperous Armenia and Orinats Yerkir. The government
leadership insists that the protocols ensure Armenia’s economic
prosperity for all, without revealing specifics about how growth
is perceived to be gained and what financial sectors are expected
to expand.

The ARF-Dashnaktsutiun, which has been in "positive opposition" to
the government since the end of April, has been stepping up efforts
to attract attention in its efforts to have several points in the
highly controversial protocols amended.

Among the proposed amendments, the party is calling for diplomatic
relations between Turkey and Armenia to be established without
preconditions. The party is also opposed to the formation of a
historical commission that would seek to establish whether the events
of 1915 constituted genocide.

About 50 party members are taking part in a sit-in hunger strike
(the protestors take turns breaking their fast every two days) in
front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Republic Square, where
signatures are also being collected in support of the amendments to
the protocols that the party has drafted.

However, the Republican majority leader in parliament, Galust Sahakian,
was quick to declare the amendments unacceptable. Then, on Sept. 16,
Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian made it clear in his address to the
National Assembly that the amendments would be considered only after
the protocols are signed and sent to parliament for deliberation
and ratification. This was found to be unacceptable by the ARF,
as announced by party official Armen Rustamian the following day.

As the Republican Party holds the majority of parliamentary seats
and enjoys the backing of its two coalition partners, any proposed
amendments are sure to be shot down in session moments before the
protocols’ ratification. Consequently, the ARF’s true intensions and
the anticipated results from its protests remain ambiguous before a
confused public trying to ascertain the party’s motives.

Meanwhile, the oppositional Heritage Party, founded by Raffi
Hovhannisian, which holds seven seats in parliament, had been
insisting that a public referendum be held on whether to accept or
reject the protocols. The initiative was subsequently dismissed by
the Republican Party.

Yet, the Heritage Party’s firm stance on the rejection of the
protocols has been overshadowed by the controversial upheaval within
its ranks. Three members of the party, Movses Aristakesyan, Zoya
Tadevosyan, and Vardan Khachatryan, were expelled from the ranks,
having been accused of secretly collaborating with both opposition
and pro-government parties, the specifics of which remain unclear.

Just before the party’s shakeup, Hovhannisian resigned from his seat
in the National Assembly under mysterious circumstances while out of
the country. Rumors were spread by Tadevosyan that Hovhannisian had
submitted a letter to the party’s governing board announcing his
resignation from the party as well as from political life, while
Khachatryan claimed that Hovhannisian had been aware of the secret
negotiations all along. It was not until Sept. 21 that Hovhannisian
made scathing comments against the compromising actions of his party
members in a released statement. He is due to give a press conference
on Oct. 1 to explain his resignation from parliament and give insight
on the future of the Heritage Party.

Former president Levon Ter-Petrosian had been highly critical of
talks between the Turkish and Armenian leaderships-that lead to the
infamous formation of the "framework," signed in April for developing
diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In his address at a rally held on Sept. 18 in Yerevan organized by
the oppositional Armenian National Congress-a coalition of several
oppositional parties unofficially led by Ter-Petrosian-that was
attended by several thousand people, he mainly focused his remarks
on the Nagorno-Karabagh negotiations. Ter-Petrosian deems the peace
proposals unacceptable, claiming that they are more conciliatory
than those that were presented during his presidential term in 1997,
specifically referring to the exclusion of a point stipulating the
return of Azeri refugees to their homes. Most of his speech was
perceived as an academic address to the crowds, with no proposed
solutions that would be more in Armenia’s favor and no calls for
action delivered to his supporters.

Ter-Petrosian during the rally failed to comment further on his stance
regarding the current negotiations between Turkey and Armenia, instead
insisting that the border would not open anytime soon. On Sept. 2,
the Armenian National Congress released a statement in reaction to
the protocols, claiming that "substantial progress" had been made in
calls for establishing relations between Armenia and Turkey.

Despite the shroud of uncertainty that has been draped across the
Armenian masses looking for answers, one thing is for certain: If any
of the opposition parties are indeed serious about enacting change
in the way the country is being governed, not to mention protecting
Armenian foreign policy from inevitable disaster, they need to exploit
the controversy surrounding the protocols to the hilt, and do it
quickly. A unified effort is probably unlikely, given the Heritage
Party’s internal turmoil and the aloofness of Ter-Petrosian.

An all-out aggressive, convincing measure against the protocols will
be the only way for the parties to rally the public behind them,
assuming they want to prevent the protocols from being signed. Yet
all three players-the Armenian National Congress, the Heritage Party,
and especially the ARF-have yet to step up to the plate.

PRESIDENT AND MASS MEDIA LEADERS DISCUSS ARMENIAN-TURKISH TIES

Panorama.am
16:42 22/09/2009

In the framework of the ongoing public discussions, President Serzh
Sargsyan hosted in the end of the previous week dozens of Armenian
mass media leaders to share opinions on the issues of settlement
Armenian-Turkish ties, President’s Cabinet reports.

President Sargsyan told the mass media representatives that he has
been expecting open and frank discussion covering the ongoing stage
of normalization of Armenia-Turkey ties, signifying their opinion
both as people having active civil disposition and people, who form
public opinion.

Serzh Sargsyan has also pointed the significance of participation and
support of both societies, and stressed that it would be difficult
to reach the conflict’s settlement.

During the two-hour long interesting and unembarrassed discussion,
the chairmen of local mass media introduced their opinions and
consideration over the process and the pre-signed protocols; they
have also shared view points about the possible risks and concerns.

The President has given comments and his observations about the basic
view points and questions which where asked during the meeting. He
said Armenia resumed a difficult, but, at the same time, an important
process.

The President said the protocols are the starting points of
normalization of the relations, which could contribute to the resuming
of dialogue with Turkey and discussion of various issues, including
economic, political and historic-cultural items.

FIRST SESSION

ession
07:11 pm | September 22, 2009

Official

The working group for planning the national strategy for the
transportation security system held its first session headed by
Secretary of the National Security Council Artur Baghdasaryan.

The planning and confirmation of the strategy is established by
the "RA National Security Strategy" and "Armenia-European Union
Partnership" plan.

During the session it was decided to present the strategic plan for
the National Security Council’s confirmation in March 2010 after
which, according to the Armenia-European Union Partnership plan,
the government will implement the events of the five-year plan.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN, DURING INDEPENDENCE DAY SPEECH, CALLS ON DIASPORA TO "COME HOME"

2009 /09/22 | 13:22

Politics

During his speech yesterday to mark the 18 anniversary of Armenian
independence, President Serzh Sargsyan made a special appeal to
Armenians living in the diaspora to come "home to Armenia".

"What does Armenia preach to its offspring all over the world after
having been resurrected from the genocidal hell? Pure and simple
concepts: unity, collective will and effort. The state’s determination
to pursue and protect the interests and goals of Armenians, filial
love of and dedication to the homeland of all Armenians, and a happy
possibility to build up the Armenia of our dreams by joint efforts. And
Armenia says to them – Welcome back to the native home."

It appeared that President Sargsyan went out of his way to strees the
fact that Armenians the world, as members of the same nation, were
always embued with a vision of an independent Armenia. Consequently,
he stated all have something to contribute to the development and
democratization process of the current Armenian Republic.

"Regardless of whether we decorated manuscripts in monastic cells,
or casted letters of Mashtots to print books and journals from Vienna
to Calcutta, and from Echmiadzin to Venice, we were guided by the
same vision.

No matter whether the Armenian was a successful merchant whose private
fleet ranged the oceans, or a hungry and humiliated exile immolated
in the Der Zor Desert, he was guided by the same vision.

No matter how much territory we occupied on the world map, and even
when altogether swept away from the map, we were nevertheless guided
by the same vision: the vision of independent Armenia that epitomizes
freedom, human and national dignity and, ultimately, the right and
historical ability to create good and beauty."

EDUARD SHARMAZANOV: ANC RATING FALLING

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
22.09.2009 14:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Eduard Sharmazanov, spokesman for the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia, said he is disappointed with the recent
statement ANC leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan made.

Addressing the demonstrators last Friday, Ter-Petrosyan said he
will run for President in case of preterm election "only if Robert
Kocharian is not nominated."

"It’s an approach demonstrated by an ambitious person. Ter-Petrosyan
is struggling against Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharian
but not for the national interests," Sharmazanov said, adding that
ANC rating is falling.

"Rallies are organized in order to maintain the opposition electorate
till 2012 parliamentary elections," he said.