Author: Chatinian Lara

Panorama.am

18:15 16/03/2007

TIGRANAKERT EXCAVATIONS SUMMED UP

The excavations of Tigranakert, a town in the vicinity of Nagorno
Karabakh Khachen village, are being summed up at present. Items dating
back to 1 century BC were found in the area, Hamlet Petrosyan, head of
excavation team, told a press conference today.

The excavations started in 2006. Petrosyan said active work is going
to be carried out in the upcoming two years.

He said Nagorno Karabakh leadership is enthusiastic about the
findings. The head of the research team said they may serve as good
evidence for Karabakh conflict settlement.

Source: Panorama.am

EurasiaNet, NY
March 16 2007

BUSH ADMINISTRATION TRIES TO PREVENT POSSIBLE RUPTURE WITH TURKEY
Joshua Kucera 3/16/07

The Bush administration is publicly opposing a resolution pending in
the US Congress that would officially recognize the mass killings of
Armenians during the Ottoman era as genocide. The administration’s
opposition is grounded in concerns that Turkey could retaliate by
refusing to cooperate with the US war in Iraq.

Such resolutions have been routinely proposed in Congress, but one
has never passed. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].
This year, however, legislators appear more likely than ever to adopt
a resolution. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, is
on record as supporting passage of the resolution. The murder of
Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink in January also seems to have
influenced the attitudes of some US representatives. [For background
see the Eurasia Insight archive]. A vote on the resolution could
occur in April.

At a Congressional hearing on March 15, representatives from the US
Department of State and Department of Defense said passage of the
resolution would unnecessarily inflame anti-American sentiment in
Turkey. The resolution "would undercut those voices emerging in
Turkey who call for a truthful exploration of those events in pursuit
of Turkey’s reconciliation with its own past, and with Armenia," said
Daniel Fried, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian
affairs. "Our fear is that passage of any such resolution would close
minds and harden hearts."

The public backlash in Turkey could be so strong that the Turkish
government would be forced to act, perhaps by closing or restricting
US access to Incirlik Air Base, a key transportation hub for US
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, restricting use of the
Turkey-Iraq land border, or allowing fewer over-flight rights, Fried
said.

A genocide resolution would surely hamper US military operations in
Iraq and Afghanistan, asserted Daniel Fata, deputy assistant
secretary of defense for Europe and NATO. "Passage of the resolution
would inflame nationalist and anti-American sentiment [in Turkey] at
a time when the Turkish public already has a very low opinion of the
United States," he said. "Turkey’s contribution to the global war on
terrorism and US strategic objectives in the region is significant –
it would all be at risk. More broadly, relations with a crucial NATO
ally would suffer a serious and lasting blow, [undermining] our
ability to achieve our near- and longer-term goals in the Middle
East."

Fried and Fata’s comments before the Europe Subcommittee of the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs came shortly after Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates sent identical
letters to members of Congress opposing the resolution. The letters
noted that Turkey retaliated against France after the French
parliament passed a resolution in October recognizing the Armenian
killings as genocide, cutting all military contacts and withdrawing
from negotiations on defense contracts. [For background see the
Eurasia Insight archive].

In Fata’s written testimony to the subcommittee, he listed various
contracts that US defense-related companies are pursuing with Turkey,
totaling several billions of dollars.

US officials stated that, although Armenia and the large Armenian
diaspora in the United States steadfastly support the adoption of a
resolution, Armenians in Turkey oppose it. "We hear from members of
the 60,000-70,000 strong Armenian-Turkish community that any such
resolution would raise popular emotions so dramatically as to
threaten their personal security," Fried said in his testimony.

The Turkish government, lobbying against the resolution, is making
the same point. Public relations officials for the Turkish Embassy
have circulated newspaper editorials quoting Dink as being against
such resolutions. "The winning of the empathy and compassion of the
Turkish population is far more important than the adoption of
Armenian resolutions in hundreds of parliaments elsewhere," said
Dink, quoted in an editorial in the Baltimore Sun.

Editor’s Note: Joshua Kucera is a Washington, DC,-based freelance
writer who specializes in security issues in Central Asia, the
Caucasus and the Middle East.

Turkish Press
March 16 2007

A Careful Policy Is Necessity
Published: 3/16/2007

BY ALI SIRMEN

CUMHURIYET- The restored Armenian Akdamar Church in Van will open
next week. In addition to the regular flights between Yerevan and
Istanbul, a Yerevan-Van route was started to facilitate guests coming
from Armenia for the opening ceremony, and this lead to debates. The
General Staff raised concerns over the issue. Foreign Ministry
spokesman Levent Bilman said that they hadn’t been informed.
Meanwhile, government circles are staying silent. Firstly, I would
like to stress that restoring and opening this church is a positive
initiative but that more careful relations are needed between Turkey
and Armenia, and I agree with those who disapprove of the Van-Yerevan
direct flights. When I was talking about this issue recently with
retired Ambassador Sukru Elekdag, he emphasized certain points about
the issue. In light of this, it should be mentioned once again Ankara
should be very careful in its relations with Yerevan.

The Turkish Republic was one of the first countries to recognize
Armenia two days before the US, which declared its independence after
the breakup of the Soviet Union, on Dec. 16, 1991. Then Prime
Minister Suleyman Demirel indicated in a message he sent on Dec. 24,
that this recognition was conditional on Armenia having friendly
relations with its neighbors. At that time, Armenia was being
governed by Ter Petrosian, who foresaw good relations with Turkey and
stressed the future over the past. However, Tashnaks drove the
moderate Petrosian out and made a fanatical policy dominant in
Armenia. Turkish-Armenian relations started to worsen, and Ankara
closed its borders in 1993 and air-space to Armenia the next year. In
its declaration of independence of Dec. 23, 1990, Armenia showed
certain parts of Anatolia within the border of western Armenia, and
it states in its Constitution that Mt. Ararat the symbol of Armenia.
Now Armenia is putting pressure on Turkey through foreign capitals to
recognize the so-called Armenian genocide and also trying to make
Turkey open its border gates. In addition, Armenia’s policy of
seeking Greater Armenia is still being pushed. Under this policy,
firstly the so-called genocide will be recognized and compensation
and territorial claims against Turkey will follow.

Armenia is successfully following its policy against Turkey. The
so-called genocide was recognized in many countries, and it started
normal flights by putting pressure on Turkey and it delivers food
through Turkey via 4,000 tractor trailers. In addition, 70,000
Armenian citizens are currently working in Turkey illegally, because
officials are overlooking this. In other words, while Turkey is
following a hostile policy against Turkey, it’s also mobilizing
Western countries and overpowering Turkey’s possibilities to put
pressure on it. In short, Yerevan thinks that no matter what Turkey
does, there will be no consequences for it. But Turkey can put great
pressure on Armenia. Here, in an atmosphere in which a policy that
responds to Turkey’s national interests is needed, people and writers
favor opening our border gates with Armenia and becoming friends with
Yerevan in a way to isolate Azerbaijan. It’s hard to understand this.

Ajax USA
March 16 2007

Manucharyan pens contract renewal until summer 2011

16 March: Edgar Manucharyan has committed to Ajax until the 30 June
2011. The previous deal of the Armenian forward (20) would have
expired in the summer of 2008. "I am very pleased that Ajax have so
much faith in me," Manucharyan said, after having signed his new
deal. "I want to win the championship with Ajax and win trophies. I
want to be part of that. Ajax are very important to me and I hope I
can be just as important to Ajax."

Edgar Manucharyan (born Yerevan, Armenia, 19 January 1987) first
arrived at the Amsterdam ArenA on a try-out in December 2004, coming
from Pyunik Yerevan. The Armenian league season had just finished and
Manucharyan himself finished as the top goalscorer of the league. He
was also voted ‘Player of the Year’ in Armenia – and all of this at
the tender age of 17. The ‘Player of the Year’ trophy was supposed to
be presented to him on 14 December 2004, but Manucharyan couldn’t be
there in person: on that some evening the loanee made his unofficial
Ajax-1 début in a friendly fixture against FC Barcelona.

Unfrotunately, Manucharyan lasted for only 13 minutes: then he broke
a metatarsal in his right foot, had to undergo surgery and was
sidelined for approximately three months. Ajax, however, believed in
the youngster’s qualities and decided to give the youngster a second
chance after his recovery. Manucharyan grabbed it and Ajax offered
him a three year-contract as per 01 July 2005, which the player
signed on 15 April 2005.

Everybody at De Toekomst was soon raving about the Armenian’s talent
and he made his official Eredivisie début against AZ on 18 September
2005. However, Manucharyan appeared to be rather injury-prone, mainly
due to the fact that he had problems with the physical demands and
training intensity in Amsterdam. Persistent muscular injuries haunted
him throughout his first season, at the end of which he had to
undergo knee surgery. Manucharyan hardly saw action in the first half
year under coach Henk ten Cate, but is now – by all accounts – on his
way back.

So far, Manucharyan had 12 official first team appearances, in which
he scored one goal (in the UEFA Cup, against Austria Wien). This
season he played another 12 matches for Young Ajax, in which he
netted 8 times. "And now I want to prove that I can do the same thing
on the highest level!" the player said. (MP)

Source: Ajax.nl

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 16 2007

NEW-APPOINTED WB YEREVAN OFFICE HEAD PLEDGES SUPPORT IN LARGE-SCALE
PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTATION IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, March 16. /ARKA/. Armenian Finance and Economy Minister
Vardan Khachatryan received World Bank Regional Director Donna
Dowsett-Coirolo and newly appointed WB Yerevan Office Head Aristomene
Varoudakis on Thursday. Armenian Finance Ministry’s press office
reports that Dowsett-Coirolo assured the minister that the World Bank
would keep cooperating with Armenia and promoting reformation process
in the republic.
Varoudakis, in his turn, pledged support in large-scale programs
implementation in the country.
Other issues related to Armenia’s economic and financial sectors were
discussed at the meeting as well. M.V.-0–

ARMENIA’S POPULATION CAN MAKE USE OF INTERNET SERVICES OF NEW FIBER-OPTIC FEBERNET COMMUNICATIONS STARTING APRIL, 2007

Arminfo
2007-03-14 21:30:00

The Armenian FiberNet Communications has signed today a Contract
on cooperation with the biggest Netherlands Linxtelecom Company,
according to which the Armenian side will receive an alternative
Internet communication.

As the Director of FiberNet Communications Armen Khachatryan told
the journalists, the country’s population will be able to make use
of the Internet services of this fiber-optic network starting April,
2007. He noted that the Internet services, including the IPT and the
TV- services, will be if high quality with the rate of 100 milliseconds
and by 60% cheaper than the similar services of the former monopolist
of a fiber-optic network, the ArmenTel Company.

A. Khachatryan expressed confidence that the entry of the new Company
will create a field of healthy competition with ArmenTel.

A. Khachatryan also informed that the FiberNet will rent a part of
the fiber-optic railway cable, having been operated since 2003,
within the frames of the EU-financed TRASECA program. This cable
passes from the Georgian border through Ayrum, Alaverdi, Vanadzor,
Spitak, Gyumri, Armavir, Masis and Yerevan.

According to him, a fiber-optic network with length of 25 km has
already been laid and a fiber-optic main Ayrum-Yerevan is equipped
by means of the FiberNet. The total length of the Company’s network
today makes up 350 km. "The work on the network construction is still
underway", a. Khachatryan noted. He also informed that further it is
scheduled to render the audio services as well and to build a main
fiber-optic network Yerevan-Meghri that will allow to connect with
the Iranian fiber-optic main for data exchange.

In his turn, RA Minister of Transport and Communication Andranik
Manukyan noted that this is an important step that will allow
to enlarge the country’s investment field via a high-quality
communication. According to him, even in 2006, RA President Robert
Kocharyan had entrusted him with a task to provide the country with
high-quality and cheap Internet- communication.

In his congratulatory speech, RA Minister of Trade and Economic
Development Karen Chshmarityan noted that this is an important step
in the development of IT-Armenia that will allow to make the next
step towards the development of a new IT strategy. "The information
technologies is not a self-purpose but a way to enhance the economy’s
efficiency", he said.

To note, a fiber-optic cable was put into operation in 2003 by a
grant of 5 mln Euro given to Armenia by the European Union within
then frames of TRASECA. This cable is purposed to assure a safety in
the railway transport.

However, a high carrying capacity of the cable, that connects Ayrum
with the Poti Georgian port and then with Novorossiysk, had not been
used for a long time.

THE GOVERNOR OF KASHATAGH REPLACED

KarabakhOpen
14-03-2007 11:59:20

We have learned from the press service of the NKR government that the
governor of the region of Kashatagh was replaced. Ernik Guevondyan
was appointed head of the regional administration. NKR Prime Minister
Anushavan Danielyan presented the new head of the administration to
the members of the administration.

By the way, during Hamlet Khachatryan’s office emigration of
population, arbitrariness and general dissatisfaction was reported. The
NKR Council of Security held a special meeting. However, it is already
a tradition that the head of the administration is not dismissed
because he fails to perform his duties but because he is appointed
to another position.

MEMORY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN THE TURKISH SOCIETY

armradio.am
12.03.2007 12:17

After the judgment of Turkish Workers’ Party Lader Dogu Perincek for
negation of the Armenian Genocide, journalist Tristan Mendes-France,
and a specialist in communication on Internet, Alban Fisher, with the
support of the French weekly magazine Nouvel Obs, will interview the
Turkish population on the topic of the memory of Armenian Genocide.

>From March 12 to 18, live on Internet, the visitors who will go
to are invited to react and take part
in the development of the reports by proposing a topic to Tristan
Mendes-France on the video bloc which will appear on the Main Page
as March 12.

The videos will follow one another in rhythm of one per day, put
online live from Istanbul in the course of the day.

PRIME MINISTER OF TURKEY, HAVING OCCUPIED PART OF CYPRUS TALKS PROFUSELY ABOUT TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

Arminfo
2007-03-10 14:05:00

"Turkish Azeri brotherhood is eternal and indissoluble!" – Turkish
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan once again made the peculiar statement at
the Baku 1st Forum of Azeri and Turkish Diaspora World Organizations.

Then the Premier made another "fresh" statement – "Turkey and
Azerbaijan are states of one nation." Having talked enough about
fraternal ties of Turkish and Azeri nations and the role of Turks in
the world civilization, Erdogan passed over to accusations towards
Armenia. As it came out, the "lasting occupation of Azeri lands,
banishment of a million of people from their homeland, the presence
of refugees and migrants – is a bleeding wound of Turks."

"Last year, Armenians held the so called ‘referendum’. Has the world
recognize it? It hasn’t. Why? Because it was a figment, a wrong
and false step that couldn’t be accepted," Erdogan went on without
being confused about the inconsistencies of his arguments like –
"it can’t be because it can never be".

Alike statements hit Armenia’s efforts for recognition of Armenian
Genocide.

"No one will recognize it. Turkey and Turks will never acknowledge
this!", declared Erdogan.

The Turkish Prime Minister was troubled by "the violation of
fundamental principles of the international law – the principles of
the countries’ territorial integrity and inadmissibility of forced
change of the borders". To remind, this statement belongs to the Prime
Minister of a country which has occupied a part of Cyprus. Apparently,
he considers that the principles of the international law aim to
protect only the interests of his own country and Azerbaijan. Erdogan
went further. He stated that Turkey opened its historical archives,
applied to Armenia and third countries to open the archives too. First
and foremost, it is not the affair of politicians, Erdogan said. Let
historians, political scientists, archaeologists, and lawyers examine
this issue. If there is any unfairness, Turkey will do all the things
needed, the Turkish Prime Minister stated. Is it also for historians
to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide?

ARMENIA REJECTS U.S. MISSILE PLAN

PRESS TV, Iran
March 9 2007

Amidst rumors of U.S. interest to deploy a missile defense system
in Armenia, Armenian deputy foreign minister Arman Kirakosyan has
announced that he will not welcome the plan in his country.

"I would like to make an official statement that we have not received
any inquiries or proposals on that score from the U.S. or NATO
commanders," Kirakosyan said.

However, on 1st March, a senior Pentagon official announced interest
in approaching ex-Soviet republics like Georgia and Azerbaijan on
U.S.’s missile plan, with Armenia now added to the list.

Both Georgia and Azerbaijan have stated they are not aware of any
such plans nor have they been approached by the United States.

Russia is vehemently against any deployment of a U.S. missile defense
system, especially in any ex-Soviet states, stating that it will
jeopardize national security in the region.

Washington claims the system will counter any possible missile
threat from countries such as North Korea and Iran while Russian army
officials who do not believe them, advise the United States to look
at the maps to see how far Iran and Korea are to Europe.