Author: Chatinian Lara

Le Matin, Suisse
5 Mars 2010

Ankara appelle Washington à bloquer la résolution sur le "génocide" arménien

La Turquie a rappelé jeudi son ambassadeur a Washington après le vote
en commission de la résolution, par 23 voix contre 22.
AFP – le 05 mars 2010, 22h57

Ankara a appelé vendredi Washington à bloquer une résolution
qualifiant de "génocide" les massacres d’Arméniens sous l’Empire
ottoman, votée la veille par une commission du Congrès américain, et a
prévenu que le texte allait nuire aux efforts turcs de réconciliation
avec l’Arménie.

L’adoption de la résolution par la commission des Affaires étrangères
de la Chambre des représentants prouve que l’administration américaine
"n’a pas suffisamment pesé" pour empêcher ce résultat, a estimé le
chef de la diplomatie Ahmet Davutoglu, ajoutant qu’Ankara était
"sérieusement gêné" par le vote.

"Nous attendons de l’administration américaine qu’elle fasse dès
maintenant des efforts plus efficaces" pour empêcher un vote du texte
en séance plénière, a-t-il déclaré.

"Nous espérons que les relations turco-américaines ne serons pas
soumises à une nouvelle épreuve (…) Sinon, les perspectives
auxquelles nous allons être confrontées ne vont pas être positives",
a-t-il ajouté, évoquant une "affaire d’honneur national".

Le texte, qui n’a pas force de loi, appelle le président américain Ã
"qualifier de façon précise l’extermination systématique et délibérée
de 1.500.000 Arméniens, de génocide".

La résolution peut désormais faire l’objet d’un vote devant la Chambre
dans son ensemble. Mais cette prochaine étape dépend de la direction
démocrate de l’assemblée, qui ne s’est jusqu’à présent pas engagée Ã
faire adopter la résolution en séance plénière.

M. Davutoglu a indiqué qu’Ankara, partenaire stratégique de Washington
au Proche-Orient et membre de l’Otan, allait évaluer d’éventuelles
mesures de rétorsion mais n’a pas développé, indiquant juste que les
consultations avec son ambassadeur "pourraient durer longtemps".

Il a aussi prévenu que le texte ne saurait servir de moyen de pression
sur la Turquie dans ses efforts de normalisation de ses relations avec
l’Arménie.

"Nous n’avons jamais pris de décision sous la pression et nous n’en
prendrons pas", a affirmé M. Davutoglu, ajoutant que le vote en
commission avait au contraire fait naître le "risque d’un arrêt" des
efforts des deux voisins.

Le vote intervient alors qu’Ankara et Erevan ont signé en octobre deux
protocoles prévoyant l’établissement de relations diplomatiques et
l’ouverture de la frontière entre les deux pays. Mais leurs Parlements
respectifs tardent à ratifier ces textes.

A Istanbul, une centaine de manifestants réunis à l’appel d’un petit
parti nationaliste ont dénoncé le vote aux cris de "Maudit soit
l’impérialisme américain" et "nous n’avons pas commis de génocide,
nous avons défendu notre patrie". D’autres manifestations étaient
prévues dans les grandes villes.

Le vote a été accueilli favorablement par l’Arménie, dont le ministre
des Affaires étrangères, Edouard Nalbandian, a salué "une nouvelle
preuve de l’attachement du peuple américain aux valeurs humaines
universelles et un pas important vers la prévention des crimes contre
l’humanité".

Les Arméniens, représentés par une importante diaspora aux Etats-Unis,
font pression pour que soient reconnus comme "génocide" les massacres
et déportations qui, entre 1915 et 1917, ont tué selon eux plus d’un
million et demi d’entre eux.

La Turquie reconnaît qu’entre 300.000 et 500.000 personnes ont péri,
non pas victimes d’une campagne d’extermination mais selon elle dans
le chaos des dernières années de l’Empire ottoman.

Elle récuse la notion de "génocide" reconnue par la France, le Canada
ou le Parlement européen.

info/monde/genocide-armenien-ankara-rappelle-ambas sadeur-etats-unis-adoption-resolution

HSBC BANK ARMENIA: HIGH QUALITY BUSINESS-CREDITS FOR OLD AND NEW CUSTOMERS
By Lilit Aslanyan

ArmInfo
04.03.2010

ArmInfo. Exclusive interview with HSBC Bank Armenia newly appointed
Chief Executive Officer Ms. Astrid Clifford

During the difficult 2009 HSBC Bank Armenia showed gains in all its
indexes. According to the official forecast the year 2010 should be
more positive. What is your 2010 forecast for GDP, financial market,
dynamics of the aggregate credit portfolio of the banking system and
HSBC Bank Armenia? Do you think we can expect to have less overdue
creditors in 2010?

We have noticed some signs of stability in the market and hope that
the economy will begin to grow again in 2010. Most forecasts are
predicting GDP growth of 1-2.5% this year, which is what we expect.

The demand for lending is still loose, however, we have noticed
some pick-up in activity during January and February and overall we
expect positive growth dynamics for the credit market during 2010 and
increasingly intensified competition. In general, we are continuing to
see some impact of the downturn on borrowers’ debt servicing ability
and it may still affect the overall portfolio of existing loans in the
banking system. However, we are comfortable with the quality of the
assets on our books and, with continued close monitoring, we expect
to end the year without impairments. For obvious reasons we were
cautious with our lending in 2009 but expect to be more active in
2010. We are eager to discuss quality business lending opportunities
with new-to-bank customers and our existing relationships.

Today Armenian mortgage market is not experiencing good times. Do you
find resuming HSBC mortgage lending from the point of demand and risk
management justified? What is the size of the mortgage portfolio of the
bank, as at today? What are the current conditions of mortgage lending?

We actually never stopped providing mortgage loans. The dram’s
devaluation last year resulted in a shortage of AMD deposits, as
a result of which we had to temporarily stop providing mortgage
loans in AMD. Mortgage lending in USD continues to be available,
for individuals and legal entities having a USD source of income.

Today our mortgage portfolio is AMD 20 million. This includes all
retail loans that are secured by property.

Our AMD mortgage lending is currently provided under the re-financing
agreement signed with the National Mortgage Fund. We are also looking
at the new Accessible Housing for Young Families scheme.

HSBC Bank Armenia has always stood out by its focus on international
services (lending to export – import businesses). Did the created
world situation affect this position to the benefit of the local
market? What is the size of lending portfolio offered to large, small
and medium companies, as at today? (Please indicate lending terms
for large businesses excluding counting small and medium enterprises).

Throughout the global economic downturn, HSBC Bank Armenia continued
to adhere to its strategy to be the leader in providing financial
solutions to companies engaged in international trade. Our worldwide
presence provides us with unique positioning and opportunities in
providing trade finance, including export and import documentary
credits, acceptances and guarantees, as well as export and import
loans. Despite the negative effect of the recent economic downturn
on the volumes of international trade (exports contracted by c. 34%
and imports by c. 25%), we have managed to increase our volumes of
our trade finance activity, and assisting internationally oriented
businesses will remain a top priority for the bank in 2010. Our
commercial lending portfolio was close to USD 108 million at the end
of January, of which c. USD 30 million was represented by exposure
to small and medium enterprises. We continue to remain competitive
in our pricing, as well as in other terms and conditions, in line
with our strategy of active growth in banking products and services
provided to the SME sector.

According to the strategic development plan what are the bank’s main
forecast parameters (indicators) for 2010? Which market segments are
a priority for the Bank in 2010?

We have planned for growth in all of our lines of business as our aim
is to provide a full range of services to both individuals and legal
entities (including small, medium and large businesses). As mentioned
above, given our international connections and expertise, one area of
focus will be on customers with international needs. On the personal
side, we would like to expand our services to the Armenian Diaspora.

On the commercial side we aim to be the leading bank for international
trade, and have a number of initiatives planned to support this. In
addition, we will look at products aimed at encouraging long term
savings, and will continue to invest in our direct banking proposition.

How do you evaluate the developments of co-financing large enterprises
together with EBRD?

We currently have a number of large-scale projects, which we consider
for co-financing under the respective agreement with EBRD. We believe
this scheme offers good opportunities to provide large scale finance
and meet the borrowing requirements of our customers.

HSBC Bank Armenia seriously invested ($2 million) in Telephone and
Internet banking services in 2009. How many clients did the bank manage
to attract through these services? How much is the local population
ready to use innovative banking technologies? Do you plan to attract
branch network extension in 2010?

Around USD 2,5 million was invested in Telephone and Internet banking
last year. Telephone banking was launched in March, and internet
banking in July, and the services had attracted 12,000 and 2,000
customers by the end of the year respectively. The high utilization
rate in this short period of time indicates to us the readiness of
the local population to use these innovative banking technologies. Of
course one of the main advantages of direct channels is that they allow
customers to transact from their homes or offices at a time convenient
to them. Our aim is always to serve our customers in the way that
best suits their requirements – whether this in the traditional branch
or via a direct channel (including ATMs of which we have the largest
network in Yerevan) – and this will drive our investment decisions.

What are the Bank’s plans in card business? Please indicate the number
of active cards issued by the Bank, as well as the number of ATMs and
POS-terminals. Do you plan to increase their number in 2010? If yes,
how much?

We currently have around 15,000 credit cards (ArCa and Mastercard)
and plan to increase this number by around 30% in 2010. The Bank
has 50 ATMs, which is the largest network in Yerevan as said before,
and around 100 POS-terminals at key merchants in Yerevan, and plan
to increase this number quite significantly. In terms of plans, we
will mainly look at implementing ArCa Link, introducing debit cards
and Chip and PIN cards by the end of the year. We also have plans
to install multi-functional ATMs which will allow customers to make
cash deposits, the late being part of our ongoing strategy to enhance
direct banking channels.

TURKEY BEGINS ANOTHER FIGHT AGAINST UNITED STATES’ RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Karine Ter-Sahakyan

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.03.2010 GMT+04:00

The ballyhoo used in the American and Turkish press aims to prepare
Armenia for the inevitable.

It has become a tradition for Turkey to begin a fight against United
States’ recognition of the Armenian Genocide every year before
April 24. She may succeed this time too, taking into consideration
the fact that existence of the Turkish state depends on recognition
or non-recognition of the Armenian Genocide. However, voting in the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs will not change anything, like it
was in 2007.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ However, that has nothing to do with the Speaker,
or with the White House administration, which now more than ever
hardly desires strained relations with Turkey, and consequently with
the whole Islamic world. Thus, recognition or non-recognition of the
Armenian Genocide is a matter of human pragmatism and not a matter
of morality for the United States.

Turkey knows it perfectly well, and all this hype raised in the
American and Turkish press only aims at preparing Armenia for the
inevitable. That is, the Committee will approve and send it to the
House for voting. But because for final conclusion 228 votes are
necessary and this number cannot be reached even in the near future,
it can be assumed that this time too adoption of Resolution 252 will
be indefinitely shelved. We once wrote and would like to repeat that
this resolution is simply a House Resolution. It is not a law, but is
simply statement of a fact and nothing more. And the Diaspora is at
least naïve to believe that adoption of the resolution, even in the
form it now is, can make Turkey recognize the Armenian Genocide. They
say times have changed and the USA may be ready to go rather far
for normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. But the question is
how far the Obama administration will actually go and how good these
steps will appear to be for the Armenian people in general. It goes
without saying that evil must be punished and remembrance of victims
of the monstrous massacre should not become a bargaining chip. But,
unfortunately, it is exactly what recognition of the Armenian Genocide
has recently become for the USA and other countries. Let us note that
the Genocide has been recognized only by those countries, which do
not depend on Turkey. And cruel fate of the Armenian people has long
been a bargaining chip in the hands of the powerful, this situation
lasting for 95 years already. Or, at least, so it looks, if emotions
are left aside. By the way, emotions only deteriorate the situation,
and we should follow the example of Turkey, which simply says: it’s
up to you to decide whether to adopt the resolution or to utter the
word "genocide" on April 24. But do not be offended if, after it,
the United States is considered an enemy, or at least an unfriendly
country, to Turkey and even to all of the Middle East.

All these considerations lead to the assumption that we’ll witness the
same situation as in 2009. Thank God, there is no need to ‘invent’ a
new term. There exists "Mets Yeghern", which, by the way, is synonymous
with the term "genocide". However, a different development is also
possible, as, in the opinion of experts, the probability of adoption
of Resolution 252 is greater than ever. And here a question arises:
Is the Armenian nation, and the Diaspora in particular, ready for
such turn of affairs? We are afraid to be regarded as pessimists,
but it is exactly what the nation is unprepared for; the nation that
has been waiting for justice for 95 years, and has been consistently
getting recognition of evil for at least the last 40 years. Under
the present circumstances we would be delighted to be mistaken in
our considerations, but it is essential to realize that no one will
ever give back territories or pay compensation for nothing. They’ll
have to pay for it, and the price may turn to be excessive…

AZERBAIJAN CONTINUES FIRING AT POSITIONS OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH

ArmInfo
2010-03-03 20:11:00

ArmInfo. The Ministry of Defense of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
reports that Feb 2-3 night and Feb 3 the Azeri troops fired at the
positions of the NKR Defense Army in a number of sections of the
Azeri-Nagorno-Karabakh contact line in the direction of Horadiz,
Kuropatino, Korgan, Karmiravan and Jraberd.

ArmInfo’s own correspondent in Stepanakert reports that when the
Nagorno-Karabakh troops rebuffed the enemy stopped the fire.

ZORYAN ANNOUNCES ACCREDITED GENOCIDE AND HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM

zoryan-announces-accredited-genocide-and-human-rig hts-program/
March 1, 2010
TORONTO, Canada

The International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies
recently announced the ninth year of the Genocide and Human Rights
University Program (GHRUP), which will be held in Toronto from
Aug. 2-13. Offered in collaboration with the University of Toronto,
the program allows registered students to earn graduate-level credits.

The GHRUP is often described by students as a life-changing
experience. Said one student, "The GHRUP offers a brilliant opportunity
for everyone who is interested in deepening their understanding of the
phenomenon of genocide and ways we can work for its prevention. Its
high academic standard, friendly and encouraging atmosphere provide
a great setting to tackle and process one of the most destructive
sides of human existence."

Incorporating genocide theory, history, sociology, political science,
and international law, and through a comparative analysis of several
case studies (such as the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust, Cambodia,
Rwanda, Darfur) and a number of special themes, the GHRUP explores
such issues as the foundations of human rights; international politics
and genocide; international law and genocide; the preconditions of
genocide; patterns of genocide; conflict resolution and reconciliation;
genocide denial; and genocide prevention.

Major Brent Beardsley, an officer with the UN peacekeeping forces and
an eye-witness to the Rwandan Genocide, is an instructor at the GHRUP.

He expressed the course’s ability to "look at the bigger crime of
genocide but always focus on, at the very heart of it, the horrendous
human tragedy, and the responsibility we have to maintain their memory
and to pass that memory on to others."

Prof. Herbert Hirsch of Virginia Commonwealth University, one of
the editors of "Genocide Studies & Prevention: An International
Journal" and a teacher of prevention at the GHRUP, said the program
is "one of the only programs that I have in fact ever heard of where
students are in attendance for two very intense weeks, eight hours
a day, where they are exposed to some of the leading scholars in
their field to teach their specialties. … Here they are exposed
to…eight different professors, all of whom are doing what they
know best. Students get to interact with them, they get to interact
with each other, they learn from the professors, they learn from each
other, and the professors learn from the students. This is, in fact,
a unique educational experience for everyone who participates."

Students currently registered at the University of Toronto and graduate
students from any university in Ontario may receive credit with no
additional cost in tuition. Undergraduate students registered at
other institutions across the province may make special arrangements
for the same privilege. Students in other jurisdictions who wish to
take the course for credit must make special arrangements with their
local institution.

Applicants must be current or recent university students with a minimum
of three years of undergraduate experience. Details and registration
information are available on or by emailing
[email protected].

The International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (a
division of the Zoryan Institute) is dedicated to scholarly research
and dissemination of knowledge regarding the phenomenon of genocide
in all of its aspects, to create an awareness of it as an ongoing
scourge and promote the necessity of preventing it.

RUSSIA, FRANCE TO CONTINUE COOPERATION ON RESOLUTION ON KARABAKH

news.az
March 2 2010
Azerbaijan

Medvedev and Sarkozy Russia and France intends to continue close
cooperation on resolution of the situation in Nagorno Karabakh.

The statement came from French President Nicholas Sarkozy speaking
at a joint news conference by results of talks with Russian leader
Dmitri Medvedev.

"Russia and France will work together to help Armenia and Azerbaijan",
Sarkozy said.

The Russian president has today arrived on a visit in France.

THIRD ISSUE OF VALLETTA LLC BONDS IS INCLUDED IN BBOND LIST OF NASDAQ OMX ARMENIA

ArmInfo
01.03.2010

ArmInfo. Effective from February 26, 2010, the third issue of Valletta
Limited Liability Company nominal coupon bonds (VALTB3) will be listed
and included in the Bbond list of NASDAQ OMX Armenia.

The press service of NASDAQ OMX Armenia reminds that this issue of the
company’s bonds with total nominal value of AMD 500,000,000 maturity
36 months, and coupon yield of 11% has been traded on NASDAQ OMX
Armenia since September 25, 2008. As of the end of February 2010,
the total value traded on the exchange in VALTB3 bonds (less repo
trading) exceeded AMD 400 mln.

The changing of the status of the third issue bonds from being admitted
to trading to being listed occurred based on Valletta LLC’s request,
as the securities and the issuer complied with all requirements set for
NASDAQ OMX Armenia Bbond list. Valletta LLC has a long history in the
Armenian capital market – the first issue of the company’s bonds was
listed on the exchange on September 25, 2007, and the second issue was
redeemed on December 26, 2009. Valletta LLC has been operating since
1990 and is currently involved in various areas of activities including
manufacturing, retail and wholesale trade, catering and leisure
business. In particular, the company owns and operates the chain of
"Star" supermarkets, "SFC" and "Plener" restaurants, "Comfort" shops
for household products and appliances including under the "Ariston"
and "Ardo" brands, and runs its own meat production ("Biella" brand).

The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. is the world’s largest exchange company. It
delivers trading, exchange technology and public company services
across six continents, and with over 3,900 companies, it is number
one in worldwide listings among major markets. NASDAQ OMX technology
supports the operations of over 60 exchanges, clearing organizations
and central securities depositories in more than 50 countries.

In January 2008, Nordic exchange operator OMX Group acquired 100%
of shares of the Armenian Stock Exchange (Armex) and the Central
Depository of Armenia (CDA). After the combination of NASDAQ and OMX
in February 2008, Armex and CDA have become fully owned by the NASDAQ
OMX Group, Inc.

On January 27, 2009, "Armenian Stock Exchange" ojsc was officially
renamed as "NASDAQ OMX Armenia" ojsc. On June 5, 2009, "NASDAQ OMX
Armenia" ojsc became the owner of 100% of the shares of the "Central
Depository of Armenia" ojsc.

RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN BORDER CROSSING REOPENED

Radio Netherlands
ian-georgian-border-crossing-reopened
March 1 2010

The sole border crossing between Russia and Georgia, called Verkhny
Lars in Russian and Darial Gorge in Georgian, reopened at 7:00 am
local time this morning following a brief ceremony.

The crossing had been closed for three years. The re-opening is the
result of international mediation. The border crossing is the only
one that that does not entail travelling through the Russian-backed
rebel Georgian regions of South Ossetia or Abkhazia. Russia closed
the checkpoint in 2006 in retaliation against Tbilisi for making
overtures to the West.

The re-opening of the border crossing is seen as a first modest
step towards improved relations between Russian and Georgia. The
countries currently have no diplomatic relations and no air traffic
flies between them.

In the summer of 2008, an armed conflict took place between Russia and
Georgia. The Russians attacked when the Georgians tried to recapture
the renegade region of South Ossetia.

The re-opening of the crossing is expected primarily to benefit
Armenia, which had relied on it for its trade with Russia, its main
economic partner.

Robert Fisk’s World: Scenes from a busy Beirut correspondent’s notebook

The Israeli police turn up to see what we are doing prowling on the
Jewish Sabbath

Saturday, 27 February 2010

Independent/uk

It’s back-of-the-book time again, those little funny, sad stories that
don’t quite make it from the reporter’s notebook into a fully fledged
dispatch but which shouldn’t be thrown away.

So…

*I am in Hebron, on Macintyre Tours (see last week’s column) and —
noticing our Palestinian West Bank correspondent – the Israeli police
turn up to see what we are doing, prowling this supposedly sacred city
on the Jewish Sabbath. I try to cool the cops down by asking the
uniformed guy at the window of the police car where he lives in
Israel. "Sderot," he says at once. Sderot, city of Hamas rockets,
marginally the most dangerous place in Israel. So which do you prefer,
I ask? The dangers of Sderot or the stone-throwing of the Jews and
Arabs of Hebron? The cop bursts into laughter. "Good question," he
says.

*I am back in Beirut. A Sunday, and Missak Keleshian, an Armenian
researcher – actually, he’s in love with film and photographs and is a
technician by trade – is showing an original archive movie on the
Armenian genocide. It was made by German cameramen in 1918 and 1920.
Never before shown. I sit at the back of the big Armenian hall in the
Beirut suburb of Dbayeh and the camera tracks across a terrible
wasteland of dry hills. Southern Turkey – or western Armenia,
depending on your point of view – just after the 1915 genocide of one
and a half million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Turks. And a
woman comes into focus. She is sitting in the muck and holding her
child – alive or dead, I cannot tell. She is weeping and wailing and
there before our eyes is the 20th-century’s First Holocaust – which
our precious US President Barack Obama dare not even call a genocide
lest he offends Turkey. Literally moving proof. Later footage shows
20,000 Armenian orphans in Beirut, 30,000 in Aleppo. Where are their
parents? Ask not Obama. In one extraordinary scene, the orphans of the
First Holocaust are sitting at a breakfast table two miles in length.
I am both mesmerised and appalled. They smile and they laugh at the
camera. Dr Lepsius, a German working for Near East Relief – how
swiftly the good Germans who cared for the Armenians turned into more
dangerous creatures – holds the children in his arms. Outside an
orphanage, other children plead for help. Then there is a picture of
an orphanage run by the Turks in Beirut in 1915, in which the
children, Nazi-style, were "Turkified", given Muslim names to
eradicate their identity. Enough. This will be a big report in The
Independent. But there is a long, panning shot across Beirut. It is
Lebanon, 1920; there are tents for the Armenians but the sweep of film
shows the port. There are steam ships and sailing ships and the long
coast which I see each morning from my balcony.

*To my Beirut balcony, today, beyond which a modern ship, Odyssey
Explorer, is passing. It is pale blue and attractive and real – "real"
ships for me have a smokestack in the middle of the vessel, not at the
back – but its gloomy role this past month has been to find the 54
corpses still on board the Ethiopian Airlines flight which took off
from Beirut international airport on 25 January and crashed into the
sea just over four minutes later. I took off a few hours earlier en
route to Amman. The weather was awful, tornado-wind and rain. We
bumped around the sky. When Macintyre called me later to tell me the
flight was lost, I just told him I wasn’t surprised. But the rumours
soon started. The plane was blown up. It was sabotaged. The wife of
the French ambassador was on board. Alas, she was. But the terrible
truth soon came out. The black box flight recorder was presented to
the Lebanese prime minister, Saad Hariri (son of the man assassinated
just over five years ago). You can hear the crew as they fly their
aircraft – inexplicably – straight up to 9,000 feet and then fall
backwards out of the sky. In Amharic – the language of Ethiopia – the
pilot blurts out: "We are finished. May God save our souls." It is
heartrending. The word is that he had not completed his full year’s
flight training for his Boeing aircraft. And what did the Odyssey
Explorer find? First of all, it found another aircraft at the bottom
of the sea – not the Ethiopian plane. I think it was probably the hull
of the Hungarian Malev aircraft accidentally hit by a shell in 1975 at
the start of the civil war. No one survived. But incredibly, ever
since the first word came in of the Ethiopian crash – ironically, from
a gunman of Abu Nidal’s repulsive old militia, who thought he was
under attack by Israel when the aircraft hit the Mediterranean – the
Lebanese have found every body of those flying on the plane. I called
by a member of the security forces this week to ask what it was like.
"Robert, it’s the fish. That’s the problem. The last sack of remains
came up with six backbones inside." Yes. God spare us.

*But let us end gently. I have called up Andrew Buncombe – Our Man in
Delhi – to warn him that I may shortly be arriving in the Raj and
expected him to provide me with peacock-strewn and manicured lawns
whereon cummerbunded waiters will serve me gin and tonic at sundown.
Buncombe said he’d have to hire the lawns, waiters and peacocks.
Readers will be kept informed.

The Economist
Feb 28 2010

The Week Ahead

[parts omitted]

¢ A VOTE by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday March 4th
threatens to sour relations between America and Turkey. The
congressional committee will consider whether to label the mass
slaughter of Ottoman Armenians by Turkish forces in 1915 as a
genocide. Previous similar resolutions never made it to a vote in the
House of Representatives for fear of damaging relations with an
important ally in the Middle East. But a House vote is more likely
this time after Barack Obama’s election pledge to recognise the
episode as genocide.

yStory.cfm?story_id=15582437&source=features_b ox_main