Author: Dabaghian Diana

Deux rebelles kurdes tués dans le sud-est de la Turquie

TURQUIE

samedi17 avril 2010, par Stéphane/armenews

Deux rebelles kurdes ont été tués et deux autres blessés dans des
affrontements mercredi 14 avril avec l’armée dans le sud-est de la
Turquie, ont affirmé des sources de sécurité.

Trois soldats ont été blessés, selon les mêmes sources à Diyarbakir (sud-est).

Les combats se sont produits au cours d’une opération de sécurité près
d’Eruh, dans la province de Siirt, après que les autorités ont reçu
des informations indiquant la présence dans la région de membres du
Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK, séparatistes kurdes de
Turquie).

Dans un incident séparé survenu dans la province de Sirnak, trois
soldats ont été blessés lorsque leur véhicule a été pris pour cible
par des tirs, ont annoncé les mêmes sources de sécurité, selon
lesquelles le PKK pourrait être à l’origine de l’attaque.

Le PKK a déclenché en 1984 une lutte armée pour l’autonomie de ces
régions du sud-est en majorité kurde.

Selon un bilan de l’armée turque, le conflit a fait 45.000 morts.

Aysor, Armenia
April 17 2010

It’s necessary to clarify the mood in Moscow

To schedule a visit to Moscow, following the visit to Washington, was
the expected step, told Aysor member of the Republican Party of
Armenia Lernik Alexanian.

`This visit, following a visit to Washington, is an expected step as
Russia is used to being involved in all processes of the South
Caucasus region. It’s necessary to clarify moods in Moscow after talks
in Washington,’ he said.

`To hold talks with Russia on all range of issues and to share
information with Russia is important to Armenia as for a strategic
partner,’ he added.

It’s worth mentioning that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s visit
to Moscow is scheduled for April 20.

LEGENDARY GUITARIST JOHN MCLAUGHLIN TO PLAY CONCERT IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net –
April 16, 2010 – 13:11 AMT 08:11 GMT

Legendary guitarist John Mclaughlin and his The 4th Dimension
jazz-fusion group’s concert will take place on April 28 at 19:00 at
the National Academic Theater of Ballet and Opera.

McLaughlin as a virtuous guitarist is admitted by world-known musicians
such as Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck, Paco de Lucia, Al Di Meola, Jaco
Pastorius and others. Most of them have co-worked with McLaughlin in
multiple joint projects.

Armenian musician Arto Tuncboyajyan, the soloist of Armenian Navy
Band, who has already had the pleasure of playing with McLaughlin,
will join the concert as a guest with his original music and character.

Vibrographus, the organizer of the event, promises a real celebration
for those who know and love McLaughlin and for those who will listen
to him for the first time.

CONSTRUCTION OF DRINKING WATER PIPELINE FROM AVAN BOROUGH IN YEREVAN TO DOWNTOWN YEREVAN WILL BE FINISHED BY AUGUST

/ARKA/
April 16, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, April 16. /ARKA/. Construction of a drinking water pipeline
from Avan borough in Yerevan to downtown will be finished by August,
Gagik Ayvazian, head of a department of Yerevan Jur company said today.

He said the new gravity water pipeline will bring a higher quality
fresh drinking water to the central parts of the capital city and
will also result in substantial cut of electricity consumption.

He said at the proposal of the Yerevan municipality polyethylene tubes
are being laid along with water pipes that can be used in future for
laying optical fiber cables.

Construction of the 4.5 km water pipeline began on April 1. The
project’s cost is 263 million Drams, financed by a World Bank loan.

Yerevan Jur (Yerevan Water) is run by French Generale des Eaux that
won an international tender announced by World Bank to take up a
long-term management of the Yerevan network in 2006. It pledged to
upgrade the obsolete network and ensure 24-hour water supplies to
households. The company manages also drinking and waste water removal
systems in Ararat, Aragatsotn and Kotayk provinces.

Yerevan Jur has 339,370 customers producing 370 million cubic meters
of drinking water a year and managing 2,120 lm long water pipelines.

ACTION OF PROTEST IN FRONT OF RA ADMINISTRATIVE COURT

news.am
April 16 2010
Armenia

On April 16, about 500 supporters of the opposition Armenian
National Congress (ANC) held an action of protest in front of the RA
Administrative Court.

Coordinator of the ANC Central Office Levon Zurabyan stated that
grossly violated the law by deciding on written proceeding on a class
suit brought against ArmRusgasprom.

"Today’s action has no precedents – 7,230 families put their signatures
to a class suit, protesting against an economically unjustified sharp
rise in the gas price for the population. However, on the authorities’
order, the Administrative Court is doing its best to minimize the
possibility of public response to the proceedings. The law provides
for oral proceeding on cases eliciting broad public response. We have
gathered to demonstrate this public response," Zurabyan said. The
lawyer Vahe Hovsepyan handed the demonstrators’ application for oral
proceeding on the suit over to the Administrative Court, whereafter
the action was finished.

The RA Public Services Regulatory Commission approved ArmRusgasprom’s
application for a rise in gas price from April 1, 2010. The current
gas price is 132 AMD per cubic meter for the population and 243 AMD
per cubic meter for large gas consumers.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Assembly
April 16, 2010
Contact: Press Department
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY CO-HOSTS COMMUNITY BRIEFING

Representatives Jackie Speier and Frank Pallone Jr. Discuss U.S.
Affirmation of the Armenian Genocide

Washington, DC – The Paros Foundation and St. Vartan Armenian
Apostolic Church, in cooperation with the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly) hosted a community briefing featuring Congresswoman Jackie
Speier (D-CA) and Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
during the April Congressional District work period.

Moderated by the Assembly’s Northern California Regional Council
(NCRC) Members Julie Kulhanjian Strauch and David Ojakian,
Representatives Speier and Pallone applauded the dedication of the
Armenian community and encouraged the more than 150 guests present to
continue to press forward on key issues, including genocide education
and affirmation. In particular, both Members focused on U.S.
reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide and the March 4th approval by
the House Committee on Foreign Affairs of H. Res. 252, the Armenian
Genocide resolution.

In reiterating their continued support for this important human rights
legislation, Speier and Pallone discussed next steps and expressed
their commitment to work with community leaders regarding passage of
H. Res. 252 by the full House of Representatives.

"We appreciate the tireless efforts of Representatives Speier and
Pallone and thank them for providing us with a timely briefing about
the next steps with respect to H. Res. 252," stated NCRC Member Julie
Kulhanjian Strauch. "As we come together this April and reflect on the
95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we urge Congress to adopt
H. Res. 252," she added.

"As a member of St. Vartan’s Church, and the Assembly’s Northern
California Regional Council, I want to thank the Paros Foundation for
making this event possible," stated David Ojakian. "We will continue
to promote Armenian issues and look forward to future events to
discuss critically important matters facing Armenia and the Diaspora,"
added Ojakian.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA EXPERT: TURKEY DOESN’T GIVE UP OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY "ITS OWN GAME" IN CAUCASUS

Today
66090.html
April 14 2010
Azerbaijan

Interview with political observer and expert on Caucasus and Central
Asia Yuri Sigov.

How do you assess the current state of the Turkey-U.S. relations in
the light of latest developments?

Turkish-American relations are quite smooth and are of partnership
nature, with the exception of the powerful work of the Armenian lobby
on "genocide" and the weakness of the Turkish lobby in the U.S. to
counteract this. The Turks understand that the U.S. needs their
assistance, especially in matters of security in the region and in
the energy sector. Another question is that U.S strategic interests
in the Caucasus are not so significant like that of Turkey, which has
recently been trying to regain some lost political and economic weight.

Turkey sees the United States as a partner profitable in every respect
while not giving up its own initiative and opportunity to play "its
own game" in the Caucasus.

In your opinion, to what degree the United States is likely to
recognize the "Armenian genocide"? Will President Obama do what
Armenians expect him to do on on April 24?

The are still debates regarding the term "genocide" in the U.S. The
Armenian lobby in America is able to competently to influence members
of the White House administration and members of Congress. So, the
solution can be unpleasant for Turkey. But I do not think that the
American president would be interested in maintaining confrontation
over this issue as showed his recent meeting with the Turkish and
Armenian leaders in Washington, where he urged them to cooperate,
rather than continuing squabbles about what happened almost a hundred
years ago.

How do you assess Iran’s effort to contribute to settlement of the
Karabakh conflict?

Today Iran is in a very difficult situation, and any peaceful
activities, including an attempt to act as peacemaker and mediator
in Karabakh conflict resolution, can bring some positive results. In
reality, Tehran has no leverage to resolve this long-running conflict
and is not expected to have one in future. Moreover, Iran, in my
opinion, is not interested in resolving this conflict in favor of
Azerbaijan.

At the same time, Tehran wants Azerbaijan not to assist U.S. in the
event of a sharp aggravation of relations between the two countries.

To achieve this, Tehran put forward some initiatives on Karabakh
problem, a sensitive issue for Azerbaijan as, but is doing very little
in practice.

Ruben Safrastyan: Armenian-Turkish Reconciliation Process Stalled Or Deadlocked
Nvard Davtyan

"Radiolur"
14.04.2010 15:02

In general, the positions of Armenia and Turkey have not changed:
Turkey still pushes forward its preconditions, Director of the Oriental
Studies Institute of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences Ruben
Safrastyan told a press conference today.

"Serzh Sargsyan’s statements have once again showed that Armenia
will not make concessions on either of the two issues: recognition
of the Armenian Genocide and the Karabakh settlement. Therefore,
Turkey’s attempts to exert pressure on Armenia have been and will be
ineffective," he said.

"Armenia and Diaspora have always been united and they will continue
working together on recognition of the Armenian Genocide and other
important issues," Safrastyan said.

Director of the Oriental Studies Institute considers that the protocols
will not be ratified by April 24. He says the Armenian-Turkish
reconciliation process is stalled or deadlocked.

TURKEY, ARMENIA TO CARRY ON PROCESS WITH REGULAR MEETINGS

WorldBulletin.Net
APril 13 2010
Turkey

The two leaders agreed to carry on the rapprochement process through
regular meetings between their foreign ministers.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Armenian President
Serzh Sargsian who met in Washington D.C. on Monday discussed the
letter Erdogan sent to Sargsian in details.

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu, assigned as
special representative by Erdogan, earlier conveyed the letter to
Sargsyan.

The two leaders got together on the sidelines of the nuclear security
summit hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama.

During the one and a half hour meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister
Davutoglu and his Armenian counterpart Nalbandian plus their
undersecretaries were in attendance.

"Regular meetings"

Premier Erdogan put his views on the Caucasus at first hand and
Turkish standpoint on the Upper Karabakh dispute has been expressed
to the Armenian side.

Erdogan and Sargsyan also took up contents of Turkish Prime Minister’s
letter that was handed to the Armenian leader.

Erdogan’s letter expresses Turkey’s uneasiness over revival of
Armenian allegations in parliaments of third countries, also affirming
discomfort with Armenian Constitutional Court ruling.

The document also urges to leave the matter to historians and notes
that tete a tete meetings could accelerate the process.

The two leaders agreed to carry on the rapprochement process through
regular meetings between their foreign ministers.

"Preconditions"

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sargsyan said that Armenia
has not accepted any preconditions.

Sargsian claimed that Turkey talked a language of preconditions with
Armenia and Armenian people in the rapprochement process.

Sargsian who visited the grave of 28th U.S. President Woodrow Wilson
addressed American-Armenians gathered around him.

He told the crowd that Armenia’s position regarding the "genocide"
issue did not change at all, claiming that he did "not believe Turkey
could play a constructive role in the solution of the upper Karabakh
issue."

Turkey and Armenia signed protocols on October 10, 2009 to normalize
their bilateral ties and establish diplomatic relations.

However the rapprochement process was hampered as the Foreign Relations
Committee of the United States House of Representatives adopted a
resolution on March 4 that supported Armenian allegations regarding
the incidents of 1915.

TURKISH PREMIER: DECISIONS MADE BY PARLIAMENTS DON’T BENEFIT ARMENIA

APA
April 13 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on
Monday that the decisions (regarding Armenian allegations on 1915
incidents) that were made by parliaments did not benefit Armenia,
APA reports quoting turkishny.com web-page. Erdogan attended opening
of Ali Vural Ak Global Islam Studies Center established at the George
Mason University in Washington, D.C. and deliver a speech on "the
Alliance of Civilizations as Vision of Global Peace".

In regard to 1915 incidents, Erdogan said historians should deal with
the matter and documents and archives should be studied to reveal the
fact. "Parliaments don’t write history and they don’t judge," he said.

"We put forth our documents and archives. We also said a history
commission should be established to deal with the matter, but we did
not receive an answer to our call," he said.

Recalling that the 3rd forum of Alliance of Civilizations would take
place in Brazil in May, Erdogan said it showed that the Alliance of
Civilizations project has become a global one. The 4th one would be
held in Doha capital of Qatar in 2011, he added.

Turkish government has established friendly relations with all
countries especially neighboring countries in the past seven and half
years, he said.

Erdogan said Turkey and Syria launched a process of full cooperation
and the two countries were exerting efforts to restore peace in the
region. Despite global economic crisis which started in 2008, Turkey
remarkably increased its exports to 22 countries, he said.