Author: Felekian Ara

ARMENIA-IRAN RAILWAY TO GIVE ARMENIA ACCESS TO PERSIAN GULF

Central Asia General Newswire
April 6, 2009 Monday 3:46 PM MSK

Armenia and Iran have signed a memorandum on a project to lay a
railway between them, a line that would be Armenia’s only rail link
to the outside world.

The planned railway would give landlocked Armenia access to the
Persian Gulf and Iranian ports, Iranian Roads and Transportation
Minister Hamed Behbahani told a briefing.

Behbahani and Armenian Transportation and Communications Minister
Gurgen Sarkisian signed the document on behalf of their countries.

A working group would take one to one and a half years to map out the
route for the line and prepare a feasibility study for the project,
Behbahani said. Laying the line would take between three and four
years, he said.

The line might be 470 kilometers long, including the Iranian stretch
of 60 kilometers, Behbahani said.

Sarkisian told the same briefing the railway would have more than a
regional significance and would in effect "be a continuation of the
Silk Road."

Beside Iran, Armenia borders Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia.

Armenia’s rail communication with Azerbaijan and Turkey has been
blocked off for years. Nor has there been any rail traffic between
Armenia and Russia since the August 2008 conflict in Georgia as the
only railway linking Armenia to Russia passes through Georgia.

AZERBAIJAN CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE OPENING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDERS

BBC Monitoring
April 6 2009

Azerbaijan is seriously concerned about a possible opening of borders
between Turkey and Armenia on 16 April. The Azerbaijani media and
pundits have described trends towards improving ties between Armenia
and Turkey differently.

In a comment on a possible opening of the Armenian-Turkish borders
in its 5 April edition, the opposition daily Yeni Musavat said that
"the official opening of the borders would mean that anyone will no
longer think about applying any sanctions on the aggressor. If our
strategic partner Turkey becomes an economic partner with the enemy
state, which sanction may Azerbaijan demand from the international
community against the aggressor?"

Yeni Musavat believes that "it will also mean that Ankara admits
the policy, which it has been conducting so far with regard to the
aggressor, was wrong and in parallel confirms that Iran’s Armenian
policy was correct… It’s a very positive case that the concern was
expressed by the Azerbaijani leadership as well".

The paper recalled recent statements by Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker
Oqtay Asadov and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov which opposed
the opening of the borders.

"If to take into account news that gas export to Turkey will be
suspended, Azerbaijan will refuse Nabucco [gas pipeline to take Central
Asian and Caspian gas to Europe bypassing Russia] and further improve
ties with Russia, then one can think that the fraternal country’s
political leadership has been sent fairly clear messages about
Azerbaijan’s position," Yeni Musavat added.

In an interview with opposition daily Azadliq in its 5-6 April edition,
political analyst Zardust Alizada ruled out grounds for concern.

"This reminds me a storm in a teacup. The Turkish-Armenian ties were
abnormal and they are trying to normalize these ties. There is no
fault here. Every state is trying to normalize its ties with other
states…Turkey has rendered us all assistance during the whole period
of the [Karabakh] conflict," Alizada said.

He ruled out the impact of normalizing the Armenian-Turkish relations
on Azerbaijan’s efforts to get Karabakh back.

Political analyst Vafa Quluzada said that Azerbaijan should in no
way spoil ties with Turkey.

"This issue raises some doubts. Because the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish borders is not a new subject. For some reasons,
this issue raised before Obama’s visit to Turkey… Borders may
be opened. Azerbaijan should not spoil its ties with Turkey for
this reason. Because, Azerbaijan would suddenly receive double
blows then. Undoubtedly, the opening of the borders is not in
our interests. The deterioration of ties with Turkey is not in
our interests at all. Azerbaijan should not go to double losses,
" Quluzada said.

He mentioned Azerbaijan’s good relations with Iran and Russia,
although these countries closely cooperate with Armenia.

In a comment in Yeni Musavat’s 5 April edition on Turkish President
Abdullah Gul’s denial of reports about the opening of borders, chairman
of the Hope Party Iqbal Agazada said that "time will show if this
statement is true or not… The latest statement by Gul may also be
regarded as the Turkish government’s departure from its position on
Armenia. In any case, all this will become clear shortly".

Agazada justified President Ilham Aliyev’s decision not to attend an
Istanbul-hosted forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations as a step
"which is not absolutely late", adding that "the current Turkish
authorities’ attitude to the Azerbaijani government was so insincere
that the president had to take the step".

To recap, Baki Xabar and Yeni Musavat papers published a roundup of
Turkish media outlets which seriously reacted to Aliyev’s absence
from the forum.

In an interview with Yeni Musavat’s 6 April edition, analyst Qabil
Huseynli described Gul’s denial as a political manoeuvre. He added
that the Azerbaijani leadership’s position on the issue made the AKP
(ruling Justice and Development Party) change its plans.

"It came out that the AKP government had not given detailed
information to Azerbaijan about the essence of secret talks conducted
with Armenia and other issues concerning improvement of ties with
Armenia. Azerbaijan has obtained information about the real intention
of the AKP government at the last moment. Turkey’s opposition parties
and some foreign media played an important role in this issue,"
Huseynli said.

In remarks to private Lider TV station on 6 April, EU representative
for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby said that the reopening of the
borders would have a positive impact on the region.

Our strategic purpose is to achieve the opening of all borders in the
South Caucasus. The situation is not normal in the region. We will
continue our work to ensure not only the Armenian-Turkish but also the
Georgian-Russian and Azerbaijani-Armenian borders are reopened. This
is very important for the region’s development and security, Semneby
said in Russian with superimposed Azeri translation.

OBAMA ENCOURAGES TURKISH-ARMENIAN DIALOGUE

Agence France Presse
April 6, 2009 Monday 7:07 PM GMT

US President Barack Obama Monday called on Turkey and Armenia to
"move forward" in fence-mending talks and signalled he would not
interfere in their dispute over whether the massacre of Armenians a
century ago was "genocide".

Obama said he had not changed his view that the killings of hundreds of
thousands of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire amounted to genocide
but insisted that reconciliation between the two neighbours was
more important.

"I want to focus not on my views right now, but on the views of the
Turkish and Armenian people. If they can move forward… the entire
world should encourage them," Obama, on a two-day visit to Turkey,
said.

The negotiation process between Turkey and Armenia "could bear fruit
very quickly," he said, speaking at a joint press conference with
Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul in Ankara.

"I’m not interested in the United States in any way tilting these
negotiations one way or another while (the two countries) are having
useful negotiations," he added.

During his election campaign, Obama had pledged to his
Armenian-American supporters to recognise the World War I killings
as genocide.

Ankara has warned Washington that such a move could hit bilateral
ties and derail reconcilitaion efforts with Armenia.

Washington has traditionally condemned the massacres, but refrained
from dubbing them a "genocide", wary of straining relations with
Turkey, a NATO member and a key ally in the Middle East.

In an address to the Turkish parliament later Monday, Obama said
Washington "strongly supports the full normalisation" of ties between
Turkey and Armenia, including the opening of their border.

"An open border would return the Turkish and Armenian people to a
peaceful and prosperous coexistence that would serve both of your
nations," he said.

Obama later delivered his message of reconcilation personally to
the foreign ministers of Turkey and Armenia when he met them at
a reception in Istanbul, the second leg of his visit, in honour of
guests attending an international forum on bridging divisions between
the Islamic world and the West.

Obama "urged them (Ali Bacacan of Turkey and Eduard Nalbandian of
Armenia) to complete an agreement with dispatch," a senior US official
said on condition of anonymity.

Turkey has refused to establish diplomatic ties with Armenia because
of its campaign to have the killings recognised as genocide.

In 1993, it shut its border with Armenia in a show of solidarity
with close ally Azerbaijan, then at war with Armenia over the
Nagorny-Karabakh enclave, dealing a heavy blow to the impoverished
nation.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin were killed between 1915
and 1917 as the Ottoman Empire fell apart, a claim backed by several
other countries.

Turkey rejects the genocide label and argues that 300,000-500,000
Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife when
Armenians took up arms for independence in eastern Anatolia and sided
with invading Russian troops.

The dispute is among the issues that Ankara and Yereven had been
discussing since reconciliation efforts gathered steam in September
when Gul paid a landmark visit to Armenia.

OBAMA ENCOURAGED BOTH COUNTRIES

A1+
09:04 pm | April 07, 2009

Official

U.S. President Barack Obama met with Foreign Ministers of Armenia,
Turkey and Switzerland Edward Nalbandyan, Ali Babacan and Mishlin
Kalmi-Rey on the sidelines of his visit to Istanbul. The meeting took
place before the official dinner given by Turkish President Abdullah
Bul in honor of participants of the second Alliance of Civilizations
summit.

President Obama announced that he supports efforts of Armenian and
Turkish presidents aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and
expressed satisfaction with the progress.

The U.S. President encouraged the sides to seal a deal that would
normalize relations between Armenia and Turkey.

According to Obama, the steps taken by both presidents are historic
and brave and the border opening may secure a peaceful and prosperous
future for the peoples of both countries, as informed by the press
service of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

US PRESIDENT WARNS IRAN AS HE VISITS TURKEY

Al-Arab Online
.asp?fname=2009%5C04%5C04-06%5Czotherz%5C944.htm&a mp;dismode=x&ts=06/04/2009%2001:46:36%20%C3%A3
April 6 2009

US President Barack Obama on Monday used his first visit as US
president to a Muslim nation to warn that Iran had to make a choice
between having a nuclear weapon and building a better future for
its people.

"I have made it clear to the people and leaders of the Islamic Republic
that the United States seeks engagement based upon mutual interests
and mutual respect," Obama said in address to the Turkish parliament.

"Now, Iran’s leaders must choose whether they will try to build a
weapon or build a better future for their people."

Obama also stood by his views on mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman
Turks in 1915, which he has termed genocide, but said he expected a
breakthrough in talks between Turkey and Armenia.

Ankara and Yerevan are engaged in negotiations aimed at restoring
full diplomatic ties after nearly a century of hostilities, and may
be on the point of reopening their border.

Obama, asked about the historical controversy during a two-day visit
to Turkey, said he had not changed his mind, but sought to shift the
focus onto the Turkish-Armenian talks.

"My views are on the record and I have not changed those views,"
he told a joint news conference with Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

As a candidate, Obama pledged to call the killings genocide, which
Ankara rejects, and a resolution to so designate them was introduced
in the U.S. House of Representatives last month. The issue has hurt
ties between the two NATO allies before.

"I want to be as encouraging as possible around those negotiations
which are moving forward and could bear fruit very quickly, very soon,
so as a consequence what I want to do is not focus on my views right
now," Obama said, seeking to strike a balance over the issue while
adding pressure on the talks.

A breakthrough between Turkey and Armenia could help shore up
stability in the volatile Caucasus, criss-crossed by oil and gas
pipelines which make it of strategic importance to Russia, Europe
and the United States.

Gul, who has spearheaded talks between Ankara and Yerevan, also said
he expected them to bear fruit soon.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with
Azerbaijan, which was fighting Armenian-backed separatists over the
breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region.

"When our government came to power there were almost no relations
between Turkey and Armenia," Gul said.

"Now we are in talks with Armenia to normalise relations. I hope
these talks will yield the best possible result."

Azerbaijan, which fears a Turkish-Armenian rapprochement would weaken
its hand in the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, has said a decision by Ankara
to open the border with Armenia before Yerevan withdraws its troops
from the enclave would be "counter to Azerbaijan’s national interests".

Turkish officials have warned that any new attempt in Congress to
brand the killings as genocide could damage U.S.-Turkish ties and
derail the Turkish-Armenian talks.

Obama is in Turkey to rebuild ties with the Muslim country, whose
help he needs to solve confrontations from Iran to Afghanistan.

Turkey accepts that many Christian Armenians were killed by Ottoman
Turks during World War One but strongly denies that up to 1.5 million
died as a result of genocide.

Workgroup will Prepare Armenia-Iran Railway Construction Project

Yerevan, April 4, Noyan Tapan. The World economic and financial crisis
give rise to deepen and tighten bilateral relationship, which will
strengthen both Armenia’s and Iran’s resistibility to negative effect
of the crisis, said RA prime minister Tigran Sarkisian receipting on
April 3 the minister of roads and communications of Iran Hamid
Behbaham. In this context, putting the accent on RA President’s
upcoming official visit to Iran, the prime minister expressed
confidence, that the visit will assist in broadening the potential
programs foreseen between different economy sectors of two countries.
According to T.Sarkisian, the impelmentation of the certain projects in
energy, agriculture and other industries will promote the development
of economic cooperation between two countries. Cooperation with
Armenia, particularly in energy, transport, and other sectors of
economy are primary for Iran’s foreign economic relations, emphasized
Hamid Behbaham. In particular, the minister of Roads and communications
put the accent on Armenia-Iran Railway Construction among other
foreseen bilateral initiatives in transport sphere.

He told that during his visit he had work meetings with Armenia’s
ministers of energy, transport and communications, which resulted in
establishing a workgroup to carry out preparatory activities for the
mentioned project.

According to Behbaham, works can be implemented in three phases:
feasibility study, identification of funding sources, definition of the
most optimal direction and implementation of construction works. He
stressed, that Iran is ready to support at most to Armenia in all 3
phases in order to fulfill undertime that significant project. As
reports the Information and PR Department of the Government of RA,
T.Sargsyan articulated, that Armenia holds an interest in constructing
of a direct railway to Iran, the absence of which prevents from full
application of the whole potential of both sides. According to the
prime-minister, launching the Armenia-Iran railway will considerably
hange the current situation with the Armenia’s trade turnover and fuel
operations of many Armenian enterprises.

A golden era for US-Turkey relations?
Turkey’s relationship with Iran, Syria and Hamas is crucial to the
Obama camp’s efforts to secure peace in the Middle East

Bulent Aras
guardian.co.uk,
Saturday 4 April 2009 14.00 BST

After back-to-back visits to Turkey by US Middle East envoy George
Mitchell and secretary of state Hillary Clinton, Ahmet Davutoglu, a top
adviser to Turkey’s prime minister, predicted that Turkish-American
relations were about to enter a golden era. This prediction was based
on converging developments in Turkey and America’s approach to the
Middle East in particular and foreign policy in general. President
Obama’s visit to Turkey on the 6 April signals that this new golden era
has indeed begun.

Several key developments in Turkish foreign policy occurred in the
first few months of 2009. The accusatory tone adopted by Turkey towards
Israel, condemning the latter’s assault on Gaza, was reaffirmed in the
most recent World Economic Forum summit in Davos when its prime
minister, Recep Tayipp Erdogan, stormed out of a panel discussion,
lambasting the Israeli president, Shimon Peres, for his government’s
actions. Meanwhile, Turkey constructed close ties with the Arab world
and Iran ` closer than at any previous moment in the history of the
republic. Middle Eastern countries hosted more Turkish politicians in
the last three months than in the last decade. Erdogan is now viewed
favourably as a leader by the peoples of the Arab world. Turkey emerged
in the Middle East as the sort of power with which international and
regional actors were not familiar.

It can be inferred from Clinton’s remarks during her delegation’s stay
in Turkey that the US regards Turkey as an effective negotiator in the
region. Turkey’s relationship with Iran, Syria and Hamas is critical to
the enactment of foreign policy through diplomacy approach of the Obama
administration, as Turkey could act as a conduit through which America
would communicate with these countries and actors. Despite outspoken
critics in Washington, the Obama camp regards Turkey’s relationship of
open dialogue with Iran, Syria and Hamas as positive.

Several issues are expected to mark the agenda during the Obama
administration’s visit: the US military’s exit from Iraq; the
establishment of security in Afghanistan; normalisation of relations
with Iran and Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity; the Caucasus and
Turkish-Armenian relations; east-west energy routes and energy
security; Turkey’s bid for EU membership; and the settlement of the
Cyprus problem. Regardless of whether military bases in Turkey are
employed, America needs Turkey’s full logistical support during the
eventual US withdrawal from Iraq.

There are more similarities between Turkish and American foreign policy
visions today than ever before. Previously, during the Clinton
presidency, American policy emphasised human rights and democracy while

Turkish foreign policy was preoccupied with security. As the US mended
its global image, Turkey was taken hostage to troubled relations with
its neighbours, Iran and Syria. Later, under the Bush administration,
American foreign policy priorities became tied to security, while
Turkey’s agenda was determined by its plea for full membership in the
EU and the consequent political reform and democratisation process.
America’s global image was toppled during this period while Turkey
improved its relationship with its neighbours and became an influential
actor in their affairs.

Today, America’s foreign policy vision converges with Turkey’s on
democracy, human rights, peace, and international legitimacy. The Obama
administration needs regional allies to implement its foreign policy
through multilateral diplomacy. A review of the Obama delegation’s
agenda for his visit to Turkey reveals that the president will present
some proposals to address Turkey’s foreign policy problems, such as
Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkish-Armenian relations. US support for Turkey’s
democratisation and EU membership will anchor Turkey on this path. This
perception will contribute to the democratisation of the polity in
Turkey. Turkey’s civilian elite is currently spending a great deal of
energy to put an end to the cold war-style illegal apparatus deep
rooted within the state (known popularly as Ergenekon).

The Obama administration’s efforts at engagement will not be in vain.
The20current Turkish administration promotes a domestic and foreign
policy orientation that accommodates co-operation, demonstrated by
Turkey’s recent peace brokering in the region. It is only a matter of
time before we witness the positive effects that a possible
Turkish-American relationship will have on the Middle East and the rest
of the Muslim world.

106 BECAME 252 AND NOW THERE ARE 88

LRAGIR.AM
15:14:28 – 03/04/2009

The famous 106 resolution on the Armenian genocide recognition of
the U.S. Congress, which appeared on the Congress agenda a year ago
but was not voted, is now put in circulation with the same form but
is renamed 252 resolution. On April 3, at the Tesaket press club,
the director of Yerevan and Nagorno-Karabakh regional office of the
Armenian Assemble of America Arpi Vardanyan said that the Assemble
is working actively in connection with increasing the number of the
congressmen for that resolution and "the number of the congressmen
by yesterday night was 88".

ARMENIA LAUNCHES SPACE RECEIVING STATION

Armenian Second TV Channel
April 1 2009

[Presenter] The first and only space receiving station has been
launched in our country today. The 3D data on Armenia that Armenian
specialists have received for the first time have been transferred
to the earth. Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan attended the testing of
the station.

Experts say the information received by the station will be useful
in several sectors. Margarit Sargsyan has the details.

[Correspondent] A chance to see from above at the Institute
of Cartography and Geodesy. This is about comprehensive space
observation. The space receiving station makes it possible to use the
possibilities of satellites as far as 1,000 km above the Earth and
to conduct long-range probing, in other words, to receive accurate
pictures and information that will be transferred by 8GHz frequency
waves.

[Manuk Vardanyan, chairman of the Real Estate Cadastre, addressing
journalists] Surveys with 1m precision will be carried out. You realize
what precision we are talking about. Previously, they were made with
precision of 2m and more. This equipment allows us once a year –
we have 50 minutes that we have agreed with our Russian partner –
and by paying the corresponding fee [as heard], we can watch the
territory of our country for 50 minutes. Besides cartography issues,
it allows us to resolve the economic issues of our country, such as
urban development, environmental, agricultural and special projects.

[Correspondent] The prime minister was briefed on the new capacities of
the centre. They will be useful not only in geodesy and cartography,
but also for the security and defence of the country, in the event of
disasters as well as in the meteorological and scientific sectors. To
be able to use the full capacity of the equipment, our specialists
need to be trained additionally.

[Vardanyan] Under the 2010 state budget, every state agency, including
the Defence Ministry, will be able to get relevant services from the
cadastre for the defence of the country. This equipment will make it
possible to see precise changes in the real time mode, and this will
allow us to change our maps.

ARMENIA TO PARTICIPATE IN PRO-THEATER-2009 THEATRICAL FAIR IN MOSCOW

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.04.2009 21:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Hovhannes Tumanyan’s Yerevan State Puppet Theater,
National Theater of Aesthetics, Mihr Theater, as well as Armenian
Union of Theater Workers representatives will participate in 4th
PRO-Theater-2009 Theatrical Fair.

Theater Fair, due on Apr. 3-5 in Moscow will host over 120 CIS theater
troupes, representatives of various theater festivals as well as
suppliers of goods and services for theaters.

Theatrical Fair is held within the framework of Golden Mask 15th
Jubilee Festival, with the assistance of CIS Intergovernmental
Humanitarian Collaboration Fund and RF Ministry of Culture.