Author: Frangulian Shushan

ARMENIA: GENOCIDE OR CARELESSNESS?

Oxford Analytica
4-17/Armeniagenocideorcarelessness.aspx
April 17 2008
UK

Armenians around the world mark this Thursday as ‘Armenian Genocide
Day’. On this day in 1915, a pogrom began of the Armenians in
Constantinople. Armenians say 1.5 million were deliberately
exterminated during the First World War.

Turks, who celebrate National Sovereignty Day on Wednesday, do not
deny ‘events’, but say many of their own people died too amid general
mayhem. If Armenians succumbed to harsh conditions while being moved
(as a ‘fifth column’ suspected of siding with the Russian enemy)
from northeastern Anatolia to Syria, it was because the authorities
were not interested in treating them properly.

Whether the proper term is genocide is still a live political
controversy:

Armenia and the Armenian diaspora — mostly descended from Ottoman
refugees — insist on spreading their version in order to be revenged
on a racial enemy.

Turks, as a matter of honour, deny it – "the national character does
not allow it to commit such crimes", Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan said recently.

Others align themselves with one or the other side. In Bulgaria,
anti-Turkish ultra-nationalists recently sponsored a genocide
recognition bill; in Denmark, it was the far-right Danish People’s
Party. Israel, an ally of Turkey, withholds recognition — as long
as Ankara behaves itself.

Turkey’s international weight has prevented all but a few countries
taking the Armenian line, although they include France, which has
made genocide denial a criminal offence. A move to recognise it lies
before the US Congress, but President George Bush managed to stall
it after Ankara threatened to restrict aerial access to Iraq.

Presidential candidate John McCain opposes Resolution 106, valuing
Turkey as a US ally. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both support it
— although her husband dodged the issue for his eight years in office.

In 2007, Turkey proposed a joint historical commission to establish the
truth — in itself, a step forward. Whether the commission succeeds
in reaching agreement on the terminology hardly matters — a lot of
people died at a time of war because other people hated them for who
they were.

NO EMIGRATIONS FROM AZERBAIJAN TO UNITED STATES IN 2007

TREND News Agency
April 17 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 17 April / TrendNews corr. E.Huseynov / In 2007,
there were not emigrations from Azerbaijan to the United States
and 3,100 tourists visited the country, the US State Department
report said.

In total, 6.4mln foreigners visited the United States in 2007, and
434,000 people emigrated to the country. The State Department reported
that according to the number of immigration and visitor visas issued
within 2007, citizens from the former SSSR countries demonstrated
had a lower rate of visits to the United States.

On the report, the number of emigrants from Armenia to the United
States totalled more than 1,000 people and 4,2000 tourists, Belorussia
– zero emigrants and 8,200 tourists, Estonia 7 emigrants and 7,600
tourists, Georgia – 444 emigrants and 4,800 tourists, Latvia – zero
emigrants and 9,000 tourists, Lithuania – zero emigrants and 9,500
tourists, Moscow – zero emigrants and 9,000 tourists, Russia – 4,329
emigrants and 137,200 tourists, Ukraine – 1,827 emigrants and 40,100
tourists, Kazakhstan – 972 emigrants and 11,700 tourists, Kirgizstan –
zero emigrants and 2,100 tourists, Turkmenistan -zero emigrants and
0,900 tourists and Uzbekistan – 1,117 emigrants and 2,600 tourists.

The statistic shows that the number of emigrants from the post Soviet
countries has been decreasing in recent years. Most emigrants came to
the United States from Mexico (53,400), Philippine (42,600.) and China
(32,400.), Washington ProFile reported.

ARMENIA LEADER SAYS NO RETURN OF REBEL REGION TO AZERBAIJAN

Agence France Presse
April 16 2008

The president of the Caucasian republic of Armenia said Wednesday
neighbouring Azerbaijan must accept "once and for all" it would
not regain control over the Armenian-backed rebel region of Nagorny
Karabakh.

In his first major foreign policy speech since taking office this
month, Serzh Sarkisian struck a combative note and warned Azerbaijan
that its military had no hope of retaking the enclave.

"Azerbaijan must accept once and for all the reality that the existence
of an independent Nagorny Karabakh is irreversible," Sarkisian told
foreign ministry employees.

"It is impossible to even imagine that Karabakh could be subordinate
to Azerbaijan in any way," Sarkisian said.

"In Baku, they believe that through petrodollars they can overtake
us economically and eventually militarily," he said. "But it is not
only money that supports a country and achieves victories.

"An abundance of military hardware does not equal an efficient army."

Energy-rich Azerbaijan, which is flush with oil revenues and has
vowed to retake the disputed region, has hugely increased its military
budget in recent years.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced this week that the
country would double its defence spending this year to nearly two
billion dollars (1.26 billion euros).

Backed by Armenia, ethnic Armenian forces took control of Nagorny
Karabakh during a war in the early 1990s that killed thousands and
forced nearly a million people on both sides to flee their homes.

A ceasefire was signed between the two former Soviet republics in
1994 but the dispute remains unresolved after more than a decade
of negotiations.

Troops remain in a tense stand-off and shootings are common. Up to
16 soldiers were killed in a clash last month.

Nagorny-Karabakh is a 4,400 square kilometres (1,699 sq miles)
enclave surrounded by Azerbaijan.

SECRETARY GENERAL AND CHAIRMAN OF WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES ARRIVE IN ANTELIAS

Noyan Tapan
April 15, 2008

ANTELIAS, APRIL 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The secretary
general of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Sam Kobia and the WCC
chairman from Indonesia the Rev. Soritua Nababan arrived at Armenian
monastery of Mayravank in Lebanese Antelias on April 14.

The high-ranking guests will participate in the interchurch meetings
to be held at Mayravank and consult the Catholicos of Cilicia Aram
I about some interchurch and interreligious issues and programs.

WEBSITE LAUNCHED

Noyan Tapan
April 15, 2008

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 15, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. A
website was launched in Internet on the initiative
of the Tsir Katin company and with the state assistance of NKR. The
website presents the monstrous slaughter organized by an Azeri gang
against the Armenian population of Artsakh’s village of Maragha on
April 10, 1992. According to reports of Artsakh media, documentary
materials, written and oral evidence, photographs, and video materials
are placed on the website. The website will be launched in Armenian
and Russian one of these days.

"HSBC BANK ARMENIA" PRESENTED A NEW BRANCH IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
14.04.2008 17:53

Chief Executive Officer of "HSBC Bank Armenia" Tim Slater stated that
the opening of another branch consolidates the intentions of the bank
on extending its branch network.

"We believe that Armenia has a chance to become the regional financial
center and we consider the opening of the Head Office in the given
context," Tim Slater stated.

The Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia Artur Dzhavadyan
noted that, entering the Armenian market 12 years ago, "HSBC Bank
Armenia" established a new level for the market, due to which
the competition strengthened, new banking tools and products were
implemented, the service improved.

Artur Dzhavadyan informed that the HSBC Group has plans on establishing
an insurance company in Armenia, which will be put into operation in
the course of the nearest two years. Tim Slater noted that the new
insurance company will provide services of pension deposit insurance
and life insurance.

OSCE TO KEEP NAGORNO KARABAKH NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS IN FOCUS OF ITS ATTENTION

Noyan Tapan
April 9, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 9, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 9, RA Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanian received Heikki Talvitie, the special envoy of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, who has arrived in Armenia to take part in the
RA newly elected President’s inauguration ceremony.

The prospects of the Nagorno Karabakh settlement were discussed during
the meeting. The special envoy of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office said
that the OSCE presidency will keep the Nagorno Karabakh negotiations
process in the focus of its attention.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry Press
and Information Department, the same day V. Oskanian received the
delegation led by the Michael Ambuhl, the State Secretary of the Swiss
Foreign Ministry. The RA Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction with
the high-level relations between Armenia and Switzerland. M. Ambuhl, in
his turn, mentioning Armenian-Swiss efficiently developing cooperation,
thanked V. Oskanian for developing bilateral relations during the
years of his being a Minister.

Regional issues, the process and prospects of Nagorno Karabakh
settlement were also discussed during the meeting.

SHAH JAHAN’S DAGGER FOR AUCTION IN LONDON

Newstrack India
April 9 2008
India

India has been passionate destination for many tourists and invaders
for its rich culture and heritage, the same have been marked when
the rich valuable goes for sale.

Recently, the Sotheby Auction House cancelled the auction of armour
that was alleged to belong to the last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

But here is yet another sale that remind of India’s rich history which
is up on sale on April 10; a dagger used by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.

Bonham’s, the London-based fine art auctioneers and valuers, will
auction the dagger from the Jacques Desenfans collection. Jacques
spent 50 years collecting arms, armour, pottery and arts which were
a clear indication of his craze in Islamic, Indian and South East
Asian history and culture.

Shah Jahan who is also known as the greatest and richest master
of gemstones had this gold encrusted dagger during 1629-30 and is
expected to attract bids of around £300,000 – 500,000.

According to Banham’s Shah Jahan’s official titles, date and place of
birth has been inscribed in Nastaliq script on the blade of the dagger.

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s oldest and largest
auctioneers of fine art and antiques. Today, Bonhams offers more
sales than any of its rivals.

Last year, a marble bust of Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last Sikh king,
was sold for £1.7 million (Rs 13.36 crore) to an anonymous buyer at
an auction at Bonham’s. Earlier, business tycoon- Vijay Mallya too
has purchased the sword of Tipu Sultan at a London auction.

According to officials from Bonham’s, Jacques acquired the dagger
from an Armenian who was on a shopping in London with the dagger
hanging on him. Well versed in various languages he could read the
inscription written on the dagger and bought it.

According to the website of Bonham’s India in Photographs: the
Collection of Kanwardip Gujral and India and Beyond in Books and
Photography are on sale on April 09.

–Boundary_(ID_AoOIGV5daswsgD4zsWjmRg)–

GALUST SAHAKYAN JUSTIFIES

Panorama.am
15:02 08/04/2008

"Yesterday the executive body of the Republican Party held a meeting
discussion and paid greater attention on Tigran Sargsyan for the
candidature of the prime minister’s position," said the Republican
representative Galust Sahakyan in his book presentation today.

According to him the discussions were detailed and the skills and
experience of the CB president were taken into account. "Sooner
there might be such situations in the country that he could treat
them more easily.

Besides the political team has larger economic projects. And in this
regard the monopoly was given to him," said G. Sahakyan.

"ARMENIANS AND PROGRESSIVE POLITICS" CONFERENCE TO TAKE PLACE IN YEREVAN

DeFacto Agency
April 8 2008
Armenia

DE FACTO. Following the tremendous success of "Armenians and the
Left" conferences held in 2006 and 2007, the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation has announced plans to hold a similar conference on May
30-31 in New York City, the Armenian National Committee of America –
Eastern Region (ANC-ER) reports. Entitled "Armenians and Progressive
Politics," the conference will build upon earlier discussions relating
to imperialism and geopolitics, democracy-building in Armenia, the
role of women in Armenian society, and other topics tying Armenian
issues to a broader, progressive political field.

The conference will open on Friday evening, May 30, with a plenary
session entitled ‘The New Imperialism." Featured speakers will be
Tariq Ali, Editor of New Left Review, David Barsamian, Director of
Alternative Radio, and Neil Smith, Professor of Anthropology and
Geography at the CUNY Graduate Center. The session will focus on the
contemporary politics of empire and how these affect small nations
such as Armenia. The session will take place at Baruch College’s
Mason Hall, located at 23rd Street and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan.

Saturday’s session will include panels addressing a wide range of
topics from a progressive standpoint. All panels will take place at
the CUNY Graduate Center, 34th Street and 5th Avenue, Manhattan.

Featured speakers will be announced in a forthcoming press release.

The conference is being co-sponsored by the Center for Place, Culture,
and Politics at CUNY Graduate Center, and will be followed by a
similar conference to be held in Los Angeles later this year.

"Armenians and Progressive Politics" (formerly "Armenians and the
Left") organizes forums that critically examine subjects pertinent
to Armenians’ political, social and economic situation within a
global context. Such forums explore alternative ways of understanding
Armenian issues besides the conventional, state-centered approaches,
and examine how Armenian activists can build coalitions with other
dispossessed groups and progressive movements. The project is an
initiative of the Central Committee of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation – Eastern USA. Information on previous conferences may be
found on the conference website,