Bedros Cirinoglu Is Erdogan’s Close Friend, Says Shaqarian

BEDROS CIRINOGLU IS ERDOGAN’S CLOSE FRIEND, SAYS SHAQARIAN

Aysor
March 31 2010
Armenia

A meeting between Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
Bedros Cirinoglu had a key goal to show that Ankara is holding dialogue
with Armenian Community of Turkey, said at today’s press conference
a turkologist Artak Shaqarian.

"Turkey’s authorities are wishing for demonstration of no-problems
between Armenians and Turks, to show a dialogue with Armenian
Community; while Bedros Cirinoglu had assumed responsibility
for incorrect figures of Armenians, living in Turkey," said Artak
Shaqarian, referring to recent incident, when Turkish Prime Minister
had threatened to expel 100,000 Armenians from Turkey, and Bedros
Cirinoglu said it was him who’d gave wrong figures to Erdogan
(actually, there are much less Armenian migrants in Turkey – nearly
14,000, experts say.)

Bedros Cirinoglu is a close friend to Erdogan, and the meeting was just
"a nice step," pointed turkologist.

"Erdogan tried to come out with clean hands, as his threats to expel
Armenians caused a reaction of the international community as well
reaction of Turkish society; Besides, Cirinoglu is not a leader of
Armenian Community of Turkey, as he is introduced. For more than 6
centuries, since 1400, the Armenian Community’s leader is Armenian
Patriarch," pointed Shaqarian, adding that formally late Hrant Dink
was considered as leader of Armenians in Turkey — Dink expressed
views of community and defended their rights.

"After Hrant Dink was killed, there is not a person in Turkey, who
could carry responsibility for leadership," added Artak Shaqarian.

RA President To Leave For U.S.

RA PRESIDENT TO LEAVE FOR U.S.

news.am
March 31 2010
Armenia

April 12, RA President Serzh Sargsyan will leave for U.S. at the
invitation of U.S. President Brack Obama to participate in the Global
Nuclear Security Summit to be held in Washington, D.C., April 12-13,
the RA Presidential Press Secretary Armen Arzumanyan informed NEWS.am.

A letter addressed to Serzh Sargsyan, says that, taking into account
Armenia’s commitment to the objectives of fighting against nuclear
security and struggle against terrorism, the Armenian leader has been
invited to participate in the Global Nuclear Security Summit to be held
at Walter E. Washington Convention Center, April 12-13. The goals of
the Nuclear Security Summit are to come to a common understanding
of the threat posed by nuclear terrorism, to agree to effective
measures to secure nuclear material, and to prevent nuclear smuggling
and terrorism.

As people responsible for nuclear materials, the world leaders must
assume responsibility for reducing their availability where possible
and to apply the highest standards of safe storage of the nuclear
waste, the U.S. leader’s letter says.

Clinton And Davutoglu To Discuss Turkish Ambassador’s Issue

CLINTON AND DAVUTOGLU TO DISCUSS TURKISH AMBASSADOR’S ISSUE

Panorama.am
12:33 30/03/2010

Region

U.S. speaker of state secretary Philip Crowell stated at news
conference that the highlights of Hillary Clinton-Ahmet Davutoglu
meeting have been OSCE MG activities, U.S. efforts towards the
resolution of NKR conflict, normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties,
Clinton’s Russian visit and a few other issues, CNN Turk reported.

According to him the telephone conversation was a cordial and
constructive one.

The speaker was also asked whether the officials talked about the
Turkish Ambassador who was called back, Crowell answered that the
American and Turkish officials have referred to that issue but finally,
it’s Turkey’s business.

President Serzh Sargsyan Appoints New Ambassadors To Romania And Kuw

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN APPOINTS NEW AMBASSADORS TO ROMANIA AND KUWAIT

Panorama.am
16:02 30/03/2010

Politics

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree March 29 on
releasing Yeghishe Sargsyan as the Armenian Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary to Romania and appointing Hamlet Gasparyan in
this position (residence Bucharest).

According to another presidential decree, Vahagn Melikyan was released
as the Armenian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to
Kuwait and Fadey Charchoglyan was appointed in the position (residence
El-Kuwait), President’s press office reported.

Minsk Group: The Parties Committed To Reaching A Peaceful Settlement

MINSK GROUP: THE PARTIES COMMITTED TO REACHING A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT

armradio.am
30.03.2010 13:32

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Yuri Merzlyakov of
Russia, Bernard Fassier of France, and Robert Bradtke of the United
States, released the following statement today:

"The Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov, Russian
Federation; Ambassador Bernard Fassier, France; Ambassador Robert
Bradtke, United States) visited Yerevan and Nagorno-Karabkah March
26-29. They updated the de facto authorities March 27 on the current
state of negotiations.

In Yerevan March 28, the Co-Chairs met President Serzh Sargsian
and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian to further discuss Armenian
comments on the Basic Principles for the peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. While in Armenia, the Co-Chairs also had
a number of other separate bilateral meetings.

After the recent meetings between the Co-Chairs and the parties in
Paris and in the region, the Co-Chairs note with satisfaction the
commitment of the parties to reach a peaceful settlement within the
framework of the Madrid Principles."

BAKU: Serzh Sargsyan’s Lack Of Logic Is An Art Form

SERZH SARGSYAN’S LACK OF LOGIC IS AN ART FORM

Today
07.html
March 30 2010
Azerbaijan

Thanks to the Russian folk proverb, we all well know that necessity
is the mother of invention.

We also learned that the president of a country that considers itself
independent will embrace this principle thanks to Armenian leader
Serzh Sargsyan’s interview with Euronews.

Logic and the Armenian president

Responding to the subtle irony of a TV correspondent who countered
Sargsyan’s statement that the international community has never
considered Nagorno-Karabakh to be a part of independent Azerbaijan,
the president said: "I do not think the international community has
a different point of view."

And what about the fact that no country in the world, including
Armenia, has recognized the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh?

Apparently, the Armenian president is quite persistent about openly
demonstrating his lack of logic and denial of reality.

The parable of a thief

First, each line of the president’s interview eloquently shows that
he resorted not only to imagination, but also to cynical lies. We
all know what Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity means for Armenia.

Armenia demonstrated this by occupying the internationally recognized
lands of Azerbaijan and keeping them under occupation for nearly two
decades. We also know how much "respect" Armenians worldwide have
for Georgia’s and Turkish territorial integrity.

Second, there is no notion as "the people of Nagorno Karabakh." There
are the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno-Karabakh,
and Azerbaijan’s territory occupied by Armenia.

Third, the Armenians, as a nation, have long lived self-determined
lives in the Republic of Armenia. The claims of Armenians to
Azerbaijan, as well as to other neighboring countries, are nothing
but separatism and ignoring the territorial integrity of these nations.

Fourth, let’s recall the Mein Dorf Declaration signed by the presidents
of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia in Moscow. This document was signed
between Azerbaijan and Armenia. This indicates that the Armenian
leadership is aware that the parties to the conflict are Armenia
and Azerbaijan. Consequently, arguments about "the people of Nagorno
Karabakh" are another trick by the Armenian president to show off his
"talent."

But that’s not all. The climax of Sargsyan’s inventions reached a peak
when he said he wanted to appeal to Azerbaijan to sign an agreement
on the non-use of force.

The answer to this statement is already clear. Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry Spokesman Elkhan Polukhov stressed that Azerbaijan’s Foreign
Ministry welcomes this statement and is ready for such a remark only
after the de-occupation of Azerbaijani territories.

Given Sargsyan’s lack of a diplomatic know-how, let’s explain
everything in simple language to him. Think of a thief who has stolen
someone’s jewelry, but cannot sell them as the stolen jewels are
known worldwide, as is their original owner. The thief also cannot
live from hand to mouth, just looking at his stolen jewellery. So,
he looks for a way out of the situation. Common sense indicates that
he must first return the stolen property, apologize to the injured
party and only then can he hope for a restoration of confidence and
ask him not to press charges. It’s so simple, Mr. Sargsyan!

Armenia has not yet provided an official answer to the question of
whether it accepts the updated Madrid Principles on the settlement
of the Karabakh conflict, while the Azerbaijani side has already
announced its consent with the principles. Moreover, the co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group have already made two official statements,
noting that there is a new document on the table which they call an
updated (or modified) version of the Madrid document.

It should be noted that Yerevan commented neither on the first nor
the second statement. Later in his interview, the Armenian president,
the man who shapes the country’s foreign policy, made an insincere
public appeal to Azerbaijan to sign an agreement on the non-use of
force. It is obvious that Yerevan is trying to change the subject
of the negotiations in the most banal of manners. Similarly, the
Armenian side could well propose to land on the moon together with
Baku. Does this have anything to do with the negotiations to resolve
the Karabakh conflict?

So, the Armenian leader proposes to legalize the occupation, that is,
to hold "eternal" negotiations with Yerevan.

It is also clear that the Armenian leadership admits that, according to
all international norms, each country has the right to defend itself
and Azerbaijan may exercise this right as a country whose territory
is occupied by a neighboring state. In addition, the arguments that
Sargsyan voiced in his interview show that the Armenian leadership
is aware of the appalling consequences a military confrontation with
Azerbaijan would have. Every representative of the country’s leadership
admits this as a fact, but hides this as much as they can.

For example, Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian said earlier:
"Armenia will not participate in an arms race, as the quantitative
indicator is not key to ensuring the combat readiness of its army."

Some time later, the Armenian president said the same, but in other
words, voicing a call to sign an agreement on the non-use of force
with Azerbaijan. This is natural in terms of the comparison of the
economic, geopolitical, diplomatic, military capabilities of Azerbaijan
and Armenia. And the gap in favor of Azerbaijan is increasing and
increasing regardless of any inventions.

http://www.today.az/news/analytics/650

UAF’s 155th Airlift Delivers $4.7 Million of Aid to Armenia

UNITED ARMENIAN FUND
1101 N. Pacific Avenue # 204
Glendale, CA 91202
Tel: 818.241.8900
Fax: 818.241.6900

March 27, 2010

UAF’s 155th Airlift Delivers $4.7 Million of Aid to Armenia

Glendale, CA – The United Armenian Fund’s 155th airlift arrived in Yerevan
on March 27, delivering $4.7 million of humanitarian assistance.

For this flight, the UAF itself collected $4 million of medicines and
medical supplies donated by various charities, including AmeriCares ($3.8
million), Catholic Medical Mission Board ($240,000), and Health Partners
International of Canada ($45,000).

Other organizations which contributed goods for this airlift were: The
Armenian EyeCare Project ($300,000), Armenian Technology Group ($70,000),
Armenian Relief Society-Western Region ($59,000), Fund for Armenian Relief
($33,000), St. Vartanantz Apostolic Church ($26,000), Dr. Samuel Malayan
($25,000), and Bay Area Friends of Armenia ($22,000).

Also contributing supplies to this airlift were Armenia Fund USA ($17,000),
Armenian Missionary Association of America ($15,000), American University of
Armenia ($13,000), Eastern Prelacy ($12,000), Fletcher School of Law
($11,000), Vartan Gregorian ($11,000), Dr. Hagop Hovaguimian ($9,000), and
Dr. Viken Garabedian ($9,000).

Since its inception in 1989, the UAF has sent $588 million of humanitarian
assistance to Armenia on board 155 airlifts and 1,783 sea containers.

The UAF is the collective effort of the Armenian Catholic Eparchy, Armenian
General Benevolent Union, Armenian Missionary Association of America,
Armenian Relief Society, Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, Prelacy
of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, and The Lincy Foundation.

For more information, contact the UAF office at 1101 North Pacific Avenue,
Suite 204, Glendale, CA 91202 or call (818) 241-8900.

FSB: Suicide Bombers Blamed For Moscow Subway Blasts

FSB: SUICIDE BOMBERS BLAMED FOR MOSCOW SUBWAY BLASTS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.03.2010 13:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At least one of the two blasts which killed over
30 people in the central Moscow metro system on Monday morning is
blamed on a female suicide bomber using plastic explosives, Russia’s
top investigator said.

The first attack took place at 7:52 a.m. (04:52 GMT) at the Lubyanka
station, located a short distance from the headquarters of the Federal
Security Service (FSB), and killed at least 23 people, with another
39 injured. The second blast detonated some 40 minutes later at the
nearby Park Kultury station, within walking distance of the Kremlin.

At least 12 people lost their lives and 23 were injured.

The second attack has been carried out by a "dark-haired woman"
and that "fragments of her body" found at the scene suggested she
had had the equivalent of 1.5 kg of TNT strapped to her waist.

A police source said earlier that "an inspection of the scene
indicates that the bomb was detonated at a height of 100-200 cm and
was apparently attached to the waist of a female suicide bomber."

Police with sniffer dogs are carrying out inspections of other stations
as the capital remains on high alert. Security has been tightened at
Moscow’s overland train terminals and airports, RIA Novosti reported.

Armenia, Russia FMs discuss Karabakh settlement

Armenia, Russia FMs discuss Karabakh settlement

armradio.am
26.03.2010 11:41

On March 25 the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian,
participated in the non-official meeting of the Foreign Ministers of
the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

The CSTO Foreign Ministers discussed the process of implementation of
the decisions of the Collective Security Council, the coordination of
the foreign policy of the member states, the support for Kazakhstan’s
initiatives in the OSCE and the promotion of common priorities. The
Ministers touched upon the situation in Afghanistan, attaching
importance to the efforts towards reinforcement of stability.

Minister Nalbandian had a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey
Lavrov. A number of bilateral, regional and global issues were
discussed.

Ministers Nalbandian and Lavrov discussed the process of settlement of
the Karabakh issue on the basis of the Madrid Principles, stressing
that there was no alternative to the peaceful resolution of the issue.

While in Moscow Edward Nalbandian visited the Armenian Embassy and
held consultations on Armenia’s foreign policy priorities.

Indivisibility of security to be stipulated in European Sec. Treaty

news.am, Armenia
March 26 2010

Indivisibility of security to be stipulated in European Security Treaty: RA FM

11:45 / 03/26/2010 March 25, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
being on an official visit to Moscow participated in informal meeting
of CSTO Foreign Ministers.

FMs discussed the course of Collective Security Council decisions,
issues on reciprocity and coordination of foreign ministries’
activities, support of Kazakhstan initiatives as presiding state as
well as promotion of joint projects. The ministers also canvassed
current developments in Afghanistan emphasizing the efforts directed
towards the enhancement of stability, RA Foreign Office informed
NEWS.am.

RA FM delivered a speech outlining the importance of CSTO growing
prestige in international arena, proved by UN General Assembly
resolution adoption on CSTO and UN cooperation, signing of
collaboration declaration between the secretariats of both
organizations.

Touching upon the European Security Treaty, Nalbandian said: `Armenia
considers urgent and crucial Russian side’s initiative providing for
the principle of indivisibility of security. The treaty should
stipulate equality of all principles of international law and
exclusion of any principle subjection to another.’

S.T.