Author: Hambardsumian Paul

ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY RESULTS, ARA SIMONIAN WINS NA DEPUTY’S BY-ELECTIONS AT YEREVAN ELECTORAL DISTRICT N 10

Noyan Tapan
Jan 11, 2010

YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the preliminary results,
National Unity party member Ara Simonian won NA deputy’s by-elections
by majority system held on January 10 at Yerevan electoral district N
10. 7 622 voters voted for him. The other two candidates, non-partisan,
Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper’s editor-in-chief Nikol Pashinian and
Chairman of the Marxist Party of Armenia David Hakobian received 5
023 and 299 votes, respectively.

According to the data published by the Central Electoral Commission,
13 380 of the total number of electoral district’s 55 851 voters took
part in the voting. 438 ballot-papers were invalidated. The number
of inaccuracies is 8.

It should be mentioned that the deputy powers of Khachatur Sukiasian
elected in the 2007 parliamentary elections from electoral district N
10 were stopped ahead of the schedule on the basis of his application
on resignation.

PRIME MINISTER’S 1919 LETTER DESCRIBES ARMENIA AS DESTITUTE, YET FULL OF HOPE
By Harut Sassounian

The California Courier
Jan 11, 2009

Today, at a time of global economic crisis, conflict and wars, most
people are justifiably discouraged and depressed by the deluge of
bad news. Armenia and Armenians are no exception.

At the outset of the year 2010, as Armenians assess their own
situation, it is instructive to look back at the appalling conditions
in the newly-born Republic of Armenia (1918-20). The stark difference
— along with some similarities — between life in Armenia today and
the first Republic becomes clear as we read the poignant letter of
Armenia’s first Prime Minister Hovhannes Katchaznouni sent to his
wife in Tbilisi, Georgia, in January 1919.

The letter was written shortly after Armenia gained independence, as
destitute Armenian survivors of the Genocide, dying from starvation
and disease, were exposed to freezing conditions without adequate
clothing or shelter. Prime Minister’s letter is a compelling document
that contains valuable lessons for Armenians today. I have translated
from the Armenian original excerpts from his lengthy letter.

Katchaznouni begins his letter by reflecting on his own troubled
state of mind: "I see in front of my eyes the hundreds of thousands
of people whose leadership has been entrusted to me. Remembering them,
thinking of them, drives me to insanity with pain and sorrow."

The Prime Minister describes in agonizing detail, the miserable
condition of his people as being "in abject poverty — in the pangs
of death. We have no bread to eat; we are starving. We have no shelter.

Our villages are destroyed. We don’t have a roof over our heads;
living in collapsed buildings under harsh winter conditions. We have
no clothes to wear. We are naked. We are freezing in tattered clothes.

We are exhausted, sick and near death. Typhus fever has assumed
unprecedented proportions. Two thousand out of Yerevan’s 60,000
inhabitants are bed-ridden with typhus fever. Half of the doctors
and nurses are either sick or dead. We have no disinfectants;
no fuel to heat up the public baths to bathe the people and rid
them of lice; and no soap to do the wash. We have no money. Our
[printed] money was confiscated by Georgians in Tbilisi. We have
no means of communication. The railroad is destroyed…. We have
no horse-driven carriages, as the horses have died of starvation,
and we have slaughtered the oxen for their meat."

Facing abject misery, Katchaznouni believes that Armenians were able
to survive only due to their unlimited ability to endure against all
odds: "Our troops who chased out the Georgians in Lori are naked and
hungry. We have more than 10,000 orphans in state orphanages with no
money to feed them. We have 300,000 homeless refugees who are dying
in front of our very eyes and we can’t do anything about it. State
offices are not functioning, as we have no means of payment. Adding
to this misery, we are afflicted with corruption, theft, pilfering,
robbery, and blackmail — against which we have no recourse."

He goes on to describe the complications resulting from clashes with
Georgians and Turks. He states that "while Armenia is trying to avoid
war at all cost, we cannot make concessions to everyone, to yield,
to be patient and retreat, because by doing so we endanger greatly
the future of our state, our political situation, our independence,
our freedom — everything for which we made such terrible sacrifices,
expended superhuman efforts, and survived for generations and
centuries. Yet, we are exhausted to such a degree that we are
unable to continue to fight, to resist, to endure, and make new
sacrifices…. Meanwhile, outside help from the United States and
England, on which we placed all of our hopes, is slow and inadequate."

The Prime Minister next complains about the "lack of talent and
inexperience" of government officials, including his own, and laments
"internal discord, lack of trust, antagonism, and even mutual hatred."

He describes the weaknesses of each cabinet minister, even accusing
one of seeking to enrich himself. Several of his ministers and top
aides are either bed-ridden with serious illnesses or have left the
country for short trips, but have not returned in weeks. He then turns
in despair to the bankrupt status of his government: "The state coffers
are empty. Our money is in the hands of the Georgians in Tbilisi. We
need to care for the orphans, distribute bread to the hungry, cure the
ill, and pay the staff… but how? I get dizzy just thinking about it!"

Before ending his letter, Katchaznouni consoles himself with the
hope that "the dawn is near." He calls upon Armenians "to endure,
pull together their last drop of energy, make a final effort, and
remain on their feet," because "we have already sacrificed so much,
lost so much blood, and shed so many tears. So many houses are in
ruins. All of these sacrifices must receive their just compensation
— not so much for ourselves, but for our children. Perhaps another
10,000 will lose their lives, including my own, but at least those
who survive will have normal lives, breathe freely, and live like
human beings. That will come to pass — shortly!"

Incredibly, despite overwhelming odds, Katchaznouni sees a bright
future: "Just five years earlier, Armenia was a mere geographical
term and a distant dream as a political unit that no one dared to
speak about. Today, the Republic of Armenia is a reality. Let this
Republic be tiny and poor. Let the people starve and suffer from
epidemics. All these things are transitory. What we have is a proven
fact. There is no power on earth that can erase from the pages of
history this reality. After 500 years of slavery, a nation is reborn
to live a free and independent life."

Armenia’s first Prime Minister then proudly recounts the establishment
of the Republic, expansion of its territory and withdrawal of Turkish
troops. "Great powers have recognized Armenia and have included us
in delegations for international conferences. Major countries have
formal relations with us. They send us their representatives. They
correspond with us, addressing us as ‘The Government of the Republic
of Armenia, the President, the Foreign Minister’."

While conditions in today’s Armenia are incomparably better than
they were in Katchanznouni’s time — after all, 90 years have passed
since then — the Armenian people surely deserve a higher standard
of living. The majority still lacks the basic necessities.

Yet despite economic hardships and outside threats, Armenians’ will to
survive is engrained in their DNA! For several millennia, they have
suffered occupation, plunder, wars, massacres, and even Genocide and
have endured. Today’s difficulties will also pass…. Armenians will
not only survive, but also thrive!

ARA SIMONYAN WINS ELECTION AT 10TH CONSTITUENCY, RA CEC SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.01.2010 11:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to preliminary data provided by the
RA Central Election Committee, National Unity member Ara Simonyan
won the pre-term parliamentary elections at the 10th constituency,
gaining 7622 votes.

Other candidates – Davit Hakobyan (leader of Marxist Party of Armenia)
and Nikol Pashinyan (editor-in-chief of Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper)
– garnered 299 and 5023 votes respectively.

The total number of voters made 13380. 438 ballots were announced
invalid.

RA President meets republic’s defense establishment
05.01.2010 19:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The President of Armenia, Supreme Commander Serzh
Sargsyan held a working meeting with the republic’s defense
establishment to discuss 2009 outcomes and outline measures to be
taken in 2010, the RA leader’s press office reported.

‘Our armed forces are capable to resolve all problems and rebuff any
incursion,’ said Seyran Ohanyan, Armenian Minister of Defense.

APA, Azerbaijan
Jan 6 2010

Catholicos of all Armenians Garegin II expected to visit Azerbaijan

[ 06 Jan 2010 12:38 ]
Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayev ` APA. Baku will host the summit of world
religious leaders in April, 2010 on the initiative of the chairman of
Caucasian Muslims Office, Sheikh-al-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazadeh
as the co-chair of the CIS Inter-Religions Council, APA reports.

The Baku summit will be organized jointly with the Russian Orthodox
Church. Muslim, Christian and Jewish leaders, as well as figures of
other traditional religions will be invited to the two-day summit.
Catholicos of all Armenians Garegin II is also expected to attend the
meeting.

Spokeswoman of the Caucasian Muslims Office Rahima Dadashova told APA
that the first religious summit took place in Moscow in 2006. `Nearly
200 religious leaders from 49 countries attended that summit. Baku
summit is expected to extend its geography’.

news.am, Armenia
Jan 5 2010

We are getting closer to securing Karabakh’s future: Giragosian

18:32 / 01/05/2010`In 2009 we lost credit as March 1 matter is still
open. We lost credibility both in Armenia and Diaspora,’ Director of
the Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
Richard Giragosian told NEWS.am, summing up the 2009 results.

`The fact that Armenia bought time to solve its domestic problems
might be considered an achievement. We got stronger from the military
security viewpoint as the most sufficient work was conducted by
Defense Ministry. The military sector was considerably reformed, new
buildings were constructed,’ Giragosian underlined. The expert
considers 2010 an interesting year from Armenia-Turkey relations point
of view. It will be clear what price should be paid by each side in
the process. `In 2009 it was still vague what price Armenia and Turkey
paid for the relations’ improvement. Karabakh and Genocide issue might
become a cost both for Armenia and Turkey,’ the expert said.

As to 2010 forecast, Giragosian stated that "we would be one step
closer to securing of Karabakh future, as Azerbaijan is becoming
weaker. The negative development is that 2010 will be a year of
economic instability, as the deficit of labor and economic
opportunities will be registered.

A.G.

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Jan 3 2010

Small ‘home church’ survives in Istanbul

Sunday, January 3, 2010
VERCÄ°HAN ZÄ°FLÄ°OÄ?LU – FÄ°RST PERSON
Istanbul: Hürriyet Daily News

Unlike Turkey’s Christian communities that often belong to a certain
Christian sect, one church founded mostly by Turkish converts from
Islam eschews any denominational categorization. A member of the
community says other Christian groups are far from the true path of
Christianity. The church has asked the government for land, a building
and security, but so far its request has gone unanswered
In the middle of Istanbul, there is a `home church’ with people from
various parts of the world praying together in joy. Composed of
worshippers from around the world, there are Turks, Kurds, Japanese,
Chinese, Brits and Canadians inside.

There are no candles lit by anyone and no icons or stained-glass
windows in sight. The crowd is almost entranced as hymns are sung
alongside a piano and guitar. Some are crying, some are kneeling and
some are clapping their hands with excitement. There are people with
their eyes closed while others have lifted up their arms, having lost
sense of time and place.

Bible verses are read for almost two hours. Interestingly, prayers are
said for the government, the military and the unity of Turkey toward
the end of the service. Meanwhile, a small pouch is passed around and
everyone contributes an offering. Addressing each other as `sibling,’
everybody hugs each other, regardless of whether they know their
neighbor or not.

This `church,’ on the entrance floor of an apartment building, is
connected to the basement by some stairs. The community goes
downstairs to the kitchen after the service to have soup or tea and
chat with fellow parishioners.

The problems with other churches

The `home church’ is called Dirisu and was named after a Bible verse.
Its doors were opened to the community with the permission of the
Istanbul Governor in 1999.

Almost all of the church’s founding members were Turks or Kurds and
came from Muslim families. The church’s elders ` in reference to their
founding membership in the church rather than their age ` said they
are generally people who became Christian in their 30s because of an
inner emptiness.

The Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review spoke to Dirisu founders
Bedri Peker, Ercan Yıldırım, Alper Ã-zharar and Aden Baydemir, who all
come from different backgrounds. Peker is Kurdish, Yıldırım and
Ã-zharar are Turkish and Baydemir is Chaldean, one of the oldest
communities in the world. They define themselves as `shepherds,’ in
reference to Jesus Christ, and as `missionaries,’ in reference to his
apostles.

Baydemir and his family from the Pervari district of Siirt in
Southeast Anatolia were Catholic, yet he never saw a church building
before he turned 20, only encountering one in Mardin during the 1960s.

`We were one of the few Christian families in Siirt but they alienated
us because of our beliefs,’ said Baydemir. `I am not blaming anyone
because they were ignorant.’ When asked why he chose to be a
missionary instead of following Catholicism, Baydemir said: `All the
churches, including the Catholic Church, are full of rules. I had an
undefined emptiness inside me; I filled it at this church. I have
learned that Christianity is not only a denomination but a lifestyle.’

Baydemir is critical of all churches whether they be Apostolic,
Catholic or Orthodox. `We are praying for them to find the path of the
true God. Unfortunately, they are very far away from grasping the true
meaning of Christianity.’

The Zirve massacre and the death list

Peker, from Diyarbakır, became a Christian at the age of 24. He said
he tries to proselytize at every possible opportunity. He said he was
threatened shortly before the 2007 massacre at the Zirve publishing
house in Malatya, where three missionaries were killed at a Christian
book publisher.

`The Zirve publishing house massacre was not an ordinary incident; it
was planned. My name was on the kill list, too. I told law enforcement
officers but they did not provide me with protection. Even our parents
have abandoned. We have devoted our lives to the way of Jesus Christ.
If the price is our lives, we are ready to pay it,’ he said.

`During my childhood, I was aggressive toward Christian children,
calling them `Haço,’ a demeaning term in Kurdish that means `cross
worshipper,’ because I thought Christians did not believe in Allah,’
he said. `During my adult years, I felt an undefined emptiness in my
inner world. That emptiness was filled with Jesus Christ, the word of
God.’

Peker does not approve of the term `home church’ because he believes
it is contemptuous. He said the church survives on the donations of
the community. `We asked the authorities to assign us land and a
building. That was in 2004 but it still has not happened. We want
churches to be looked after just as mosques are.’

`Our security is entrusted to God’

Yıldırım said the community’s main problem is not land or a building
but security. `We have entrusted our security to God. We have asked
for protection many times but authorities do not grant it. There is a
police station on this street. We have that to trust at least.

`We are different from other churches that belong to the minority
groups. We were from Islam, most of us are Turks and we are a part of
the majority,’ he said.

Yıldırm said being a missionary is misunderstood and therefore feared
in Turkey: `It is believed that we will divide the country, but that
is a misunderstanding. We are leading those who hear the word of Jesus
Christ. That is all. We are not forcing anyone.’

A confusion of terms

Yıldırım said they were forced to call themselves a Protestant church
because of the authorities but said they are against all
denominations. `We are a church of the Bible only.’

Like Baydemir, Yıldırım also criticized the traditions of the
Apostolic, Catholic and Orthodox churches. `They have rituals of the
worshipping kind. They appeal to icons. They have adopted practices of
worship from the time of Moses. When you read the Bible, you see that
these are wrong.’

Ã-zharar, another missionary of Turkish origin, said his wife was from
an Armenian background and that both were atheists before she went to
Italy for schooling. He said their lives were changed after that. `My
wife returned from Italy as if she were blessed. I started to question
the emptiness inside me after I saw the change in her. We started
looking for a church on the Internet and found this place.’

As if by conclusion, Ã-zharar said: `I was looking for friendship and
strong love. I found it here among my siblings and am born again.’

Focus News, Bulgaria
Jan 3 2010

Balkans 2009: Turkey – the path of democratisation of the country;
aspirations for EU membership

3 January 2010 | 06:36 | FOCUS News Agency

Life in Turkey in 2009 was marked by a number of important political
events and processes ` the local elections towards the end of March;
the revision of the cabinet following the elections; the policy for
democratisation, which has different aspects but the main one is
considered the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue, undertaken by
the ruling Justice and Development Party (JDP); the start of the
process for normalisation of the bilateral relations with Armenia; the
EU accession talks; the activation of the Turkish foreign policy
towards the Middle East, Caucasus, and Russia, as well as the
pro-European policy and the traditionally good relations with USA. The
trial against the scandalous organisation Ergenekon, accused in
preparation of a coup against the ruling JDP, continued in 2009. The
court started working on the second indictment of the process. A
verdict is yet to be reached. The suicides of some of the accused in
made the trial even more scandalous.

Policy for democratic solution of the Kurdish issue

2009 will be remembered for the policy for democratisation, orientated
towards the solution of the Kurdish issue, which was undertaken by the
ruling JDP. The project of the government for democratic solution of
the Kurdish issue is called `Kurdish opening’ or `democratic opening,’
in the statements and documents of the cabinet. This was arguably the
most discussed topic in the country and by the media. According to the
government, the `democratic opening’ policy aims to isolate
PKK(Kurdistan Workers’ Party)’s terrorism, to provide the Kurds in
Turkey with democratic rights by starting emissions in Kurdish in the
national TV and radio air, to introduce Kurdish language in the school
curriculum, as well as Kurdish Philology in universities, to restore
the Kurdish names of towns and villages in the areas, traditionally
populated with Kurds, and etc.
The `Kurdish opening’ was the main topic of many government sittings,
and sittings of the National Security Council of Turkey, in 2009. The
aim of the government was to discuss all possible aspects of the
process and the measures that need to be taken in order to receive
political and public legitimacy. The policy was harshly criticised by
the opposition ` mainly by the Republican People’s Party and the
Nationalist Movement Party, who reacted strongly about the day,
scheduled for parliamentary discussion of the `Kurdish opening’ `
November 10. The date coincided with the anniversary of the death of
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey and its
first President.
PKK announced a truce and a ceasefire, waiting for the actions of the
government for realisation of the policy. EU praised the `Kurdish
opening’ policy. Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden,
said at the Turkey – EU Troika meeting held in Istanbul in November,
that this policy has brought Turkey much closer to EU.
Groups of Kurds from refugee camps in Northern Iraq started returning
to Turkey, through the Habur border crossing, in October, as a part of
the process of democratisation. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
ErdoÄ?an, however, temporarily stopped the returning of Kurdish
separatists from Iraq, because of the reception ceremonies and the way
they were broadcasted, trying to avoid possible tension and
casualties.

Turkey – EU

Egemen BaÄ?ıÅ? was given the position as chief negotiator of Turkey in
accession talks with the EU, at the start of 2009 when the position
was separated from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, thus prioritising
Turkey’s Eurointegration. Turkey’s EU accession process saw two new
chapters in 2009, despite the positions of major European politicians
` like French President Nikolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela
Merkel, who opposed Turkey’s EU accession. The Czech and Swedish
presidencies in 2009 supported Turkey’s EU membership, under the
condition that the Balkan state fulfilled all necessary requirements.
The `Taxation’ chapter of Turkey’s pre-accession talks was opened
towards the end of the Czech Presidency, while during the Swedish
Presidency the `Environment’ chapter was opened as well. This makes
the total number of opened chapters ` 12 out of 33.
The Turkish government actively promote the benefits of Turkey’s EU
accession to the EU representatives. According to Turkey, the fact
that the country is situated on two continents and is practically a
bridge between Europe and Asia and the Middle East would turn EU into
the biggest global player on the international political sphere.
According to Egemen BaÄ?ıÅ?, Turkey’s EU accession would be a positive
signal not only to the 70 million Turks, but also to the 3 billion
Muslims, who feel neglected and isolated by Europe. BaÄ?ıÅ? noted that
Turkey’s EU accession, which was filed in back in 1959, was supported
by all political parties in the East Balkan state.

Is there a change in the foreign policy orientation of Turkey?

The Turkish foreign policy made very important steps in 2009. The
appointment of Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu as Turkey’s Minister of Foreign
Affairs, in the beginning of May, was considered as a positive step of
Turkey’s diplomacy with the Islamic world and closer ties with the
Middle East. Despite the fact that foreign analysts and media consider
DavutoÄ?lu as a neo-Ottoman, he rejects such accusations. The Western
media define the new Turkish foreign minister as `the name that stands
behind Turkey’s closer ties with the Middle East.’ One of the main
priorities, which DavutoÄ?lu announced for his foreign policy, was `No
problems with the neighbours.’ In this connection DavutoÄ?lu increased
the efforts for normalisation of Turkey’s relations with Armenia.
DavutoÄ?lu also rejected the statements that Turkey has drifted apart
from the West and has changed the axis of its foreign policy. He
stated that the axis of Turkey’s foreign policy was very clear `
European orientation and integration of Turkey, and urged the EU not
to erect new `Berlin walls.’

New beginning in the Armenia ` Turkey relations

The process of normalisation of the relations between Turkey and
Armenia started on September 6 2008 with the visit of Turkey’s
President Abdullah Gül in Yerevan for a football game between Armenia
and Turkey. 2009 marked a strong diplomatic traffic between the two
states, criticised by the opposition parties in both countries. The
Presidents of Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan ` Abdullah Gül, Serzh
Sargsyan, and Ilham Aliyev had an official meeting in Prague, where
they discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, which is one of the most
controversial issue between the three countries. Azerbaijan protested
when Turkey and Armenia reached a decision to re-open the border
between the two countries, stating that this should only happen after
`Armenia stopped its occupation’ in Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia
expressed its position on a number of occasions, saying that there
should be no preset conditions behind the normalisation of the
Turkish-Armenian relations. The Armenian opposition accused President
Serzh Sargsyan in betrayal of the cause for recognition of the
Armenian genocide and about Nagorno-Karabakh, because of the
established relations with Turkey.
The protocols for normalisation of the relations between Armenia and
Turkey were signed on October 10 in Zurich by Turkish Minister of
Foreign Affairs Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu and his Armenian counterpart Edward
Nalbandian with a slight delay, because of certain phrases in the
statements that had to be made after the signing. The agreement, which
stipulated establishing of diplomatic relations between the two
countries and extension of the bilateral relations, was defined as a
`historic’ one. US President Barack Obama expressed his satisfaction
with the historical event, after the ceremony, and stated his support
behind the process. EU also welcomed the process and expressed hope
that it would contribute to strengthening and improvement of the ties
between Armenia and EU.

Local elections 2009

One of Turkey’s milestones in 2009 was the local elections on March
29. The global economic crisis and its reflection on Turkey, which was
seriously affected from the very beginning, played a major part on the
election results. JDP won around 40% of the votes, which is more than
7% less than their result from the National Assembly elections on July
22 2007. According to the opposition and the critics of the
government, it has failed to take adequate actions as the economic
crisis was deepening.
Prime Minster Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an expressed his confidence, before
the elections, that the global crisis would have a slight effect on
Turkey. The unemployment in Turkey reached record-high levels of
between 13.8% and 15.5%, in the first months of 2009. ErdoÄ?an
promised, after the elections, that the government would quickly adopt
an anti-crisis programme, and with the revision of the cabinet in the
beginning of May he aimed at having more control on the economic
policies of the government. The main fields of the Turkish industry
like the automobile and textile had a serious downturn, but after the
anti-crisis measures for temporary reducing and removing of certain
taxes, the consumption was stimulated, which also had a positive
effect on the production in the period August ` October. According to
the economic prognoses, Turkey would recover from the crisis very
quickly.

Nevena Gramatikova

George Radanovich will be retiring at the end of the current
Congressional term
30.12.2009 12:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Rep. George Radanovich, a driving force behind
Congressional affirmation of the Armenian Genocide and vocal advocate
of the concerns of the Central Valley’s active Armenian American
community, announced Tuesday that he will be retiring at the end of
the current Congressional term, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).

`Since his election in 1994, Rep. Radanovich has spearheaded
successive Congressional efforts to secure affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide, consistently standing up to those who would set aside truth
for political expediency,’ said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. `We wish George and Ethie all the best in conquering the
challenges ahead.’

In a statement released earlier today, Rep. Radanovich noted `As many
already know, Ethie has been valiantly fighting ovarian cancer for
nearly three years. My family needs me, and I intend to be by their
side to win this battle. It is for this reason that I have decided to
not seek reelection to Congress in 2010.’

Rep. Radanovich has played a central role in Armenian Genocide
affirmation efforts, introducing and securing passage of an amendment
to the House fiscal year 1997 Foreign Aid bill, which cut $3 million
in U.S. assistance to Turkey – the equivalent of Turkey’s annual
lobbying budget against Armenian Genocide legislation at the time. The
House passage spurred a midnight press conference by then Turkish
Ambassador Nuzhet Kandemir, rejecting the U.S. economic assistance
package because of its connection to Armenian Genocide affirmation.
Rep. Radanovich would follow up in 1997 by suggesting that funds
rejected by Turkey be reprogrammed to Armenia, to offset the results
of the devastating dual blockades by Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Turkey eventually accepted the funds. Rep. Radanovich was also the
lead sponsor of the 2000 Armenian Genocide resolution, dramatically
taken off the Congressional agenda just moments before House
consideration by Speaker Dennis Hastert, now a lobbyist for the
Turkish Government, in response to a request from the Clinton
Administration. Since 2000, Rep. Radanovich has joined with Rep. Adam
Schiff (D-CA) and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank
Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) in spearheading successive
Genocide resolutions, including H.Res.252, which currently has over
135 cosponsors. He has also been a consistent advocate for increased
U.S. assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, self-determination
for Nagorno Karabagh and Congressional efforts to end the dual Turkish
and Azeri blockades of Armenia.

POLITICAL RESULTS OF THE YEAR: ILLUSIONS AND THE REALITY
Leonid Martirosyan

Azat Artsakh Newspaper NKR
December 29, 2009

Very soon 2009 will become the property of history. What it has
introduced in the process of Karabakh conflict settlement, whether
it has justified hopes of possible progress in the work of solution
of the inveterate problem? On January, 2009 the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Greece Dora Bakoyaniss, who as rotation has assumed duties
of the acting chairman of OSCE, on the eve of the introduction into
this post has expressed hope that current year will be possible
to achieve break in the given question. Moreover, representatives
of the countries-intermediaries, that is Russia, France and the
USA, from time to time optimistically declared real possibility of
settlement of the problem in visible prospect. The life has shown an
inconsistency of similar forecasts – practical results both were not,
and are not present. And it thus, that in the joint statement of heads
of delegations of the countries-co-chairmen of OSCE MG and Ministers
of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Azerbaijan, accepted on December
1st in Athenes about the results of a meeting, "positive dynamic
of negotiations" has been pointed, which has promoted "to movement
to the coordination of main principles of a peaceful settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict". Even the superficial analysis of a
situation in negotiating process confirms, that the serious bases for
achievement of significant success are not available. And the reasons
for that are few. First of all, base positions of the parties of
the Karabakh conflict still remain polarly opposite, so difficult
compatible. The behaviour of Baku which in the foreseeable future
hardly probable will undergo changes, with all definiteness testifies
its unwillingness in the trunk-call policy to start with a sober
estimation of existing realities. It is obvious, that accountings
which are constructed on illusions, cannot lead to positive results.

Rather originally treating international law, Azerbaijan has a
priori decided, that the conflict can be resolved exclusively on
the basis of a principle of territorial integrity. And it when the
right to self-determination was admited by all intermediaries as
one of principles of the conflict settlement. By the way, the days,
on December 18th, the UN adopted "General realization of the right
of the people’s self-determination " resolution, in which the appeal
contains: to pay special attention to cases of violation of one of
this basic principles of international law. Paradox is that under
the resolution Azerbaijan has put the signature and which declares
invariably about a primacy of a principle of territorial integrity.

Other reason of futility of negotiating process, as we think, is
hidden in Madrid principles, on the bases of which nowadays search of
decision of the problem is conducted.Being offered by intermediaries on
November 2007, they have undergone some changes since then and began
to be called as updated. In what their novelty is, it’s difficult
to say, as basic provisions of the given document, apparently, have
remained former and are unacceptable for the Karabakh party. Most
likely, study of the specified document is not finished yet, so it
means that it is hardly probable worth to hope in these conditions
for achievement of results on the basis of imperfect principles. As
Madrid principles have not been presented at all to Nagorno-Karabakh,
and thereupon it is represented rather problematic the realisation of
the future decision about the conflict, accepted without participation
of the Karabakh party. In similar conditions the NKR has the full
right not to incur the obligation on realisation of the hypothetical
peace agreement accepted without its participation and especially if
it contradicts its interests. All it once again confirms necessity
of participation of the NKR in negotiating process at all its stages,
up to the conclusion of the basic contract.

The important factor influencing on the process of the Karabakh
settlement is the political situation in the region which depends on
a number of components, in particular, interests of its active players.

It is obvious, that interests of the main characters – Russia, Iran,
the USA, the European Union – still enter into the contradiction with
each other. However the excessive activity of Turkey in its persistent
attempts to squeeze into the rows of co-chairmen of the OSCE MG
attracts attention. Probably, having come to grief with its notorious
"platform of stability and cooperation in the Caucasus", Ankara
nevertheless has not refused intention to become the leading state
in region , as in favour of its own interests to have an influence
upon the processes going here, including Nagorno-Karabakhian. And,
certainly,in favour of Azerbaijan’s interests. It confirms also
present process of so-called normalisation of Armenian-Turkish
relations, which Turkey, contrary to positions of known reports’
provisions, endeavours to co-ordinate to settlement of the Karabakh
conflict. Which inevitably extremely complicates achievement of
reasonable arrangements. Next year presidency in OSCE from Greece
will pass to Kazakhstan. Whether It will be possible to Astana to
bring sudden changes in the process of settlement or all remains at
level of good wishes,the time will show. In all cases it is necessary
for the NKR to strengthen the statehood henceforth, consistently to
achieve de jure recognition of the right to the self-determination
faultlessly realised by its people by the international community.