Author: Hovhannisian John

Journal of Turkish Weekly
July 25 2009

Turks won the Genocide Case Against Armenians in the US

Saturday, 25 July 2009

Turkish associations to which, Turkish President Abdullah G?Ã?¼l gave
responsibility in order to increase the trade volume, succeeded to
protect Turkey’s 2 Billion $ worth export to California. Paul
Krekorian, Member of the California State Assembly, introduced a bill
which based on the Armenian claims, to the State Assembly in order to
block the trading between Turkish companies and California companies.

First Turkish associations succeed on Assignment Committee to hold the
bill and they also prevented the discussion of bill in the General
Assembly. Finally they applied to the court in order to abolish the
bill on grounds of contradiction to constitution and they won the
case.

Paul Krekorian tried to convince the Assembly that the bill was
intended to prevent California from doing business with companies that
"do business with genocidal regimes." But, Turkish American Legal
Defense Fund (TALDF) which takes support from associations like
Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA), Turkish-American
Business Association (TABA) won the case against the Armenian
claims. As a result of that Assembly Bill (AB) 961 has been
effectively held in the CA Assembly Appropriations Committee by
Chairman Kevin De Leon.

U?Ã??Å?¸ur Terzioglu, Board Chairman of TABA said "California
constitutes nearly %30 percent of whole Turkish- American trade
volume. Judge decided that no one can intervene trading issues like
that. We want peace between Turkey and Armenia."

After the judgment Turkish companies which export goods to California
are relieved.

This news is based on Sultan U?Ã?§ar’s news appeared in Haberturk Daily
on 25.07.2009
By Burhan Dogus Ayparlar (JTW)

Saturday, 25 July 2009
Journal of Turkish Weekly

rks-won-the-genocide-case-against-armenians-in-the -us.html

ARMENIAN EXPERT: CHANGE IN INTEREST AND REFINANCING RATES INEFFECTIVE

ARKA
July 24, 2009

YEREVAN, July 24. /ARKA/. Ameriabank Development Director Tigran
Jrbashyan finds the change in interest and refinancing rates
ineffective.

"Change of interests and the policy of lower refinancing are not so
effective amid the recession, since world experience show that such
a policy transforms not clear on market", Jrbashyan said at a the
press conference held Wednesday.

He pointed out the Government and the Central Bank’s programs as more
effective means to resist the crisis.

The expert is convinced that refinancing and cash support for banks
have more favorable impact on interests than that policy.

Jrbashyan the government’s participation in budget guarantees can
produce higher effect.

On March 3, 2009, the Central Bank of Armenia announced its intention
to lower refinancing rate.

On July 7, the Central Bank downed refinancing rate by 0.5 percentage
points to annual 5.5%.

That was the fifth decrease since March 3, when the bank announced
the policy of floating exchange rates and drove refinancing rate one
percentage point up to 7.75%.

Later, on April 7, the rate was driven down to annual 7.5% and on
May 12 to 7.25%.

On May 22, the rate was lowered 1.0 point to 6.25% and on June 9,
it was downed again by 0.25 points to annual 6%.

"I don’t think Armenia will be able to ens ure zero rate, since it
implies certain problems in struggle against inflation and inflation
forecasts", the representative of the bank said.

The Ameriabank CJSC (former Armimpexbank) was founded in July 1992
using the facilities of the Armenian branch of the USSR Vnesheconombank
(Foreign Economy Bank). On September 8, 1992, the bank received a
banking license from the CBA.

Last August, TDA Holdings limited, affiliated with Troika Dialogue,
Russia’s leading investment company, purchased the bank’s shares.

This May the bank was renamed Ameriabank.

A BALANCE OF CULTURES AT YEREVAN FILM FESTIVAL

EuroNews
July 23 2009
France

The tightrope walker is symbol of the need for perfect balance and the
symbol of the 6th Armenian "Golden Apricot" film festival. Armenia,
at the crossroads between east and west, must also find this balance
say its organisers. One hundred and ten films from 40 countries made
the selection for the festival, which opened with Frenchman Laurent
Tuel’s crime thriller "Inside Ring."

Watch video at
-cultures-at-yerevan-film-festival/

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN PRESIDED OVER THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING

armradio.am
22.07.2009 11:26

President Serzh Sargsyan presided over the National Security Council
meeting, President’s Press Office reported.

President Sargsyan informed the members of the Council on the latest
developments in the negotiations for the resolution of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, and particularly on the bilateral and trilateral
meetings held in Moscow on July 17 and 18.

The participants of the meeting discussed and approved the draft
of the RA national program on fight against drug addiction and drug
trafficking.

The Council discussed also the RA draft concept on the active impact
on atmosphere and atmospheric phenomena.

President Serzh Sargsyan stressed the importance of efficient
implementation of the anti-hail technologies, noting that measures
undertaken by the government on that direction should be understandable
and visible for those engaged in the area of agriculture.

AZERBAIJANI MPS, PUBLIC FIGURES COMMENT ON OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS’ INTENTION TO PREPARE UPDATED VERSION OF MADRID PRINCIPLES – SURVEY

Today.Az
/54038.html
22 July 2009 [17:19]

Azerbaijani members of parliament and public and political figures
commented on OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ intentions to prepare updated
version of the Madrid Principles.

The OSCE MG co-chairs said in a statement that they will hold a
working session in Krakow in late July to prepare updated version
of the Madrid document in accordance with the joint statement made
by the OSCE MG co-chair countries’ heads in L’Aquila.

Political expert Vafa Guluzade:

Azerbaijan did not accept the Madrid Principles and any updated version
of giving Azerbaijani lands to Armenia via referendum is unacceptable
for Azerbaijan. I think the weather in fine in Krakow. He Co-Chairs
will go there just to walk and relax. And as a result, they will
issue another still-born document which will not be accepted.

Member of parliament Fazil Mustafa:

I believe that the new changes like the last statement issued in
Italy by heads of the co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group will be only
slightly different from past principles. But the essence of the
Madrid principles remains the same. Here we do not expect anything
good for Azerbaijan. I think that Azerbaijan can solve the conflict
only by its power. We need to consolidate all walks of life around the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict so that not only to policy and government,
but the whole society will be involved in the conflict resolution.

Member of parliament Nasib Nasibli:

I think the co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group is not able to positively
influence the resolution of the Karabakh problem. How much can you
deceive the people? They organize meetings, travel to the region,
promise advances, make some updates, but in the end, everything
remains unchanged. It is just empty words and the delay of time. I
do not believe them.

Political expert Leyla Aliyeva:

Given that the information in this regard is limited, it is difficult
for me to say anything. With regard to the fact what will updated
versions of the Madrid principles will contain and how they will affect
future settlement of the conflict, it is possible to expect everything.

Member of parliament Igbal Agazade:

I think Madrid Principles do not meet the national interests
of Azerbaijan, especially the item which says that the status of
Nagorno Karabakh will be decided by referendum. This version of the
Madrid principles and those that will be offered will not be able to
positively influence the settlement of the conflict.

Political expert Fikrat Sadigov:

Co-Chairs have made statements in large numbers so far. Sometimes the
statements even contradicted each other. The facts that heads of the
co-chairs countries made statement in Italy to accelerate conflict
resolution process and the Madrid principles were made public are
positive.

But Azerbaijan is not satisfied with all items on the updated
principles. Moreover, we expected that after such statements the Moscow
meeting of presidents would mark a real progress in resolving the
conflict. But unconstructive position of Armenia undermined everything.

Regarding the new updates, I simply can not imagine what news updates
will include. If they will be updated for a final solution to the
Nagorno Karabakh problem and the liberation of Azerbaijani lands, it
does not matter let it be Kracow or Madrid principles. But if these
principles are taken into account satisfaction of the Armenian side,
Azerbaijan would not tolerate it. For Azerbaijan the main thing is
the return of our lands and the return to the refugees to their homes.

VARUZH KARIM-MASIHI AWARDED MINISTRY OF DIASPORA PRIZE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
20.07.2009 12:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Ministry of Diaspora has established a
special prize to best Diaspora director at Golden Apricot International
Film Festival. The prize was bestowed on Iranian Armenian director
Varuzh Karim-Masihi.

"Unfortunately, Varuzh Karim-Masihi could leave Iran because of the
internal tensions," Ministry representative Hakob Asatryan told news
conference. "He shot a wonderful film and we will hand him the prize
as soon as he arrives in Armenia."

CNN
July 19 2009

Iran plane crash bodies returned to families

updated 5:49 a.m. EDT, Sun July 19, 2009

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) — The bodies of 152 people killed in a fiery plane
crash in Iran Wednesday have been returned to their families, an
Iranian state broadcaster reported Sunday.

An Iranian Armenian woman places flower at crash site.

1 of 3 more photos » Ahmad Majidi, the head of the special working
group investigating the Caspian Airlines crash, also said a Russian
team had arrived in Iran to help study the crash of the Russian-made
plane, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting said.

The plane went down in a field near the city of Qavzin Wednesday,
killing all 168 people on board and leaving a huge smoldering crater.

Majidi did not say what had happened to the 16 bodies that have not
been handed over.

The plane’s flight data recorders have been recovered and are being
studied by Iranian and Russian experts, IRIB said. Fragments of the
plane are also being examined to help determine the cause of the
crash, Majidi said.

The plane "disintegrated into pieces," said Col. Masood Jafari Nasab,
security commander of Qazvin. See a map of the crash location »

Video of the crash site showed a huge crater in the earth scattered
with charred pieces of the plane and tattered passports. Watch as the
flight data recorders are recovered »

"The aircraft all of a sudden fell out of the sky and exploded on
impact, where you see the crater," a witness told Iran’s
government-backed Press TV from the crash site.

Ten members of the country’s youth judo team were aboard the plane,
several sources including Press TV reported. The government-backed
network said the dead included eight athletes and two coaches.

It was at least the fifth major airline accident in the world this
year, following crashes of planes flown by Colgan Air, Turkish
Airlines, Air France and Yemenia Airways. A US Airways pilot managed
to land his plane safely on the Hudson river in New York City in
January, with no major injuries, after the plane lost power.

But aviation safety expert John Wiley said there was no reason to fear
air travel in general, and no one airline or aircraft is particularly
dangerous.

Caspian Airlines Flight 7908 — a Russian-made Tupolev Tu-154M plane
— went down near the village of Jannatabad near Qazvin at 11:33
a.m. (2:03 a.m. ET) Wednesday, Press TV reported.

Conversations between the pilot and the ground were normal and did not
indicate any technical problems, the network’s Web site reported,
citing the managing director of Iran’s airport authority without
naming him.

The Tupolev 154 is essentially banned in the West because it does not
comply with European noise and pollution regulations, but it has a
safer-than-average accident record, Wiley said. Wednesday’s crash is
the first on record for Caspian Airlines, which was founded in 1993,
he added.

The plane crashed 16 minutes after takeoff, said the newspaper
Hamshari, quoting a spokesman from Iran’s civil aviation organization.

That would have put the flight in one of the safest stages of travel,
according to International Air Transport Association data. Only about
5 percent of accidents take place during the phase called en-route
climb, 16 to 20 minutes into a flight, when a plane climbs to cruising
altitude of 35,000 feet.

24 Hours (Toronto, Canada)
July 17, 2009 Friday
TORONTO EDITION

Family shattered by news of crash

BY CP

A close family friend says a Toronto woman and her three-year-old son
are among those killed in a plane crash near Tehran.

Leonard Rideout says 35-year-old Nana Antashyam was flying to Armenia
with her son, Edward Khachik, to make arrangements for her sister’s
birthday party.

He says Antashyam’s husband and brother-in-law dropped the mother and
son off at the airport Wednesday only to hear news of the plane crash
on the radio as they were driving home.

Rideout says the family had left for Tehran in early July to baptize
their son and adds Antashyam’s husband, Vahik Khachik, is shattered by
the news.

Antashyam was a classical pianist and piano teacher with the Ontario
Conservatory of Music.

The cause of the crash was not yet known. Investigators have recovered
two of the three black boxes belonging to the jetliner, which was
bound for Yerevan, Armenia.

ITAR-TASS, Russia
July 18 2009

RF ready to continue efforts on Karabakh settlement ` Medvedev

18.07.2009, 17.17

MOSCOW, July 18 (Itar-Tass) – Talks between the presidents of Russia,
Azerbaijan and Armenia, Dmitry Medvedev, Ilkham Aliyev and Serzh
Sargsyan, was held in a constructive atmosphere, presidential aide
Sergei Prikhodko said.

`During today’s, fourth, meeting, between presidents of Russia,
Azerbaijan and Armenia, Dmitry Medvedev confirmed readiness of Russia
as co-chairman of the Minsk Group to continue exerting efforts to find
mutually acceptable solutions to the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement,’
Prikhodko said on Saturday.

`In our view, the meeting was very constructive. It focused on certain
problems, which remained open,’ he added.

`President Aliyev and Sargsyan expressed gratitude to Dmitry Medvedev
for his efforts to bring closer the positions of Armenia and
Azerbaijan and contribute to the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement,’ the
Russian presidential aide stressed.

The tripartite meeting was held in one of Moscow’s restaurants after
horse races for the Russian president’s prize.

CATHOLICOS ARAM I SENT CONDOLENCES TO ARMENIAN AND IRANIAN PRESIDENTS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.07.2009 22:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
sent his condolences to Armenian and Iranian Presidents and families
of catastrophe victims in connection with the crash of the plane in
Iran on July 15.

On July 16, a service for the dead was performed at Antelias
cathedral. Cilician Catholicosate Delegation passed Aram I’s
condolences to Iranian Embassy in Lebanon, Cilician Catholicosate
Press Service reported.