Author: Hovhannisian John

FIRST VICE SPEAKER OF AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT ADDRESSES US CONGRESS: "THE SO-CALLED "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE" IS NOT YOUR JOB, IT IS A HISTORIC ISSUE"

APA
43
Feb 12 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayev – APA. "They pressure on Turkey instead of
Armenia today. US Congress Committee included the so-called "Armenian
genocide" resolution into its agenda.

They discuss the so-called "genocide" issue in every April. They made
24 April a cash cow. I address the US Congress: This is not your job,
this is a historic issue. Let the historians to address this problem",
said first vice speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament Ziyafat Asgarov
in his statement. He said they were trying to blackmail Turkey in
every April. "I would like to ask them: Why don’t you recognize
Khojaly genocide? You know this tragedy happened before the world
eyes. I believe that the US Congress will not address this issue".

Asgarov said the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs should pressure on
Armenia. "The problem entered into the last stage. Everyone knows
that Armenian is not an independent country, but it is a province
of Russia. We don’t want this issue to be prolonged. Otherwise the
other way of solution is unavoidable".

MP Zahid Oruj expressed concern over the Iranian officials’ statement
about Karabakh problem. He said involvement of Iran in this problem
could make it harder. "Let Iran to use Turkey’s experience and to close
its borders. After that this country can say that it supports us".

In response to Zahid Oruj, speaker of the parliament Oqtay Asadov
said Iran had 600-km borders with Azerbaijan and it was not correct
to reject their support as neighbor country. "If there is support,
we have to use it".

HACKERS ATTACK TURKEY-BASED ARMENIAN NEWSPAPER, FOUNDATION SITES

Hurriyet Daily News
Feb 12 2010
Turkey

The Web site of Turkey’s leading Armenian newspaper was hacked in
the early hours on Friday. Hackers also attacked the Web sites of
two Turkey-based foundations.

Hackers identifying themselves as "AK Hacker" overtook the Agos
Web site and put up an image of Ogun Samast, the alleged murderer
of the former editor in chief of the daily, Hrant Dink. The image
was accompanied by a text that criticized opposition to the ruling
party and stated the act of hacking was "an action that will go on
to spread like poison to others who oppose the current powers."

The International Hrant Dink Foundation and the Art for Peace
Foundation were also hacked around the same time. An official from
the Hrant Dink foundation told the Hurriyet Daily News that they were
uncertain if the site was attacked by the same hackers.

An attempt to view the Art for Peace Web site led to an error page
bearing the same redirect address as the Agos Web site.

Threatening messages

The note on the Agos site also made a chilling threat given the murder
of Hrant Dink: "If you do not fix your reporting in the way we see fit,
there will be new Ogun Samasts and new Hrant Dinks."

Here’s a translation of the full text on the hacked site:

"You either love or you leave it. Or like the traitor Hrant, you die
and disappear. You are you. You know yourself as much as we know you.

You lived through what you deserved and it will continue as such. This
act take on behalf of the Turkish flag, which is not on your Web site,
and in the name of the Turkish Republic, will continue to spread like
poison to others who oppose the current powers and everyone who opposes
will be affected as such. If you do not change your articles and your
words and your actions along the lines that we see fit, then there
will be new Ogun Samasts and new Hrant Dinks. Thinking you’re smart is
your biggest ignorance. Just as the traitors who have given up their
Turkishness will one day be expelled from the borders of this country,
Turkey will be cleansed thanks to the current powers in Turkey and all
slander campaigns will be unsuccessful and inconclusive from now on.

"GAME OVER!

"Who are we?

"Hate, loathsome, Muco, Mr. Bond

"Do you remember?

"Ak Hackers"

ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS TO BE INTRODUCED IN RA NA

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.02.2010 15:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian-Turkish Protocols will be submitted to
the RA National Assembly on Friday.

"It is a mere procedure. The Armenian National Assembly will not debate
the Protocols unless the Turkish parliament ratifies them," Galust
Sahakyan, head of RPA parliamentary group told reporters in Yerevan.

"Our patience wears thin. If Turkey goes on at that rate, signatures
can be recalled," Mr. Sahakyan said.

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of
the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet
Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks
held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of
Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.

TURKISH PRESIDENT CALLS FOR NORMALIZATION OF TIES WITH ARMENIA

RTTnews.com
eView.aspx?Id=1209639&SMap=1
Feb 11 2010

(RTTNews) – Turkish President Abdullah Gul insisted Thursday that
both Turkey ad Armenia must make serious efforts to normalize their
relations by honoring an historic deal made to end the long-time
hostilities between the two sides.

"We have to be aware that concluding this historic process will require
honoring our commitments in their entirety as well as displaying
adequate political courage and vision," Gul was quoted by local news
agencies as saying in a letter addressed to his Armenian counterpart
Serzh Sarksyan.

"You should have no doubt that our determination to move these
objectives forward is intact, provided that this resolve and commitment
remains reciprocal," Gul added in his response to an earlier message
sent to him by Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan.

In a message sent to Gul earlier in the week, Sarkisian had said that
the "time has come to manifest determination to take the next major
step and leave to future generations a stable and secure region."

Sarkisian was apparently referring to the ratification by the Turkish
parliament of two agreements that commits Turkey and Armenia to
establish diplomatic relations and open their mutual border to
each other.

Sarksyan also insisted in his message that Armenia’s parliament would
approve the agreements only after the Turkish parliament ratifies
them. He also warned that Armenia could break off its relation
normalization efforts if Turkey delayed the ratification of the
protocols.

Both Turkey and Armenia had announced last April a deal that would
normalize relations between the two sides. Though the deal has strong
backing of the international community, it is currently on the brink
of collapse as both Turkey and Armenia are yet to ratify the agreement.

Turkey’s parliament initially delayed ratifying the protocols, as it
linked the establishment of diplomatic relations to negotiations on the
Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. Armenian troops are currently occupying the
enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh after they helped Armenian separatists to
seize control of the enclave from Azerbaijan, a close ally of Turkey,
in the early 1990s.

The war for the enclave resulted in the death of nearly 30,000 people
and forced two million others to flee their homes. Though the two
countries signed a ceasefire agreement in May 1994, the dispute
remains unresolved despite continued international efforts.

Linking the agreement to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue has triggered an
outrage among Turkey’s sizable Azeri minority. It also evoked a strong
response from Azerbaijan, with President Ilham Aliyev threatening to
boycott the Nabucco pipeline project designed to carry natural gas
from Central Asia to markets in Europe through Turkey.

Following Azerbaijan’s threat to back out of the Nabucco pipeline
project over Turkey’s deal with Armenia, Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan visited Azerbaijan in an effort to ease tensions.

During that visit, Erdogan stressed his country would not seek to
normalize relations with Armenia on Azerbaijan’s expense. He also
added that Turkey will not re-open its borders with Armenia until
Armenian military forces withdraw from Azerbaijani territory.

Turkey then demanded the resolving of the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave
conflict through international meditations and the withdrawal of
Armenian forces from the enclave as a condition for ratifying the
agreements.

Another hurdle to Turkey’s ratification of the agreements sprung up
recently after Armenia’s Constitutional Court ruled on 12th January
the deal with Turkey should not breach the country’s Independence
Declaration, which states that the Republic of Armenia "stands in
support of the task of achieving international recognition of the
Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia."

But Turkey objected to the Armenian Constitutional Court ruling,
insisting that the ruling was based on "preconditions and restrictive
findings" that undermine the "fundamental objectives" of the
protocols. Prime Minister Erdogan described the court ruling as
"unacceptable" and said it could undermine the reconciliation efforts
between the two countries.

Turkey denies the occurrence of any genocide of Armenians and insists
that those killed were victims of during the chaotic collapse of the
Ottoman empire before the birth of modern Turkey in 1923.

Turkey and Armenia have not had any diplomatic or economic relations
after Armenia declared its independence in 1991. In addition, Turkey
also closed its borders with Armenia in 1993 as a token of support
for Azerbaijan, which had a territorial conflict with Armenia.

"YEREVAN, MY LOVE" PROJECT LAUNCHED IN LONDON

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
11.02.2010 13:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During his working visit to the UK, President of
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan met with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in
the Buckingham Palace to discuss Armenian-British relations, process
of Armenia’s integration in European structures, as well as issues
pertinent to Armenian-Turkish reconciliation process. Regarding
all these issues the President of Armenia presented to Her Majesty
official position of Yerevan.

Later in the afternoon President Sargsyan met with Foreign Secretary
David Miliband. Armenia-UK bilateral relations and as well as
regional security issues were in focus. Attaching importance to further
development of political dialogue and enhancement of economic relations
the two men concurred that the Eastern Partnership initiative provides
ample opportunities for efficient cooperation. The RA President thanked
the British government for the assistance provided to Armenia since
it regained independence.

Mr. Sargsyan and Mr. Miliband also referred to regional security
issues, specifically the process of Armenian-Turkish reconciliation
and Nagorno Karabakh peace talks. The UK Foreign Secretary welcomed
Armenia’s efforts aimed at the normalization of relations with Turkey
and said his country supports the process and is interested in peace
and stability in the South Caucasus.

In Windsor Palace, the President of Armenia met with His Royal
Highness Prince Charles. "Yerevan, My Love" project was launched
during the reception, followed by a concert under the guidance
of the world-famous conductor Valeri Gergiev. "Yerevan, My Love"
project envisages reconstruction of four structures of historic and
architectural value in the center of the capital, which will serve
as social centers for vulnerable groups and gifted children under
the auspices of Holy See Saint Etchmiadzin.

President Sargsyan also held a meeting with Armenian businessmen
and representatives of the Armenian Diaspora, the RA leader’s press
office reported.

THREATS TO BAKU ABOUT RESUMPTION OF WAR DIRECTED RATHER TO MOSCOW THAN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.02.2010 14:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Threats to Baku on the resumption of war in the
Karabakh conflict zone are rather directed to Moscow than Yerevan,
Ruben Mehrabyan, the expert of the Armenian Center for Political and
International Studies told a press conference in Yerevan. According
to him, therefore, Azerbaijan gives signal to Russia to intensify
the mediation efforts to resolve the Karabakh-Azerbaijani conflict.

"Baku warns Moscow, playing an active ever role in addressing the
problem, what might happen if negotiations do not record a progress.

And there are no signs of progress," the political scientist said,
stressing that the possibility of the resumption of hostilities is
very small.

The negotiating process is continuing and is controlled, which
is very important, he said. In his opinion, the current process
of Karabakh settlement is delayed not in favor of Armenia and not
promising anything good to the Armenian side. In terms of transport
and energy benefits, the interests of the superpowers is the South
Caucasus are increased, which opens new opportunities for Azerbaijan,
and brings serious challenges to Armenia. "Armenia cannot only hope
for a favorable power balance in the region. Resources Armenian are
within the country, and should be mobilized. The retreat of democracy
in the country only weaken our position becoming a "sword of Damocles"
over Armenia, " Ruben Mehrabyan said.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out in
1988 as result of the ethnic cleansing the latter launched in the
final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from
1991 to 1994. Since the ceasefire in 1994, sealed by Armenia, Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan, most of Nagorno Karabakh and several regions
of Azerbaijan around it (the security zone) remain under the control
of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks
mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.

HILLARY CLINTON’S MEETING WITH ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS IN U.S. POSTPONED

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.02.2010 15:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Meeting of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
with representatives of Armenian organizations in the United States,
scheduled for February 9, was postponed for an indefinite time.

"The meeting on Armenian-Turkish Protocols was delayed due to adverse
weather conditions in Washington," Armenian Weekly quoted a source
in the White House as saying.

The proposal to hold consultations with Armenian NGOs of U.S. was
initiated by the Secretary Clinton. Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly), the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), Eastern and
Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the United States,
The Knights of Vartan and the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) were invited to take part in the meeting.

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of
the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet
Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks
held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of
Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.

AMERIABANK CLIENT BASE SHOWS 57% GROWTH OVER 2009

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.02.2010 17:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ameriabank continues to strengthen its positions
in Armenia’s financial market, with 57% client base growth over 2009,
the bank’s press service reported.

31 of 100 major Armenian taxpayers are among active Ameriabank clients.

As a corporate bank, Ameriabank has developed a wide range of physical
person-oriented services, which prompted significant increase in
their number.

The number of Ameriabank accounts increased by 79.7%, legal entities
accounts comprising 67.9% and those of physical persons – 82.2%.

Ameriabank CJSC is am investment bank offering various package
services. Being a strategic partner of Moscow-based Troika Dialog
since August 2007, the bank has two branches in Yerevan, one in
Kajaran and one in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

THE 12TH HEARING FOR THE CASE OF HRANT DINK HELD IN ISTANBUL

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.02.2010 18:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The 12th hearing for the case of Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink, who was fatally shot by an ultranationalist
teenager outside the Agos weekly in 2007 was held in Istanbul.

The hearing took place with the participation of five of the defendants
under arrest, Ogun Samast, Erhan Tuncel, Yasin Hayal, Ahmet Ä°skender
and Ersin Yolcu. Among a total of 20 defendants, Osman Hayal and
Mustafa Ozturk, who were released pending trial, were also in court.

The court’s chief justice, Erkan Canak, said the telephone numbers
and records of the relevant police officers had been requested from
the Trabzon Police Department but the request had been refused as
the release of such documents would lead to "lapses in security."

Canak also said that intelligence reports written prior to Dink’s
murder had been requested and had arrived at the court. The Dink
family lawyer, Bahri Belen, said all documents coming from the police
department talked about the "confidentiality of documents" but pointed
out that documents regarding crimes should not be secret.

The hearing will continue with the defense of Tuncel, one of the
key suspects, who reportedly had worked with the police and the
gendarmerie as an informant and gave them tip-offs about the plot
to kill Dink several months before the assassination. Tuncel, who
belongs to the Grand Unity Party (BBP), argued against the fact that
he had been labeled as a leader in a terrorist organization. He said
this was only because of his "political views."

Tuncel asked BBP leaders YaÅ~_ar Cihan and Halis Egemen, who were at
the court, whether or not the party approved of Dink’s murder. Egemen
said they would never support an act of murder and they "love the
created because of the creator. This view does not discriminate
between Muslims or non-Muslims."

At the last hearing of the Dink trial last October, co-plaintiff lawyer
Fethiye Cetin stated that Dink’s murder, along with that of an Italian
priest in 2006 and the 2007 slaying of three Christians in Malatya,
was part of an operation carried out by Ergenekon, a neo-nationalist
gang believed to be the extension of a clandestine network of groups
with members in the armed forces.

Hrant Dink (September 15, 1954 – January 19, 2007) was a
Turkish-Armenian journalist and columnist and editor-in-chief
of Agos bilingual newspaper. Dink was best known for advocating
Turkish-Armenian reconciliation and human and minority rights in
Turkey. Charged under the notorious article 301 of the Turkish
Criminal Code, Dink stood a trial for insulting Turkishness. After
numerous death threats, Hrant Dink was assassinated in Istanbul in
January 2007, by Ogun Samast, a 17-year-old Turkish nationalist.

US BASED LOS ANGELES TIMES DISREGARDS AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

APA
Feb 9 2010
Azerbaijan

Washington. Isabel Levine – APA. The US based Los Angeles Times
disregarded the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

According to APA’s Washington DC correspondent, the newspaper is
planning to hold a Travel and Adventure show, where "the Republics
of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) will be represented.

The tourism offices of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh will share a large
"Welcome to Armenia" booth in the Exhibition Hall of the Travel Show
on December 13".

The show will feature spectacular photography of the people, vistas,
and historic sites of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, the newspaper said.

The Azerbaijani Diaspora to US is already aware of that act of
disrespect and expressed its deep concern about it. US Azerbaijanis
sent a letter to Los Angeles Times saying that they urge the show
holders and the newspaper to stop this outrageous misuse of Terms of
Use and the international law. US Azerbaijanis stated it is absolutely
unacceptable for any exhibitor to promote any part of land, culture,
and heritage that does not belong to them.

"As is well known, Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan has been
occupied by the Armenian military since the early 1994, but has
always been legally recognized by the UN, U.S. government and the
entire international community as part of Azerbaijan. All Azerbaijanis
around the world, including our own Azerbaijani-American community in
the US, as well as the government of Azerbaijan, strongly object to
any report, incident or event, where the territorial integrity and
sovereignty of Azerbaijan over Karabakh is somehow misrepresented
and compromised. As a community, we have staged boycotts and protest
marches throughout cities in US to drive the point home, whilst the
Azerbaijani government is known for denying visas and "blacklisting"
known violators and alerting Interpol to assist in the apprehension
of such individuals" – says the letter.

According to Azerbaijani Diaspora, Armenians should promote tourism to
Armenia only, not encouraging illegal tourism to Azerbaijan’s occupied
lands. "As a community, we strongly support U.S. government’s position
on the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and are of the opinion
that all U.S. legal entities must adhere to the government’s position.

There is still time to prevent this outrage from taking place", –
they said.