Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
April 13 2014

TAA refutes claim tying US genocide resolution to Hizmet

13 April 2014, Sunday /ANKARA, TODAY’S ZAMAN

The Turkic American Alliance (TAA) has refuted the pro-government
daily Sabah’s and Yeni Å?afak’s claims of `treachery,’ linking the
Hizmet movement, a faith-based group inspired by Turkish Islamic
scholar Fethullah Gülen, with the passing of an `Armenian genocide’
resolution at the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed a senate resolution
on Thursday commemorating the `Armenian Genocide’ and clearing the way
for the resolution to be voted in the Senate. US Senator Robert
Menendez (Democrat, New Jersey), chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, and US Senator Mark Kirk introduced the US Senate
resolution on April 3.

Pro-government Sabah daily claimed on Sunday that the `parallel
structure’ (in reference to the Hizmet movement) has funded Senator
Menendez’s election campaign. Yeni Å?afak daily wrote on Saturday that
Menendez attended a gala meeting of TAA, which has ties with Hizmet,
only one day before the resolution was adopted at the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee in April 10, suggesting that Hizmet was behind the
preparation of this resolution against Turkey’s interests and using an
American senator to that end.

Sabah claims that Menendez has received $9,500 in total from two
schools, one law firm and one computer company that have allegedly
close ties to Gülen.

TAA President Faruk Taban and TAA’s member organization Turkic
American Association Council (CTAA) President Furkan KoÅ?ar made a
joint statement on Saturday that Yeni Å?afak’s story is erroneous, only
based on a photo taken at the gala meeting of TAA. In a photo that
appeared in Yeni Å?afak on Saturday, CTAA President Furkan KoÅ?ar and
Menendez are seen talking to each other.

TAA, the largest national Turkic organization in the US, held its
third annual Turkic American Convention in Washington, D.C., on April
12-13 in cooperation with the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and
Industrialists (TUSKON).

Calling the story a lie, TAA and CTAA said that they have always
expressed their displeasure to Menendez over resolutions that upset
Turks and Azerbaijanis. The statement said that linking TAA and CTAA
with the Armenian resolution at the US Congress is part of an
operation to manipulate people’s perceptions — the Turkish public
have witnessed plenty of examples of this recently. Taban and KoÅ?ar
said the journalist and Yeni Å?afak will be sued for linking their
organizations with the passing of the Armenian resolution.

`It is out of the question to support an Armenian resolution which TAA
and CTAA worked against over the years. Whenever we had a chance we
have expressed our displeasure to Senator Menendez that Turks and
Azerbaijani people are disturbed by these resolutions that have been
brought to US Congress many times over the years. Despite the efforts
of other nongovernmental organizations and the Turkish Embassy in
Washington, the passing of the resolution shows that the Republic of
Turkey and nongovernmental organizations need to maybe exert more
effort,’ said the TAA and CTAA presidents in their statement.

The 12 senators voted for the resolution in the 18-member committee at
the Senate, while five senators voted against it and one senator
abstained. It will be up to Senate majority leader Harry Reid to bring
the resolution to the Senate floor.

TAA President Taban also made a written statement on Friday in which
he expressed the sadness of the resolution passing the US Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, before Yeni Å?afak’s claims appeared on
the paper on Saturday. Taban also pointed out in his statement that
during this time it is regretful that Turkey did not have an
ambassador in Washington, D.C., to defend Turkey’s interests. He also
stressed that TAA members have expressed their concerns to many
congressmen and senators, including Menendez, about the resolution’s
possible harm for Turkish-American relations, but their efforts were
not enough to change the outcome.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry appointed a new ambassador to Washington
early this year, but Ambassador Serdar Kılıç arrived in the US capital
at about the time the resolution was passed at the Senate committee.
Former Turkish ambassador to Washington Namık Tan returned to Turkey
mid-March.

The resolution was not on the agenda of the last working day of US
Senate on Friday before the Easter recess. The Senate will reconvene
on April 28.

The resolution (H. Res. 410) is `expressing the sense’ of the Senate
on April 24, the day on which Armenians remember the events they
describe as a genocide. Ankara denies claims that the 1915 events
amount to genocide, arguing that both Turks and Armenians were killed
when Armenians revolted against the Ottoman Empire during World War I
in collaboration with the Russian army, which was then invading
eastern Anatolia.

The resolution calls on the Senate `to remember and observe the
anniversary of the Armenian genocide on April 24, 2014′ and says the
US president `should work toward an equitable, constructive, stable,
and durable Armenian-Turkish relationship that includes the full
acknowledgement by Turkey of the facts about the Armenian genocide.’

Turks will focus on the statement to come from the US President Barack
Obama on April 24 and see whether Obama will use the `G’ (genocide)
word. Obama has so far refrained from naming the events of 1915 as
genocide.

Vardan Oskanyan: Tigran Sargsyan’s four mistakes (video)

19:03 | April 12,2014 | Politics

During “New economic policy” economic conference initiated by four
non-governmental powers in Tsaghkadzor, Vardan Oskanyan indicated the
mistakes of Tigran Sargsyan’s government. Former Foreign Minister
separated four main mistakes, because of which, according to him,
during those six years the Government wasn’t able to provide stable
and high economic increase in Armenia.

Details in the video

AZERBAÏDJAN
La société française EADS Astrium devrait vendre deux satellites à l’Azerbaïdjan

La société française EADS Astrium s’apprête à vendre deux satellites à
l’Azerbaïdjan. Mais selon le site azéri haqqin.az, ces satellites de
fabrication française sont équipés de technologies dépassées et
pourraient être classés selon ce site au rang des

HRAPARAK: ARFD NOT INSPIRED BY IDEA OF ENTERING INTO COALITION

11:54 11/04/2014 >> DAILY PRESS

ARFD is not inspired by the idea of entering into the coalition and
by the news that David Lokyan may be appointed Deputy Prime Minister
or Minister, Hraparak writes.

“The point is that Lokyan is quite acceptable not only for Serzh
Sargsyan, but also for Hovik Abrahamyan and in case of becoming Deputy
Prime Minister, he will be out of control for ARFD and will almost
repeat Vahan Hovhannisyan’s path. Besides, Hovik Abrahamyan does not
want to work with current Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan and
wants to have his Deputy Prime Minister,” the newspaper notes.

Source: Panorama.am

ARMENIA’S TELECOMMUNICATION INDUSTRY: FINDINGS, PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS

15:52 * 11.04.14

The Ameria group of companies recently presented its regular survey
into Armenia’s telecommunication industry, current situation,
challenges and prospects.

The survey involves cable TV, mobile communication and wire telephone
communication as well as the use of gadgetry in Yerevan. This industry
is rapidly developing, but the statistics on Armenia is not full.

Tert.am interviewed Mr Haykaz Fanyan, Advisor, Ameria management
advisory services.

What’s the reason for selecting the telecommunication industry for
the survey? What questions is the survey supposed to answer for the
industry and those interested in it?

The telecommunication industry is Armenia’s leading and dynamically
developing industry. Our survey enables us to conduct an in-depth
analysis of the industry, form a clearer idea of competition and
find out more attractive markets for the industry’s development. The
survey will also help enterprises to develop a flexible strategy to
plan their further activities and meet possible challenges.

Besides, we have tried to present the situation in the industry “as
seen by the consumer.” That is, the survey involves more than 1,000
respondents, which obviously shows the consumer behavior and allows
forecasts for the industry.

What problems did the survey focus on?

Armenia’s telecommunication industry is liable to regulation and is
being supervised by the Public Services Regulatory Commission. In
2011, the Commission decided to differentiate active users. However,
according to the information at our disposal, in presenting technical
reports, mobile operators partially meet the requirements envisaged by
the decision. The companies, which are subsidiaries of transnational
companies in Armenia, prepare technical reports applying their own
methods. I think that, to have a clearer picture of the industry,
we need to develop a methodology of preparing technical and economic
reports.

Moreover, cable communication is one of the most important
subindustries of the telecommunication industry, and we are still
collecting information on this relatively new subindustry. Armenia’s
Statistical Service is hardly keeping statistics on this subindustry.

However, a decision has been made on changes in report forms, which
implies that we will have detailed data on the subindustry next year.

What interesting trends did the survey reveal? Is there any finding
that you experts found surprising?

There are certainly interesting revelations; I will introduce some of
them. The survey found that 86 percent of the population aged 15-69
has only one mobile phone, with only about 12% using two. We expected
however, a greater number of people to have two or more mobiles. It
is further interesting to find that among those aged 25-34, one in
four is a user of mobile internet A surprising revelation for us was
that the wire telephone communication has not lost its actuality in
Armenia. Around 69% of those aged 15-69 use that form of communication
every day.

How about the competitiveness in the telecommunication sector?

It is, first of all, worthwhile to mention that the structural markets
in this sector (mobile telecommunication, wire telephones, internet
access service, cable TV) see different levels and different degrees of
intensiveness of cooperation. Though the Armenian telecommunication’s
main structural market, i.e. – the mobile market, is characterized
by the oligopolic structure, the telecommunication market is the
economy’s most competitive sector. Moreover, as our study reveals,
the Armenian telecommunication market is governed by the “three and
four rule”, which implies the presence of three main stakeholders on
the market, with the shares of the first, Viva Cell-MTS (approx 60%),
four times topping those of the third, Orange.

And that in turn testifies to the presence of an optimal competitive
environment.

Mobile numbers’ redirection service was launched on March 1. What
are your expectations and forecasts in this connection?

Our surveys conducted in Yerevan allow us to state that only 10
percent of the population has expressed a willingness to use that
service. But the countries’ experience demonstrates that the real
situation is going to be more restricted – five to seven percent.

Nonetheless, we do not rule out a different situation either, given
especially that the operators actively work in that direction. For
example, the market’s leader, VivaCell MTS, has initiated a competitive
positioning protection, which means it is working towards preventing
its customers’ flow, while Beeline and Oraange are trying offensive
marketing. The competitiveness measures have not been fully resolved
yet, but it is already clear that the competitiveness will grow
tenser. By the way, the outcomes of our survey in Yerevan demonstrate
that the VivaCell MTS subscribers are relatively less inclined to
use the mobile number redirection service.

STAFF OF ANELIK BANK JOINS JINISHIAN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION’S CHARITABLE ACTION IN SUPPORT OF KESSAB ARMENIANS

by Erik Abrahamyan

ARMINFO
Friday, April 11, 16:23

The staff of Anelik Bank joins the Jinishian Memorial Foundation’s
charitable action in support of Kessab Armenians.

The press service of Anelik Bank reports that for this purpose the
bank has opened a special account. “The Diaspora has been by our side
throughout our history.

The key idea of this action is not so much material as moral support,”
the bank’s PR manager Artskhik Martirosyan said.

The Jinishian Memorial Foundation has an office in Syria and can
quickly organize all measures for receiving donations.

The sole owner of Anelik Bank is Credit Bank S.A.L. from Lebanon. The
bank is affiliated to Anelik, MoneyGram and Intel Express systems. It
has 12 branches all over Armenia.

THERE ARE FAR MORE SERIOUS CASES ARMENIA’S PROSECUTOR’S GENERAL OFFICE MUST STUDY – DEM EM!

15:20 / 11.04.2014

Earlier today Armenia’s Prosecutor’s General Office released a
statement-warning to the members of Dem em! [I am Against!] initiative
over closing roads, describing it as violation of law in case of
repetition of which the participants of such-like actions will be
punished.

“Confronting pressure and anarchy is the right of people. Civil
disobedience is a contemporary and purposeful way of confrontation.

Civil disobedience is a peaceful way of expressing complaint over
the policy carried out by authorities by conducting rallies, blocking
roads, spreading leaflets, conducting strikes, refusing to cooperate
with authorities,” the statement of the initiative states citing
the Constitution.

“Don’t you try to restrict our right to express freely as well as
conduct peaceful gathering which are guaranteed not only by Armenia’s
Constitution but international documents ratified by the Republic
of Armenia. Besides, we would like to remind that impeding peaceful
rallies is a criminal deed,” the statement runs.

The initiative also called on the Prosecutor General’s office to
better deal with examination of the property of officials, reveal
the sources of millions possessed by wives of ministers, etc.

“We also call on the Prosecutor General’s office to study the main
goals of illegal money gathering trough Pension Funds unconstitutional
laws and reveal the real ‘beneficiaries’,” the statement runs.

PROJECT DESIGNED TO MODERNIZE BAGRATASHEN AND SADAKHLO BORDER CROSSINGS ON ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN BORDER LAUNCHED TODAY

YEREVAN, March 11. / ARKA /. A 4.3 million euro worth project
designed to modernize Bagratashen and Sadakhlo border crossings on the
Armenian-Georgian border was launched today. The project is financed
by the European Union and is to be implemented by the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP).

According to the head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Traian Hristea,
this project will introduce European standards of integrated border
management at the border crossing points on the Armenia-Georgia border
and facilitate trade, transit and enhanced movement of people across
the border.

The UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia Bradley Buzetto said
the border crossings will be modernized in conformity with the best
international standards to make it easier to cross the border, to
reduce corruption risks and red tape.

He said this requires a legal framework, high level of interaction
between various government agencies, as well as transparency of border
overseeing bodies.

In addition to the EBRD that has released 10.3 million euros, also the
European Investment Bank will release 30 million euros to finance the
modernization project. Funds will come also from the European Union’s
Neighbourhood Investment Facility and the United Nations Development
Programme and the government of Armenia. -0-

– See more at:

STATEMENT FROM SENATOR EDWARD J. MARKEY ON COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

Attributable to Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), chair of the
Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance,
Economic Affairs, International Environmental Protection, and Peace
Corps of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“It is long overdue for the United States to join the many other
nations who have formally recognized the Armenian Genocide. That is
why today’s passage by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of the
genocide resolution in advance of the ninety-ninth anniversary is so
historic. I was proud to vote for this important resolution today in
Committee, and I will keep fighting to ensure its passage by the full
Senate. I will continue to work with the Armenian-American community
to build a prosperous and bright future for the Armenian people.”

Giselle Barry Communications Director 202-224-2742

RUSSIA SAYS NATO OFFERED NO ‘CONSTRUCTIVE AGENDA’ FOR UKRAINE

April 10, 2014 – 14:09 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Russia’s Foreign Ministry accused NATO on Thursday,
April 10, of using the crisis in Ukraine to boost its appeal to members
and justify its existence by rallying them against an imaginary threat,
Reuters reports.

Russia and the West are locked in a Cold War-style stand-off over
Ukraine and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told Moscow
to pull back troops from the Ukrainian border or face consequences
if they intervene.

The ministry said Rasmussen’s remarks were confrontational and that
in recent months he had not offered “any constructive agenda” for
Ukraine, adding that it was adding to instability in the region.

“The constant accusations against us by the secretary general convince
us that the alliance is trying to use the crisis in Ukraine to rally
its ranks in the face of an imaginary external threat to NATO members
and to strengthen demand for the alliance … in the 21st century,”
it said.

NATO has suspended all practical military and civilian cooperation
with Russia, although it said political dialogue could continue at
ambassador level or higher, since Russia incorporated Ukraine’s Crimea
region last month.

The Western military alliance has also limited access for Russian
diplomat’s to its headquarters and is reviewing a 1997 co-operation
agreement with Russia and subsequent Rome declaration of 2002 that
prevented it from setting up bases in eastern and central Europe.

Russia has responded by accusing NATO of having a Cold War mentality
and has expressed concern over the possibility of deploying the
alliance’s troops in eastern Europe permanently.