FATAL ACCIDENT
A1+
02:30 pm | April 06, 2009
Society
A BMW turned over after driving off the carriage way in the town
of Artik at 6:30 April 5. M. Aloyan, 1974, died as a result of the
accident. H. Papoyan, 1985, and A. Tonakanyan, 1972, were taken to
hospital with injuries of various degrees.
Doctors say their state is satisfactory.
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
PRESS RELEASE
April 6, 2009
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA
TO THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT
Turkish Grand National Assembly Complex
Ankara, Turkey
3:30 P.M. (Local)
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Mr. Speaker, Madam Deputy Speaker, distinguished
members, I am honored to speak in this chamber, and I am committed to
renewing the alliance between our nations and the friendship between our
people.
This is my first trip overseas as President of the United States. I’ve
been to the G20 summit in London, and the NATO summit in Strasbourg, and
the European Union summit in Prague. Some people have asked me if I
chose to continue my travels to Ankara and Istanbul to send a message to
the world. And my answer is simple: Evet — yes. (Applause.) Turkey is a
critical ally. Turkey is an important part of Europe. And Turkey and the
United States must stand together — and work together — to overcome
the challenges of our time.
This morning I had the great privilege of visiting the tomb of your
extraordinary founder of your republic. And I was deeply impressed by
this beautiful memorial to a man who did so much to shape the course of
history. But it is also clear that the greatest monument to Ataturk’s
life is not something that can be cast in stone and marble. His greatest
legacy is Turkey’s strong, vibrant, secular democracy, and that is the
work that this assembly carries on today. (Applause.)
This future was not easily assured, it was not guaranteed. At the end of
World War I, Turkey could have succumbed to the foreign powers that were
trying to claim its territory, or sought to restore an ancient empire.
But Turkey chose a different future. You freed yourself from foreign
control, and you founded a republic that commands the respect of the
United States and the wider world.
And there is a simple truth to this story: Turkey’s democracy is your
own achievement. It was not forced upon you by any outside power, nor
did it come without struggle and sacrifice. Turkey draws strength from
both the successes of the past, and from the efforts of each generation
of Turks that makes new progress for your people.
Now, my country’s democracy has its own story. The general who led
America in revolution and governed as our first President was, as many
of you know, George Washington. And like you, we built a grand monument
to honor our founding father — a towering obelisk that stands in the
heart of the capital city that bears Washington’s name. I can see the
Washington Monument from the window of the White House every day.
It took decades to build. There were frequent delays. Over time, more
and more people contributed to help make this monument the inspiring
structure that still stands tall today. Among those who came to our aid
were friends from all across the world who offered their own tributes to
Washington and the country he helped to found.
And one of those tributes came from Istanbul. Ottoman Sultan Abdulmecid
sent a marble plaque that helped to build the Washington Monument.
Inscribed in the plaque was a poem that began with a few simple words:
"So as to strengthen the friendship between the two countries." Over 150
years have passed since those words were carved into marble. Our nations
have changed in many ways. But our friendship is strong, and our
alliance endures.
It is a friendship that flourished in the years after World War II, when
President Truman committed our nation to the defense of Turkey’s freedom
and sovereignty, and Turkey committed itself into the NATO Alliance.
Turkish troops have served by our side from Korea to Kosovo to Kabul.
Together, we withstood the great test of the Cold War. Trade between our
nations has steadily advanced. So has cooperation in science and
research.
The ties among our people have deepened, as well, and more and more
Americans of Turkish origin live and work and succeed within our
borders. And as a basketball fan, I’ve even noticed that Hedo Turkoglu
and Mehmet Okur have got some pretty good basketball games. (Applause.)
The United States and Turkey have not always agreed on every issue, and
that’s to be expected — no two nations do. But we have stood together
through many challenges over the last 60 years. And because of the
strength of our alliance and the endurance of our friendship, both
America and Turkey are stronger and the world is more secure.
Now, our two democracies are confronted by an unprecedented set of
challenges: An economic crisis that recognizes no borders; extremism
that leads to the killing of innocent men and women and children;
strains on our energy supply and a changing climate; the proliferation
of the world’s deadliest weapons; and the persistence of tragic
conflict.
These are the great tests of our young century. And the choices that we
make in the coming years will determine whether the future will be
shaped by fear or by freedom; by poverty or by prosperity; by strife or
by a just, secure and lasting peace.
This much is certain: No one nation can confront these challenges alone,
and all nations have a stake in overcoming them. That is why we must
listen to one another, and seek common ground. That is why we must build
on our mutual interests, and rise above our differences. We are stronger
when we act together. That is the message that I’ve carried with me
throughout this trip to Europe. That is the message that I delivered
when I had the privilege of meeting with your President and with your
Prime Minister. That will be the approach of the United States of
America going forward.
Already, America and Turkey are working with the G20 on an unprecedented
response to an unprecedented economic crisis. Now, this past week, we
came together to ensure that the world’s largest economies take strong
and coordinated action to stimulate growth and restore the flow of
credit; to reject the pressures of protectionism, and to extend a hand
to developing countries and the people hit hardest by this downturn; and
to dramatically reform our regulatory system so that the world never
faces a crisis like this again.
As we go forward, the United States and Turkey can pursue many
opportunities to serve prosperity for our people. The President and I
this morning talked about expanding the ties of commerce and trade.
There’s enormous opportunity when it comes to energy to create jobs. And
we can increase new sources to not only free ourselves from dependence
of other energies — other countries’ energy sources, but also to combat
climate change. We should build on our Clean Technology Fund to leverage
efficiency and renewable energy investments in Turkey. And to power
markets in Turkey and Europe, the United States will continue to support
your central role as an East-West corridor for oil and natural gas.
This economic cooperation only reinforces the common security that
Europe and the United States share with Turkey as a NATO ally, and the
common values that we share as democracies. So in meeting the challenges
of the 21st century, we must seek the strength of a Europe that is truly
united, peaceful and free.
So let me be clear: The United States strongly supports Turkey’s bid to
become a member of the European Union. (Applause.) We speak not as
members of the EU, but as close friends of both Turkey and Europe.
Turkey has been a resolute ally and a responsible partner in
transatlantic and European institutions. Turkey is bound to Europe by
more than the bridges over the Bosphorous. Centuries of shared history,
culture, and commerce bring you together. Europe gains by the diversity
of ethnicity, tradition and faith — it is not diminished by it. And
Turkish membership would broaden and strengthen Europe’s foundation once
more.
Now, of course, Turkey has its own responsibilities. And you’ve made
important progress towards membership. But I also know that Turkey has
pursued difficult political reforms not simply because it’s good for EU
membership, but because it’s right for Turkey.
In the last several years, you’ve abolished state security courts,
you’ve expanded the right to counsel. You’ve reformed the penal code and
strengthened laws that govern the freedom of the press and assembly.
You’ve lifted bans on teaching and broadcasting Kurdish, and the world
noted with respect the important signal sent through a new state Kurdish
television station.
These achievements have created new laws that must be implemented, and a
momentum that should be sustained. For democracies cannot be static —
they must move forward. Freedom of religion and expression lead to a
strong and vibrant civil society that only strengthens the state, which
is why steps like reopening Halki Seminary will send such an important
signal inside Turkey and beyond. An enduring commitment to the rule of
law is the only way to achieve the security that comes from justice for
all people. Robust minority rights let societies benefit from the full
measure of contributions from all citizens.
I say this as the President of a country that not very long ago made it
hard for somebody who looks like me to vote, much less be President of
the United States. But it is precisely that capacity to change that
enriches our countries. Every challenge that we face is more easily met
if we tend to our own democratic foundation. This work is never over.
That’s why, in the United States, we recently ordered the prison at
Guantanamo Bay closed. That’s why we prohibited — without exception or
equivocation — the use of torture. All of us have to change. And
sometimes change is hard.
Another issue that confronts all democracies as they move to the future
is how we deal with the past. The United States is still working through
some of our own darker periods in our history. Facing the Washington
Monument that I spoke of is a memorial of Abraham Lincoln, the man who
freed those who were enslaved even after Washington led our Revolution.
Our country still struggles with the legacies of slavery and
segregation, the past treatment of Native Americans.
Human endeavor is by its nature imperfect. History is often tragic, but
unresolved, it can be a heavy weight. Each country must work through its
past. And reckoning with the past can help us seize a better future. I
know there’s strong views in this chamber about the terrible events of
1915. And while there’s been a good deal of commentary about my views,
it’s really about how the Turkish and Armenian people deal with the
past. And the best way forward for the Turkish and Armenian people is a
process that works through the past in a way that is honest, open and
constructive.
We’ve already seen historic and courageous steps taken by Turkish and
Armenian leaders. These contacts hold out the promise of a new day. An
open border would return the Turkish and Armenian people to a peaceful
and prosperous coexistence that would serve both of your nations. So I
want you to know that the United States strongly supports the full
normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. It is a cause
worth working towards.
It speaks to Turkey’s leadership that you are poised to be the only
country in the region to have normal and peaceful relations with all the
South Caucasus nations. And to advance that peace, you can play a
constructive role in helping to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
which has continued for far too long.
Advancing peace also includes the disputes that persist in the Eastern
Mediterranean. And here there’s a cause for hope. The two Cypriot
leaders have an opportunity through their commitment to negotiations
under the United Nations Good Offices Mission. The United States is
willing to offer all the help sought by the parties as they work towards
a just and lasting settlement that reunifies Cyprus into a bizonal and
bicommunal federation.
These efforts speak to one part of the critical region that surrounds
Turkey. And when we consider the challenges before us, on issue after
issue, we share common goals.
In the Middle East, we share the goal of a lasting peace between Israel
and its neighbors. Let me be clear: The United States strongly supports
the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in
peace and security. That is a goal shared by Palestinians, Israelis, and
people of goodwill around the world. That is a goal that the parties
agreed to in the road map and at Annapolis. That is a goal that I will
actively pursue as President of the United States.
We know the road ahead will be difficult. Both Israelis and Palestinians
must take steps that are necessary to build confidence and trust. Both
Israelis and Palestinians, both must live up to the commitments they
have made. Both must overcome longstanding passions and the politics of
the moment to make progress towards a secure and lasting peace.
The United States and Turkey can help the Palestinians and Israelis make
this journey. Like the United States, Turkey has been a friend and
partner in Israel’s quest for security. And like the United States, you
seek a future of opportunity and statehood for the Palestinians. So now,
working together, we must not give into pessimism and mistrust. We must
pursue every opportunity for progress, as you’ve done by supporting
negotiations between Syria and Israel. We must extend a hand to those
Palestinians who are in need, while helping them strengthen their own
institutions. We must reject the use of terror, and recognize that
Israel’s security concerns are legitimate.
The peace of the region will also be advanced if Iran forgoes any
nuclear weapons ambitions. Now, as I made clear in Prague yesterday, no
one is served by the spread of nuclear weapons, least of all Turkey. You
live in a difficult region and a nuclear arm race would not serve the
security of this nation well. This part of the world has known enough
violence. It has known enough hatred. It does not need a race for an
ever-more powerful tool of destruction.
Now, I have made it clear to the people and leaders of the Islamic
Republic of Iran that the United States seeks engagement based on mutual
interest and mutual respect. We want Iran to play its rightful role in
the community of nations. Iran is a great civilization. We want them to
engage in the economic and political integration that brings prosperity
and security. But Iran’s leaders must choose whether they will try to
build a weapon or build a better future for their people.
So both Turkey and the United States support a secure and united Iraq
that does not serve as a safe haven for terrorists. I know there were
differences about whether to go to war. There were differences within my
own country, as well. But now we must come together as we end this war
responsibly, because the future of Iraq is inseparable from the future
of the broader region. As I’ve already announced, and many of you are
aware, the United States will remove our combat brigades by the end of
next August, while working with the Iraqi government as they take
responsibility for security. And we will work with Iraq, Turkey, and all
Iraq’s neighbors, to forge a new dialogue that reconciles differences
and advances our common security.
Make no mistake, though: Iraq, Turkey, and the United States face a
common threat from terrorism. That includes the al Qaeda terrorists who
have sought to drive Iraqis apart and destroy their country. That
includes the PKK. There is no excuse for terror against any nation.
(Applause.) As President, and as a NATO ally, I pledge that you will
have our support against the terrorist activities of the PKK or anyone
else. These efforts will be strengthened by the continued work to build
ties of cooperation between Turkey, the Iraqi government, and Iraq’s
Kurdish leaders, and by your continued efforts to promote education and
opportunity and democracy for the Kurdish population here inside Turkey.
Finally, we share the common goal of denying al Qaeda a safe haven in
Pakistan or Afghanistan. The world has come too far to let this region
backslide, and to let al Qaeda terrorists plot further attacks. That’s
why we are committed to a more focused effort to disrupt, dismantle, and
defeat al Qaeda. That is why we are increasing our efforts to train
Afghans to sustain their own security, and to reconcile former
adversaries. That’s why we are increasing our support for the people of
Afghanistan and Pakistan, so that we stand on the side not only of
security, but also of opportunity and the promise of a better life.
Turkey has been a true partner. Your troops were among the first in the
International Security Assistance Force. You have sacrificed much in
this endeavor. Now we must achieve our goals together. I appreciate that
you’ve offered to help us train and support Afghan security forces, and
expand opportunity across the region. Together, we can rise to meet this
challenge like we have so many before.
I know there have been difficulties these last few years. I know that
the trust that binds the United States and Turkey has been strained, and
I know that strain is shared in many places where the Muslim faith is
practiced. So let me say this as clearly as I can: The United States is
not, and will never be, at war with Islam. (Applause.) In fact, our
partnership with the Muslim world is critical not just in rolling back
the violent ideologies that people of all faiths reject, but also to
strengthen opportunity for all its people.
I also want to be clear that America’s relationship with the Muslim
community, the Muslim world, cannot, and will not, just be based upon
opposition to terrorism. We seek broader engagement based on mutual
interest and mutual respect. We will listen carefully, we will bridge
misunderstandings, and we will seek common ground. We will be
respectful, even when we do not agree. We will convey our deep
appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over the
centuries to shape the world — including in my own country. The United
States has been enriched by Muslim Americans. Many other Americans have
Muslims in their families or have lived in a Muslim-majority country —
I know, because I am one of them. (Applause.)
Above all, above all we will demonstrate through actions our commitment
to a better future. I want to help more children get the education that
they need to succeed. We want to promote health care in places where
people are vulnerable. We want to expand the trade and investment that
can bring prosperity for all people. In the months ahead, I will present
specific programs to advance these goals. Our focus will be on what we
can do, in partnership with people across the Muslim world, to advance
our common hopes and our common dreams. And when people look back on
this time, let it be said of America that we extended the hand of
friendship to all people.
There’s an old Turkish proverb: "You cannot put out fire with flames."
America knows this. Turkey knows this. There’s some who must be met by
force, they will not compromise. But force alone cannot solve our
problems, and it is no alternative to extremism. The future must belong
to those who create, not those who destroy. That is the future we must
work for, and we must work for it together.
I know there are those who like to debate Turkey’s future. They see your
country at the crossroads of continents, and touched by the currents of
history. They know that this has been a place where civilizations meet,
and different peoples come together. They wonder whether you will be
pulled in one direction or another.
But I believe here is what they don’t understand: Turkey’s greatness
lies in your ability to be at the center of things. This is not where
East and West divide — this is where they come together. (Applause.) In
the beauty of your culture. In the richness of your history. In the
strength of your democracy. In your hopes for tomorrow.
I am honored to stand here with you — to look forward to the future
that we must reach for together — and to reaffirm America’s commitment
to our strong and enduring friendship. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
Thank you. Thank you.
END 3:55 P.M. (Local)
FEAST OF PALM SUNDAY TO BE CELEBRATED ON APRIL 5
A1+
05:24 pm | April 03, 2009
Society
On April 5usually a week before the Feast of the Glorious Resurrection
of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of
Palm Sunday, celebrating the Triumphant Entry of Christ into Jerusalem.
Jesus comes into Jerusalem riding atop a donkey and the people gather
to meet Him with reverence, thus fulfilling the words of the prophet
from the Old Testament.
On His arrival, a large crowd of people gathers to greet Him, and
spread their cloaks on the road before Him, while others cut branches
from palm trees and place them on the path. The crowd exclaims:
"Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the Name of
the Lord"
On Palm Sunday, churches are decorated with branches from willow
trees and palm trees. Following a solemn morning service, the blessed
branches are distributed to the faithful.
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians, has
declared April 5 the day of children’s sanctification. All churches
will be held a ceremony of sanctification.
ARMENIAN LANGUAGE RADIO PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN TURKEY
Panorama.am
13:19 03/04/2009
Armenian language radio program has been launched in Turkey. According
to Associated Press the first program was broadcast on 2 April. The
program lasted 30 minutes and covered news, cultural stories,
etc. According to the source the Armenian language program has been
broadcast a few days before the U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit
to Turkey. In 2006 when Barack Obama was a deputy from Illinois state
he was announcing that Turkey should recognize Armenian Genocide.
OBAMA AND NALBANDYAN WILL BE IN ISTANBUL AT THE SAME TIME
LRAGIR.AM
17:45:25 – 03/04/2009
According to the information spread by the Armenian foreign ministry,
the Armenian minister of foreign affairs Edward Nalbandyan will
be in Istanbul on April 6-7, where he will take part in the second
international assembly of the Alliance of civilizations.
So, the Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandyan will be in Turkey
on the days when the U.S. president Barak Obama will be paying his
visit to Turkey, who, besides his meting with the Turkish authorities,
will take part in the same assembly too. Barak Obama will visit Turkey
on April 5.
ARF TO PRESENT ITS PLATFORM SOON
Yerkir
31.03.2009 16:12
Yerevan (Yerkir) – Armenia Revolutionary Federation will complete
its election platform and slogans in the days to come and present
them to the public.
ARF Supreme Body of Armenian representative Armen Rustamian will head
the election campaign headquarters, Artashes Shahbazian, a member of
the ARF parliamentary faction told a news conference on March 31.
When asked if Artsvik Minasian is popular, Shahbazian said: "No member
of the ARF faction has been more outspoken at the parliament for the
past two years than Minasian. But I also wish that other people of
the list be appreciated because we are not elected mayor only."
Speaking on the politicization of the election, Shahbazian said two
extremes are seen. "There are two trends: to extremely politicize
the election on the one hand, and on the other hand, to avoid any
politicization. I don’t accept both."
Shahbazian called for a healthy race. He also said he thinks it
possible that a coalition could be formed at the municipality.
APRIL LAUNCH OF GENOCIDE PREVENTION MONTH MARKS RWANDA 15TH ANNIVERSARY
By Howard Lesser
Voice of America
April 1 2009
In April of 1994, when 800-thousand Tutsis and moderate Hutus were
murdered in a spasm of ethnic violence that is today recognized as
a genocide, Rwanda had limited visibility with the general public
and on the foreign policy agendas of the United States and other
countries. Years later, survivors are gathering to observe the 15th
anniversary of the slaughter that was carried out in 1994. Genocide
Prevention Month is being marked this week in Washington and other
American cities by survivors of major genocides that coincidentally
all took root in various years during the month of April — in Darfur,
Bosnia, Rwanda, Cambodia, the European Holocaust, and Armenia. Rwandan
survivor Eugenie Mukeshimana, a participant in the program, says that
lessons learned from the volatile conditions of that period influenced
her determination to share and teach others about it.
"It’s time for reflection. It’s time to look back and find out what
happened with all these different genocides. It’s holding discussions,
forums where people can learn more about the nature of the crime of
genocide, and hopefully, that people will at the end of the month
be more willing to commit themselves, whatever way they can, to join
forces and try to do some work, whether it be in prevention or helping
the people who still are in great need," she said.
Mukeshimana, an ethnic Tutsi who now lives in the United States and
serves as a social worker in the northeastern state of New Jersey, was
22 in April 1994 and six months pregnant. She was able to evade Hutu
extremists and survive the war by hiding in a succession of safe houses
and with friends in Kigali during the three months of terror. Though
her husband, Damascene, was slaughtered by machete-bearing Hutus,
Eugenie and her daughter held on long enough to see the Rwanda
Patriotic Forces (RPF) drive the extremists from the capital as the
carnage abated. She says she was able to maintain a positive outlook
because of concern for the child she was carrying and because of an
unfounded hope that a rescue force from outside Rwanda was on its
way to quell the massacre.
"One of the main supports that I had was actually to have a family
that helped me to hide. The second thing is that I was pregnant and
I didn’t feel like I had the responsibility just for myself. I had
the responsibility for the child I was carrying as well. But also the
rumors that a military operation was on the way to come and help, and
I found out later that it was just a rumor. But when I first heard it,
I didn’t know it was a rumor. So I would pretty much hang on one more
day, each day, hoping that somebody would get to us," she explained.
Although Rwandan Tutsis and Hutus have made great progress in
reconciling within the country, a military threat still exists in
neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, which has inherited an
outflow of Hutu fighters that continue to conduct hostile military
operations in northeastern Congo. Since 2003, however, the Rwanda
conflict has been largely overshadowed by the conflict in Sudan’s
western Darfur region, which the US government officially recognizes as
a genocide. Mukeshimana acknowledges that Americans who are interested
in becoming seriously involved in conflict prevention activities
and learning about Darfur often refer to Rwanda when pointing out
the foot dragging that prevented the outside world from doing more
to help. But she maintains that much still needs to be done to get
Rwanda back on its feet.
"People have to keep in mind that just because the genocide was over
in Rwanda doesn’t mean the lives of people — you know, the problems —
have been solved. It takes time. Some of the trauma from the genocide,
some of the medical and physical needs, will manifest themselves
after quite some time. There is a lot of work that still needs to
be done. Survivors are still living under conditions that are not
up to appropriate. There are many needs that are not yet met. And,
of course, there’s the reality that the genocide ideology is not
gone, even 15 years later. And we are also facing another issue,
that people are starting denying that this genocide actually took
place. As we try to recover and piece our lives together, you can’t
fully recover when you’re still faced with basic needs that are not
yet met and there are also people who are denying that this genocide
actually took place," she noted.
Hundreds of organizations allied with the anti-genocide coalition
are joining together to launch Genocide Prevention Month. Eugenie
Mukeshimana points out that a few hundred Rwandan survivors will gather
in New York next week on April 7, the actual date that the slaughter
began, to honor the memories of their relatives and friends. There will
also be memorial commemorations in Boston, San Francisco, Washington,
DC, and other US locations.
AZERBAIJAN THREATENS TURKEY TO CUT GAS SUPPLIES
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.04.2009 13:21 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Concerned that the Turkish government might open its
border with Armenia before reconciliation is reached, the Azerbaijani
government has signaled it might stop selling natural gas to Turkey.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that Baku would cut gas
supplies to Turkey if Ankara reaches an agreement with Yerevan before
substantial progress is underway on the Nagorno Karabakh issue,
the Hurriyet Daily News reports.
As a sign of how serious it is, Azerbaijan signed a memorandum of
understanding with Russia last week for long-term supply of gas at
market prices.
Ankara and Baku have been trying to reach an agreement over the
price of natural gas Turkey buys from Azerbaijan through the
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline. The agreement to buy natural gas
for $120 per 1,000 cubic meters for the duration of the first year
following the opening of the pipeline has long ended and the two
failed to reach an agreement as Azerbaijan wants to sell its gas at
international market prices, which is around $350 per 1,000 cubic
meters.
Russia, on the other hand, has been courting Azerbaijan to buy
its gas at international market prices in order to undermine the
Nabucco project, which aims to bring Central Asian gas to Europe via
Turkey. Gazprom and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan last week
signed a memorandum of understanding for long-term supplies of Central
Asian gas to Russia at market prices, Web site Euractiv.com reported
yesterday. According to Gazprom’s press release, the parties committed
to massive long-term cooperation after an agreement was reached March
27 to settle the terms of Azerbaijan’s gas sales to Russia.
Pavel K. Baev, a senior researcher from the Oslo International
Research Institute, said the project could make Nabucco irrelevant as
Azerbaijan is seen as the most likely gas supplier for Nabucco. The
Turkish government is under pressure from the Obama administration to
finalize and announce the agreement with Yerevan. Turkey and Armenia
have agreed on most of the wording of a protocol for normalization but
there are still some points where the two need to agree. The Turkish
side wants to insert the issue of Nagorno Karabakh in the protocol,
but the Armenian side has not been compromising on the issue, the
report says.
WITHOUT INCIDENTS
A1+
08:34 pm | March 31, 2009
Politics
There were no extreme incidents during the monitoring that took place
today on the borderline of the Berkaber village of Tavush Marz on the
sidelines of the OSCE mandate. Also participating in the monitoring
was Personal Representative of the acting president of the OSCE,
Ambassador Andrey Kasprshik, as informed by the Ministry of Defense.
RUSSIA STANDS FOR KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN OSCE FRAMEWORK
PanARMENIAN.Net
30.03.2009 17:11 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Russia supports NKR conflict settlement within
OSCE framework," UNO Permanent Representative in Russia Vitali
Churkin stated.
"We believe that active negotiations are the only way to reach
agreement," Rosbalt cited Churkin as saying