Author: Kalashian Nyrie

GENOCIDE RESOLUTION DEBATE RAGES ON

Washington Times, DC
Oct 10 2007

Democrats in a House committee debate say that Turkey will "get over
it" if they officially designate the actions of the Turkish government
against Armenians during World War I to be genocide.

"Let us do this and be done with it. We will get a few angry words
out of Ankara for a few days, and then it’s over," said Brad Sherman,
California Democrat. "If this irritates our relationship with Turkey,
let’s stop the irritation by recognizing the truth."

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer made similar comments this morning
during a briefing with reporters.

Mr. Hoyer, Maryland Democrat, said he met with the Turkey’s ambassador
to the U.S. today and assured him that he considers Turkey a strong
friend and ally of the United States.

"This [resolution] was about another government at another time, and
should not be perceived…as a reflection on the present government,
the Turkish people or their present posture," Mr. Hoyer said.

Mr. Hoyer added he didn’t believe such a resolution would have a long
lasting negative affect on the United State’s relationship with Turkey,
noting that Congress passed a similar resolution earlier this year
denounced Japan’s use of Korean "comfort women" during World War II.

"The Japanese were not pleased, but the Japanese overcame it and our
relations were not undermined," he said. "It was a temporary blip,
and we would hope that if there is a blip [in U.S.-Turkey relations]
it is temporary."

The committee debate this afternoon has attracted bipartisan support
and bipartisan opposition. Three Republicans have so far said they
support the resolution, and one Democrat has said he opposes it.

Rep. Dan Burton, Indiana Republican, was the most adamantly opposed
Republican.

"I just don’t understand why we’re going to cut our nose off, shoot
ourselves in the foot at a time when we need this ally," Mr. Burton
said. "I feel awful about the things that happened. Everybody does.

But the question is, why are we doing this at this time?"

"We’re in the middle of two wars right now, and the possibility of
a nuclear exchange if we’re not careful," Mr. Burton said. "We’re
talking about kicking the one ally over there that’s helping us right
now in the face."

The Bush administration says Turkey may no longer allow the U.S.

military to use its air bases for resupply of forces in Iraq and
Afghanistan.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos, California
Democrat, said the committee faces "a sobering choice."

"We have to weigh the desire to express our solidarity with the
Armenian people and condemn this historic nightmare against the fact
that this could cause men and women in the U.S. uniform to pay an
even harsher price than they already are," Mr. Lantos said.

"This is a vote of conscience, and the committee will work its will,"
he said.

ST. MARY CHURCH OF LORY REGION BEING RECONSTRUCTED

Panorama.am
18:36 09/10/2007

Semi-destroyed church St. Virgin Mary of the village of Sarahart in
Lory region is being reconstructed now.

The web portal of the regional governor’s office says the
reconstruction will be over this December. The reconstruction is
implemented on the funds of American Armenian Ashot Martirosyan,
from Sarahart in his origins.

On September 2, the cross and the bell of the bell tower under
the blessings of Archbishop Sepuh Chuljian, the religious head of
Gugurats diocese.

Crowds of people were present at the ceremony.

Church of St. Virgin Mary was built in 19th century.

It was destroyed during 1988 quake.

CIA DIRECTOR VISITED BAKU TO PRESS FOR SHIFT IN AZERBAIJAN’S POSITION ON IRAN?

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.10.2007 18:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Political analysts in Baku are debating the reasons
for an unannounced late September trip to Azerbaijan by Central
Intelligence Agency Director Gen. Michael Hayden. U.S. diplomats
remain tight-lipped about the visit. Many local experts, however,
contend that Hayden’s talks with Azerbaijani leaders likely concerned
Iran, Azerbaijan’s neighbor to the south.

Gen. Hayden’s one-day visit on September 28, which included a meeting
with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Minister of National
Security Eldar Makhmudov, was not publicized in advance, and few
details have since been provided. According to informed sources,
the CIA director arrived in Baku late on the night of September
27. The Turan news agency has cited "unofficial sources" as saying
Hayden stayed in a private downtown hotel at which special security
measures were taken. He left Baku in the early evening on September 28.

U.S. Embassy spokesperson Jonathan Henick told EurasiaNet that Hayden’s
visit was part of a trip to several countries in the region. Henick
would confirm only that Hayden discussed issues related to regional
security and international terrorism with President Aliyev and National
Security Minister Makhmudov.

Azerbaijani officials likewise declined to elaborate on the nature
or specifics of the discussions.

Some Azerbaijani analysts, however, see "the Iranian issue" as the
most pressing reason for the CIA director’s trip. The trip came five
days before an October 3 statement by U.S. President George W. Bush
that Washington was prepared, under certain conditions, to negotiate
with Tehran on the nuclear issue.

"It is obvious that the CIA director would not travel to Baku without a
serious reason for discussions," commented expert Rasim Musabekov. "It
is clear – most likely Iranian issues were discussed."

He did not exclude that Hayden traveled to Baku "to familiarize the
Azerbaijani leadership with some additional intelligence data that may
change Baku’s position over the issue of military operation against
Iran," EurasiaNet reports.

ABDULLAH GUL WANTS TURKEY INSULT BAN SOFTENED

The Daily Telegraph, UK
Oct 4 2007

The Turkish president, Abdullah Gul, yesterday called for changes
to a law on "insulting Turkishness" that has damaged Turkey’s bid to
join the EU.

Nationalist prosecutors in Turkey have used the law, known as Article
301, against dozens of writers, journalists and scholars, including
the Nobel Prize-winning author Orhan Pamuk, if they consider that
their work has insulted the state or Turkish identity.

Speaking at the Council for Europe, Mr Gul said he recognised
"problems" in the current law, although he insisted there was an
"unfair perception" that freedom of speech was restricted in Turkey.

advertisement"We know there are problems with Article 301. There is
still room for improvement and there are changes to be enacted in
the period ahead," Mr Gul said.

One of the few writers convicted under the article was the Turkish
Armenian editor Hrant Dink. He was shot dead in Istanbul by a young
ultra-nationalist in January because of his views on the deaths of
Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Turks in 1915.

Mr Gul, who has previously said the law is damaging Turkey’s image,
told the Council: "No one is going to prison for expressing their
view freely. All forms of discrimination are banned."

THE LEVEL OF LAKE SEVAN DOES NOT DEPEND ON ANYBODY’S WILL
By Nana Petrosian

AZG Armenian Daily
04/10/2007

"We do not need fictive effusions of love to Lake Sevan. We have to
provide full usage of finance, received according to the agrrement,
avoiding corruption," said yesterday representative of "Heritage"
party Larisa Alaverdian during the parliamentary discussion of the
ratification of the agreement between the European Development Bank
and the Restoration and Development Ministry of Armenia.

During the discussion someone stated that the corruption had came from
the depth of the centuries, since the era of the Egyptian Pharaohs,
and shall exist through ages. Considering that this argument cannot
be taken for an excuse for corruption in Armenia, parliament deputy
Hakob Hakobian said that the problem of corruption must be considered
globally, and not in context of a single agreement.

However, the agreement between the Restoration and Development Ministry
and ADB was represented to the deputies with great enthusiasm.

Former Ecology Minister, at present parliament member Vardan Ayvazian
stated the insensibility of representing evidences of the importance of
the Lake Sevan, as its importance has become obvious and unquestionable
since the times of USSR. "The level of Lake Sevan does not depend
on anybody’s will. It is the requirement of the Law. We have a law
about Lake Sevan, which provides for all necessary measures to be
taken," he added. In 1998 no water was released from Sevan, and due
to that the water level rose by 6 meters and reached 1903,5 meters,
which is the lowest level, sufficient for the restoration of the
ecology system. The lowest level for capital construction has also
been determined. Nevertheless, as Mr. Ayvazian stated, a number of
buildings were constructed below the appointed level, and that kind
of constructions is illegal. He assured that water is released from
Sevan only in summer, for irrigation use. Vardan Ayvazian also stated
that none of the 19 water clearing stations does function at present,
which seriously affects the ecosystem of Lake Sevan. "Per year 1,300
billion cubic meters of water pours into Sevan, which is the largest
reservoir of drinking water in the region. Such portion of polluted
water collapses the self-rectification system of the lake. And this
is a very serious problem," said Ayvazian.

The aforementioned agreement is aimed at solving this problem. The
agreement provides for 7 million Euro credit and 6,2 million Euro
grant. The credit shall be transferred in two steps, at first
5 million, with 4,76% interest rate, and then 2 million, with
lower interest rate. The money is to be spent on restoration and
reconstruction of 5 water clearing/rectification stations in the
area of Lake Sevan. There is also a program of reconstruction of
the Arpha-Sevan canal, which will prolong its functioning for 50
more years.

SERGEY MANASARYAN: RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN THE BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT IS A MATTER OF TIME

ArmRadio – Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 2 2007

It’s hard to imagine the discussion of the issue of recognition of
the Armenian Genocide in the Bulgarian National Assembly until the
Turkish "Movement of Rights and Freedoms" Party remains the second
an influential political force in the legislative body of Bulgaria.

Armenian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Bulgaria
Sergey Manasaryan told a press conference today that recognition of
the Armenian Genocide in Bulgaria is a matter of time, but the ethnic
Turkish Party is economically powerful and well-organized. Their
resistance is very strong.

The voting on the draft resolution on the Armenian Genocide in the
Bulgarian Parliament in April caused anxiety among the Turkish lobby,
since the number of "pro" votes was rather great, although the bill
failed to pass. The Ambassador is assured that Bulgaria’s entry into
the European Union will simplify the discussion of the issue.

Mr. Manasaryan noted also that the attitude of the society toward the
power of the Turkish political party is not simple in the country: it’s
a serious problem and source of tension among the Bulgarian society.

600-800 thousand Turks reside in Bulgaria. The Armenian community
counts 30 thousand. Another 30 thousand RA citizens live in different
cities of Bulgaria. There is only one Deputy of Armenian origin in
the Parliament. According to the Ambassador, the relations between
the Armenian and Turkish communities are normal.

A1+

TIGRAN KARAPETYAN: `SERGE SARGSYAN WILL WIN THE ELECTION’
[07:23 pm] 28 September, 2007

Tigran Karapetyan, the leader of the People’s Party (ZhK), will run
for presidency. According to the ZhK leader he has apparent
privileges.

I just want to be involved in the race and I shall be nominated as a
neutral candidate.

Tigran Karapetyan is confident that he won’t be elected. Nevertheless,
he participates at the election not to discourage his electorate.

Today Tigran Karapetyan presented his attitude towards the ongoing
political developments in Armenia and the likely presidential
candidates. According to him the prospect of having Levon
Ter-Petrosyan among presidential candidates is being outlined more
clearly after the latter’s address on September 21.

`We need new people and new personalities. It is interesting that the
candidates’ approaches are based on criticism. I wonder who will be
criticizing them. I means not only Levon Ter-Petrosyan but also all
other aspirants to presidency who used to be in power and want to be
back now,’ says Tigran Karapetyan.

I shall be nominated, although I know for sure Serge Sargsyan will win
the election.

In answer to the question if Serge Sargsyan will be elected in a fair
election, Tigran Karapetyan said, `Sargsyan will be elected the way he
was elected before.’

Tigran Karapetyan agrees that there is no guarantee that this election
will be like the previous one where election bribe won. The ZhK leader
also thinks that this mindset would mean we all should quit politics.

`The candidates are on better terms with Serge Sargsyan than with
Robert Kocharyan because they have worked with Serge Sargsyan and are
close friends,’ Tigran Karapetyan says. He means Vazgen Manukyan and
Levon Ter-Petrosyan. `If we compare, Levon Ter-Petrosyan is closer to
Serge Sargsyan than to Robert Kocharyan. The same is true with Vazgen
Manukyan. In fact, they have worked together. I mean those who bear
this potential for power. You know they say Levon Ter-Petrosyan
received a warm welcome in some village. There are people in villages
who occupied posts during Ter-Petrosyan’s office, members of the
All-Armenian Movement. Surely, they will come together and greet him
heartily. People will choose the lesser of two evils if they find
something new in these candidates,’ Tigran Karapetyan said.

The other candidates have no money but they don’t want to quit the
race. Therefore they are up for putting up one candidate. Tigran
Karapetyan even jokes that he has money and hopes they will put up his
candidature for the presidential election. Generally, he does not wish
to be the candidate of the opposition because he thinks he is the
people’s candidate.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Azeri Embassy in RF doesn’t exclude second visit of intellectuals to Karabakh
29.09.2007 13:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Azerbaijani Embassy in Moscow doesn’t exclude
the possibility of a second visit of Armenian and Azeri intellectuals
to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict region.

The Embassy’s statement reads that the journey doesn’t pursue
political goals.

`An attempt to create the atmosphere of trust between Azeri and
Armenian communities of Nagorno Karabakh was made after a long
pause. The first trip was welcomed by the international community. The
meetings with Presidents of both states attached significance to the
measure. I do not rule out continuation of meetings in this format,’
Polad Bulbuloglu said, Bakililar.AZ reports.

Armen Smbatian, the RA Ambassador to Russia, said this week that the
second visit of Armenian and Azeri intellectuals to Baku, Stepanakert
and Yerevan is being planned.

The first trip of the kind was launched June 28, 2007 by a joint
initiative of Armen Smbatian and Polad Bulbuloglu.

"FROM SYMBOL TO OPPOSITION"

Panorama.am
20:53 27/09/2007

"In the words of Stanislavsky, Levon Ter Petrosyan was in solitude. In
my opinion, his appearance was a planned step, since he had two
ways to go. He could have, like Yeltsin, become a symbol, where
for years one could go into public, express his opinion, and the
like," announced political leader Aram Harutyunyan at a meeting with
journalists. According to Harutyunyan, Ter Petrosyan chose to return
to politics, yet somewhat stay in solitude. And for one who changed
from symbol, in the words of the president, to another in the list
of opposition figures…we see who appeared at the event, people
such as Ardashes Geghamyan, Aleksan Karapetyan, and other opposition
figures. In Harutyunyan’s opinon, the former president should have
said he wasn’t much concerned about how many votes he would earn,
and that he didn’t have the right to remain silent about the current
state of affairs, not to say on the other hand he’d weigh things out,
look at things. It’s as if Nzhdeh said, as we were losing this or
that territory, that we have to count things, weigh things out. Is
there such a commander, who would say these things? Haaarutyunyan
thinks that one should never come into the public spotlight at all,
or at least not in this manner. It is Harutyunyan’s wish that Ter
Petrosyan appear next to the authorities each year at Independence
Day celebrations.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: ‘IT IS NECESSARY TO BE MORE DARING AND ACTIVE IN PUTTING FORWARD ARMENIA’S FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES’

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Sept 27 2007

ArmInfo. The Armenian President Robert Kocharian met the
representatives of local diplomatic corps accredited abroad, Wednesday.

As ArmInfo was told at the presidential press service,
representatives of the central office of RA Foreign Ministry, heads
of the country’s diplomatic missions and consulates took part in the
annual meeting. Robert Kocharian emphasized the importance of such
meetings and said "life shows that such an initiative is justified,
since it gives an opportunity to exchange views on state approaches
on different issues, to carry out current specifications, to enrich
the factual base and to use all this at the local level effectively
and purposefully". The Armenian president spoke about the foreign
policy priorities of the country and emphasized that it is necessary
to be more daring and very active in putting them forward.

President Kocharyan familiarized the diplomats with his approaches
to the rates of Armenia’s development. He stressed that a quite
favorable situation is registered in the economic sphere, two-igit
economic growth is fixed and there are serious resources to maintain
these rates for the next few years. "Armenia is one of the rapidly
developing countries among those lacking oil reserves," R.Kocharyan
stressed. He qualified the reforms conducted and being conducted as
the main recipe for success. He added that the reforms will cover new
spheres. The Armenian president pointed out that the foreign economic
relations are being expanded and work on attracting investments is
being done. He noted that Armenian diplomats use the potential of
economic cooperation not in all the countries. He also touched upon
the current stage and prospects of the Karabakh peace process.