Author: Kanayan Tamar

TURKISH PM, FOREIGN MINISTRY AT ODDS OVER OBAMA STATEMENT

armradio.am
26.04.2010 13:50

Despite avoiding the word "genocide" in describing the events of 1915
during his Saturday commemoration statement, U.S. President Barack
Obama’s wording still riled the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

"We deeply regret this statement which reflects an incorrect and
one-sided political perception.

The toughest enemy of the historical facts are subjective memory
records. No nation has the right to impose its memory records on
another nation.

Third counties neither have a right nor authority to judge the history
of Turkish-Armenian relations with political motives," the Ministry
said in a statement

However, while the Foreign Ministry was upset at Obama’s terming of
the World War I events as "one of the worst atrocities" in history,
Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a positive
statement afterward, displaying a slight rift between the Foreign
Ministry and the Prime Ministry, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.

Foster’s Daily Democrat
April 24 2010

Barrington Peace Corps volunteer heading to Armenia

By JOEY CRESTA
Saturday, April 24, 2010

Cresta/Democrat photo Mary Ann Harty, of Barrington, is bringing a
jump rope with her on a Peace Corps mission to Armenia.

BARRINGTON ‘ Only about 6 percent of the Peace Corps’ volunteers are
over 50 years old, and one of them, a 60-year-old local woman, is
heading for Armenia in May.

Mary Ann Harty said now is the time to pursue an adventure she has
dreamed of since childhood. She has no financial or personal
obligations and is ready to immerse herself in a new culture thousands
of miles away.

"It’s the perfect time in my life to do it," she said. "I’m about as
free as someone who’s just graduated college."

Harty knows she might be in for a bit of culture shock. The Peace
Corps sent her a packet with information she is to review before she
leaves on May 27 to begin her pre-service training as an NGO
(nongovernmental organization) development volunteer.

She has also started to learn the Armenian alphabet and pronouns,
adjectives, verbs and some common phrases.

Harty is also preparing for some harsh weather by stocking up on
socks, tights and winter gear. She is also packing a jump rope to keep
her heart rate up ‘ she has been told Armenia has brutally cold
winters, when the temperature will not climb above zero degrees for
weeks at a time.

At least for her, cold is better than hot: she said during the Peace
Corps interview process, they determine which places might suit the
individual by asking detailed questions about preferences. Harty said
she cannot stand intense heat and declined an invitation to travel to
Africa because of her aversion.

According to the CIA’s World Factbook, Armenia gained independence
from the Soviet Union in 1991. The Middle Eastern country located east
of Turkey is slightly smaller than Maryland and features mountainous
highlands and fast flowing rivers.

Harty is heading to the country to help develop businesses. She has
experience in the manufacturing, service and software development
industries, as well as the financial, housing, nonprofit and retail
sectors.

Throughout the years, she said she has also been involved in community
service, including with church and her daughter’s school.

Harty is a Dover High School graduate and earned a degree in German
language and literature, with a minor in French, from the University
of New Hampshire in 1974. She spent her junior year in Austria, so
this is not her first extensive stretch abroad.

It is, however, her longest trip abroad. Her mission is for 24 months,
not including the three months of training. Since she spent a good
portion of her life in Oregon, her local family, including her
parents, Marty and Arlene, of Barrington, were slightly incredulous
when she said she was again leaving the local area.

"Initially my family said, ‘You can’t be thinking of leaving again,’"
she said. But over time, they realized, "It’s very much in keeping
with who I am."

Harty said her major concerns are with the language barrier,
communicating with the outside world and the hardships associated with
living in Armenia.

"Truthfully, it’s going to be an uphill climb," she said. "If I do my
homework now, I don’t think it will be quite as intimidating."

Harty hopes the experience will help her enter into a career in
community development, either through the Peace Corps or a NGO.

"I am concerned, because I am 60. But right now there’s someone who’s
85 (serving in the Peace Corps)," she said. "I will certainly do my
best to make it work."

According to the Peace Corps, Harty joins 46 New Hampshire residents
currently serving with the organization. More than 1,512 state
residents have served since 1961.

The Peace Corps approaches 50 years of promoting peace and friendship
around the world with 7,671 volunteers serving in 76 host countries.

rticle?AID=/20100424/GJCOMMUNITY_01/704249914/-1/F OSNEWS

Alexander Bozhko: `We share the grief of our Armenian brothers and sisters’

YEREVAN, APRIL 24, ARMENPRESS: `We – the Ukrainians – every year come
here to share the grief of our Armenian brothers and sisters. We come
not only to mourn for the innocent victims, but also to reiterate
together with these thousands of people that such things must not be
forgotten,’ Ukrainian ambassador to Armenia Alexander Bozhko said
after paying tribute to the memory of the victims of the Armenian
Genocide in Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex. He said it is very
important to remember it and speak about it not only on April 24 and
not only in Armenia.

`It is not accidental that today a round table is being held in Kiev
where distinguished Ukrainian intellectuals, experts, political
figures gathered to discuss Meds Yeghern lessons. Such events are
being conducted in different towns of Ukraine and it is very important
that these people after greeting each other say `We remember, we have
not forgotten,” the ambassador pointed out.

He also noted that is optimistic about the solution of the issue but
as far as it has a long history certain time is needed for it.

ARF: STRUGGLE AGAINST ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS PRODUCED EFFECT

news.am
April 23 2010
Armenia

The struggle waged by the political forces that opposed the
Armenian-Turkish protocols has finally produced results, Armen
Rustamyan, Executive Council member, Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnaktsutyun) (ARF(D)), stated at a rally in Yerevan on April
23. Every new Armenian government has to make sure that Turkey has
not changed and is not seeking a dialogue, he said. "However, we must
continue our struggle, as the ratification process, which has been
suspended now, may be resumed any moment," Rustamyan said.

"Our ultimate end is to get Armenia’s withdrawal from the
Armenian-Turkish process, as it is an insult to our nation’s dignity,"
he said.

Rustamyan pointed out the erroneous attempts to find any disagreements
between Turks and Azerbaijanis, as they are actually one people living
in two different states.

A year ago, on the threshold of the 94th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, Yerevan and Ankara stated their intention to establish
bilateral relations. On April 22, 2010, the Armenian side had to state
its decision to suspend the ratification of the Armenian-Turkish
protocols signed in Zurich on October 10, 2009, the reason being
Turkish officials’ destructive position and delay in ratifying the
documents.

HAYLAND.AM SOCIAL NETWORK RELEASES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MAP

PanARMENIAN.Net
624/Haylandam_social_network_releases_Armenian_Gen ocide_map
April 23, 2010 – 12:59 AMT 07:59 GMT

Hayland.am major Armenian social network initiated a unique project
to mark Genocide Remembrance Day.

Shortly before the official date, website homepage featured an
attachment of former Ottoman Empire map covered with marks denoting
massacre sites, escape routes and centers of resistance in 1915.

The website is complete with a special blog for users to share 1915
Genocide-related stories.

Hayland.am social network was launched in 2008, with over 90 000
registered RA and Diaspora users worldwide.

KARABAKH MEDIATORS, AZERI LEADER IN "CONFIDENTIAL" TALKS – BAKU AGENCY

Turan
April 20 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku, 20 April: A meeting between [Azerbaijani President] Ilham Aliyev
and the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group which is negotiating a
resolution to the Karabakh conflict, Robert Bradtke [USA] and Yuriy
Merzlyakov [Russia] was held at the Presidential Administration on
Tuesday morning [20 April].

The negotiations are confidential, the media have not been invited to
the meeting. In general, the visit of the co-chairmen is under a veil
of mystery. The embassies of the co-chair countries have not commented
on the visit. To all appearance, no statements for media will be made.

Most probably, the co-chairmen have arrived with a special mission. As
soon as they landed in Baku, they immediately headed to have a meeting
with the president without having a meeting with the foreign minister.

TURKEY’S PM SAYS COMMITTED TO DEALS DESPITE ARMENIA HALT

WorldBulletin.net
April 22 2010
Turkey

Turkey’s prime minister said his country was committed to peace
protocols with Armenia.

Turkey’s prime minister said on Thursday his country was committed
to peace protocols with Armenia, despite a decision by Armenia’s
ruling coalition to suspend ratification of the accords by Yerevan’s
parliament.

Turkey and Armenia which have no diplomatic ties or economic relations
since Turkey closed its border with Armenia since this country invaded
the Upper-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in 1992, signed two protocols
in October 2009, for normalisation of relations, after months-long
Swiss-mediated talks.

But, Armenia’s ruling coalition on Thursday said it had decided to
freeze the ratification in parliament of accords with Turkey aimed
at normalising ties.

"As we have earlier stated numerous times, we are loyal to the
protocols, their essence and spirit as well as their implementation,"
Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a joint press conference with New Zealander
counterpart John Key after a their meeting in the Turkish capital,
Ankara.

"Obviously, it is at their own discretion over how they would manage
the ratification process. I am in no position to tell them what to
say," Erdogan said, adding that he had "taken note" of the Yerevan
government’s decision.

"Suspension"

The protocols envisage the two countries to establish diplomatic ties
and open the border that has been close since 1993.

"Considering the Turkish side’s refusal to fulfil the requirement to
ratify the accord without preconditions in a reasonable time, making
the continuation of the ratification process in the national parliament
pointless, we consider it necessary to suspend this process," Armenia
statement said.

Under the protocol, Turkey and Armenia reconfirmed their commitment,
in their bilateral and international relations, to respect and ensure
respect for the principles of "equality, sovereignty, non-intervention
in internal affairs of other states, territorial integrity and
inviolability of frontiers".

The protocol on development of bilateral relations aims to facilitate
the development of relations between Turkey and Armenia in all fields
and the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border two months after the
protocol goes into effect.

Both Turkey and Armenian governments initiated the internal
ratification process.

Turkish government sent the protocols to the parliament. The protocol
needs to be approved by the parliament in order for it to take effect.

The Turkish government says it will not open the border unless Armenia
ends its occupation of Upper-Karabakh.

However, on January 12, 2010, the Armenian Constitutional Court
approved the protocols, however the tone of the court’s reasoned
verdict drew criticism from Turkey and Turkish officials who voiced
their uneasiness in various platforms.

Turkey thought the fifth article of Armenian Constitutional Court’s
verdict regarding the protocols was against the target and basis of
the protocols.

GAGIK TSARUKYAN’S PRESS-SECRETARY: THE BUFFER ZONE BETWEEN IRAN AND AZERBAIJAN IS BENEFICIAL TO IRAN

ArmInfo
2010-04-22 15:41:00

Arminfo. Aspiration of Iran to play the role of intermediary in
Karabakh conflict settlement is quite natural, Khachik Galstyan,
press-secretary of the leader of Prosperous Armenia Party Gagik
Tsarukyan said at today’s press-conference.

‘Today Iran is a regional power. For this reason it cannot remain
indifferent to the processes taking place in the region. In this
context it is quite natural that Teheran is concerned about the
conflict settlement’, – he said. At the same time, Galstyan thinks it
is beneficial for Iran to have a buffer zone (the liberated territories
of Nagornyy Karabakh Republic) between Iran and Azerbaijan.

CALIFORNIA RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Kristina Hacker

The Turlock Journal
/3740/
April 21 2010

Local man present at State Senate remembrance

Local businessman Daniel Aydenian grew up hearing stories of his
father’s survival of the darkest time in Armenian history.

His father was 5 years old when the Ottoman Turkish government
arrested and murdered several hundred Armenian religious, political
and intellectual leaders. During the years 1915 to 1923, the Ottoman
Empire executed a systematic destruction of Armenian culture through
the forced exile, imprisonment and annihilation of men, women and
children of Armenian descent.

That time is known as the Armenian Genocide to Armenians around the
world. However, many countries — including the United States — have
yet to recognize the Ottoman Turkish government’s actions as genocide.

As an Armenian Rights Council of America representative, Aydenian
continues to fight for recognition of the Armenian Genocide
internationally, nationally and statewide.

"We must never forget the 1.5 million Armenians who perished and the
others who were driven from their historic homeland," Aydenian said.

"(We must also remember) our brothers and sisters, the Assyrians and
Greeks (who were also persecuted) by the Turkish Ottoman Empire. (We
must have) continued recognition of this crime against humanity. My
father was 5 years old and was a genocide survivor. Over 80 percent
of his family perished. For every Armenian, Assyrian and Greek,
and myself, it is important (to remember)."

Aydenian was present on April 15 when the California State Senate
remembered the Armenian Genocide with a ceremony that began with
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, primate of the Western Diocese of the
Armenian Church in North America, offering the opening prayer at the
start of the session.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also proclaimed April 19-26 as "Days of
Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide."

"It is important to remember the horrors of the past in order to keep
history from repeating itself. The Armenian Genocide was a terrible
breach of human rights and an event that has outraged the world.

Between 1915 and 1923, 1.5 million innocent Armenians lost their
lives at the hands of the Ottoman Empire, and 500,000 more were forced
from their homeland," reads the proclamation. "…Today, California
is honored to be home to a vibrant Armenian-American population, the
largest outside the Republic of Armenia. This thriving community is
a proud reminder of survival and determination even in the face of
extreme injustice.

"As Americans and Californians, it is our duty to raise awareness
of the Armenian Genocide and to participate in the remembrance and
mourning of the loss of innocent lives."

Forty states have already passed legislation or issued proclamations
acknowledging the Armenian Genocide, including California, but
the federal government has thus far been hesitant to refer to the
historical event as genocide due to fears of Turkish repercussions.

The Turkish government does not agree that Armenian deaths can
be termed "genocide" and questions the numbers and conclusions of
those who have termed the event genocide. Many members of the Turkish
intellegencia have been imprisoned in recent years for mentioning the
Armenian Genocide under a Turkish statute which outlaws "insulting
Turkishness."

During a meeting between President Barack Obama and Armenian President
Serzh Sargsian on the margins of the Nuclear Security Summit last
week, Obama commended Sargsian for his courageous efforts to achieve
normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey and encouraged
him to fulfill the promise of normalization for the benefit of the
Armenian people. President Obama also urged that both Armenia and
Turkey make every effort to advance the normalization process and
achieve legislative ratification of the protocols of normalization,
according to a statement released by the White House.

Obama’s reconciliatory comments come after the U.S. House Foreign
Affairs Committee approved a resolution to recognize the Armenian
Genocide by a vote of 23 to 22 on March 4.

"At some point, every nation must come to terms with its own history.

And that is all we ask of Turkey," said Chairman Howard Berman
(D-CA) in his opening remarks at the resolution’s markup. "Germany
has accepted responsibility for the Holocaust. South Africa set up a
Truth Commission to look at Apartheid. And here at home, we continue
to grapple with the legacies of slavery and our horrendous treatment
of Native Americans.

"It is now time for Turkey to accept the reality of the Armenian
Genocide."

The resolution has yet to reach the House floor.

A 95th Anniversary Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide will be held
on Saturday at St. Paul Armenian Church, 3767 N. First St., Fresno.

The Hokehankisd service will begin at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary, with
a civic program beginning at 8 p.m. in the Haig Berberian Hall. The
keynote speaker will be Dr. Taner Akcam, chairman of the Department
of Genocide Studies at Clark University, Worcester, Mass.

LETTRE D’HOWARD BERMAN AUX REPRESENTANTS
Jean Eckian

armenews
21 avril 2010

USA – GENOCIDE DES ARMENIENS

Il y a tout, dans cette lettre de Howard L. Berman, President de la
Commission des Affaires Etrangères de la Chambre des Representants,
dont la hauteur de vue n’est plus a demontrer. Tout, y compris les
raisons pour lesquelles la resolution ne sera pas votee, en admettant
que la Presidente Nancy Pelosi la mette a l’ordre du jour : parler de
securite nationale en danger, aux USA, c’est eliminatoire, surtout
depuis le 11 septembre 2001. Mais après tout, la decision de la
Commission, en pleine confusion a propos des protocoles, a ete une
surprise. On peut donc peut-etre y croire…

Washington, DC – Howard L. Berman, (Democrate, Californie), president
de la Commission des Affaires Etangères de la Chambre des Representants
, a envoye cette semaine une lettre en termes forts a ses collègues
de la Chambre des Representants, rejetant ce qu’il appelle une
argumentation "moralement aveugle" niant l’evidence historique
incontestable du Genocide Armenien.

Voici le texte de sa lettre :

Chers Collègues,

Comme vous pouvez en etre informes, les membres du groupe parlementaire
d’amitie avec la Turquie font circuler une lettre destinee a etre
signee, adressee a la Presidente Pelosi, la pressant pour que la
Resolution sur le Genocide Armenien (H. Res. 252), recemment votee
par la Commission des Affaires Etrangères, ne soit pas deposee pour
etre votee par la Chambre dans son ensemble. Les auteurs suggèrent
que le vote de ce projet par la Chambre provoquerait des ‘dommages
irreparables’ a la securite nationale des USA, ferait ‘derailler les
efforts en cours’ de l’Armenie et de la Turquie pour normaliser leurs
relations, et ferait du tort a l’economie des USA, faisant courir un
risque aux exportations vers la Turquie et aux investissements dans
ce pays.

Je suis en desaccord avec beaucoup des points de cette lettre,
mais je m’elève tout particulièrement contre le recours a la phrase
‘soi-disant resolution sur le "genocide Armenien’", qui denote une mise
en doute du caractère historique du Genocide Armenien. Ce faisant,
il defie le poids ecrasant de preuves historiques irrecusables et
l’opinion quasi unanime des experts en matière de genocide. En fait,
l’homme qui a cree le terme "genocide", Raphaël Lemkin, considerait
les massacres d’Armeniens au cours de la Première Guerre Mondiale
comme constitutifs de genocide, et il a cite ce genocide comme ayant
declanche son interet pour le genocide.

Je rejette de la meme facon les arguments de securite-nationale avances
par ceux qui s’opposent a la resolution sur le Genocide Armenien. Je
crois que les relations americano-turques liees a la securite sont
fondees sur les interets mutuels et que la Turquie n’est pas prete
pour se passer des interets immenses que lui rapportent les relations
bilaterales de securite dans le but de ‘punir’ les USA pour une
resolution declarative, quel que soit son ressentiment vis a vis de
cette resolution. Par exemple, la Turquie courait-elle le risque de
perdre le renseignement sur les mouvements du PKK au nord de l’Irak ?

C’est extremement improbable. De plus, l’histoire des reponses turques
a la reconnaissnce du Genocide Armenien par d’autres gouvernements
et parlements suggèrent que les retombees negatives seront limitees
et au pire, de courte duree.

En outre, je m’oppose a l’argument selon lequel le vote de la
resolution H.Res. 252 ferait capoter les protocoles turco-armeniens.

Les protocoles ont pris la poussière au parlement turc depuis qu’ils
ont ete signes en octobre, et a cause, particulièrement, des prealables
etablis par les dirigeants turcs, il y a peu de chances qu’ils soient
ratifies bientôt.

Enfin, je conteste que le vote de la resolution ferait du tort
a l’economie des USA. Croire que la Turquie rejetterait les
investissements americains et arreterait d’acheter les produits
americains si la Chambre votait la resolution H. Res. 252, c’est aller
trop loin. Dans un sens plus general, je suis profondement inquiet
de cette d’argumentation moralement aveugle, dans la mesure où elle
pourrait etre employee pour justifier l’inaction dans certains cas
où sont mis en cause les droits de l’homme autour du monde.

Bien que je n’accepte pas les arguments de ceux qui craignent une
atteinte potentielle a la securite nationale US si la Chambre votait
la Resolution sur le Genocide Armenien, je respecte ces arguments. Ce
que je ne peux ni accepter ni respecter, directement ou implicitement,
c’est qu’on pretende que les plus grands crimes de l’histoire moderne
ne se soient pas produits.

Sincèrement,

Howard L. Berman

President Commission des Affaires Etrangères