Author: Kanayan Tamar

WAR OF LOBBIES IN THE US CONGRESS
Lena Badeyan

"Radiolur"
05.03.2010 14:56

What happened in the Foreign Relations Committee yesterday was a war
of lobbies, which showed the dangers the Armenian-Turkish protocols
include, member of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau, MP Armen Rustamyan
told a press conference today. He recalled the speeches of the
Congressmen, who opposed the bill, saying they didn’t want to hinder
the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

The MP did not exclude that the method of "money" came to supplement
the method of "persuading" in the war of lobbies, and here the
opportuntities of Armenia and Turkey are uncomparable.

Another interesting fact is related to the voting. At the decisive
moment, when the con votes were prevailing, the Armenian lobby
made great efforts to ensure the necessary votes of the last four
Congressmen, Armen Rustamyan said.

Another similar struggle is expected on March 11 in the Swedish
Parliament. The Social-Democrats back the Armenian Genocide bill there.

"We are not only negotiating with the Swedish party. We have already
had preliminary meetings. I personally met their representative in
Prague. The Social-Democratic Party has a decision connected with the
adoption of the bill condemning the Armenian Genocide and they were
interested in some details. We provided them with necessary materials.

Thus, we are attentively following the process, and we’ll do all that
depends on us to have the bill pass. The same struggle is expected
there. Turks also have their levers of pressure there, and the same
struggle will move to the Swedish Parliament in a few days," Armen
Rustamyan said.

VIOLATIONS

/xaxtum
05:41 pm | March 04, 2010

Official

Cases of violation of ceasefire regime were registered in a number of
sectors of the line of contact between the Karabakh and Azerbaijani
forces in the period between the night of March 3 and the morning of
March 4.

The opponent bombed the supporting points of Karabakh guards stationed
at Kyurdlar, Horadiz, Chakhrl, Ashagh Seyidahmedli, Korgan, Ashagh
Veysal, Mughanl, Marzili, Shkhlar, Bash Karvend, Sarejanlu, Seysulan,
Yarmja, Leyevonarkh, Jraberd and Talish with their automatic guns
and marksmen’s guns.

The opponent stopped after the operations of the front-line
subdivisions of the Defense Army, as reported by the press service
of the Ministry of Defense of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

AZERBAIJAN’S RULING PARTY CONDEMNS U.S. ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VOTE

RIA Novosti
March 5, 2010
Baku

Azerbaijani MPs condemned on Friday the decision by the U.S. House
Foreign Affairs Committee to approve a bill on the killing of Armenians
by the Ottoman Empire during World War I.

Yerevan describes the massacre of ethnic Armenians as "genocide"
and says nearly 1.5 million people were killed. Turkey rejects the
accusations.

Ali Ahmadov, deputy head of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, told
News.az the resolution was the "falsification of history," and added
that the decision targeted not only Turkey, but also Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan, populated mainly with Turks’ ethnic kin, enjoys crucial
support from Ankara in its stand-off with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh
– a predominantly Armenian-populated region in Azerbaijan which broke
away from Baku in the dying years of the Soviet Union.

Turkey, a key NATO ally and a crucial U.S. partner in operations in
Iraq, is currently considering the suspension of military cooperation
with Washington over the genocide ruling.

"The issue of the so-called ‘Armenian genocide’ is a lever of pressure
on Turkey. This is a ‘golden bullet’ in the arsenal of the United
States against Turkey," the New Azerbaijan party MP Mubariz Gurbanli
told the Azerbaijani Trend news agency.

On March 4, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of
Representatives voted 23-22 in support of the resolution following
almost six hours of heated debates.

Azerbaijan, which has own rich oil reserves, is viewed in the West
as a crucial link in an energy corridor which could deliver gas from
Central Asia to Europe bypassing Russia.

The resolution has already become a diplomatic flashpoint between
Washington and Ankara. Turkey earlier warned Washington that the move
could jeopardize U.S-Turkish cooperation and set back talks aimed at
opening the border between Turkey and Armenia closed since 1993 on
Ankara’s initiative.

Turkey and Armenia signed protocols on establishing diplomatic
relations and on developing bilateral relations last October. They
are yet to be approved by their parliaments.

A similar vote in the committee was approved by a wider margin in
2007, but the U.S. Bush administration, anxious to retain Turkish
cooperation in Iraq, scuttled a full House vote.

A number of states have recognized the killings in Armenia as the
first genocide of the 20th century, including Russia, France, Italy,
Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Greece, as well as 42 of the
50 U.S. states. The Vatican, the European Parliament and the World
Council of Churches have also denounced the killings as genocide.

Uruguay was the first to do so in 1965.

However, on the eve of the vote, the Obama administration urged the
committee not to approve the resolution, fearing it could alienate
Washington’s NATO ally, whose help the White House considers invaluable
in solving confrontations in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

Hillary Clinton: We do not believe that the full Congress will or should act upon H.Res. 252

ArmInfo
2010-03-05 09:10:00

ArmInfo."We do not believe that the full Congress will or should act
upon that resolution and we have made that clear to all the parties
involved," Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told reporters
traveling with her in Costa Rica, the Associated Press reported.

"The committee’s vote is awkward for Obama, who pledged as a
presidential candidate to recognize the Armenian deaths as a genocide.

The administration reversed course," Secretary of State acknowledged.

"Circumstances have changed in very significant ways," Clinton said.

The United States supports a Swiss effort to resolve the historical
dispute. We think that is the appropriate way to manage the problems
that have stood in the way of normalization between the two countries,"
Clinton said.

Clinton said that the Obama administration is concerned the resolution
could harm the talks between Turkey and Armenia. "We do not believe
that the full Congress will or should act upon that resolution and
we have made that clear to all the parties involved," she said.

ARTOC GROUP INTERESTED IN MAKING INVESTMENTS IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
March 3, 2010

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, NOYAN TAPAN. During the March 3 meeting between
RA National Assembly Speaker Hovik Abrahamian and Chairman of ARTOC
Group for Investment & Development Shafik Gabr, the investment and
infrastructure programs being implemented by this company in Armenia
and the possible directions of further cooperation were discussed.

H. Abrahamian underlined the importance of ARTOC Group’s investment
projects in Armenia, noting that the Armenian parliament passes laws
conducive to economic development and implementation of investment
projects. He considered it essential to put the further cooperation
on a most practical basis and to ensure the continuity of investment
programs.

In the words of S. Gabr, their company is interested in making
investments in Armenia and plans to choose concrete directions of
cooperation after examining the opportunities existing in the country.

He said the company intends to carry out the idea of Smart Village
(a town built in a suburb of Cairo) in Yerevan on a small scale: the
program will involve international organizations willing to cooperate
with Armenia and Egypt. According to S. Gabr, he will again visit
Armenia soon and make some practical offers.

The press service of RA parliament reports that at the guest’s request,
H. Abrahamian spoke about the ratification process of Armenia-Turkey
protocols. He said that these protocols should concern only the
establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey and
the border’s opening. The speaker of National Assembly stated that
the Armenian parliament will ratify the Armenia-Turkey protocols
after their ratification by the parliament of Turkey.

ARMENIAN SPORTSMEN HONORED IN VANCOUVER

Panorama.am
15:43 02/03/2010

Armenian sportsmen left to attend Vancouver 2010 Christine Khachatryan,
Ani-Matilda Serebrakyan, Sergey Miqayelyan and Arsen Nersisyan
have been honored on 28 February in St Vardan Armenian Church,
Vancouver. About 2 hundred Armenians living in Vancouver and foreign
guests attended the event, Armenian MFA PR department reported.

Arman Hakobian, the Armenian affairs attorney in Canada released an
opening speech. He appreciated Armenian sportsmen’s participation
to the Olympic Games. The sportsmen were awarded Armenian Embassy
certificates.

TURKISH MP: IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN ARMENIA-TURKEY BORDER IN CURRENT SITUATION

Today
/62948.html
March 2 2010
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with Oktay Vural, Deputy Chairman of Turkey’s
Nationalist Movement Party, member of the Grand National Assembly of
Turkey (parliament).

In your opinion, why did Armenia bring up the Turkey-Armenia accords
for parliamentary discussions, but later refused to ratify them?

I think the sides had no any preconditions before the protocols were
signed, for example, on amendments by the Armenian Constitutional
Court. It should be noted that if it had not been for dynamic steps
and reaction of Azerbaijan, the parliamentary majority in Turkey
would long have debated the protocols in the Parliament …

Armenia wanted Turkey to ratify the protocols first. Seeing that
things are not moving, Armenia resorted to pressure. It forwarded
the protocols to the Parliament to get more international support
and increase pressure on Turkey and to show the U.S. and others that
allegedly they do everything and now it is Turkey’s turn to take
action in this regard.

When it was stated that the protocols would not be ratified until the
Karabakh conflict is resolved, Armenia refused to ratify them. I think
that Armenia will not fulfill Turkey’s requirements on the Karabakh
issue and will not change the Constitutional Court decision. So, Turkey
has every right to refuse to ratify the Armenian-Turkish protocols.

We have always stated that Turkey should not have signed the protocols
until the Karabakh problem is solved. But our views and as well as
the Turkish public opinion were ignored. In my opinion, the government
has finally realized its mistake in this matter.

I think that it is necessary to abandon the process and start it
again. But this time, the protocols should reflect such conditions as
the Karabakh conflict, Armenia’s rejection of the so-called "Armenian
genocide" claims and excluding items on Armenia’s territorial claims
against Turkey from the Armenian Constitution.

The Armenian side has stated that Karabakh issue was not set as a
condition when the protocols were signed…

At the beginning of a dialogue with Armenia, we warned that Turkey
cannot establish ties with Armenia until Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity is restored, Armenia officially recognizes Turkey’s borders
and renounces "Armenian genocide" claims. At the initial stage of the
dialogue, we said that these conditions must be taken into account
once an official document will be signed.

How do you see end of this process?

It is impossible to open the Armenian-Turkish border under current
circumstances. Members of our parliamentary group visited the border
with Armenia and clarified our position for the public. We explained
that trade relations and incomes are not superior to honor and dignity
of the Turkey and Turkish nation. A neighbor who is at war with our
brother, who has occupied the land and committed massacre against
Turks, cannot sit at the same table with us without understanding
and correcting its mistakes. Let the Armenian side accept our demands
without conditions. Then we will take a response step.

In your opinion, will Barack Obama use the word "genocide" after all
these processes in his speech he will deliver on April 24?

During last year’s speech Barack Obama did not utter the word
"genocide" and attributed it to negotiations held to normalize
elations between Armenia and Turkey. In fact, Turkey wanted to use
the protocols as a trump card against the "Armenian genocide". Since
no change is expected to take place regarding the protocols until
April 24, I think that this year the pressure on Turkey will be even
stronger. But if the United States recognizes the "genocide", the
relations between Turkey and U.S. will be spoiled to a great extent.

The U.S. President cannot simply call my nation "murderer".

According to Turkish media, PM Erdogan will trip to the United States
in early April. In your opinion, what is the reason behind this visit?

Of course, the Armenian-Turkish relations, "Armenian genocide",
the Karabakh and other regional issues will top agenda of the meeting.

Certainly, Erdogan will say the fact that the Turkish parliament has
not debated the Turkey-Armenia accords is due to the parliament’s
unreadiness to do so. He will say that the executive branch has done
what it could, and it has no leverage to influence the parliament,
but eventually this process will move forward and Turkey will try to
fulfill its obligations. So, the Prime Minister will try to gain time.

He is expected to be accompanied by a MP group during the U.S. trip.

We will try to meet every American parliamentarian and explain
the essence of the "Armenian genocide". We will make it clear for
them that recognition of ‘Armenian genocide’ may mark end of the
relationship between the U.S. and Turkey. Also, we will promise them
to do our utmost to address the problems relates to Armenia. We will
also explain that the Turkish nation has a strong pressure on the
parliament in this regard. It is also clear that the U.S. will try
not to deviate from its position.

18 years have passed since the Khojaly genocide was committed. What
steps does the Turkish parliament take to recognize it?

We have urged to recognize the crimes committed against humanity in
Khojaly as genocide in the Turkish Parliament for many years. We have
submitted the related bill for the consideration to the parliamentary
commission. Armenians have to answer for atrocities committed in
Khojaly. We use resources of our party and NGOs in this regard.

THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE NKR VISITORS IS EXPANDING

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
2010-03-02 14:30

According to the data of the NKR MFA Consular Service, despite the
world financial crisis, the total number of foreign citizens having
visited the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters
of 2009 increased by 10% as compared with the similar period of 2008.

The geography of foreigners visiting the NKR keeps on expanding. Last
year, tourists from Mozambique, Guyana, Venezuela, and Mauritania
visited the Nagorno Karabakh Republic for the first time. Among the
tourists, citizens of the USA, France, Iran, Great Britain, Holland,
Switzerland, Canada, Italia, Poland, India, and the CIS countries,
especially Russia and Turkmenistan, are prevailing.

These facts testify that the interest in Artsakh by foreign countries
and their citizens continues growing. Trustworthy information about
the Karabakh issue, the history of the country, and the inculcation
of democratic principles in the NKR provided by various international
mass media contributes to this process.

TWO TURKISH DELEGATIONS SENT TO U.S.

news.am
March 1 2010
Armenia

Two Turkish delegations left for U.S. to prevent the adoption of
Armenian Genocide Resolution scheduled for a vote on March 4 in the
U.S. Congress.

According to CNNTurk, the first delegation comprises Turkish Parliament
Foreign Affairs Commission Chairman Murat Mercan, representatives
of ruling Justice and Development party Abdullah Caliskan and Saban
Disli, Republican People’s Party MP Sukru Elekdag and Nationalist
Movement Party MP Mithat Melen.

On the second delegation are Turkey-U.S. Interparliamentary Friendship
Group headed by Justice and Development Party MP Suat Kiniklioglu.

Both delegations will attempt to persuade Americans that passing of
Genocide Resolution will deteriorate U.S.-Turkey relations.

Newly appointed Turkish Ambassador to U.S. Namik Tan also works on
prevention of resolution approval. Turkish Parliament also sent a
letter to the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Howard
Berman. The letter says that resolution’s inclusion in the agenda is
not in Armenia’s, Turkey’s or U.S. interests and steps impeding the
normalization process with Armenia should be avoided. In his turn,
former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey stated that resolution is likely to
be passed as President Obama undertakes no measures on its prevention.

Obama silent ahead of vote on Armenian genocide

President Barack Obama and Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul make a
joint statement at Cankaya Palace in Ankara. (AP)

By DESMOND BUTLER | AP

Published: Feb 27, 2010 11:04 PM Updated: Feb 27, 2010 11:04 PM

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama is in a bind as a congressional
panel prepares to vote next week on a resolution that would recognize
as genocide the World War I-era killings of Armenians by Ottoman
Turks.

Obama said as a candidate that he believed the killings were genocide.
A congressional resolution to that effect could alienate Turkey, a
NATO ally and traditional friend of the United States that is crucial
to US foreign policy goals.

Past US administrations have defeated similar resolutions through
public cajoling about US national security interests and
behind-the-scenes lobbying.

So far, however, the Obama administration has taken no public position
on the measure. Aides to senior Democratic and Republican lawmakers on
the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee say there has
been no pressure against the resolution from the White House. The
administration was informed ahead of time that the committee would be
scheduling the vote, according to Lynn Weil, spokeswoman for the
committee’s chairman, Democratic Rep. Howard Berman.

Ankara has long made clear that the issue could alter dramatically
Turkish relations with the United States.

In 2007, when the House Armed Services Committee passed such a
resolution, Turkey promptly recalled its ambassador, and US officials
feared the Turks might cut off American access to a Turkish air base
essential to operations in Iraq. After intensive lobbying by top Bush
administration officials, the resolution was not considered by the
full House.

Berman’s committee is set to consider the issue Thursday.

A positive vote would clear the resolution to be considered by the
full House. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she will wait to see
the result in the committee before deciding whether to bring it up for
vote.

The United States still wants Turkey’s support for its operations in
Iraq and Afghanistan. It also is pressing Turkey, which holds a
rotating seat in the UN Security Council, to support sanctions against
Iran, Turkey’s neighbor.

It is not known whether the committee will approve the resolution. The
panel is strongly pro-Israel, and prospects for passage could be
affected by rising tensions between Turkey and Israel, as well as
Turkey’s relatively warm relationship with Iran. In the past, Turkey
and Israel had friendlier relations and Israel had quietly lobbied
against the resolution.

Armenian American groups have sought for decades congressional
affirmation of the killings as genocide.

Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by
Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I, an event widely viewed
by scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey denies
that the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been
inflated and those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.

This year, some Armenian groups and lawmakers are expressing optimism
on the resolution’s prospects, noting that Obama, Vice President Joe
Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton all supported
recognition when they served in the Senate.

Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, who introduced the resolution for
consideration, said he sees more favorable conditions than in 2007.

"Last time we had President Bush calling lawmakers at their homes to
oppose the resolution," he said.

In April, Obama broke a campaign promise to brand the killings
genocide in an annual White House statement on the day marking
Armenian remembrance. Obama said that while he had not changed his
personal views, he did not want to upset promising talks between
Turkey and Armenia on improving relations and opening their border.
Turkey sealed the border in 1993 to protest Armenia’s war with
neighboring Azerbaijan.

In October, Turkey and Armenia signed an agreement to normalize
relations, but Turkey has yet to ratify it. As progress toward a
breakthrough between the two countries appears stalled, it may be
harder for the Obama administration to oppose the resolution or
refrain from calling the killings genocide in this year’s statement.

"Our interest remains the achievement of a full, frank and just
acknowledgment of the facts," said White House spokesman Mike Hammer,
when asked about the resolution.

"We continue to believe that the best way to advance that goal is for
the Armenian and Turkish people to address the facts of the past as a
part of their ongoing efforts to normalize relations."

Hammer would not elaborate on the administration’s position on the resolution.

Turkey’s ambassador to Washington, Namik Tan, said the Turkish public
may view the administration’s silence on the resolution as pressure to
ratify the agreement with Armenia.

"This could definitely complicate the process," he said.

"The greatest lobbyist in Washington is the administration. We have
not seen them around enough on this."