Author: Khondkarian Raffi

U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE DODGES QUESTIONS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

AP Worldstream
Published: Mar 21, 2007

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday that the
United States should not be involved in a dispute between Turkey and
Armenia over whether the killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians almost
a century ago constituted genocide.

Under intense questioning from Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, the sponsor
of a resolution that would declare that Turkey’s Ottoman predecessor
state committed genocide, Rice repeatedly avoided answering whether
she believed there was any basis for historical debate on the matter.

"What we’ve encouraged the Turks and the Armenians to do is to have
joint historical commissions that can look at this, to have efforts
to examine their past, and in examining their past to get over it,"
she said. "I don’t think it helps that process of reconciliation for
the United States to enter this debate at that level."

The dispute involves the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Armenians
during the waning years of the Ottoman Empire. Armenian advocates,
backed by many historians, contend they died in an organized genocide;
the Turks say they were victims of widespread chaos and governmental
breakdown as the 600-year-old empire collapsed in the years before
Turkey was born in 1923.

ECONOMIC ACTIVITY INDICES OF FIRST QUARTER ARE FAVORABLE

Noyan Tapan
Mar 19 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The composite economic indices
calculated by the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) showed a considerable
growth in the first quarter of 2007. According to the CBA press
service, the business environment index made 120.9%, the economic
activity index – 110.4% and the consumer confidence index – 107.4%.

The business environment index shows the average assessment of
organizations on changes in risks and the general economic state,
the economic activity index – the assessment of organizations’
expectations about production volumes, production orders and
reserves. The consumer confidence index is the mean of assessment
on household incomes, expenses and changes in employment, as well as
assessment of attitude to current economic conditions. To calculate
these indices, every quarter the so-called "balances of responses",
whose values range from 0 to 100, are calculated. The value of 50 of
a balance means that the state of the given parameter is unchanged,
if the value is higher than 50, expevtations are optimistic, if it
is lower than 50, expectations are pessimistic.

In the first quarter, 801 organizations and 2,961 households
were studied by the selective principle. The business environment
responses balance made 57.8 against 47.8 in the previous quarter,
the economic activity responses balance – 71.2 against 64, and the
consumer confidence responses balance – 54 against 50.3 (this is the
highest value since early 2005).

KOCHARYAN: IRAN’S HELP TO ARMENIAN NATION NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN

Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Iran
March 19 2007

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan on Monday referred to the
commissioning of Iran-Armenia gasline as a historical event opening
a new page in bilateral relations.

The remark was made at a press conference after Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline was officially commissioned at the common borders of the
two countries and his talks with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Kocharyan said that ever since its independence, his country has
been facing various problems such as siege, war and energy crisis,
adding that such a bitter memory is now on the verge of oblivion.

Turning to the regularly coordinated growing trend of bilateral ties,
he said that Iran’s assistance to Armenia in the early years after his
country’s independence will never be forgotten and thanked Iranians
for their kind attention.

He said that there was nothing on Iran-Armenia common border 15
years ago, except a few rows of barbed wire symbolizing the ex-Soviet
Union’s rule.

"Neither did the border on which I welcomed President Ahmadinejad
exist at that time. This is while today 600,000 tons of goods are
annually exchanged between the two states," he added.

Kocharyan underlined that no energy was exchanged between Iran and
Armenia 10 years ago, but that today it can be said that their third
power transmission line will soon be commissioned.

Pointing to the growing trend of Iran-Armenia cooperation as a model,
he thanked his Iranian counterpart for efforts towards such a close
cooperation.

In response to a question about expansion of cooperation between the
two states, he said that bilateral ties can be divided into political
and trade sections.

He referred to the level of political relations as excellent, adding,
"This helps us regulate our ties with other countries in such a way
as to avoid causing any sensitivity."

The Armenian president pointed to the bright prospect of Iran-Armenia
economic development, saying that the economic projects due to be
drawn up aim to strengthen relations between the two nations and lead
to more tangible outcomes.

What were the results of the Turkish parliamentarians’ visit to the US?

ArmRadio.am
19.03.2007 13:57

The parliamentary delegation of Turkey completed the diplomatic
mission in Washington. The visit was targeted to prevent the possible
adoption of the Armenian Genocide resolution by the Us Congress,
Turkish `Anatolian Times’ reports.

`The negotiations of the Turkish delegation were very productive. The
American side realizes the whole seriousness of the situation,’
Turkish parliamentarian Egemen Bagysh declared.

He said during a press conference at the Turkish Embassy in Washington
that ` the adoption of the Armenian Genocide resolution will certainly
have negative consequences.’ He considers that Turkey may reconcile
with Armenia only in case the American Armenian community does not
prevent that.’

In Bagysh’s words, the Turkish delegation had a meeting with 30
members of the US House of Representatives. The third Turkish
diplomatic mission intends to visit Washington later in March.

Ethnic and political aspects of settlement

19-03-2007 12:37:53 – KarabakhOpen

A few days ago a lecture was delivered at the Resource Center of
Stepanakert in the framework of the project funded by the
International Alert.

Davit Babayan, a political scientist, delivered the lecture who told
about the ethnic cultural and ethnic political aspects of the
settlement of Karabakh.

The administrator of the Resource Center Irina Grigoryan told
KarabakhOpen.com that students, representatives of the youth
organization collaborating with the Resource Center attended the
lecture. The young participants are interested in the current stage of
the talks over Karabakh. According to Irina Grigoryan, the next
lecture will be held at the discussion club in Martuni.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 17 2007

Genocide blunder in US Embassy almanac

While debates continue in the US over a resolution presented to
Congress on the alleged Armenian genocide, an almanac distributed by
the US Embassy in Ankara lists Turkey as a country that has committed
genocide.

"The World Almanac and Book of Facts" was first published in 1868 by
the New York World newspaper and has long been distributed by the US
Embassy in Ankara. However this year’s version contains a reference
to the early 20th century killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire
as "genocide," a label Turkey vehemently denies.

The most recent version of the annual almanac, which covers important
events in US and world history, mentioned Turkey in the "Crime and
Terrorist activities; Genocide" section.

The almanac noted that the term "genocide" was first used by Dr.
Raphael Lemkin in 1944 and asserts that the definition of the world
contained the practices of "members of a group being killed, serious
bodily injuries to members of a group, prevention of births and
children being removed from the group."

The almanac continued with the following statements:

"The year: 1915, the event: Armenians being destroyed by Young Turks,
the location: Turkey, the Ottoman Empire, estimated deaths: some 1
million."

Other examples of genocide listed in the 2007 World Almanac of Books
and Facts were the events that occurred in Ukraine in the 1930s, the
experiences of Jews at the hands of Nazi Germany from 1933-1945, the
activities of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia from 1975-1979, the murder
of Iraqi Kurds in 1988, the experience of Bosnians from 1992-1995,
the events that took place in Rwanda in 1994 and the events in
Sudan’s Darfur region ongoing since 2003.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 16 2007

REPRESENTATIVE OF ARMENIAN CHURCH TO PARTICIPATE IN SCIENCE COFERENCE
ON DIALOGUE OF CIVILIZATIONS IN PARIS

YEREVAN, March 15. /ARKA/. Representative of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, inspector of the theological seminary Gevorgyan,
Archimandrite Vazgen Nanyan will participate in the two-week science
conference titled "Dialogue of Cultures and Civilizations: Bridge
Between Human Rights and Cultural Values" to kick off in Paris on
Tuesday.
The department of interchurch relations of the Holy Echmiadzin (AAC
Center) reported that the conference is organized under the patronage
of UNESCO and by the efforts of the World political forum Dialogue of
Civilizations.
The following topics will be discussed at the conference: Human
Rights in the Context of Different World Outlooks and Cultures, Role
of Authorities, Civil Society, Schools, and Mass Media in the
Dialogue of Cultures and Civilizations, and Challenges of Global
Changes. R.O. -0–

STATE HAMAZGAYIN THEATER CONTINUES STAGING AND KEEPING TRADITIONS OF
ARMENIAN THEATER

YEREVAN, MARCH 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The State Hamazgayin (National)
Theater collective prepares for staging Russian writer Anton Chekhov’s
"Uncle Vania" play. The theater performed in 2006 Herny’s "A Cheat’s
Daughter" and Eduardo de Fillipo’s "Natale in Casa Cupiello"
(Christmas at the Cupiello’s) plays which are about clear human
relations and love.

As theater director Hrachia Gasparian mentioned in the interview with
the Noyan Tapan correspondent, in 1991 when Armenia was in war state,
the country was burried in gloom, cultural hearths were everywhere
robbed and destroyed, many theaters did not function, prominent actor
Sos Sargsian had the courage to found a theater, with an indubitable
confidence that people making a war, perhaps, needs theather.

Just at that time, owing to a group of prominent actors, Shahum
Ghazarian, Karen Janibekian, Galya Novents, Mayis Gharagyozian, Davit
Nersisian, Anna Elbakian and others, left the G.Sundukian State
Academic Theater, Sos Sargsian was able to gather and found the State
Hamazgayin Theater.

And the newly founded theater already staged in 1993 two wonderful
performances: Edurado de Filippo’s "Il Sindaco del Rione Sanita"
(Mayor of Sanita Alley) and Hayk Hakobian’s "Mountain Tulips" round
which the "Hamazgayin" unfailing spectator has gradually formed.

In H.Gasparian’s words, the theater foundation was not an end in
itself by Sos Sargsian during those years. It was aimed to keep
traditions of the Armenian theater for the spectator does not break
away with its spiritual values.

The director facted that in 1993-1994 when "grad (firings from "grad"
systems) flew in the border settlements of Armenia, the company
organized tours in Tavush, Goris, Kapan and other places numerous
times. The Hamazgayin company staged in those years 14 performances, 5
of which for grown-ups, and others for children. And just during those
years it participated in a number of festivals in Russia, Persia,
Lebanon, Syria and France.

In H. Gasparian’s words, at present the theater activity became very
difficult in conditions of existence of the show business as the
spectator is a little confused and does not understand which is the
art, which is simply lack of taste. In his words, it is of course very
difficult to confront but the company continues creating theater,
staging plays for children and grown-ups, understanding its
importance.

Numerous talented actors left the country in conditions of universal
fall of values. 18-person group of young actors today works at the
theater. They are devoted people like the previous ones, as they work
with meagre salary but with great responsibility towards the
theater. In the theater director’s words, they all are gifted and
promising actors.

RA FM INFORMED UN COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS ABOUT DESTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN MONUMENTS IN NAKHIJEVAN

Arminfo
2007-03-15 13:14:00

RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has informed the UN Committee
on Human Rights about the destruction of the Armenian monuments
in Nakhijevan.

As the RA FM’s press-service told ArmInfo, coming out at the
Committee’s session in Geneva, the Minister noted a complete lack
of respect of Azerbaijan to the cultural heritage of the Armenian
people. "When the government of one country deliberately destroys
the century-old monuments of a great cultural and spiritual value,
it insults the souls of the died and thus looses the trust of those
alive", V. Oskanyan said. According to him, over 5,000 Armenian
monuments have been destroyed by Azeri authorities in the territory
of Nakhijevan within the latest several years. The purpose of this
is to wipe out the traces of the Armenian people in this territory,
the Minister added.

R. SUNY: ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS CAN BE NORMALIZED WITHOUT GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.03.2007 14:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Recognition of the Armenian Genocide by scholars,
the general public, and even officially by governments is an important
step towards clearing the air that fouls relations between Armenians
and Turks, Armenia and Turkey, Professor of Social and Political
History of the University of Michigan Ronald Grigor Suny stated
to the PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. He said, efforts to prevent such
recognition only pollutes the atmosphere and makes progress in
improving relations more difficult. "But this does not mean that
official recognition of the Genocide by one or another government
should be a prerequisite for discussion, negotiation, or other kinds
of relationships. Armenian-Turkish relations can be normalized without
official recognition. Indeed, relations can lead to recognition rather
than the other way round," Suny noted. At the same time he thinks
that opening the Armenian-Turkish border would be a very useful first
step to improving relations between the two neighboring countries,
it would help the economies of both countries. "Trade can have
positive political and social effects. Armenia’s official position
on Turkish membership in the EU is a sound and correct one: Turkish
membership will aid democratization in Turkey and therefore improve
the situation for Armenians in Turkey and relations between Turkey and
Armenia. However, at the moment Europe is reluctant to open itself to
Turkish membership, particularly given the dismal human rights record
in Turkey, the repression of the Kurds and other non-Turkish peoples,
the murder of Hrant Dink, and the persecutions of Orhan Pamuk, Elif
Shafak, and other intellectuals. Turkish democracy and membership in
the EU go hand in hand, and as they develop, Turkish-Armenian relations
will also be affected positively," Professor Ronald Suny underscored.