Author: Khondkarian Raffi

2010-04-27Edward Nalbandyan: "In case we hear trustworthy words and work from Turkey we will undertake relevant steps"

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 27, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS: According to the established order on
the next day of signing of decree by the Armenian President on the
suspension of the procedure of ratification of the Armenian-Turkish
protocols Armenian Foreign Ministry has notified the Turkish Foreign
Ministry about it, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan stated
about it in an interview to "Real Policy" program of the Public TV.

In response to the circulating opinion that the process of
normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations has entered a deadlock,
Nalbandyan responded that it was in a deadlock when on the initiative
of the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan it was taken out of the
deadlock. "We passed a certain road of establishing relations without
pre-conditions. From the point of view of both us and international
community this way is the only right way and the right ways do not
take to deadlock," the minister pointed out.

In response to the question whether the idea voiced in the address
of the president – "We shall consider moving forward when we are
convinced that there is a proper environment in Turkey and there
is leadership in Ankara ready to reengage in the normalization
process" refers to the expected elections in Turkey, Armenian foreign
minister said that the elections are inner affairs of Turkey. The
Armenian side has stated that it is ready to move forward after it
sees partners in Turkey ready to move forward, normalize relations,
meet the achieved agreements. "Whether they will be new partners or
the old ones, it is for Turkey to decide. The recent period was like
turning the sand-clock: with dropping of every sand both we and the
international community were losing the trust toward Turkey. In case
we hear trustworthy words and work from Turkey we will undertake
relevant steps," the minister said.

The voiced concerns according to which the Armenian diplomacy is moving
forward not taking into consideration the mistakes of the past, Edward
Nalbandyan said that when it is spoken about the successiveness of the
foreign policy, it does not mean that the mistakes must continue. The
mistakes must not be repeated and with that logic the president of
the country started the process. "We said what we have done and we
have never said what we cannot do," the minister said.

ARMENIAN, ITALIAN POLICE TO COOPERATE

Aysor
April 27 2010
Armenia

Armenia’s Chief of Police Alik Sarkisian and Italy’s Interior Minister
Roberto Maroni have signed in Rome an agreement on cooperation
between the two countries, a spokesperson for the Armenian Foreign
Ministry said.

The agreement is aimed at preventing, controlling and neutralizing
transnational crime, terrorism, illicit drug trafficking, arms
smuggling, etc.

Within the framework f the visit, Armenian Chief of Police met with
Supreme head of the Armenian Catholic Church in Italy, Patriarch
Nerses-Petros XIX, and handed him over the passport of the citizen
of Armenia.

TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION CENTER FILES A SUIT AGAINST ARMENIAN NATURE PROTECTION MINISTRY

ArmInfo
2010-04-27 12:07:00

ArmInfo. Preliminary trial on the case Transparency International
Anti-Corruption Center against Armenian Nature Protection Ministry
is scheduled for today, April 27 in Yerevan.

TI press-service told ArmInfo the TI Anti-Corruption Center demands the
Ministry to appeal to the prime minister of Armenia for permission
to inspect "Tekhnika Plus" Company located in Kochar Street-5,
Yerevan. The company is engaged in stamp production that result in
emission of toxic chemicals to atmosphere. In addition, this illegal
production, having no relevant resolution by the ecological expertise
is located on the ground floor of a residential building. The Nature
Protection Inspectorate takes no measures motivating this with the
government’s decision banning inspection of facilities with annual
turnover below 70 million drams till Jan 1 2011. The same decision
says that to protect rights, life and health, the Inspectorate has
a right to carry out inspection on the basis of a written consent by
the prime minister.

TURKEY-ARMENIA ACCORD CONCERNS EUROPE

United Press International UPI
April 27 2010

BRUSSELS, April 27 (UPI) — A decision by Armenia to suspend
ratification of a treaty aimed at normalizing relations with Turkey
is cause for concern, the European Union said.

The ruling coalition in Armenia issued a statement Monday saying
it halted ratification of an accord signed in October because of a
refusal by Turkey to move ahead with the deal without preconditions.

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign
Affairs in the European Union, said through her office that the EU
was "pleased" that Armenia remains committed to normalization. "But
at the same time expresses concern about the loss of momentum in
this process."

Ashton said the European Union calls on both countries to remain
steadfast in the normalization process "without preconditions and in
a reasonable time frame."

Armenia accuses Turkey of committing genocide against its population
during the Ottoman Empire. Recent ties are strained further over
issues regarding the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, an area of dispute
between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Armenia is upset that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is
linking the normalization process to Nagorno-Karabakh.

"The EU will continue to provide its political and technical support
to this process and stands ready to help implementing the steps agreed
between the two countries," Ashton added.

LEGENDARY CHER IS GOING BACK ON TOUR

Tert.am
15:35 27.04.10

Famous American Armenian singer Cher (Cherline Sargsyan) has revealed
that when her contract ends at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace,
Las Vegas, she will hit the road again.

The 63-year-old entertainer and actress confirmed the news to the
Las Vegas Sun newspaper.

Cher revealed her new plans as she showed up with Playboy mogul Hugh
Hefner for the TCM Classic Film Festival screening of A Star Is Born
and the after-party at the lounge hotspot Kress.

Cher also has a new album set for release this year in two versions –
one with 14 tracks and a deluxe edition with 19 songs.

The debut single Already Been There will be launched at the World
Music Awards. And her new film Burlesque with Christina Aguilera and
Julianne Hough is due for release this Thanksgiving.

AMERICAN PROFESSOR THOMAS GOLTZ: "THE PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT IN WASHINGTON SEEM TO WANT TO STICK THEIR FINGERS IN EVERYTHING, ALWAYS"

APA
April 26 2010
Azerbaijan

Washington. Isabel Levine – APA. "This is the second time as president
that Obama has avoided using the word "genocide" in connection
with the annual Armenian commemoration of April 24, 1915, and he
is already coming in for criticism by both Armenians and Turks;
the former because he did not use the word and from the latter for
referring to April 24 at all.

This is an annual game and underlines the differences between what
candidates for the presidency say before and after election", Thomas
Goltz, American journalist and adjunct professor of Political Science
at Montana State University told APA’s Washington correspondent. "As
for the impact of this on the so-called reconciliation process between
Armenia and Turkey is hard to tell, but my sense is what Obama says
or doesn’t say on April 24 is a tiny part of that process at best,
and even less on the Nagorno-Karabakh process", said Thomas Goltz.

Regarding the Turkey-Armenia rapprochement supported by US, the Montana
professor said: "I think on the issue whether the US should stand aside
and let the Turks and Armenians figure out things between themselves,
my personal attitude is just that. But I suspect that my opinion on
that matter is not shared by the people in government in Washington,
who seem to want to stick their fingers in everything, always".

Goltz said he was fully aware of the dip in US-Azerbaijani ties. "I
am worried by the dip in US-Azerbaijani ties that culminated with
Azerbaijan’s public criticism of US policy towards Azerbaijan in
general and Mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh in particular, which seems
titled toward coddling the Armenians. My views on that issue are well
known and usually described as ‘pro-Azerbaijan.’ Sadly, I am not a
policy-maker in Washington DC but a mere adjunct professor in the
mountains of Montana", he said.

ANKARA DEEPLY REGRETS OVER OBAMA’S SPEECH

news.am
April 26 2010
Armenia

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced U.S. President’s
speech on 95th commemoration of Armenian Genocide was "not quite
right."

"In his speech, Obama described 1915 events as a great tragedy, one
of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. Turkey opposes judging
the history on political motives," Davutoglu said adding that judging
those years is historians’ affair and such historic events should be
judged by the countries, having direct relevance to the issue. Turkish
FM stressed the inadmissibility of such decisions on historical issues
by the executive branch and the Parliament. "We deeply regret over
Obama’s statement, reflecting an inconsistent political decision and
the standpoint of one party only," Davutoglu stated.

As reported previously, Obama avoided the word "genocide" in his
April 24 regular speech on Armenian Remembrance Day. Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA) responded to U.S. President Barack Obama’s
April 24 speech for Armenian Remebrance Day.

"In yet another disgraceful capitulation to Turkey’s threats,
President Obama today once again failed to properly recognize the
Armenian Genocide, offering euphemisms and evasive terminology to
characterize this crime against humanity," reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).

U.S. states that recognized Armenian Genocide: Alaska, Nebraska,
Arizona, Nevada, Arkansas, New Hampshire, California, New Jersey,
Colorado, New Mexico, Connecticut, New York, Delaware, North Carolina,
Florida, North Dakota, Georgia, Ohio, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Idaho,
Oregon, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Rhode Island, Kentucky,
South Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee, Maine, Texas, Maryland, Utah,
Massachusetts, Vermont, Michigan, Virginia, Minnesota, Washington,
Missouri, Wisconsin, Montana.

news.am, Armenia
April 24 2010

Cypriot political parties demand Armenian Genocide recognition

17:15 / 04/24/2010Political parties of the Republic of Cyprus
expressed their solidarity to the Armenians in the struggle for the
Armenian Genocide recognition internationally, committed under Ottoman
Empire in 1915-1923.

`Non-recognition of the Genocide by Turkey will jeopardize the whole
mankind,’ statement by Communist Party of Cyprus reads.

Democratic Mobilization Party (DISI) announced that they grieve with
Armenian nation on Genocide victims and back all the steps towards the
international recognition of the Genocide.

`International community should recognize Genocide as a crime against
humanity. Turkey should be punished for the Genocide, perpetrated
against Armenian people,’ the party stated in a statement.

Movement for Social Democracy (EDEK) and Movement of Ecologists and
Environmental also made statements denouncing the Genocide.

L.A.

Radio New Zealand
April 25 2010

US President Barack Obama has marked the 95th anniversary of the
massacre of Armenians by Turkish forces in World War I, calling it one
of the worst atrocities of the 20th century.

In a statement issued by the White House, Mr Obama said 1.5 million
Armenians were massacred or marched to their death in the final days
of the Ottoman Empire.

The president said the 1915 massacre must not be repeated, but did not
refer to a debate over whether Turkey was responsible.

Turkey withdrew its ambassador to Washington in March after a House of
Representatives committee voted on a nonbinding "genocide" resolution
over the killings.

A deal between Turkey and Armenia to establish diplomatic ties and
reopen their border collapsed last week.

04/25/1247feb220a8

NowLebanon.com, Lebanon
April 24 2010

Tashnaq lashes out at Turks on Armenian genocide commemoration
April 23, 2010

On the 95th commemoration of the 1915 massacres of Armenians, the
Tashnaq party issued a statement that the commission to defend the
Armenian cause in Lebanon holds Turkey responsible for the killing of
1.5 million of its people.

Ankara vehemently rejects the genocide label.

The statement added that the commission will continue working toward
its goal and rejects compromising the interests of the Armenian
people.

-NOW Lebanon