Author: Khoyetsian Rose

ARMENIAN PATIENT GETS FIVE-YEAR RESIDENCE PERMIT

Hurriyet Daily News
April 27 2010
Turkey

Arthur Manukyan, 22, and his mother Hasmik, 45, were granted residence
permits and have applied for citizenship, daily Milliyet reported
Tuesday.

At the request of CHP İzmir deputy Canan Arıtman, the Prime Minister
Recep Tayypip Erdogan consented to giving a residence permit to Arthur
Manukyan, who suffers from "moya moya" sickness and is currently
being treated at the CerrahpaÅ~_a Medical School Hospital.

Hasmik Manukyan said they wanted to be an example for Armenia and
Turkey, Anatolian news agency reported Tuesday, adding that she hoped
both countries could live like sisters and brothers.

"I wish they would open the borders so people can visit each another.

Bad things happened in the past, I wish they had never happened."

Hasmik Manukyan also said she was deeply aggrieved by the flag burnings
on Armenian Remembrance Day.

Arthur Manukyan’s visa expired during his stay in the hospital.

Armenian Patriarch Aram AteÅ~_yan appealed to the authorities on
learning of Arthur’s medical condition, in which there is a blockage
of veins in his brain because his blood does not coagulate properly.

"TURKEY CAN RUN" "BUT CERTAINLY CAN NOT HIDE"
Richard Giragosian

Lragir.am
27/04/10

As yet another April 24th commemoration of the Armenian genocide has
passed, yet another American president has failed to accurately or
honestly invoke the genocide definition for what he has termed the
"Meds Yeghern." Although the dubious distortion of the historical
record was not a surprise, it does represent a disappointment.

The disappointment with President Barack Obama’s words is not only an
insult to the collective memory of Armenians, but is also an insult
to the integrity of American history. There should be no place for
such convenient half-truths or political pandering when it comes
to genocide. Armenians and Americans alike both deserve better,
especially from this American president.

Interestingly, as much as Armenians were again disappointed by the
American president’s statement, Turkish officials were also upset.

Specifically, Turkish officials were not satisfied by Obama’s failure
to correctly refer to the genocide. Turkish anger was triggered by the
president’s other words, where he referred to the genocide as "one
of the worst atrocities of the 20th century" and as "the inhumanity
of 1915."

There was also a degree of apprehension in Turkey as well, as Obama
reiterated that he has "consistently stated" his view of what occurred
in 1915, warning that his "view of that history has not changed,"
fueling fears in Turkey that although he refused to use the genocide
term, it did not necessarily mean that he would not feel free to do
so at some later point.

Yet in many ways, perhaps one of the most revealing lessons from
Armenia’s difficult diplomacy with Turkey has been that Turkey really
only respects strength. This was especially true during the October
2009 signing ceremony of the now infamous "protocols" between Armenia
and Turkey. Even during the ceremony itself, Turkey delayed the signing
for several hours, testing Armenia’s will, fortitude and resolve.

And as Turkey has now demonstrated increasing insincerity and
unreliability regarding its commitments to Armenia, the Armenian
government has finally suspended the process of ratifying the
protocols. Specifically, the Armenian president was compelled to take
action to address Turkey’s unacceptable "language of preconditions."

Armenia’s move was a correct one and represents a prudent response to
the Armenian president’s regretful admission that "for a whole year,
Turkey has done everything to protract time and fail the process."

In the words of Armenia’s first foreign minister, Raffi Hovannisian,
the Armenian decision to suspend the normalization process was "a good
tactic in these conditions," but he did note that "a good strategist
should not let such things happen" in the first place.

Hovannisian further stressed that the protocols are inherently flawed
by the existence of several disturbing preconditions, reflecting a
Turkish attempt to "reject genocide recognition," impose the "de jure
recognition of an illegal de facto border," and the unacceptable and
artificial linkage of the issue of Armenian-Turkish normalization
with the Mountainous Karabagh issue.

In this context, the effort "was an experiment, and that experiment
has failed," Hovannisian noted. He also warned that Armenia remains
in a critical "emergency situation" that can only be surmounted
"either by means of new elections or by essentially new changes,
which presume the presence of political will that is not visible till
now either among the authorities nor in some parts of the opposition."

Clearly, the absence of internal strength can never translate into
any formidable foreign policy.

Thus, in the aftermath of recent events, it has now become clear
that although Turkey may try to run from the issue, it certainly
can not hide from the most basic expectations of a modern nation—-
extending diplomatic relations with Armenia, opening the border that
Turkey itself closed unilaterally, and coming to terms with its legacy
of genocide. At the same time, the international community would do
well to remember that all expectations and burdens remain squarely on
Turkey. Armenia has done all it can and more. Perhaps at this point,
it is time for Armenia to modify its policy, to one demanding and
imposing its own preconditions on Turkey. Maybe only then will Turkey
come to respect a strong Armenian stance.

Karabakh NGO Calls On Diaspora to Step-Up Efforts to Win Republic’s Recognition

Asbarez
Apr 27th, 2010
STEPANAKERT

The NKR Public Council for Foreign and Security Policy, an NGO
operating in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, has called on Armenian
Diaspora organizations to initiate what it considers to be a process
for the international recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

The letter is addressed to the traditional political parties and
lobbying structures of the Armenian Diaspora.

Masis Mayilian, the organization’s president said that recent
precedents in the Balkans and the Caucasus have "shown that such
recognition can serve as a real mechanism to strengthen security in
conflict areas and support stability at relatively little material
cost."

Mayilian’s sentiments were echoed by Gegham Bagdasaryan, a member
of the organization who argued that "Our compatriots abroad have
extensive experience, gained during decades fighting for recognition
of the Armenian Genocide." The time has come, he added, to use that
experience "to safeguard Armenian victories in Artsakh in the framework
of international law."

In the statement, the Public Council said it believes that the
recognition of Karabakh’s independence" even by provincial governments
and local self-government entities" in the Diaspora would serve to
"provide Artsakh with important moral and institutional support."

We present the complete letter below:

Since April 2009, when Armenian-Turkish dialogue gained greater public
prominence, we have been faced with new challenges. The process of
negotiations between Armenia and Turkey and the signing of the two
well-known protocols have caused much debate among Armenians.

Meantime, Turkey’s efforts to link its ratification of protocols to
Armenian territorial concessions in favor of Azerbaijan have added
to tensions in the Caucasus region.

With support of Diaspora Armenian organizations, Western parliaments
have stepped up the process of recognition of the Armenian Genocide
as a form of pressure on the Turkish leadership which is refusing to
fulfill obligations it has assumed as part of the Armenian-Turkish
reconciliation effort.

In response to this pressure, Turkish leaders have declared about
a danger of regional destabilization. Keeping in mind Azerbaijan’s
militaristic designs and the fact that Turkey remains Azerbaijan’s
closest ally, there is little doubt as to where such destabilization
might occur.

In this regard, there is a need to strengthen the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic’s security and thus rule out a danger of another Armenian
Genocide, this time in Eastern Armenia.

NKR Public Council for Foreign and Security Policy believes that
together with recognition of Genocide, Diaspora Armenian organization
should make the issue of international recognition of the Artsakh
Republic a priority direction of their activities. We do not believe
that promotion of "commitment to peaceful resolution of the conflict"
is sufficient.

Having gained substantial experience working with legislative bodies
of various levels around the world, Diaspora organizations are capable
of initiating the process of recognition of NKR by these entities.

ARMENIAN FISH MUST NOT FALL INTO OLIGARCHS’ NET

ArmInfo
2010-04-27 20:07:00

ArmInfo. Fish breeding in Armenia must not become the private domain
of oligarchs, Artsvik Minasyan, Armenian parliamentarian from ARF
Dashnaktsutyun, said in parliament, Tuesday.

"Today the republic’s economy needs to be diversified, that is to say,
it needs development of new spheres. Fish breeding may become one of
these spheres, for which there are big opportunities in Armenia. Over
the past 10 years fish breeding in our country has considerably
grown and currently makes up about 5 thsd tons a year. According to
experts, it is possible to increase this index to 300 thsd. However,
the development of this field needs strict control, as fish breeding
remains one of the few fields, which are not under the oligarchic
system’s control yet. We’ll shortly present a package of proposals
on development of this sphere",- said Minasyan.

At present there are 250-270 fish breeding entities in Armenia. About
5.8 thsd tons of fish worth a total of 8.4 bln AMD were bred and
caught in 2009.

FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA: PARTICIPATION OF TURKEY IN OSCE MG IS RULED OUT

ArmInfo
2010-04-27 12:10:00

ArmInfo. Participation of Turkey in OSCE Minsk Group on the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement is unacceptable for official Yerevan,
Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan said in an interview
with Real Politic programme of Armenia’s Public TV on April 26.

"It is ruled out. Armenian president and foreign minister have multiply
explained that", E. Nalbandyan emphasized.

To recall, in the Karabakh issue Turkey unambiguously comes out from
pro-Azerbaijani positions. The same position conditions freezing of
the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement process.

MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS HELD IN BAKU

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 27, 2010
BAKU

BAKU, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received
on the eve in Baku Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.

His Holiness participates in the two-day summit of the religious
leaders of the world opened on Monday in Baku.

"AzerTag" Azerbaijani news agency reported that at the meeting of
the Azerbaijani President and Catholicos of All Armenians a great
importance was attached to the Baku summit with participation of
religious leaders of different beliefs, as well as the significance
of the forum in strengthening the inter-religious dialogue and in
expansion of contacts between religious leaders was pointed out.

This is the first meeting of the Azerbaijani President with the head
of the Armenian Apostolic Church throughout the history.

MOLDOVAN DELEGATION TO OSCE CALLS FOR LIBERATION OF ERNEST VARDANYAN

Tert.am
15:12 27.04.10

Permanent delegation of the Republic of Moldova to the OSCE addressed
statement to the OSCE Permanent Council Chairman during a council
meeting in relation of the Armenian national journalist Ernest
Vardanyan.

The authors of the statement thanked the "delegation of the United
States for bringing to attention of the permanent council this worrying
case, as well as the European Union for its supportive statement.

"We also thank the OSCE mission to Moldova for issuing a spot report
on the recent arrests in the Transnistrian region. The Moldovan
authorities are deeply concerned about the fate of the journalist
Ernest Vardanyan, who is a citizen of the Republic of Moldova. On the
7th April he was arrested on false charges of "espionage and high
treason." This kind of persecution of a journalist, which strives
to reflect the situation in the region in an objective manner, has
no precedent.

"More than that, in recent weeks the de facto Tiraspol authorities
have intimidated and brought false accusations of high treason against
a number of civil society representatives. A member of local staff
of the OSCE mission has been also put under pressure. We regret very
much these cases," reads the statement.

Further it says that the Moldovan Government is concerned about the
"continuing violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms
and in particular of the universal humanitarian conventions in the
Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova."

"Such counterproductive steps are undermining the efforts aimed at
the re-establishing trust and confidence which are key prerequisites
for resolving the problems of local population. These unfortunate
developments are also harming the constructive endeavors undertaken
by international partners – participants to the 5+2 process. We call
on all member states to join the efforts of the Moldova authorities
in this regard," reads the statement.

Vardanyan was arrested near his home in Tiraspol on April 7 allegedly
by the Transdniestrian state secrete services. He is accused of high
treason and according to Article 271 of the Transdniestrian Criminal
Code he can face 12-20 years in prison.

Le Figaro, France
Vendredi 23 Avril 2010

Erevan g�Á�le les accords de r�Á�conciliation avec Ankara

par Marchand, Laure

Le pr�Á�sident arm�Á�nien, Serge Sarkissian, a annonc�Á� hier la suspension
de la ratification des accords visant ��normaliser les relations entre
les deux pays. ��deux jours de l’anniversaire du g�Á�nocide arm�Á�nien de
1915, Erevan entend ainsi protester contre la d�Á�cision d’Ankara de
conditionner l’approbation des protocoles par le Parlement turc ��des
progr�Á�s dans le conflit du Haut-Karabakh, une province azerba�Á�djanaise
�&#xFF FD;majorit�Á� arm�Á�nienne. Qualifi�Á�s d’�� historiques ��, ��leur signature
en octobre, ces textes pr�Á�voient la r�Á�ouverture de la fronti�Á�re
turco-arm�&# xC1;�nienne dans un �� d�Á�lai raisonnable ��.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITIONIST NOTIFIED OSCE PA OF PROTOCOLS’ UNACCEPTABILITY

news.am
APril 23 2010
Armenia

Today, April 23, Heritage party head Armen Martirosyan had a meeting
with OSCE PA Italian delegation head Riccardo Migliori.

Officials discussed Armenia’s foreign policy issues, recent
developments in Armenia-Turkey relations, Nagorno-Karabakh issue and
Armenia-EU cooperation expansion.

Martirosyan reaffirmed stable posture of the party in unacceptability
of Armenia-Turkey Protocols and respect to established sovereignty
and statehood of Artsakh, Heritage press service informed NEWS.am.

GEVORG DANIELYAN: GENOCIDE IS THE ISSUE OF ENTIRE MANKIND

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 24, 2010 – 12:42 AMT 07:42 GMT

The Armenian Genocide is the issue of entire mankind, including the
Turkish nation, RA Minister of Justice Gevorg Danielyan said.

"The countries avoiding recognition of the Armenian Genocide should
know that they increase the danger of repetition of similar crimes in
future," he told reporters on April 24. "The history has shown that the
Armenian Genocide was not the only crime against humanity," he said.