Author: Maghakian Mike

Last update – 04:29 24/10/2007

U.S. House panel endorses Holocaust insurance measure

By The Associated Press

A U.S. House of Representatives’ panel endorsed legislation on Tuesday
that would require insurance companies to disclose information on
Holocaust-era policy holders.

The legislation aims to address concerns among some survivors that
payment by the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance
Claims did not address all outstanding claims.

The measure approved by the House Foreign Affairs Committee Tuesday
would allow survivors or their heirs to sue foreign companies in U.S.
courts to recover payments on claims.

The legislation’s prospects are uncertain. It would have to be
approved by the full House as well as the Senate and signed by the
president to become law.

ICHEIC was established in 1998 after negotiations between European
insurance companies and U.S. insurance regulators to settle individual
Holocaust era insurance claims. It resolved more than 90,000 claims
and paid out $306 million to more than 48,000 Holocaust survivors,
heirs and family members.

But critics have charged that it did not force European insurance
companies to disclose their documentation on Holocaust-era claims.

This legislation offers an important opportunity to bring long-awaited
justice and closure to Holocaust survivors and their families, said
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the author of the new legislation.

Source:

Hayots Ashkharh Daily, Armenia
Oct 20 2007

REVOLUTIONS DON’T HAVE FUTURE IN ARMENIA

To what extent are the ` pink hopes’ of Armenian Pan National
Movement regarding the `pan national’ revival that will start with
October 26 `big, very big’ mass meeting, justified? Below we
introduce the observations of the leader of Christian-Democratic
Union Khosrov Harutyunyan.

`The main intrigue of the mass meeting is that for the first time
after 10 years’ silence the ex-President will speak. In my view this
speech must be program based and must give reason to meditate upon.
Should the mass meeting and the speech be aimed at the organization
of the social life, the introduction of their personal approach to
the challenges faced by the society, and their solutions, this mass
meeting will definitely give quality and contents to the political
process.
I presume, similar speech will most probably give rise to
responsive commentaries and consequently sound political debates. Or
else society won’t benefit.
I wouldn’t like to jump conclusions. The future developments will
show whether or not this mass meeting will open a new page in
Armenia’s political life. Anyhow I don’t see any problem in such
things and I’m sure these types of meetings will be very common
during the pre-election period. And, in general I strongly believe,
that discussions, arguments and debates are much more important for
the political processes, than black PR.’
`Don’t you think the September 21 speech of the ex-President was
an absolute PR? Can it be considered as a manifestation of a
civilized debate as Ter-Petrosyan usually underscores in his
speeches?’
`In his September 21 speech the first President simply expressed
his attitude towards the current authorities. As for his approach to
the regulation of Karabakh conflict, I wouldn’t agree to his
standpoint that nothing has been done during the previous 10 years.
It is true that the problem is de jure not solved, but it is a fact
that the international community, in the face of Minsk Group
co-Presidents, more than ever perceive that Karabakh issue can’t be
solved without considering the vital interests of Karabakh people.
The thing that Karabakh’s right to sovereignty is enshrined in the
document, unequivocally proves that it is impossible to solve the
issue without touching upon the issue of the status.
That is to say the most important principle of the international
law – the supremacy of the right to the nations’ sovereignty is
reflected in the negotiation process.’
‘Whereas according to Levon Ter-Petrosyan the negotiation process
is, more than ever in a `hopeless’ refuge.’
` It is a fact that Azerbaijan’s attitude has become firm and is
going to become firmer. At present we can state that it is not
Armenia but Azerbaijan that is trying to torpedo the negotiation
process. Unfortunately Armenia’s political outlook and diplomatic
efforts are not bound for making the international community
understand once and for all that Azerbaijan, with its bellicose
announcements, is not only jeopardizing Armenian -Azerbaijani
dialogues, but also reducing to zero the peace-making efforts of the
same international community.
After all we are not the real addressees of those bellicose
announcements. These announcements are not addressed to Armenia; they
throw down the gauntlet to the international community. These are
serious political arguments that must be circulated and we must make
efforts to influence international public opinion.
In the present conditions, when Azerbaijan objectively, more than
ever feels self-confident and has more opportunities to settle the
issue in his favor, to regulate the problem at all costs means to
regulate the problem in Azerbaijan’s favor.
Does this mean Armenia won’t have an important role in the region?
It is a really serious problem. But I don’t think so. At this stage
the process of the regulation of Karabakh issue passes through
Armenian – Turkish border. Thus carrying on the negotiations on the
regulation of the issue, the regulation of Armenian – Turkish
relations, and the issue of de-blockading Armenia must become a
pivotal issue in Armenia’s political agenda. But, I must repeat, this
doesn’t mean we must `solve’ Karabakh problem at all costs. It is not
the right way.’
‘Don’t you think Armenian Pan National Movement is too late with
activeness? The issue of power is in essence solved due to the
parliamentary elections?’
‘We were one of the first to say that parliamentary elections are
valuable, because after the constitutional amendments parliamentary
majority has great role. Both the constitution and the logic of the
organization of social life, we can say genetics, presumes it.
Unfortunately the Mass Media, the political powers, including the
pro-governmental ones, did their bests to make people perceive those
elections as the first stage of the presidential elections. And this
is true. Why not, if some people can avoid running for the
parliamentary elections and immediately submit a claim for the
Presidential elections.
The fact is that the radical opposition was defeated during the
parliamentary elections. Consequently the power that was defeated
during the parliamentary elections shouldn’t be active during the
presidential elections, as the president is not a king any more. And
when the political power that avoided standing for the parliamentary
elections pretends to the position of the president, I start to think
that this political power didn’t manage to get rid of old
stereotypes.
Whoever elected as the country’s President, will have to work with
the parliamentary majority. Otherwise serious problems will appear,
because the parliament doesn’t allow liquidating the parliament
without well-grounded reasons, to change the Prime Minister without
the Parliament’s agreement, etc. Moreover no President can refuse to
consider the results of the parliamentary elections, something that
has been recognized by the international community, as the best
during the recent 15 years. `
‘To what extent can the foreign factor influence the forthcoming
elections?’
` Any presidential candidate must certainly consider the possible
influence of the foreign powers. It is another thing to what extent
they will be decisive during these elections. I don’t think they will
be significant. The foreign powers can sympathize with this or that
candidate and carry out lobbying in his favor, but they can’t
pre-determine the election returns.’
‘What about colored technologies?’
`I have mentioned many times that colored revolutions don’t have
future in Armenia. In general revolutions don’t have future in
Armenia. Moreover I’m sure `colored developments’ will be no good for
our people. In case of Armenia we simply can’t and we don’t have the
right to afford such luxury.’

LILIT POGHOSYAN

Agence France Presse — English
October 18, 2007 Thursday 8:07 PM GMT

Gates hints at US willingness to take action against PKK

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates hinted Thursday that US and Iraqi
forces were prepared to take action against Kurdish rebels if they
had more precise intelligence.

Gates said the United States was determined to work with the Turks to
reduce the threat posed by the PKK, a Kurdish separatist group
accused of carrying out attacks in Turkey from bases in northern
Iraq.

"I think that if we were to come up with specific information, that
we and the Iraqis would be prepared to do the appropriate thing, and
if we had information on them in Turkey, that we would provide that
information," Gates said.

He would not elaborate on what he meant by "the appropriate thing."

The US military has previously indicated that its forces are too tied
up elsewhere in Iraq to be used against the PKK, which the United
States has designated as a terrorist organization.

Gates reiterated US concern about deteriorating relations with the
Turks over the border tensions and a congressional resolution
denouncing the World War I "genocide" of Armenians under the Ottoman
Empire.

He said there was "a very real risk" that the Turks would put
restrictions on the movement of US supplies through its airspace or
territory if the Congress were to pass the non-binding resolution.

"I don’t think the Turks are bluffing," he said. "I think it is that
meaningful to them. I think they see implications in terms of
reparations and perhaps even borders."

RESOLUTION WILL DO ZIP

Fergus Falls Daily journal, MN
Oct 18 2007

We can all agree that genocide is a terrible thing, not to be
countenanced by any nation or any individual. Yet the determination
of some members of Congress to pass a resolution condemning genocide
that occurred nearly a century ago in the Middle East surpasses
understanding. The resolution will accomplish nothing, except restating
the obvious, while it is very likely to damage America’s relationship
with a key ally. We hope that the tide of support will turn against
this resolution.

Some Armenian-Americans have pushed hard for a Congressional resolution
condemning the mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in
1915. It was an ugly, deplorable, horrible incident. But it happened
more than 90 years ago and it is very hard to see what point there
is in the American Congress commenting on it today. That any good
would come of such a resolution is hard to believe.

It is not so hard to believe that ill might come of it. Turkey,
the modern nation associated with the Ottoman Empire, has been a key
American ally in the war on terror. Its government has made it clear
that it would be offended – to say the least – by what it perceives
as an unwarranted poke in the eye by Congress. Turkey’s anger could
have real-world consequences for American interests in the Middle East.

Stacking up the benefits of the resolution – which are few – against
the drawbacks, it is clear that it should not pass. Fortunately,
many members of the House seem to feel the same way and support for
the matter is fading fast. We hope that the Democratic leaders of
the House recognize reality, put their country’s interests ahead of
an ineffective resolution, and let the matter drop.

/oct/18/resolution-will-do-zip/

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION VOTE UNCLEAR

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.10.2007 16:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Whether H.Res.106 will come up or not, what the
action will be, remains to be seen," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,
a California Democrat, told reporters Wednesday. She had vowed it
would get a vote of the full chamber sometime this year.

Pelosi said she had always supported the nonbinding, largely symbolic
resolution, but she would be working with other advocates to see what
they wanted to do now, Reuters reports.

Earlier, Nancy Pelosi had stated the resolution would be brought to
the full House floor till November 16.

BILL ON SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DUE NOT TO BE BROUGHT TO VOTE

Azer Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 18 2007

Bill on the so-called Armenian genocide is due not to be brought to
a vote in US Congress House of Representatives, APA’s Turkey bureau
reports.

US President George Bush phoned Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of House
of Representatives and urged her backtrack on her support for a
congressional resolution. She changed her position after call of
President and 12 congressmen refusing to support genocide bill. She
said that bill is due not to be approved.

218 votes are needed for recognition of the bill on the so-called
Armenian genocide in the House of Representatives. 211 congressmen
support this bill at present. This figure is expected to reduce.

U. S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
10/18/2007

QUESTION: I understand the Armenian Prime Minister is in town meeting
with Gates today. Any plans for — to be here? And if so, do you know
what the details of the meetings are?
MR. CASEY: I actually don’t. I can check for you. I had heard he’s in
town. Given some of the adjustments to the Secretary’s schedule, I
don’t think she has any plans to meet with him just because they won’t
be in the same place at the same time. But let me check for you and
see.
Yeah, Param.
QUESTION: I have a question on Myanmar. Special Envoy Gambari said in
Kuala Lumpur yesterday that the military junta had agreed to invite
him, I think the third week of November, and the United States have
been maintaining that they have been — had said that they have
contacted Southeast Asian leaders as well as China and India to
enhance– to speed up the visit, bring it earlier. Is there any new
developments in that effort?
MR. CASEY: Well, in terms of Burma, certainly we believe it would be
appropriate for Mr. Gambari, in addition to the visits that he’s
making to various ASEAN countries, to go again to Burma to meet again
with the Burmese leadership and also with Aung San Suu Kyi and some of
the other detained opposition leaders. I think it’s important that he
should do that as soon as possible, and I think the mandate from the
Council is pretty clear that he should.
In terms of the arrangements that, you know, he is trying to make with
the Burmese Government, it’s pretty clear to us that the Burmese
Government, whatever it’s doing with respect to his visit, still is
not doing fundamentally what it needs to, which is to stop its
crackdown, to release political prisoners and to engage in a real
political dialogue. Certainly, we will do what we can to work with
other countries in the region and to do what we can to push the
Burmese Government to do the right thing here. But I don’t have
anything new to share with you in terms of either bilateral or
specific steps on the part of the U.S. or other things that
Mr. Gambari might be planning.
Okay, Mr. Lambros.
QUESTION: Yes, on the Armenian resolution. Mr. Casey, House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi stated yesterday that the prospects of a (inaudible)
Armenian genocide resolution are uncertain after several members
pulled their support amid feeling that it would cripple U.S. relations
with Turkey. Are you satisfied on this development?
MR. CASEY: Well, I talked about this a little bit earlier in the
briefing, Mr. Lambros. We’ve seen the comments by the Speaker that
gives us some reason for hope that perhaps this legislation might not,
in fact, come to the floor. But again, our position on this remains
clear. We oppose this resolution. We do not think it solves or does
anything to help foster Armenian and Turkish reconciliation and we
think it’s injurious to U.S. national security. So we’re going to
continue to work with Congress on this and we’re going to continue to
encourage members to vote against this resolution when and if it does,
in fact, come up for a vote.
QUESTION: Thank you.
MR. CASEY: Thanks.

DEMS TO PRESS AHEAD WITH GENOCIDE BILL

Gulf Times, Qatar
Oct 16 2007

WASHINGTON: Top US Democrats on Sunday vowed to press ahead with a
bill condemning the mass killing of Armenians decades ago as genocide,
brushing off Turkish fury over the sensitive issue.

House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said possible
reprisals affecting Turkey’s co-operation with the US military were
"hypothetical" and would not derail the resolution.

Holding a vote on condemning the massacre, even many years after the
fact, is "about who we are as a country," Pelosi told ABC television.

"Genocide still exists, and we saw it in Rwanda; we see it now in
Darfur," she said on ABC television after the House foreign affairs
committee last week branded the Ottoman Empire’s World War I massacre
of Armenians a genocide.

But the White House warned on Sunday that the bill could bring "grave
harm" to the already strained relations between Washington and Ankara.

"We regret that the Speaker Pelosi is intent on bringing this
resolution for a vote despite the strong concerns expressed by foreign
policy and defence experts … and our Turkish allies," said White
House spokesman Tony Fratto.

"We continue to strongly oppose this resolution which may do grave
harm to US-Turkish relations and to US interests in Europe and the
Middle East."

The non-binding resolution, he said, "will not improve Turkish-Armenian
relations or advance reconciliation among Turks and Armenians over
the terrible events of 1915."

Armenians say at least 1.5mn of their people were killed from 1915
to 1917 under what they describe as an campaign of deportation and
murder by the Ottoman Empire. Turkey bitterly disputes the number of
dead and the characterisation of the killings as a genocide.

The bill is likely to come up in the full House of Representatives in
November. Although the resolution is only symbolic, Turkey recalled
its ambassador to Washington last week and has called off visits to
the US by at least two of its officials.

The angry reaction has fueled fears within the US administration
that it could lose access to a military base in Turkey, a Nato ally,
which provides a crucial staging ground for US supplies headed to
Iraq and Afghanistan.

Two top US officials, one each from the state and defence departments,
are now in Turkey to try to cool the diplomatic row.

"We are certainly working to try to minimise any concrete steps
the government might take (such as) restricting the movement of
our troops," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Saturday
in Moscow.

Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates lobbied hard against the
genocide resolution, and the administration says it will keep up its
effort to forestall a vote in the full House.

US-Turkish military ties "will never be the same again" if the House
confirms the committee vote, Turkey’s military chief General Yasar
Buyukanit told the daily Milliyet on Sunday.

House Democratic leader Steny Hoyer said he had repeatedly raised
the killings of Armenians with Turkish political and military leaders
during his 26 years in Congress.

70,000 ILLEGAL ARMENIANS LIVING AND WORKING IN TURKEY

The Van Der Galiën Gazette, Netherlands
Oct 16 2007

It’s great to see articles such as "Armenians Who Need Help
Today" in the American press. Mr Fred Hiatt writes: The heads of
both U.S. organizations told me that their groups have worked,
sometimes quietly, to promote human rights and civil society in
Armenia. Undoubtedly their influence would be limited, no matter how
hard they tried.

But what if they had tried as fervently as they did to win Wednesday’s
vote? It’s hard not to think that 3 million Armenians might be less
poor and more free than they are today.

On the same note, in one of my earlier posts I had written: The
Diaspora Armenians should concentrate on helping their own country
instead of spending millions of dollars to get recognition for a
wartime tragedy to be accepted as genocide which allegedly took place
nearly 100 years ago.

Today Armenians from motherland are so poor, they are forced to look
for jobs elsewhere in order to be able to feed their family.

It is estimated that 70,000 Armenians from mainland Armenia, are
living and working illegally in Turkey today. These people must not
be confused with the Turkish-Armenians who were born in Turkey. While
Turkish authorities are much stricter on other nationalities such as
Moldovians, Uzbekis etc who also work illegally in Turkey in great
numbers, they have been much more tolerant towards the Armenians.

I have many friends who employ Armenians. One friend’s 82 year old
uncle in Istanbul has an Armenian woman in her 50’s taking care of him
for the past 7 years. He pays her about $500 a month, she sleeps in
the same house, she cooks what he buys and eats with him. His uncle
is extremely happy to have her and she is extremely grateful to have
a job. She finally told my friend this year, with enough Turkish she
has learned, that all of the other Armenians working in same type of
jobs, did not care for the passage of the Genocide Resolution. She
said "I am working kacak (illegallly) here and all the money I earn,
I am sending it to Armenia to my 2 sons who are working in Russia for
low wages, because there is nothing in Armenia." She said, about 7
years ago her husband suddenly died and she had nothing to live on,
so she slipped into Turkey, came to Istanbul and found a job that
she was grateful for. She was genuinely wondering about what would
become of her if the Resolution is passed, and the Turkish Government
started cracking down on these 70,000 illegal Armenians in Turkey.

This is the story of one Armenian Citizen in Turkey. Multiply this
70,000 times and you will realize what kind of financial damage will
be caused to Armenia, if the Turkish Government chooses to crack down.

And this is just one of the many reasons why passage of a much
politicized Resolution is not only untimely but also unnecessary.

/70000-illegal-armenians-living-and-working-in-tur key/

–Boundary_(ID_I2Q089hzkvV34oInH0ykKA)–

HE CAME, HE CONGRATULATED, HE WENT
Lilit Poghosyan

Hayots Ashkharh Daily
Oct 16 2007
Armenia

Thus, as one of the newspapers belonging to Armenian Pan National
Movement joyfully reported recently, ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosyan
over again "shook" Armenian world, by visiting Stepanakert, where he
was evidently not expected.

Referring to the "well informed" sources, one of the newspapers even
"communicated good news" reporting that Levon Ter-Petrosyan "gave
a piece of friendly advice" to NKR President, not to interfere in
Armenia’s internal political affairs and not to support one candidate
and conduct black PR against another candidate. As compensation he
"promised" not to relieve him of his office, in case he is elected. How
should we understand this exotic thesis?

At our request NKR high-ranking officials and representatives of
different political powers touched upon this issue concerned.

NA Vice-Speaker Rudik Hyusnunts

"Frankly, I don’t posses such information. But in my view the statement
is not correct as it is. Nagorno Karabakh is a sovereign country and
Bako Sahakyan is a President of a sovereign country and no one is
competent to interfere in our internal affairs."

"With whom did the ex-President meet besides Bako Sahakyan?"

" As far as I know he didn’t meet with anyone. And the meeting with
NKR President was of a pure protocol character. Levon Ter-Petrosyan
has simply congratulated Bako Sahakyan on the occasion of his election
as a President."

" But the "well informed" sources report Levon Ter-Petrosyan has
received a cordial meeting in Stepanakert."

" In my view it is a political PR. I repeat the meeting was of a
protocol character. Anyone can come and congratulate NKR President,
including Armenia’s first President."

"Did Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s visit raise a wave of interest and hot
discussions in Artsak?"

" I wouldn’t say so. I even think that 98% of Karabakh population
didn’t even know about this visit."

Head of the Chief Information Department of the Presidential Staff
David Babayan

Levon Ter-Petrosyan came to congratulate Bako Sahakyan on the
occasion of his election as a President. This was the essence of their
conversation, as reported in the official information. All the other
rumors are senseless, in my opinion. Most probably the newspapers
deliver this information. Regarding your question, it is NKR people
that elect the President of Karabakh and it is their right to allow
or not to allow him to remain in his office."

"Did the ex-President have other meetings in Stepanakert?"

"No. On his way he had one meeting with the people. I don’t posses
any information about his other meetings."

Adviser to the President Vitaly Balasanyan "No one has the right to
allow or not to allow NKR President to remain in his office. Karabakh
is not Armenian province. It is a Republic with a proclaimed and
confirmed independence."

"Was Ter-Petrosyan’s visit a surprise for you or it was expected?"

"Why should it be a surprise? Everyone came to congratulate Bako
Sahakyan, including the first President. I don’t see anything
extraordinary in it."

Leader of "Azat Hayrenik" party Arthur Tovmasyan

"I don’t think it is up to Armenia to decide who will be NKR
President or visa verse, that it depends on Karabakh who will win the
Presidential elections in Armenia. 85% of the population of Nagorno
Karabakh voted for Bako Sahakyan. It is a weighty percentage and in
my view any newly elected President of Armenia must consider Karabakh
elections.

As for the visit of Armenia’s first President he simply came to
congratulate NKR President on the occasion of his election.

We respect and welcome any election of Armenian people, no matter
who the people will support. We have never interfered in Armenia’s
internal political processes and we are ready to cooperate with the
candidate who will obtain the people’s vote of confidence."

"Is it all the same to you who will win RA presidential elections,
after hearing Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s forgotten slogan " you will not
live in welfare until Karabakh issue is "solved"?"

" Of course no. Anyhow it is up to the people of Armenia to
decide. Though judging from the results of the parliamentary elections
and the results of sociological surveys Serge Sargsyan has no real
alternative for the forthcoming Presidential elections. We don’t think
anyone except RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan can pretend to be the
future President of Armenia, including Levon Ter Petrosyan."