Author: Mamian George

WHOSE FAVOUR ISTHE ARMENIAN AND TURKISH RELATION?
Hakob Badalyan

LRAGIR.AM
11:42:06 – 07/04/2009

"I would like to focus my attention not on my stance, but on the stance
of the Armenian and Turkish nations. If they are able to go on, the
rest of the world should help them in this regard." These are the U.S.

president Barak Obama’s words, which he said at the join press
conference with Abdullah Gyul. Sure, from his words a lot of
people will conclude, that Obama is not going to recognize the
Armenian genocide, if he stated that his stance is not important,
but the progress in the Armenian and Turkish nations’ relations. In
Armenia expert opinions are already voiced which are broadcasted by
the TV which state that Obama hinted that he would not recognize the
Armenian genocide, but this step is made for the sake of the Armenian
nation, in order not to ruin the promotion in the Armenian and Turkish
relations, this is the reason of his speech in Turkey. In other words,
with his words Obama was turning to the Armenian people saying almost
the following: "Armenians, sure, I promised to recognize the genocide,
but I’m not doing it right now, because you need more the Armenian
and Turkish relations." Interestingly, what the U.S. needs in this
question. In other words, what does the U.S. gain recognizing or not
recognizing the Armenian genocide?

It is interesting to know in order to understand whether Obama cares
only for the Armenian interests by not recognizing the genocide,
or may be a little for the U.S. interests too. On the whole, Obama’s
attitude proves his being a skilful and smart figure. When a promise
to recognize the genocide should have to be given, he gave it, and
now he reasons his non-recognition of it. Churchill would probably
like Obama, because the U.S. president shows that he corresponds to
the Churchill’s famous idea of a political figure, which said that
a political figure should say something and after should be able to
explain why it did not happen. Obama seems to act right in this way
in connection with the genocide. Of course, the Armenians will blame
him saying that he went back on his promise, that they belived him but
Obama deceived them, and he does not differ from the other U.S. "liar"
presidents. But, you can be sure, that Obama will say that he is
ready to be qualified as a "liar" for the sake of the Armenian nation.

But it is early to conclude that Obama’s speech in Turkey means that
he is not going to recognize the Armenian genocide. The point is that
subordinating his stance in this connection, he may send a message
not to the Armenian people but to the Turkish people and government
saying that it is not so important whether he will recognize it or not,
so there is no need to spare energy and nerves trying to prevent the
recognition, because nothing essential is going to be.

Really, what is going to be changed if Obama refers to the Armenian
genocide as genocide on April 24? There, of course, will be an
all-Armenian euphoria, and Obama will be rendered an Armenian cult, but
everything is going to finish there, in fact, because no word of the
U.S. president has legislative power, especially from international
rights point of view. So, Obama may very well pronounce the word
"genocide" and gift another moral victory to the Armenian nation,
and when the genocide resolution is rejected by the Congress, he will
say to the perplexed Armenians: "Why are looking at me like that? I
promised I would recognize it, and I did it. But our Congress is not
your National Assembly, where the president may make press any button
he wants. Sorry, but there is a clear division of power here." So,
due to the American smart policy, both the sheep and the wolves will
be satisfied.

And what will happen to the Armenian and Turkish relations and how
will it be? This is already a difficult question, and Serge Sargsyan
may have tried to find the answer right to this question during the
phone conversation with Dmitri Medvedev, on the very day when Obama
pronounced his speech in Turkey. But someone else is needed to tell
that to Medvedev what is going to be with the Armenian and Turkish
relations. An in general, someone is needed to say on account of what
these relations are settled -on account of the good will of Turkey
or political trade. It comes out as if the whole world is making a
favour for Armenia and, as it is well-known, the most difficult thing
is to compensate it.

Nouvelles d’Arménie
4 Avril 2009

La réconciliation avec l’Arménie nouvelle priorité de la
Turquie selon le Financial Times

samedi4 avril 2009, par Stéphane/armenews

Selon le journal Financial Times « La Turquie doit faire une
avancée diplomatique pour résoudre un conflit de longue date
avec l’Arménie. Les espoirs d’Ankara ne sont pas uniquement
l’amélioration des relations avec Erevan, mais convaincre aussi
Washington de faire marche arrière sur une décision qui pourrait
affecter les liens turco-américains ».

Selon le quotidien « à quelques jours de la visite du
Président Barack Obama en Turquie, des programmes en arménien
sur la radio d’état TRT ont été lancés – un geste
de bienveillance à l’égard de son voisin » qui ajoute
« Recep Tayyip Erdogan, le Premier ministre turc, va probablement dire
lundi à M. Obama que l’Arménie et la Turquie perdront la
meilleure chance de réconciliation de ces dernières
décennies si le congrès américain – ou M. Obama –
devaient décrire les meurtres comme un génocide ».

Le Financial Times reprend une déclaration d’ Ahmet Davutoglu, le
conseiller en politique étrangère de M. Erdogan. : « Si
quelque chose arrive qui détruit cette bonne dynamique cela ne serait
dans l’intérêt de personne – pas de la Turquie, de
l’Arménie, ou des Etats-Unis ».

PanARMENIAN.Net

Armenian banking system won’t be passive
04.04.2009 15:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ To watch the situation at domestic market, the
Central Bank of Armenia carries our weekly monitoring and publishes
the outcomes obtained, CB chairman said.

`The CB will offer commercial banks a new loan program in the near
future,’ Arthur Javadyan said, adding that the banks should be
provided with funds to avoid risks.

`Loans, especially in national currency, are in demand. Hence, the
Armenian banking system won’t be passive,’ he said.

STATE RADIO TAKES TV LEAD

Hurriyet
April 3 2009
Turkey

ISTANBUL – The state-owned Television and Radio Corporation, or TRT,
has launched Armenian and Kurdish channels, the latest move in a series
of planned foreign language broadcasting mediums being launched by
the state.

Kurdish radio programs began April 1, while Armenian radio programming
began yesterday.

Radyo 6 will air in Kurdish 24 hours a day, TRT said in a written
statement.

Armenian programs will be broadcast everyday between 7-7.30 a.m. and
6-6.30 p.m. as part of "The Voice of Turkey" radio, the statement
added.

The move comes as Ankara and Yerevan continue to engage in a
normalization process between the two neighbors that for decades have
had no diplomatic relations.

ARMENIA WILL GET ACCESS TO PERSIAN GULF

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.04.2009 18:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "A workgroup, including RA and Iran Vice Ministers
of Transportation, traveled to future railway line territory," Iran
Road Transportation Minister Hamid Bihbahani reported upon signing
the Memorandum of Understanding on Iran-Armenia railway construction.

US LAWMAKERS URGED OBAMA TO SUPPORT TURKEY’S RECONCILIATION WITH ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.04.2009 01:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ US lawmakers urged President Barack Obama to throw
his weight behind Turkey’s accession to the European Union and strongly
support the NATO ally’s reconciliation with Armenia, AFP reports.

"The United States must remain an iron clad supporter of Turkish
membership in the EU," 29 Democrats and Republicans from the House
of Representatives said in a letter to the president, who is bound
for Turkey within days.

The lawmakers urged Obama to help Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan’s government undertake the necessary political, economic and
judicial reforms to join the European Union.

"We believe Turkey’s success as a secular democracy that fully respects
the rule of law and guarantees freedoms, civil, religious and human
rights are in the interest of the Turkish people, the European Union
and the United States," they said.

They also urged "unequivocal" US support for Turkey and Armenia’s
efforts at easing longstanding tensions.

ROA PRIME MINISTER HOSTS SWEDISH TRADE DELEGATION

20 09/04/03 | 10:48

Economy

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan hosted a delegation headed by Sweden’s
State Secretary for Trade Gunnar Wislander. PM Sargsyan expressed
hope that this visit of the State Secretary-led delegation will boost
economic and political exchanges between the two countries.

Mr. Sargsyan stated that he was informed about the meetings and
discussions the Swedish delegation has had with Armenian public
and private sector representatives under the visit program and he
underscored Armenia’s readiness to develop the Armenian-Swedish
interaction in both bilateral and EU-Armenia formats.

In presenting development possibilities in Armenia amidst a quickly
evolving world, the PM stated he was convinced that once supported
by the European Union and other partners, Armenia will be able to
overcome not only those temporary hardships coming from the global
crisis, but also any eventual long-term challenges ahead.

With reference to bilateral economic ties, Tigran Sargsyan highlighted
the ongoing cooperation with the OMX which as effective since January,
2008 when the OMX was entrusted with the management of Armenia’s
Stock Market and Central Depository is seen as the key to Armenia’s
aspiration for becoming a regional financial center.

Tigran Sargsyan said to be hopeful that the successful record of a
mutually beneficial cooperation with the OMX will encourage other
Swedish investors to invest in our country.

Gunnar Wislander stated that Armenian-Swedish cooperation,
both bilateral and in the EU-Armenia format, has great growth
potential. Welcoming the Armenian government’s growth-targeting
ambitious programs and undertakings, the Swedish State Secretary
assured that his country is ready toassist Armenia with its efforts.

AMERIABANK HOLDS PRESENTATION OF LEASING SERVICES

ArmInfo
2009-04-02 08:46:00

ArmInfo. On March 30-31 Ameriabank held presentation of leasing
services.

Ameriabank press-service told ArmInfo that the presentation was held
with participation of large businessmen representing various spheres
of economy and specializing in import of transport vehicles, industrial
and medical equipment, facilities for construction and trade, etc.

According to the source, the presentation aimed to familiarize the
business circles with the terms of leasing services provided by
the bank and proposal on mutually beneficial cooperation, as well
as to present the advantages of leasing services under the current
conditions of the financial market. The source says that Ameriabank
has been providing leasing services since June 2008.

To note, at present there are four specialized universal leasing
companies in Armenia. As of Jan 1, 2009, their aggregate assets
amounted to 6.1 bln AMD, 77% of which fell on provision of crediting.

In the structure of the leasing companies’ loan portfolio 98% fell
on the funds expected from renting.

To recall, in August 2007 "TDA Holdings LTD" became the majoritary
stakeholder of Ameriabank (the former Armimpexbank). At present
its share in the capital increased up to 99,7%. "TDA Holdings LTD"
represents the shareholders of the leading investment company of
Russia – Troyka Dialog Group. The priority of the bank is developing
investment banking and providing the full spectrum of traditional
banking services. As of Jan 1, 2009, the bank’s assets made up 49.2
bln AMD, of which about 70% fell on provision of crediting, and by
these indices the banks ranks among the top ten banks of Armenia.

ANNA ESHOO: TIME FOR PASSING GENOCIDE RESOLUTION NEVER MORE RIGHT

Noyan Tapan
March 31, 2009

NEW YORK, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. "The time for
passing the Genocide Resolution has never been more right," said
Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) in her address at the Armenian Relief
Society (ARS) Eastern USA’s Centennial Gala Banquet at the Yale Club
in New York.

"The denial continues every minute Congress does not recognize it,"
Eshoo said, stressing that "when you deny the truth, you sanction
a lie."

MINORITY CANDIDATES GET DISAPPOINTING RESULTS

Hurriyet
March 31 2009
Turkey

ISTANBUL – Although the small municipality of the islands off Istanbul
had a higher proportion of candidates running that represented
minorities, the candidates were just as unsuccessful here as other
minority candidates in most of the country.

Mayoral candidate Dr. Karabey Yayla of the Democratic Left Party, or
DSP, who was the first Armenian candidate in the Republic’s history to
run for mayor of the Municipality of Islands, lost by a significant
amount of votes. The island municipality’s Jewish mayoral candidate,
Yusuf Bahar of the Democratic Party, or DP, also faced heavy defeat.

Both candidates were contesting the position of mayor, as the islands
are made up of the various minorities in Turkey, such as Armenians
and Jews.