Author: Nadirian Emma

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
July 16, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

KNOLLENBERG AMENDMENT TO ZERO-OUT MILITARY AID
TO AZERBAIJAN FALLS ONE VOTE SHORT

— Representatives Lowey, Obey, Jackson, Israel, Chandler,
Rothman, Lee, and McCollum Block Passage of Measure

WASHINGTON, DC – An amendment championed by Armenian Caucus Co-
Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) to cut all military aid to Azerbaijan
due to their escalating threats of war against Nagorno Karabagh and
Armenia was defeated by one vote today during a meeting of the U.S.
House State-Foreign Operations Subcommittee to consider the Fiscal
Year 2009 (FY09) foreign aid bill, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).

"We want to thank Joe Knollenberg for his leadership in seeking to
zero out military aid to Azerbaijan, and to express our
appreciation to all those, like Congressmen Adam Schiff and Mark
Kirk, who supported this vital legislative effort to promote peace
and stability in the Caucasus," said Aram Hamparian, Executive
Director of the ANCA. "At the same time, especially given the
razor-thin margin of this vote, we are saddened and disappointed by
the opposition of Chairwoman Lowey, and the other Representatives
who, although traditionally friends of the Armenian American
community – cast their votes to block the adoption of this badly
needed measure: Jesse Jackson, Jr., Steve Israel, Ben Chandler,
Steve Rothman, Barbara Lee, Betty McCollum, and David Obey."

Last month, during a hearing of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep.
Knollenberg cross-examined Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fried
regarding the State Department failure to meaningfully challenge
Azerbaijan’s war rhetoric against neighboring Nagorno Karabagh and
Armenia. Earlier today, as he entered the foreign aid mark-up, the
Michigan legislator stated, that: "For the security of Armenia and
the region, I strongly believe that the Azeri war machine must be
stopped. This is why it is completely unbelievable and
unacceptable that there would be any U.S. funding of Azerbaijan’s
military. I will fight to strip this money from the budget to
ensure Armenia’s continued safety. The U.S. absolutely must not
fund or support the Azeri’s bellicose behavior."

The panel approved $52 million in assistance to Armenia, $8 for
Nagorno Karabagh and, by rejecting the Knollenberg Amendment,
effectively maintained parity in military assistance to Armenia and
Azerbaijan. According to traditional Congressional practice, the
bill next goes to the full Appropriations Committee for
consideration before reaching the House floor, although the exact
legislative path for this measure remains unclear. The full Senate
Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider the Senate
version of the foreign aid bill on Thursday, July 17th.

Starting in March of this year, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-
Chairmen Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ), joined by
thirty-seven of their House colleagues, began a broad-based,
bipartisan effort to urge Subcommittee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY)
and Ranking Member Frank Wolf (R-VA) to support six priorities
aimed at advancing U.S. interests and American values in Armenia
and the surrounding region:

1) Cutting all military aid to Azerbaijan due to its threats of
renewed war
2) Allocating $5 million in military aid to Armenia
3) Continuing Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act
4) Allocating $70 million in economic aid to Armenia
5) Allocating $10 million in development aid to Nagorno Karabagh
6) Lifting barriers to U.S.-Nagorno Karabagh contact and
communications

The budget proposed by the White House this February sought to
dramatically slash aid to Armenia by 59%, and, once again, proposed
tipping the military aid balance in favor of Azerbaijan, despite
Baku’s threats to use it growing military arsenal to restart its
war against Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh.

Over the past several months, rallied by the ANCA, Armenian
Americans have been in touch with their legislators about the
dangers of the President’s proposed cuts in aid to Armenia, and in
support of a constructive set of foreign policies toward Armenia
and the region.

EXPANSIVE FOREIGN POLICY TALKS KICK OFF IN ANKARA

Turkish Daily News
July 16 2008

Turkey’s ambassadors from all over the world met yesterday for a
first-ever meeting in Ankara to hold what government officials called
comprehensive discussions regarding the country’s short and long-term
foreign policy goals.

In his opening speech, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said the four-day
brainstorming session would maintain coordination and create synergy
between Turkey’s envoys abroad and diplomats within the Foreign
Ministry, hoping that such meetings would become more frequent in the
future since Turkey maintains a very demanding foreign policy agenda.

On Turkey’s relations with the European Union, Babacan stressed that
Ankara would not deviate from its decades-old EU objective and press
ahead with those reforms required for full membership.

Babacan to EU: Win over Turkish public opinion

The foreign minister also called upon the EU to fulfill its
responsibilities to Turkey in order to win over Turkish public opinion,
which has often been frustrated by inconsistent messages coming from
the bloc’s leaders. Babacan said the EU Commission’s support for
Turkish membership should be reflected in its summit declarations.

Meanwhile, in Parliament, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told
his ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, deputies that more
than two negotiations chapters could be opened in Turkish-EU talks
during the EU presidency of French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Referring to his private meeting with Sarkozy this week in Paris,
Erdogan said: "We had the chance to discuss these issues. He (Sarkozy)
clearly said to me that he would exert efforts in this respect (for
the opening of three to four chapters)," said Erdogan.

Turkey’s EU membership negotiations, and the closure case filed
against the AKP, were also discussed during the meeting between
Erdogan and Sarkozy.

The French daily, Le Figaro, reported that Sarkozy assured Erdogan
that the 27 members of the EU bloc would present a coordinated front
due to the successful consultations with Ankara.

During their meeting, Erdogan asked Sarkozy to be supportive of
Turkey’s EU ambitions during his term as EU president, said Le Figaro.

Ankara seeks non-permanent UN seat

Meanwhile, in his address to the ambassadors, Babacan, while listing
foreign policy objectives, touched upon Turkey’s bid to secure a
non-permanent seat in the U.N. Security Council for the 2009-2010
session.

He said if Turkey was elected to the U.N. seat, it would contribute to
international efforts for peace and welfare; support the U.N. reform
process; help resolve international conflicts; take the lead in
the fight against xenophobia, racism, discrimination, intolerance,
extremism and violence; and open the door for dialogue between
different cultures and civilizations.

Babacan also sent word that Turkey would continue contributing to
U.N.-led peacekeeping missions throughout the world.

On Ankara’s "facilitator" role in the Middle East, Babacan said Ankara
was pursuing a proactive policy and obtaining meaningful results as
a country found trustworthy by Syria, Israel and the countries of
the region.

On the decades-old Cyprus dispute, Babacan said Turkey longed for
a fair and stable solution to the problem on the basis of past
U.N. resolutions. Regarding ties with neighboring Armenia, he
said Turkey would continue to willingly assume the initiative for
normalization of bilateral ties.

In order to improve ties with Latin American and African countries,
Turkey is planning to open additional embassies or representative
offices, noted Babacan. He also praised the Turkish-African summit,
to be held in August in Istanbul, where leaders from 54 African
countries will gather.

PAINTINGS BY BORIS EGIAZARYAN

Kyiv Post
July 16 2008
Ukraine

Colors as if burning within some inner fire, bright and vivid images
– this is what the exhibition of paintings by Boris Egiazaryan is
all about. The dedication to the exhibition reads: "To my friends
languishing in prisons and to all political prisoners." Thus the
works by the Armenian artist depict his rich life experience and are
strongly connected to his home country – both in imagery and their
mood. In addition to the exhibition Boris Egiazaryan will conduct a
master-class, during which, he together with the visitors, will paint
a new picture.

MOSCOW TO BRISK UP RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA IF GEORGIA JOINS NATO

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.07.2008 16:46 GMT+04:00

Moscow-Baku relations have cooled since the USSR decline and do not
depend on situation in third states, with the exception of Russia’s
engagement in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, a Russian expert said.

"Current relations satisfy Russia with their predictability. Baku
is not fully content but it does appreciate predictability of its
partner," Russian political scientist Dmitry Andreyev said.

Russia will not lose influence in the South Caucasus if Georgia joins
NATO, according to him.

"Moscow will just brisk up relations with Armenia and will deeper
engage in Karabakh process if Georgia joins the Alliance," Andreyev
said.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Seyran Ohanyan: Armenian soldiers ready to rebuff the enemy
14.07.2008 14:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian borders are guarded and checkpoints are
well-equipped. Our soldiers are ready to rebuff the enemy any time,
Armenia’s Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan said when responding to
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter’s question.

`The personnel are supplied with the essential weapons and food,’ the
Minister said.

To strengthen the `army-society-government’ ties, RA Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan and government members visited Saturday the Tavush
region of Armenia, where two residents of Chinari were killed.

The Azeri side commences fire several times a day, according to a
checkpoint chief.

DOORS OF COOPERATION ALWAYS OPEN

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 12, 2008
Armenia

In his speech delivered during the congress of `Heritage’ Party
convened yesterday Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan made his regular
appeal for cooperation: `What I propose in the existing political
situation is that we must put emphasis on the factors that unite rather
than separate us. We shouldn’t allow our goals disperse in the uproar
of struggle and become a matter of political speculations.

I hope you will perceive my appeal in the right way. The doors of
cooperation are always open for you. The proposal made by Serge
Sargsyan on February 26 is in force. We don’t have time for new
separations. It is high time to unite and work.’

NKR PRESIDENT ORDERED THAT INFRASTRUCTURES IN REPUBLIC REGIONS WHICH SUFFERED FROM FLOOD BE RESTORED IN SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME

DeFacto Agency
July 11 2008
Armenia

On July 10 Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakian held a
meeting, in the course of which the situation that had been created
in Shahumian and Martuni regions after flood was discussed.

According to the Central Department of Information under the NKR
President, Bako Sahakian gave a number of instructions to the heads
of appropriate organs, in part, mentioned the necessity to restore
the infrastructures in the shortest possible time.

The NKR President also stated the necessity to carry out design works
to expand roads and raise their security level.

The NKR PM Ara Harutyunian and other officials attended the meeting.

To remind, on July 9 Tartar River, flowing through Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic Shahumian and Martakert regions and falling into Sarsang
Reservoir, burst its banks and paralyzed rural communities’ life.

The river swept off all coastal kitchen-gardens, cornfields, and potato
and onion crops. In all, 6 hectares of cultivated land have been
damaged. Water also covered 18 hectares of Nor Getashen community’s
ploughed field, uprooted huge trees, fell electric poles, as a result
of which some rural communities have been deprived of water. Here and
there rough streams of Tartar destroyed the road connecting regions’
villages with Martakert and Stepanakert. As a result Shahumian region’s
villages turned into islands.

After signal received on July 9 from regional administrations’ heads,
NKR governmental delegation headed by Armo Tsaturian, Vice Premier, NKR
Minister of Agriculture, left for the scene of incident to familiarize
itself with the situation, calculate damage and verify actions to be
undertaken to eliminate the element’s consequences.

Yesterday, during the whole day, the delegation accompanied by
journalists visited the suffered communities of Martakert and
Shahumian regions.

To note, in the second half of the day Base Metals Company carried
out works on the road’s temporary clearing with heavy equipment.

iloubnan.info, Lebanon
July 11 2008

Murr and Tashnaq allies in 2009 elections

By George Eid
iloubnan.info – July 10, 2008

BEIRUT – After a meeting between Metn leader MP Michel al-Murr and MP
Hagop Pakradounian the `historic alliance, which dates as far back as
45 years’ was reconfirmed.

And they announced there alliance in the Metn area in the 2009
parliamentary elections.

On Thursday, MP Murr also publicly announced his alliance with the
Tashnaq in the 2009 elections. The MP added that there was no bad
blood with Aoun after Murr ended his alliance with the Change and
Reform bloc earlier this year.

Murr stated: `I am independent in politics. I am not accustomed to
adhering to parties and I did not leave the bloc to enter another. I
am independent of the Armenians, who are a respected entity in Lebanon
and the world".

803

DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF AZERBAIJAN VISITS GREAT BRITAIN

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
July 1, 2008 Tuesday

Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Khalaf Khalafov visiting Great
Britain on 30 June held a series of meetings in Foreign Ministrys
Departments for Russia, South Caucasus and Central Asia, the Near East,
and met with the Energy Group of Caspian region.

In these meetings, focused on were numerous aspects of
Azerbaijan-British relations and the opportunity to expand further
bilateral relations. The sides expressed satisfaction with current
level of ties, stressing greater potential to develop contacts in
the years ahead.

In meeting, particular emphasis was made on the large-scale economic
and energy projects being realized on the in initiative of Azerbaijan
and their role in maintenance of stability over the world. Mr. Khalafov
noted the increasing role of Azerbaijan in ensuring energy security in
the world. Azerbaijan becomes a reliable partner in energy projects,
he stated.

In meetings, also dsicussed was current situaiton on the South
Caucasus, the Caspian region and Central Asia, issues of integration
to the Euro-Atlantic strucutres, as well as pressing regional questions
and settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

WE NEED TO HAVE OUR OWN SYSTEM OF VALUES TO HAVE STRONG AND FREE STATE, ANALYST ARTSRUN PEPANIAN CONSIDERS

NOYAN TAPAN

Ju ly 3

The methods of struggle political figures can use in politics do not
exist and have not been worked out in Armenia so far.

Artsrun Pepanian, the coordinator of work of the Verelk club of
political studies, a political analyst, reported at the July 3 press
conference adding that the public way of thinking need to be radically
changed for that.

According to A. Pepanian, we need to have our own system of values to
have a strong and free state and not adopt the systems of values of
other countries, which is done in Armenia currently. In his opinion,
first of all we should refind the system of values we had formerly but
lost for this or that reason and come out of the serious crisis formed
in the country with the help of that system. Otherwise, according to
A. Pepanian, the country can be faced by a civil war.

And to refind the system of values, according to A. Pepanian, we need
to cooperate with historians, psychologists, and ethnographers, which
is the only way out currently. The Verelk club’s coordinator said that
he sees attempts to change the system of values in L. Ter-Petrosian’s
policy.