Author: Nahapetian Samvel

CAMPAIGNER IN CHIEF
By A.B. Stoddard

The Hill
inistration/94501-campaigner-in-chief
April 27 2010
DC

I don’t know about you, but I am surprised to see President Obama
wade into the midterm elections in such a direct way, and such
accountability will no doubt hamper him should things go badly for
Democrats this fall.

Obama taped a video message for supporters, urging them all to
help turn those 2008 voters out — Obama surge voters, as they are
known — on Nov. 2. We all know young voters, first-time voters
and African-American voters aren’t likely to show up in force for
a midterm election where an older, mostly white electorate usually
decides the outcome. But Obama is making a personal appeal, claiming
he can deliver on the promise of change if they come to the polls.

Here it is: "Hello, everyone. Today, I’d like to talk with you about
the important role each of us will play in 2010 — a role that began
more than three years ago, when we set out on an incredible journey
to change this country for the better.

"A few months ago, we asked you to help us set our priorities for 2010,
and let us know how you thought we could win elections at all levels
of government. You told us your first priority was to make sure the
same people who were inspired to vote for the first time in 2008 go
back to the polls in 2010. So that’s what we’re going to do.

"It will be up to each of you to make sure that the young people,
African-Americans, Latinos and women who powered our victory in 2008
stand together once again. … If you help us do that — if you help
us make sure that first-time voters in 2008 make their voices heard
again in November — then together we will deliver on the promise of
change, hope and prosperity for generations to come."

So with Obama’s numbers dangerously low in the swing districts that
will decide control of Congress, it will take quite a number of surge
voters to turn the tide against Democrats this fall.

One thing is for certain: Obama won’t be turning out the Armenians,
after remarks he made this weekend. According to The New York Times,
Obama’s refusal to use the term "genocide" to describe the killings
of 1.5 million Armenians at the turn of the 20th century is a change
since his presidential campaign, when he sponsored legislation using
the term and said "as president I will recognize Armenian genocide."

Though back then it was "not an opinion, or a point of view, but
rather a widely documented fact," and he added that "an official
policy that calls on diplomats to distort the historical facts is an
untenable policy."

Untenable no more. Obama’s policy of trying not to alienate Turkey
prompted the Armenians to condemn him. The Armenian National Committee
of America said this weekend that Obama’s "euphemisms and evasive
terminology" were "yet another capitulation to Turkey’s threats."

Obama’s broken promise to Armenians could count in pockets of
California, where Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) is in the fight of her
career. We certainly know Republicans everywhere are mad and energized
to vote. Will Obama help get those surge voters fired up and ready
to go?

Can he?

DES DOUZAINES D’ARRESTATIONS APRÈS DES HEURTS ENTRE GANGS A EREVAN
par Stephane

armenews
mardi27 avril 2010
ARMENIE

Plusieurs douzaines de personnes ont ete arretes a Erevan après que
deux groupes d’hommes armes se sont battus dans une dispute lie au
contrôle des affaires.

L’incident est arrive dans le district de Nor Nork. Bien que cela ait
rapidement pris une tournure violente, il n’y a eu aucun echange de
coups de feu ou de graves blessures.

Une forte presence policière est intervenue sur le lieu de
l’affrontemente. Selon la police armenienne, 55 hommes ont ete
apprehendes sur place et 36 d’entre eux ont ete par la suite places
sous mandat de depôt.

" Les circonstances de l’incident sont clarifiees " a declare
le porte-parole en chef de la police Sayad Shirinian. "L’enquete
continue. "

Shirinian a dit que l’enquete est conduite en vertu des articles du
Code penal armenien traitant "du vandalisme" et la possession illegale
d’armes. La police a trouve et a confisque 12 pistolets, a-t-il dit.

Shirinian a ajoute que " les perturbations de masse " ont ete suscitees
par " des questions financières. " Des articles des medias armeniens
ont parle de deux gangs rivaux en conflit sur un titre de propriete
appartenant a un residant bien connu repute pour etre une figure du
crime. Selon quelques articles quelques membres des gangs ont fait
part de leur adhesion au parti Armenie Prospère (BHK).

Shirinian a insiste, cependant, qu’aucun des hommes retenus
n’est affilie au moindre parti politique ou l’organisation non
gouvernementale. " Ceux qui ont commis ces actes de voyou sont
principalement d’anciens prisonniers et des drogues " a dit le
porte-parole de la police.

Un representant du BHK, Naira Zohrabian a de meme assure qu’aucun
membre du parti mene par Gagik Tsarukian, un des hommes d’affaires
les plus riches et les plus influents dl’Armenie, n’a ete implique
dans les violences.

TURKISH MP: BESIDES AZERBAIJAN AND TURKEY, WEST IS ALSO INTERESTED IN LIBERATION OF THE LACHIN CORRIDOR

Today
66761.html
April 26 2010
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with member of the Grand National Assembly of
Turkey (Parliament) from the ruling Justice and Development Party
Irfan Gunduz.

In his annual address to the Armenian Diaspora, U.S. President
Barack Obama once again disappointed Armenians by not using the word
"genocide" to describe 1915 events in the Ottoman Empire. However,
earlier the lower house of the U.S. Congress passed a decision in
favour of the Armenian community…

The fact that Barack Obama did not utter the word "Armenian genocide"
is a manifestation of respect for Turkey. We once again made sure
that we are right and justice will prevail.

Struggle for control over energy resources is central to the U.S.

politics. This is illustrated by the occupation of Iraq and relations
with the Gulf countries. The same policy is formed in the Caspian
region. Turkey is a geo-strategic input into the region. The White
House would never sacrifice its national interests for the sake
of a handful of ambitious Armenian Diaspora. Turkish politicians,
regardless of party affiliation, do not attach much importance to how
many countries have recognized the "Armenian genocide". We believe
historians. No politicians should deal with this issue.

Will Turkey make corrections to its foreign policy in wake of
the Armenian Parliament’s move to suspend ratification of the
Armenia-Turkey protocols?

The decision of the Armenian parliament will have no effect on Turkey’s
position in terms of resuming relations with Armenia.

Conditions advanced to the Armenian side would not be repealed or
revised, no matter Armenian parliament freezes them or not.

The Turkish-Armenian and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations are
interrelated and should be resolved simultaneously. The world community
sticks to the same opinion.

Armenia made a strategic mistake by occupying Azerbaijan’s regions
near the Turkish border. Lachin-Shusha road had linked the Ottoman
Empire with the Turkic world for hundreds of years. Besides Azerbaijan
and Turkey, West is also interested in liberation of the Lachin
corridor. The gas demand is growing steadily in Europe and the EU
needs new sources of energy. This is necessary not only from economic,
but also from a political point of view.

The Russian-Georgian war showed vulnerability of the existence of
only route, that is, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.

Therefore, the U.S. and the EU intend to implement the idea of
building another supply route of Caspian energy resources. Amid the
global economic crisis, the Europeans seek to minimize the cost of
gas supply routes. In this sense, the route of the Baku-Yerevan-Ceyhan
oil pipeline is the most cost-effective way of gas pipeline from the
Caspian oil and gas fields to Europe. The whole activity of the West
in terms of normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia
just serve this purpose. But it is impossible to implement this plan
without liberation of occupied Azerbaijani territories. Europe and the
United States understand this very well. The future Baku-Yerevan-Ceyhan
pipeline will pass through the Lachin corridor.

The Armenian diaspora has always been an instrument of pressure on
Turkey, but now West’s interests do not coincide with the plans of the
diaspora. Even if Armenia freezes these protocols and put them in the
fridge, the West will still force Armenia to leave Nagorno-Karabakh.

This meets also EU and the U.S. interests.

Are the sides likely to forget about the Zurich protocols?

Turkey is not going to halt the dialogue with Armenia. We support
peace and security in the South Caucasus region, opening the path
to prosperity in the region and stable development of all peoples of
the Caucasus. But it is impossible to achieve this until the Karabakh
conflict is settled. Armenia must end its occupation of Azerbaijani
territories and to create conditions for return of Azerbaijani refugees
to their native towns and villages.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made it clear that the
government will not take decisions that would harm Azerbaijan’s
interests. Relations with Armenia will not be restored until Armenia
withdraws troops from Nagorno-Karabakh.

NUDIST HOTEL ON TURKISH COAST RECEIVES PUBLIC APPROVAL

Hurriyet
April 26 2010
Turkey

DATCA – Dogan News Agency

A hotel that will only serve nudists in the Aegean resort town of Datca
has received the support of locals, Dogan news agency reported Monday.

Open exclusively to foreigners, the beachfront nudist-only hotel
Adaburnu Gölmar, built on a 14,000-square-meter plot of land located
15 kilometers from Datca’s town center, will open on May 1. It will
be Turkey’s first hotel to serve nudists and the locals in Datca are
excited about the opportunity.

Selma Unal, a member of the Mugla Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
noted that Datca is a Special Environment Protection Zone and it is
impossible to increase the bed capacity.

"Even if it is a tourism facility, the buildings in Datca can be
three-story at most," said the 41-year-old businesswoman. "Under such
circumstances, a hotel going into the niche nudist tourism market is a
very good idea. I will support any move that will bring more tourists
to Datca and diversifying the target audience is an advantage in the
tourism sector."

Unal said every hotel should try to be unique, just like the nudist
hotel, and the share Datca gets from the tourism pie will increase
this way.

The project architect of first hotel of its kind in Turkey, Abdullah
Ä°Å~_canı, said the premises are located close to Datca’s most
important tourism zone. "The area is around 5 million square meters in
total, all allocated for tourism facilities," he said. "But there is
not yet enough investment in the area. The Kardemir family, owners
of Adaburnu Gölmar along with other tourism investments, has been
the pioneers here."

Ä°Å~_canı said it is important that the first investment in the area
sets eyes on a whole different tourism market.

"We must diversify tourism as much as we can to make the best use of
it," he said. "A nudist hotel is just one example of targeting the
niche markets; I hope that other examples will follow."

The new concept has also ensured the support of local business owners.

Polat Tuncer, owner of a jewelry shop in Datca, noted that Turkey
and Datca has more potential for tourism.

"We swim in the same sea and stare at the same sun with our neighbor
Greeks, but they are much better than us at marketing their tourism
potential," said the 37-year-old. "The Greek islands in the Aegean
attract thousands of tourists from all around the world thanks to
their nudist hotels. I think that it is time Turkey takes its share
of this pie."

Hasan Cine, who has been running a shop in the resort town for six
years, thinks that such attempts should be supported. "The concept
is not all about nudity, besides nudity is a reality in life," the
32-year-old said. "How can people swimming naked in a pool in an
enclosed area create problems for others?"

Another shop owner said that since Turkey has gone through an
"initiatives period" – such as the "democratic initiative" and the
Armenian initiative" – having a hotel for nudists could be considered a
"Datca initiative."

"Just like it does not matter if people are black or white, young
or old, it does not matter whether they are dressed up or naked in a
private hotel," said Recep Kara, who has been running a barber shop
in Datca for 20 years.

"I’m happy with the new hotel, the most important thing is increasing
the number of tourists visiting our town," he added.

Orhan Gönul, a 57-year-old retiree who settled in Datca after working
and living in Germany for more than 30 years, is also in favor of
the nudist hotel concept.

"Germany had nudist hotels when I was working there and it didn’t do
me any harm," said Gönul. "Today, millions of Turks work abroad.

Aren’t there nudist hotels in the countries they work in? What harm
does it do?"

Gönul supports the idea as long as the nudity stays behind closed
doors. "Nudity in public is not acceptable anywhere around the world,"
he said. "If this stays indoors, or only in the hotel area, I support
Datca having a nudist hotel."

K. MANOYAN SAYS THIS YEAR B. OBAMA DID NOT HAVE A REASON FOR AVOIDING TO USE TERM "GENOCIDE"

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 26, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 26, ARMENPRESS: This year US President Barack Obama did
not have a reason for avoiding to use the term "genocide" in contrast
to the previous year when Armenia-Turkey-Switzerland joint statement
was made few days before April 24, head of the ARF Armenian Cause
and Political Affairs Office Kiro Manoyan said today at a meeting
with journalists.

According to him, B. Obama "in an unequal" way stressed the role of
those Turks which helped few Armenian families during the Armenian
Genocide.

"I say in an unequal way, because Obama avoided calling things by
their names and put the stress on partial phenomena. If those people
did anything which must have been praised then only in the background
that there was a planned program of Genocide," ARF representative said.

According to him, B. Obama made that step on one hand by yielding
to Turkish pressures and on the other hand to the words of some
consultants. K. Manoyan also noted that both Turkey and the USA
translate the word "Mets Yeghern" taking into consideration their
profits, by giving the meaning of "tragedy" to the word, which suggests
almost nothing.

K. Manoyan said that currently Armenia does not face the issue of
ensuring recognition of the Armenian genocide, and its recognition
by the USA is important in regard that Armenia, being in struggle
with Turkey, will get out with victory.

Summing up the events of the last several days, the ARF representative
noted that the Armenian people will properly pay their tribute of honor
to the victims of the genocide everywhere – in the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic, Javakhk, Diaspora, and reconfirmed its determination by
demanding justice in the 95th anniversary. He said the suspension of
the process of the Armenian-Turkish relations is quite notable, but
also noted that the presence of the signatures under the protocols
again present danger.

Highly assessing the courage and civil bravery of the participants
of the rally organized in Turkey, the speaker noted that their
number does not allow to say that there is really a change in the
Turkish society. He especially stressed the circumstance that the
definition of "genocide" has never been pronounced during the rallies
in Istanbul. "In this way they want to tell us they can speak to us,
and coax without using the word of "genocide". This has a goal of
contributing to the political program of Turkish authorities," K.
Manoyan said.

Armenian President: We will consider the possibility of further action
when we see appropriate atmosphere in Turkey

2010-04-24 11:43:00

ArmInfo. We have not shut the door but we are not going to take any
further steps either. We will consider the possibility of further
action when we feel that there is appropriate atmosphere in Turkey and
when we see a government committed to normalize the relations,
President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview to RIA
Novosti.

Armenia has not withdrawn its signatures from the protocols as it
wants to preserve the possibility of rapprochement. "We want peace.
Our political goals to normalize relations with Turkey are still in
force," Sargsyan said. He said that the "pacta sunt servanda"
("agreements must be kept") principle is the basis of the
international law. "The Armenian-Turkish protocols were result of long
and hard talks. Both sides were most clear in expressing their
positions and both were aware of what was possible and impossible for
them. In this light, we dismiss any attempts to link the ratification
process with other problems. The international community has made it
very clear that the protocols should be ratified as soon as possible
without preconditions. Turkey has failed both parts of this test,"
Sargsyan said.

Buzz Tab
April 24 2010

Obama Will Utter Armenian Genocide

Many Armenian politicians, who reached Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to pay
tribute to people who were brutally murdered in Armenian Genocide in
Ottoman Turkey in 1915-1923, have assessed the international efforts
to recognize the mass killings of Armenians as `Genocide’.

Hrair Karapetyan, who is the head of the committee on defense,
international affairs and national security, RA Parliament, is
expecting that president Obama will declare the Armenian killings as
`genocide’ and will use this word in his address which he will make to
Armenians in April.

Hrair Karapetyan was of the view that such a gesture by the president
of the United States will accelerate the global recognition of the
Armenian Genocide which has already been acknowledged by the U.S.
Congress. RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan was of the view
that there is great unity among the Armenian People.

He told that the people of Armenia are in harmony and feel great pain
for the victims of mass murders and striving for equity. She told that
their goal is to get the killings of Armenians recognized as Genocide
by the global community and to devise a resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh
issue. She told that addressing these issues will integrate Armenia.

Chairman of the Control Chamber of Armenia Ishkhan Zakaryan was of the
view that there should be softening of borders between Turkey and
Armenia to enhance trade ties between the two countries. But the issue
is turkey is not positively responding to the proposal. VivaCell
General Manager Mr. Ralph Yirikian said that the day of April 24 has
great significance in the history of the country.

ll-utter-armenian-genocide/

14WFIE.com (NBC)
April 25 2010

Armenians mark 95th anniversary of mass killings
Updated: Apr 25, 2010 9:35 AM

Posted by Sarah Harlan

ARMENIA (NBC) – Saturday, Armenians marked the 95th anniversary of the
mass killing of their fellow countrymen by Ottoman Turks around the
time of WWI.

Hundreds of thousands of Armenians laid flowers at a monument to the victims.

Ethnic Armenians gathered in Moscow, Jerusalem and other parts of the
world in remembrance.

Some Armenians protested outside the Turkish consulate in east Jerusalem.

Historians estimate up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed.

Ottoman authorities evicted Armenians from their homes in actions that
led to the mass slaughter of the Armenian population.

Turkey said the death toll has been inflated and said those killed
were victims of civil war as the Ottoman empire collapsed.

Turkey said the deaths do not constitute genocide.

Turkey and Armenia have no current diplomatic ties.

A deal to re-establish diplomatic ties between Turkey and Armenia
recently failed.

12370554

CBC News, Canada
April 24, 2010 Saturday 7:59 PM GMT

Armenian Canadians rally to remember killings

Hundreds of Armenian Canadians rallied in Ottawa Saturday for Turkey
to recognize the killing of 1.5 million Armenians nearly a century ago
as a genocide.

The mass killings by Ottoman Turks began in 1915 and continued for a decade.

"We are not able to forget that, so we’re going to repeat that each
year," said Robert Kouyoumdjian, executive director of the Armenian
National Committee of Canada, about the rally. Beginning at noon on
Parliament Hill, the rally lead into a march to the Turkish Embassy.

Similar events will be held annually until Turkey stops claiming that
the deaths took place during a civil conflict, Kouyoumdjian said.

"We didn’t fight any war against Turkey. We were part of Turkey," said
Kouyoumdijian, whose grandfather fought in the Turkish army. He added
that Turkey had created its own version of history â?¬’ "To make [us]
forget the truth and anything else."

Turkey has long said the estimated death toll of 1.5 million people
around the time of the First World War is an inflated figure. It also
maintains that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest, not
genocide.

Canada recognized genocide in 2004

Nevertheless, Canada’s House of Commons voted in 2004 to recognize the
killings as genocide. The U.S. foreign affairs committee endorsed a
similar resolution this past March, even though the Obama
administration had urged Congress not to offend Turkey by approving
it.

Ottawa police had expected about 1,000 people to turn out for
Saturday’s rally. Speakers included Ottawa-Orleans MP Royal Galipeau
and Scarborough-Agincourt MP Jim Karygiannis, who brought forward the
2004 private member’s bill leading to Canada’s recognition of the
genocide.

The crowd sang and chanted while waving the red, blue and orange Armenian flag.

Demonstrators placed flowers around the Eternal Flame before marching
to the Turkish Embassy.

Some of the demonstrators said Armenians today are still strongly
affected by the deaths and by Turkey’s refusal to recognize them as a
genocide.

"We need to fight," said CÃ?©cile Kozadjian, who described herself as a
member of the fourth Armenian generation after the war. "We need to
say that it really did happen and they shouldn’t be in denial ’cause
it’s the truth."

"We need to remember," agreed Raffi Sarkissian. "That’s the only way
we can end the cycle of genocide and prevent future cases of genocide
anywhere else."

NKR PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS ON 95TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

armradio.am
24.04.2010 12:29

On 24 April President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan
issued an address in connection with the 95th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, Central Information Department of the Office of
the NKR President reports. The address runs as follows:

"Dear compatriots,

95 years ago a monstrous and unprecedented crime, the Armenian
Genocide, was committed. It was the first genocide of the 20th century;
millions of Armenians fell victim to this, thousands of Armenian
churches and monasteries, schools and colleges were plundered, a unique
civilization was destroyed. The Armenian nation was deprived of a
large part of its historical Motherland and spread all over the world.

For our people these 95 years have been years of struggle and creation,
survival and restoration of historical justice. However, we have not
been alone in this struggle; the progressive mankind has been standing
side by side with us. We are grateful to all those who gave a helping
hand and shelter to the refugee Armenians having escaped the slaughter.

Many countries have recognized and condemned the Genocide. It is
important both for us and the whole mankind because in this way future
massacres could be prevented and excluded. Impunity is an evil in
itself generating new crimes. The Jewish Holocaust organized by the
Nazis, Armenian pogroms in Sumgait, Baku and a number of other crimes
are just a few testimonies of that.

Dear friends, Today be bow our heads to the memory of innocent
victims of the Genocide. The best way to immortalize their memory is
to build an independent and powerful statehood, to further strengthen
the Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora trinity by realizing nationwide programs
and goals. Every single Armenian must do everything possible to make
our Motherland powerful and invincible, flourishing and prosperous".