Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

THOUSANDS PROTEST OBAMA’S RETREAT FROM PLEDGE AT TURKEY’S CONSULATE IN LA

ALLEN YEKIKAN

912_4/28/2009_1
Monday, April 27, 2009

Community Urges Administration to Correct Policy on Genocide

LOS ANGELES–Over 10,000 people demonstrated at the Turkish Consulate
in Los Angeles on April 24, demanding an end to Turkey’s ongoing
denial of the Armenian Genocide and voicing sharp disappointment
at US President Barack Obama for breaking his campaign pledge to
properly recognize the crime against humanity in his address to the
Armenian-American community.

The demonstration, organized annually by the Armenian Youth Federation
(AYF), is a symbolic focal point for the community and represents
its year-long struggle to gain proper recognition and justice for
the deliberate annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians by the Turkish
Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923.

The protest converged with global expectations pertaining to President
Obama’s numerous campaign pledges to reaffirm the U.S. record
on the Armenian Genocide. Turkey had repeatedly threatened to
retaliate against US interests in Iraq and Afghanistan in response
to U.S. recognition of its crime.

This year, the United States had the best chance in a generation to
help end the cycle of genocide with President Obama having been a
forceful proponent of genocide recognition and prevention. "America
deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and
responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that President,"
Obama said during his campaign.

"But today, the President broke his promise to bring change to
the White House on the issue of Genocide," said one demonstrator,
holding a sign that asked why Obama retreated from his pledge. "The
President’s failure to accurately characterize the Genocide after
having spoken forcefully about ending the Genocide in Darfur will
undermine his credibility when speaking about the issue of genocide."

Many at the demonstration shared this disappointment, angered by the
fact that Turkey was again able to coax the United States of America
into silence.

Obama’s failure to speak truth to power angered many Armenians this
year, who had begun their day optimistic that he would rectify the
wrongs of previous administrations, according to Avo Shanlian, who
served as a monitor at the demonstration.

For decades, the government of Turkey has been engaged in a pro-active,
relentless, and shameless campaign to deny the horrors it committed
during the Genocide. In the last thirty years, Turkey has redoubled
its efforts to erase history, leveraging high-level contacts in the
defense industry; enticing support from journalists who propagate
Turkey’s "importance as a key ally"; and hiring professional lobby
firms and such high profile former congressman as Dick Ghephardt,
Bob Livingston, and Denis Hastert to bribe US representatives and
leaders into staying silent.

"Turkey’s threats to retaliate against us for speaking against genocide
tells us more about Turkey and its own domestic problems than it does
about the Armenian Genocide, which we all know to be an established
fact of history," said Saro Haroun, a spokesperson for the AYF, who
spoke to reporters covering the demonstration about Turkey’s annual
attempts to prevent the US from reaffirming its record on the Genocide.

Another demonstrator, Ileen Izekelian, said America’s stand
against genocide must be driven by moral values, not political
interests. Turkish officials, from the President to the Foreign
Minister, had repeatedly warned President Obama to steer clear of the
issue or face retaliation by Turkey. Ankara threatened to sabotage
US efforts to leave Iraq and break off negotiations with Armenia
over the establishment of diplomatic relations and the lifting of
its illegal blockade.

Ankara has been using its talks with Yerevan to scuttle
international recognition of the Armenian genocide, explained
Sarkis Semerjian. "Throughout the entire process, Turkey has been
placing preconditions on Armenia, demanding Yerevan drop efforts to
recognize the Genocide and agree to establish a historical commission
to ostensibly examine the events of 1915-1923.

" Such a commission seeks to question the veracity of the Genocide–a
crime widely accepted by historians as a settled and indisputable fact.

Last Friday’s protest came two days after the Armenian and Turkish
Foreign Ministries issued a joint statement announcing the two
governments had agreed on a "roadmap" for normalizing bilateral
relations. The cryptic statement is seen as a tacit green light
to Obama to not recognize the Genocide, a move most in Armenia and
its worldwide diaspora have categorically condemned as a diplomatic
blunder.

"Given its past practice and the obvious timing of this agreement just
prior to April 24th, Turkey’s motive is absolutely clear–to defer,
delay, and defeat U.S. recognition of the Genocide," exclaimed Arek
Santikian, another spokesperson of the AYF.

"I am skeptical of Turkey’s willingness to sincerely engage in
meaningful dialogue. It’s hard to believe that Turkey has in any
meaningful way altered its longstanding belligerence toward Armenians,
which it oppresses within its own country by making it a crime to
discuss the Genocide," he said, expressing disappointment both with
Obama and Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian. "The release of the
statement on the eve of the 94th anniversary of the Genocide and
right before Obama was expected to recognize the Genocide is a blow
to Armenia, the Armenian people and worldwide efforts to end the
genocide in Darfur."

Many at the event described Obama’s April 24 statement as a "retreat"
from American values and a setback to the vital change he promised
to bring to Washington during his campaign.

Hilton Sorkazian likened the President’s handling of the situation
with how the Bush administration tiptoed around the issue every
April 24. George Bush repeatedly reneged on his campaign pledge to
recognize the Genocide. Placating Turkish interests, Bush personally
lobbied members of Congress in 2007 to prevent them from passing a
resolution reaffirming the US record on the Armenian Genocide.

"Our struggle does not begin or end with one day; it does not being
or end with the Turkish Consulate; and it does not begin or end with
any statements by Barack Obama," exclaimed the Chairman of the AYF,
Vache Thomassian, in a speech during the protest.

Thomassian honored the memory of Ghazaros Kademian, a Genocide survivor
who regularly attended the demonstration until his death earlier this
year at the age of 102. "It is for Ghazaros’ generation as well as
our future generations that we fight [for recognition and prevention]."

"The community’s struggle is built on a desire for justice for the
lives that were lost, the properties that were taken and the lands that
have been occupied," he continued, stressing that Turkey’s assertion
that Genocide recognition will stifle reconciliation with Armenia is
a hoax. "No pathetic attempt to normalize relations between Armenia
and Turkey can be sincere without recognizing the Genocide."

Speaking to Asbarez after the protest, Thomassian said the AYF,
and the Armenian- American community, now look to Barack Obama to
end the semantics by speaking truthfully on the issue by properly
condemning and commemorating the crime. "We urge our President to
make a speedy and public correction to his Administration’s policy
on the Armenian Genocide."

Shunt Jarchafjian, a member of the AYF Central Executive who delivered
a speech at the protest in Armenian, told Asbarez he expects Obama
to work toward the adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution
introduced in Congress earlier in March.

"The resolution has over a hundred co-sponsors now and the community
should redouble its grassroots efforts to ensure that support for the
bi-partisan legislation grows to secure its passage," he said. "Obama
missed yet another opportunity and should now give full support to
congressional efforts to recognize the Genocide."

ANKARA DISSATISFIED WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA’S MESSAGE
Hakob Chaqrian

AZG DAILY
29-04-2009

In the April 24 every year statement US President Barack Obama evaded
using the word ‘Genocide’ instead of it uttering the phrase ‘Great
atrocities’ (Medz Yeghern). The reason of it was probably the joint
statement of Armenian, Turkish and Swiss Foreign Ministers. The
Armenian Diaspora and especially the American-Armenians are
disappointed.

It is noteworthy that the official Ankara is also disappointed with
President Obama’s April 24 statement.

The reason for Ankara’s disappointment was the phrase
‘Great atrocities’ and mentioning of the mass killings of 1.5
Armenians. According to Ankara, it was the severest statement that
was ever made.

Apparently, the Turkish side had high hopes of the Foreign Ministers’
joint statement.

Anyway, according to the Turkish Public TV, President Obama’s April
24 statement provoked an angry reaction in Turkey.

In this connection, Turkish Grand National Assembly Speaker Koksal
Toptan said, "It is clear that honorable Obama is uninformed about
the incidents of 1915. These kinds of actions will have a serious
influence on the process of normalization of relations with Armenia
initiated by Turkey".

"We are not satisfied with the statement and find it as keeping
of election campaign promise. There are absolutely inadmissible
expressions in the statement. We support any fair expression
that doesn’t reflect the self-interested approach of the election
campaign. Turkey is not the country to be stroked and deceived",
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan added.

IRAN TO HOLD ECONOMIC EXPO IN ARMENIA EARLY JULY

ISNA
April 27 2009
Tehran

TEHRAN (ISNA)-The Head of Iran-Armenia Chamber of Commerce Leon
Aharonian said on Monday Iran will hold its 11th economic expo in
Armenia from July 4 to 8.

The exhibition includes technological and industrial goods as well as
foodstuffs, construction materials, detergents and clothing, he said.

The Iranian companies which attend the fair will receive special
privilleges including subsidy by 40 percent for renting booth, he said.

Iran-Armenia commercial exchanges totaled 230 million dollars in 2008,
Aharonian said adding the level is lower than capabilities of both
sides and needs to be raised.

He continued the report released by Armenian government says bilateral
trade cooperation hit 105 million dollars that was increased by 200
million dollars in 2006.

RUSSIA-TURKEY WARS OF SUPREMACY IN AZERBAIJAN

Hurriyet
April 21 2009
Turkey

BAKU – Although the storm in Turkish-Azerbaijani relations has settled
following assurances from Ankara that it will not open its borders
with Yerevan before a breakthrough in Armenian-Azerbaijani issues is
made, it seems difficult for the short term to eradicate the crisis
of confidence erupted recently between Ankara and Baku.

Ankara and Yerevan came very close to a deal that would normalize
relations between the two countries but the process came to a sudden
halt following reaction from Azerbaijan, which is opposed to the
opening of the border without progress in the Nagorno Karabakh issue.

Turkey closed its borders with Armenia after the Armenian occupation
of the Azerbaijani enclave Nagorno Karabakh, as well as other regions
surrounding the enclave.

"We were not informed of the talks between Turkey and Armenia,"
Asim Mollazade said of the negotiations conducted between Turkish
and Armenian diplomats. The talks gained momentum following Turkish
President Abdullah Gul’s historic visit to Yerevan last September. "We
learned it from others," added Mollazade, the leader of the opposition
Democratic Reform Party.

The lack of confidence is not a recent factor in relations. When
the Justice and Development Party, or the AKP, came to power, Baku
hesitated to fully trust the new government in Ankara. "There was an
apprehension towards the AKP. Baku was not sure whether the Turkic
world would appear high on the agenda of the AKP. There was a suspicion
that the AKP could prioritize other issues to the detriment of
Azerbaijan," said a foreign observer, who asked not to be identified.

Although the recent statements from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
and President Gul have calmed down the administration’s anxiety, the
fact that the Turkish parliamentary group that went to Baku last week
did not include AKP parliamentarians did not go unnoticed. "Relations
with Azerbaijan should be a bipartisan issue. It should not be the
victim of discussions between the government and the opposition,"
said Mollazade, talking to Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review
right after a meeting with the visiting delegation.

Russian influence In every conversation in Baku that involves the
Caucasus, Russia is inevitably mentioned. Opponents of Russia see
the hand of Moscow in the rapprochement between the Turks and the
Armenians, as it will be detrimental to relations between Ankara
and Baku.

"Russia wants the Caucasus out of the hands of the Muslims," taxi
driver Ennagi Ismailoglu said. "Russia will never want good relations
between Turkey and Azerbaijan."

In the short term, open borders between Turkey and Armenia will
benefit Russia, especially in light of the recent war with Georgia,
as it will have better access to Armenia where it still has military
troops. Russian flights presently carrying ammunition to troops in
Armenia are flying all the way from Turkmenistan. Furthermore, it
will further isolate Georgia.

Turkey and Azerbaijan forged good relations right after Azerbaijan
declared its independence. The Azerbaijani government, under Haydar
Aliyev, the father of the current president has been careful not to
alienate the Russians. "In fact we have always advised Azerbaijanis
to go very careful with Russia, to avoid policies that might anger
Russians," said a Turkish diplomat who is familiar with the early
stages of the bilateral relations.

Ever since independence, Azerbaijan has been the scene of rivalry
between Turkey and Russia for cultural, economic and political
supremacy. Turkey has the advantage of having linguistic, religious
and ethnic affinity. The Turkish dialect spoken by the Azerbaijanis
is easily understood by Turks. But the Russians have the advantage of
having kept Azerbaijan under Soviet domination for half a century. Many
Azerbaijanis still speak Russian.

lham Aliyev, the son of Haydar Aliyev, who took over the government
following the death of his father, is still surrounded by the
members of the old Soviet cadres. "There is a pro Russian group in
the government that is leading an anti Turkish campaign," Arastun
Orujlu, president of the East-West Research Center, said. After the
advent of Ilham Aliyev, Turkish soldiers were sent back to Turkey,
claimed Orujlu. The broadcasting of Turkish soap operas, which are
very popular among the Azerbaijani public, were stopped in an effort
to avoid the influence of Turkish on the local dialect. "I see no
rational in this decision. This came us a result of Russian pressure,"
said Nesip Nesibli, of the opposition party Musavat.

Search for identity Although Turkish officials recognize the presence
of what they call "the Soviet-minded officials, who believe the center
of the world is still Moscow," there is not such a perception in Ankara
that Azerbaijan is deliberately taken steps to decrease Turkey’s
influence. "As Azerbaijani soldiers were also trained in Turkey,
they are back in Baku to provide training themselves. The Turkish
soldiers have finished their mission in Baku, it is only natural
for them to leave Azerbaijan," said one Turkish official. There is
also a relative understanding in Turkish circles for Azerbaijani
efforts to keep the local culture away from the cultural influence of
Turkey. "At one stage every kid in Azerbaijan was wearing t-shirts
of the nationalistic film ‘Valley of the Wolf." Differences emerged
in the language spoken by the grandfather and the grandson," said a
Turkish businessmen living in Baku.

No matter how the two sides’ officials perceive the cultural wars, the
fact remains that the recent developments seem to have reinforced the
suspicion on the part of the Aliyev administration toward the AKP. "The
recent events have shown to us that the motto ‘one nation two states’
has remained only rhetoric. We have not been able to substantiate it,"
said Nesibli. "The Turkish government made the mistake of conducting
talks with Yerevan without consulting Baku. Our administration,
however, made the mistake of making its discontent public, instead
of handling it through the diplomatic channels," Nesibli added,
criticizing the decision of Aliyev not to go to Turkey.

"Baku resented the fact that Turkey took them for granted," one
foreign observer said.

"What I see is the need to talk more, we need to be more in touch with
each other," Mollazade said of how to overcome the confidence crisis
between the two countries known until recently as strategic partners.

US MEDIATOR OPTIMISTIC ON KARABAKH PEACE TALKS BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA

Turan
April 20 2009
Azerbaijan

The basic principles of the Karabakh settlement provide for
defining frameworks of the final resolution of the problem, US
co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza told BBC in an
interview. These principles provide for the return of territories,
the return of displaced persons to their native lands, ensuring
of mechanism of both ethnic groups’ safe living in the region. All
these will create fair and balanced conditions for moving forward the
development of mechanisms of defining a "political status of disputed
territories". Bryza said that there were still specific points which
should be resolved that in turn would make it possible to sum up the
basic principles of the settlement.

He did not specify the content of the issues that need to be agreed
on. But he said that the presidents [of Armenia and Azerbaijan] should
make brave steps to reach final agreements. "But I’m convinced that
they are capable of doing that, and the senior officials of my country
are ready to help the presidents to overcome these difficulties in
months to come," Bryza said.

As for the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border, he said that the
normalization of relations between Ankara and Yerevan may favour the
evolution of Armenia’s opinion that could help the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict.

Commenting on [President] Aliyev’s Moscow visit, Bryza said that one
should only welcome good relations between Baku and Moscow, and that
[good relations between Azerbaijan and Russia] may promote the Karabakh
settlement process.

He voiced optimism that there might be a breakthrough in the Karabakh
settlement process in the near future. He said that might be expected
at the next meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents.

BEELINE LAUNCHES ALTERNATIVE PACKAGE OF TARIFF SERVICES

LRAGIR.AM
17:50:08 – 20/04/2009

The subscribers of the ArmenTel company (Beeline trademark) fixed
connection will have a choice possibility in the future. The
subscribers may choose the most optimal version for them.

For example, natural persons will be offered a "domestic 1200" and
"domestic 1800" packages.

The juridical persons may optimize their expenditure with the help
of the packages "Business 550", "Business 1100" or "Business 1650".

NECN.com
April 18 2009

Worcester commemorates Armenian Genocide

(NECN: Kenneth Craig, Worcester, Mass.) – Worcester’s Armenian
community is gathering together this weekend to mark what they call a
horrific Holocaust. The deaths of more than a million Armenians.

While the genocide is not officially recognized by the United States,
those who had loved ones who lived through it say they will never
forget.

According to the Armenian Church, 94 years ago the Turkish Government
killed over a million Armenians, trying to stop them from creating
their own state. Most of the people who did survive that Holocaust are
no longer alive, but for their family their spirit still is.

Reporter Kenneth Craig has more.

watch video
04/17/Worcester-commemorates/1240000376.html

MASTER OF THE DUDUK
John Mather

The National UAE
AZINE/117774828/1284
April 18 2009

>From performing for Stalin to composing the soundtrack to Gladiator,
Jivan Gasparyan’s career has been far-reaching. The Armenian duduk
player speaks about his music ahead of his performance at Womad.

What does the Womad festival mean to you?

I like taking part in this festival – it gives musicians, dancers
and people of art an opportunity to share enthusiasm for the music
from other cultures.

How do people react to your music? You once played for Stalin, what’s
different between playing for him and playing at festival?

I can obviously see that people really like my music, it’s very
emotional to all listeners, but they react to it very differently. Some
like to meditate and relax by listening to it, it makes some of
them cry, others open their minds, think seriously. It’s about
feelings. Yes, I played for Stalin, and it was an honour.

What do you want from the audience in Abu Dhabi?

To listen and enjoy wonderful music and sounds from different parts
of the globe.

You started playing the duduk when you were six during a tumultuous
childhood. What role did music play for you while growing up?

Music helped me survive and overcome hardships. Everyday I grew more
serious. Music became a part of my life, a part of me.

You left Armenia during the revolution. What was it like to
return? Would you ever leave again?

I love Armenia, it’s my home. I am always happy to be there. I never
left it forever. There were hard times for the Armenian people. I
like to travel, and I have concerts in Europe and in the USA almost
every other month but I always come back home.

Any plans to retire?

It’s hard to think about it, especially when you feel you are still
creative and have the strength to do more. But we all have to retire
one day. I plan to compose and teach when I retire. My grandson, Jivan
Gasparyan Jr, a very promising musician, is going to perform together
with me at this festival. I hope the audience enjoys his music, too.

How would you explain the duduk to someone who’s never heard of it?

I would say it’s an oboe-like instrument, made of an apricot tree,
which evokes all kinds of deep feelings in people, touching their
hearts, and making them open their minds. It transfers them very
slowly into their own world of imagination – of course if it is in
the hands of a master musician.

You collaborated with Hans Zimmer for the Gladiator soundtrack. Could
you describe the experience?

It was one of the best experiences I have ever had. Hans Zimmer
is a wonderful composer whose music makes the movies more and more
impressive.

How often do people hear your music and say, isn’t that from the
Gladiator?

Very often. In Armenia, Russia, they all like the movie and the
music. Of course they know I perform in the soundtrack and are very
proud of it, too. All the actors were perfectly chosen, and the music
combines and completes the film’s best features. It makes the movie
more emotional and powerful. I like the movie very much and enjoy
watching it every time.

You also teach music. What is the most important lesson for an
aspiring musician?

When you take this instrument made from a branch of an apricot tree
in your hands, raising it to your lips, a miracle must take place
as everything must wake up in that piece of wood and start to sing:
the wind, the sun, the land of Armenia. This instrument is your soul,
a part of you, you must learn to express your feelings through this
instrument. You must work very hard to be able to do that.

Gasparyan plays on Thursday 23rd, South Stage, 9.45pm and Friday 24th,
Trispan, 8.30pm

CSTO FOREIGN MINISTERS’ SITTING HELD IN ARMENIA

armradio.am
17.04.2009 11:42

The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) convened a sitting in Yerevan presided over by
Edward Nalbandian, the Foreign Minister of Armenia.

The agenda included urgent issues of international security, the
coordination of foreign policy of the member stets, as well as the
questions related to the main directions of CSTO’s cooperation with
international and regional organizations.

The Ministers discussed and approved the draft Memorandum of
Cooperation between the Secretariats of the CSTO and the UN.

I his speech the Armenian Foreign Minister emphasized the importance
of cooperation between CSTO member states.

The participants of the sitting held productive discussions
on multifaceted cooperation in different fields of BSEC
activity. Reference was made to the process of creation of collective
rapid-reaction forces.

The sitting was followed by the joint press conference of the Armenian
Foreign Minister, Edward Nalbandian, and the Secretary General of
the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Nikolay Bordyuzha.

PRESS RELEASE
United Nations Development Programme / Armenia
14 Petros Adamyan St., Yerevan 0010
Contact: Mr. Hovhannes Sarajyan, Communications Associate
Tel: +37410 566 073
E-mail: [email protected]<mailto:hovhannes.sa [email protected]>
Web site:

UNDP Facilitates Diaspora Technical Support to Armenian Institutions

Yerevan, 16 April 2009 – Today, Armen Baibourtian, Senior Adviser to
UN RC/UNDP RR, Narine Sahakyan, UNDP Assistant Resident Representative
and Hovhannes Sarajyan, UNDP Communications Associate met with
recently recruited Diaspora experts who are in Armenia as part of the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched TOKTEN program
(Transfer of Knowledge Through Expatriate Nationals).

In September 2008, UNDP in Armenia, as part of UN "Global Armenia"
initiative, and upon the request of the Ministry of Diaspora, started
recruitment of Armenian Diaspora professionals to work at the Ministry
of Diaspora as experts on American-Armenian, Russian-Armenian,
European-Armenian, Middle Eastern Armenian communities, and media
affairs. They support the recently established Ministry of Diaspora in
its daily activities and formulation of future policies.

Welcoming the newly recruited Diaspora professionals, Mr. Baibourtian
said that last year UNDP in Armenia has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Ministry of Diaspora establishing a legal
framework for future cooperation, including TOKTEN program. The main
purpose of the meeting, according to him, was to assess the project
implementation process and receive direct feedback from the Diaspora
experts and the ministry on the mechanisms to streamline the program
for the future and fill in the possible gaps.

Diaspora experts expressed their appreciation to UNDP and the Ministry
of Diaspora for the initiative and for giving them an opportunity to
share their vast experience in Diaspora with their colleagues in the
homeland. They expressed readiness to continue their support to the
ministry through various informal Diaspora networks after the
completion of their mission.

The concept of TOKTEN was introduced in 1977 under the auspices of
UNDP and UN Volunteers (UNV) and is aimed at mobilizing technical
expertise of committed expatriates to work voluntary in their country
of origin to support the country’s development process.

The TOKTEN program in Armenia, launched in September 2008, provides a
framework to apply the skills, knowledge and expertise of the Diaspora
Armenians for the development of the country. Assignments are
demand-driven, based on development needs, as identified by UNDP in
collaboration with national partners. As this is a program to enhance
volunteerism, UNDP covers experts’ travel expenses and provides a
living allowance in Armenia.

The United Nations family in Armenia reaches out to Armenian Diaspora,
among others, through
;http://www.globala rmenia.am> website.