Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

OFFENDED ILHAM OR TURKEY’S BETRAYAL

ArmInfo
2009-04-06 16:55:00

ArmInfo. After threatening to cut Turkey’s natural gas, Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev decided to boycott the Istanbul summit of
the Alliance of Civilizations in reaction to a Turkish-Armenian
reconciliation, prior to a breakthrough on the problem of Nagorno
Karabakh.

Turkish media reported that President Abdullah Gul called Aliyev last
Friday, but failed to change his mind on the summit. U.S. Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton also called ‘the present father of the
Azerbaijani people’ to convince him to come to Istanbul. Clinton’s
message that he would have a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama,
who will be in Istanbul during the summit, was not enough to convince
the offended Aliyev.

Aliyev is said to be angry at the fact that the opening of the borders
is no longer directly and clearly tied to the Armenian withdrawal from
‘occupied Azeri territories’. "Sufficient progress on the resolution
of the conflict of Nagorno Karabakh is required before the opening of
the border," says the protocol, according to reliable sources. Aliyev,
who is known to have told his close entourage that he feels betrayed
by Turkey is said to have asked the Turkish side what "sufficient
progress," means exactly.

Azerbaijan believes there should be no reconciliation between Turkey
and Armenia prior to Armenian withdrawal. Generous Aliyev has even
conceded to have the Armenians withdraw from just five regions,
postponing withdrawal from the strategic region of Lachin, a corridor
connecting Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia and Kelbecher.

In addition, Azerbaijan wants an agreement on the general outlines of
a solution to the problem, including the future status of the enclave.

Concerned that a possible agreement between Turkey and Armenia is
under jeopardy, the U.S. administration has dispatched U.S. Assistant
Secretary Matt Bryza to Baku to calm Aliyev. The U.S. administration is
exerting pressure on both Ankara and Yerevan to announce a breakthrough
in their relations, before April 24, the date when the presidency will
issue a statement on Armenians’ claims of genocide. U.S. During his
election campaign, President Obama pledged to recognize the World
War I mass killings of Armenians at the hands of the Ottomans as
genocide. Major progress on a Turkish- Armenian reconciliation might
enable Obama from backing down from his election promise.

Today.Az , Azerbaijan
April 4 2009

Turkey is expected to play role of assistant in the resolution of the
Karabakh conflict: OSCE MG co-chair of US

04 April 2009 [10:18] – Today.Az

We believe that Turkey will play a role of assistant in the resolution
of the Karabakh conflict, for as is known Turkey plays a positive role
in the region, said US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza
at a press conference by results of his visit to Baku.

"The positive changes recorded in the region should occur on par,
which means that attainment of results in the resolution of the
Karabakh conflict and thaw in the Turkish-Armenian relations must be
interconnected and mutually encouraging", said he.

According to him, Turkey, the United States and other countries should
eye Azerbaijan as a strong and reliable strategic partner.

M.Bryza refused to comment on the opening of Turkish-Armenian state
border, explaining that this is the issue of internal mutual relations
between the two states.

"I can not make any comments on the relations between Turkey and
Armenia, as they are independent states and can form mutual relations
on the basis of their own interests", noted he.

At the same time, the co-chair voiced hope that Turkey and Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey will strive for
improving relations with each others step by step".

"That would be great. In case these positive changes occur, it will
promote definite success and create necessary conditions for the
resolution of the Karabakh conflict", said Bryza.

According to the diplomat, the next meeting of the presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia might be held in the framework of the summit of
EU Eastern Partnership program on May 7-8.

/Day.Az/

URL:

PanARMENIAN.Net

Positive aspects prevail in establishing of Armenian-Turkish
diplomatic relations
04.04.2009 15:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Opening of Armenian-Turkish border is very important
to Armenia, as the country’s greatly dependent on Georgia, CIMERA
Geneva Center representative, an expert Viken Cheteryan told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. According to him, Armenian economy will see
many benefits from open borders. `Transportation through Turkey will
be faster and less expensive, than through Georgia, which is very
important, considering current politic situation in Georgia,’ the
expert noted.

He also noted that border opening would be a welcome step toward NKR
conflict settlement.

This would significantly lower the possibility of war renewal. `It is
in Armenia’s national interest to have neutral Turkey rather than
hostile Turkey as a neighbor. Positive aspects prevail in establishing
diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey,’ Cheteryan
emphasized.

PanARMENIAN.Net

US filmmakers to shoot documentary on Lake Van Monster
04.04.2009 18:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A group of American filmmakers have arrived in the
eastern province of Van to shoot a documentary on the "Lake Van
Monster".

The documentary on largest lake in Turkey will be broadcast as part of
the U.S. reality TV series "Destination Truth".

Paying a visit to the mayor of Van’s Gevas town on Saturday,
U.S. documentaries said that they believed in the existence of a
monster in Lake Van.

After their meeting with the mayor, the group shot several scenes,
some scuba divers from the team dived into the lake and documentaries
later proceeded to Aktamar Island.

Spending the whole night at the island, filmmakers waited for the
"monster to appear".

Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey, located in the far east of the
country.

The Lake Van Monster was not reported until 1995. There are now more
than 1,000 people claiming to have witnessed the beast which is
reported to measure around fifteen meters long with spikes on its back
and appears similar to a Plesiosaur or Ichthyosaurus. Following these
reports, the Turkish government sent an official scientific survey
group to the lake who failed to spot the creature.

"Destination Truth" is a weekly adventure series that invites viewers
along on one man’s search for the truth while he investigates stories
of the unexplained across the globe, Anatolian News Agency reported.

DROPS WERE IN THE BEGINNING

LRAGIR.AM
15:35:28 – 03/04/2009

The normalization of the Armenian and Turkish relation began earlier
than the football diplomacy. This opinion was expressed by the director
of Yerevan and Nagorno-Karabakh regional office of the Armenian
Assemble of America Arpi Vardanyan, on April 3, at the Tesaket press
club. She said that the current process is the result of a process
launched years ago, when the attitude of the world was changing toward
the recognition of the Armenian genocide "drop by drop", this dispute
was spoken more about both by states and peoples, people started
asking questions in this connection in Turkey too. "People were asking
themselves, whether what they had been taught is true. If such a thing
happened, why am I unaware of it? This kind of questions were given in
Turkey", says Arpi Vardanyan. She stated that the Armenian Assemble of
America hopes that visiting Turkey Obama will reiterate his decision
in regard with the Armenian genocide recognition. Arpi Vardanyan says
that that the Turks will of course do everything possible to prevent
the recognition even by means of blackmail, but the Assemble expects
Barak Obama to be a man of word and pronounce the word genocide.

According to Arpi Vardanyan, the Armenian and Turkish border should be
opened without preconditions. "Neither the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
nor the Armenian genocide recognition should be a precondition for
it", stated Arpi Vardanyan. She state that an agreement is little
probable to be signed on April 16, as the Western media wrote.

In reply to the reporters’ question, what will be the next step of
the Armenian Assemble of America after the genocide recognition, Arpi
Vardanyan answered that this question is up to the Armenian people
to be decided, and the Assemble has no right to decided it by itself.

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS URGE OBAMA TO STRENGTHEN US TIES WITH ALLY TURKEY

States News Service
April 1, 2009 Wednesday

SEND LETTER EXPRESSING STRONG SUPPORT FOR US-TURKISH RELATIONS PRIOR
TO PRESIDENT’S UPCOMING VISIT TO TURKEY

WASHINGTON

The following information was released by the office of Florida
Rep. Robert Wexler:

Today, twenty-nine members of the Congressional Caucus on US-Turkish
relations sent President Barack Obama a bipartisan letter urging
him to enhance US-Turkish relations and to work more closely with
Turkish leaders on a number of American, Turkish and international
security challenges. Turkey Caucus members sent the strongly worded
letter encouraging closer bilateral relations with this key NATO ally,
prior to President Obamas upcoming visit to Turkey, which will take
place April 5-7, 2009. The letter also advocates that the President
support Turkeys efforts to normalize relations with Armenia, Turkeys
EU accession efforts and continued security assistance to officials
in Ankara as they battle PKK terrorism. Congressman Wexler (D-FL),
Co-Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Chairman of the
Europe Subcommittee, led the letter along with fellow Turkey Caucus
Co-Chairs Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and Congresswoman Kay Granger
(R-TX), and Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Co-Chairman of the
US Helsinki Commission.

It is a testament to the importance of US-Turkish relations that
President Obama has chosen to visit Turkey during his first trip
abroad as President of the United States. This is truly an historic
opportunity to enhance the US-Turkey strategic partnership that has
benefited both nations for over five decades, said Congressman Wexler.

As President Obama implements a new strategy in Afghanistan and
Pakistan, addresses the growing threat of Irans nuclear development,
and works to redeploy American troops from Iraq, Turkeys importance
as a strategic ally to the United States cannot be understated. It is
my hope that President Obama and his Turkish counterparts seize this
opportunity to create the conditions for a deeper friendship based on
shared values and a common commitment to democracy and human rights. To
that end, it is essential that the President unequivocally supports
Turkeys rapprochement with Armenia and offers continued assistance
to Ankara as it combats PKK terrorists.

President Obama’s upcoming visit to Istanbul and Ankara offers
further proof of how much the United States values its relationship
with Turkey, said Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX). By virtue of its
central location and its democratic government, Turkey has been a key
player in the Middle East peace process and an invaluable supporter
of U.S. efforts in the region. I applaud the President for recognizing
Turkey’s importance to global security and stability and look forward
to building on our already strong alliance.

As a member of the Congressional Turkey Caucus, I have always
been a staunch supporter and advocate for Turkey. Turkey, in
my opinion, remains a key strategic ally to the United States,
said Congressman Alcee L. Hastings(D-FL). It is imperative that
the United States continue to work to ensure that our alliance
with Turkey is strengthened in Congress and with the new Obama
administration. President Obamas landmark trip to Turkey comes at
a critical for U.S.-Turkish relations and at a time of significant
importance in the region. Our shared values and common interests in
building a stable, peaceful, and prosperous world exemplify our long
and close relationship with Turkey, as evidenced by our partnership in
NATO. I remain committed to continuing to stand shoulder-to-shoulder
with the people of Turkey and Turkish-Americans here in the United
States as a friend and ally in the Congress.

President Barack Obamas historic visit to Turkey presents the
United States with an excellent chance to assert and strengthen
our relationship with a strategic ally and a critical trading
partner. During this time of economic uncertainty and great military
challenges, the United States must do all that it can to build upon
our ties to foreign nations and promote opportunities to grow the
global economy. I am hopeful that President Obamas timely visit to
Turkey will foster further goodwill between our two nations and send
an important message about the value the United States places on our
relationship with Turkey, said Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY).

A copy of the letter is available for download here.

Congressman Robert Wexler is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe
and a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the
House Judiciary Committee. Recently, Congressman Wexler served as an
advisor on Middle East issues to President Barack Obama during his
2008 presidential campaign.

APRIL IS GENOCIDE PREVENTION MONTH IN US

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.04.2009 00:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The month of April is Genocide Prevention month in
the United States. It marks the anniversaries of six major genocides
around the world, including Darfur, Bosnia, Rwanda, Cambodia, the
Holocaust and Armenian Genocide.

More than 50 of the world’s leading humanitarian organizations have
joined together to launch a public awareness and education campaign
during the month of April.

Jill Savitt, organizer of "Genocide Prevention Month" told the groups
hope their advocacy would prevent future genocides, VOA News reports.

"What we want the month to show is that there is a support among
genocide survivors to try and prevent such crimes from happening by
rallying support from the international community," she said.

31.03.2009

Diplomatischer Durchbruch
Ankara und Eriwan wollen Grenze öffnen

/artikel/1/ankara-und-eriwan-wollen-grenze-oeffnen &src=PR

Laut türkischen Medienberichten einigen sich die Türkei und Armenien
auf die Aufnahme diplomatischer Beziehungen. Eine Kommission soll sich
der Frage des Massakers an Armeniern im Jahr 1915 widmen.

VON JÜRGEN GOTTSCHLICH

Die Türkei und Armenien stehen offenbar vor einem diplomatischen
Durchbruch. Nach Berichten türkischer Zeitungen haben sich die
Regierungen beider Länder darauf verständigt, in Kürze die seit 1993
geschlossene Grenze zu öffnen und diplomatische Beziehungen
aufzunehmen. Wie die Zeitungen Vatan und Hürriyet meldeten, sind beide
Seiten bereit, ein Protokoll zu unterzeichnen, in dem die Aufnahme
diplomatischer Beziehungen angekündigt wird. Zur Vorbereitung sollen
Kommissionen eingerichtet werden, die sich um Details des
Grenzmanagements und Zollfragen kümmern sollen. Außerdem soll Armenien
zugestimmt haben, die von der Türkei vorgeschlagene
Historikerkommission einzurichten, in der über die "Tragödie von 1915"
geredet und geforscht werden soll. Die Massaker an den Armeniern im
Osmanischen Reich und der Streit, ob diese Morde ein Völkermord waren,
sind einer der wichtigsten Gründe für die gespannten Beziehungen
zwischen den Nachbarn. Obwohl es in einer bilateralen Kommission noch
lange Zeit nicht zu einer gemeinsamen Einschätzung der Geschichte
kommen wird, hat man sich offenbar geeinigt, die Klärung der Frage
nicht mehr zur Vorbedingung für diplomatische Beziehungen zu machen.
Der ausschlaggebende Grund für die Grenzschließung 1993 war aber der
Krieg zwischen Armenien und Aserbaidschan um die Enklave
Berg-Karabach. Der Krieg endete mit der Vertreibung der Aseris aus
Karabach und der Besetzung weiterer aserbaidschanischer Territorien
durch Armenien. Die Türkei hatte als Alliierter der Aserbaidschaner
die Grenze geschlossen. Jetzt will Ankara einen Plan für die Lösung
der Karabach-Frage vorlegen und zwischen Aserbaidschan und Armenien
vermitteln. Strittig ist offenbar noch, wann die Einigung verkündet
werden soll. Die Türkei möchte möglichst bald an die Öffentlichkeit,
die armenische Regierung lieber abwarten. Hintergrund ist der Besuch
von US-Präsident Barak Obama am kommenden Montag in der Türkei und der
Jahrestag des Genozids am 24. April. Obama hatte im Wahlkampf den
armenischen Lobbygruppen in den USA versprochen, er werde den Genozid
an den Armeniern anerkennen. Da die Türkei dies verhindern will, macht
sie Druck, die Einigung möglichst noch vor dem Eintreffen Obamas zu
verkünden, damit dieser von einer Festlegung auf den Genozid Abstand
nimmt. Im Sinne der Türkei wäre auch eine Bekanntgabe der Einigung am
Rande des "Treffs der Zivilisationen", der am Montag und Dienstag in
Istanbul stattfindet und an dem Obama zeitweilig teilnehmen
wird. Armeniens Regierung steht dagegen unter dem Druck der Diaspora,
die Verkündung eines Neuanfangs mit der Türkei bis nach dem Gedenktag
am 24. April zu verschieben. Sie fürchtet, ihre Lobbyarbeit in
Washington, auch die US-Regierung dazu zu bringen, offiziell von einem
Völkermord an den Armeniern zu sprechen, wäre sonst vergeblich
gewesen.

MARIOS GAROYIAN – CYPRUS PROBLEM

Famagusta Gazette
ceid=&smenu=123&twindow=Default&mad=No &sdetail=8220&wpage=&skeyword=&sid ate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatu s=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repma x=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=& amp;sc=2350&hn=famagusta-gazette&he=.com
M arch 31 2009
Cyprus

Cyprus House President Marios Garoyian has spoken again of the
government’s aims to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem,
reports CNA

"Our firm objective is to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem
that would free Cyprus from the consequences of the Turkish invasion
and occupation, reunite the country, the people and its institutions
and create those conditions for a harmonic and peaceful co-existence
between all the lawful citizens of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots, Turkish
Cypriots, Armenians, Maronites and Latins, under conditions of
security, prosperity and cooperation," Garoyian said.

The minister was addressing an event held in Nicosia to commemorate
Greece’s Independence Day on March 25, 1821 as well as the anniversary
of the EOKA Liberation Struggle of April 1, 1955.

In his address, Garoyian said that the present stage of the direct
negotiation process is crucial.

"Turkey’s intransigent stance is peaking with the constant aim of a
two state solution in Cyprus.

"We all have to stay vigilant. Everybody has to undertake their
responsibilities in promoting our targets and our positions for a just,
functional and viable solution of the Cyprus problem," he added.

Garoyian said a nationwide coordination of all the forces of the
Hellenism is required in order to achieve a solution, adding that
the Republic of Cyprus has to work constantly towards a just and
viable solution of the Cyprus problem, based on the UNSC resolutions,
the High Level Agreements between the two communities 1977, 1979,
the 8th of July Agreement, the principles of international law and
the European Union.

He called on the EU and the international community to exert pressure
on Turkey in order to alter its attitude towards Cyprus and to work
for solution of the Cyprus problem.

NATIONAL TRAGEDY SHOULD NOT BECOME ARTICLE OF COMMERCE

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.03.2009 15:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ U.S. President Barack Obama’s forthcoming visit
to Turkey and discussion of the Armenian Genocide in Congress are
certainly important events in Turkey’s political life, an Armenian
expert said.

"Of course, it would be commendable if Obama recognized the
Genocide. It’s an issue of morality. However, it’s inadmissible
when the tragedy of a whole nation is transformed into an article of
commerce," Ruben Mehrabyan, expert at Armenian Center of Political
and International Studies.

He also said that it’s hard to demand justice for a country whose
index of civil rights freedom is extremely low and where elections
are always labeled as marred.

"We can’t speak of inadmissibility of double standards, at the same
time doing nothing to prevent them in our own country," Mehrabyan said.