Author: Nalbandian Albert

Former U.S. Envoy Backs Armenian Genocide Recognition
By Emil Danielyan

RFERL.ORG
7 March 05

A retired diplomat who served as Americaâ~@~Ys first ambassador to
Armenia has joined calls for international recognition of the
Armenian genocide, echoing surprise statements on the subject made by
the current head of the U.S. mission in Yerevan.

In a weekend interview with RFE/RL, Ambassador Harry Gilmore said the
extermination of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians in Ottoman Turkey
fits into the definition of genocide set by the UN Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of Genocide. â~@~There is no doubt that
the Armenian events were genocide,â~@~] Gilmore said.

â~@~Of course, we have to bear in mind that the Genocide Convention
came well after the events in the Ottoman Empire,â~@~] he added.
â~@~I think legally there is no question of the convention applying
retroactively. But the key point is that the convention sets up a
standard and the massacres and deportations of the Ottoman Armenians
meet that standard fully.â~@~]

Gilmore argued that Raphael Lemkin, the Jewish author of the word
â~@~genocide,â~@~] referred not only to the Jewish Holocaust but
also the events of 1915-1918 when he came up with the concept
following the Second World War. â~@~In fact, when Mr. Lemkin coined
the term genocide the Armenian events were one of the two archetypes
he used in his work,â~@~] he said.

Gilmore, who served as ambassador to Armenia from 1993-1995, was the
first U.S. government official to visit and lay flowers at the
genocide memorial in Yerevan. But both he and his two successors
consistently avoided calling the Armenian massacres a
â~@~genocideâ~@~] in line with Washingtonâ~@~Ys policy on the highly
sensitive subject.

Successive White House administrations have been anxious not to upset
Turkey, a major U.S. ally which strongly denies that the government
of the crumbling Ottoman Empire pursued a premeditated policy of
exterminating its Armenian population. Ankara also claims that the
Armenian death toll is inflated.

John Evans, the current U.S. ambassador in Yerevan, therefore took
many observers by surprise when declared at a series of meetings with
members of the Armenian-American community last month that the Turks
did commit â~@~the first genocide of the 20th century.â~@~] The
remarks fueled speculation about a pro-Armenian shift in the U.S.
governmentâ~@~Ys position on the issue.

But Evans denied it, saying in a statement last week that he
expressed his personal opinion. A senior official from the
administration of President George W. Bush told RFE/RL that
Evansâ~@~Ys statements â~@~absolutely contradict the policy of the
U.S. government.â~@~]

Gilmore declined to comment on possible implications of Evansâ~@~Ys
extraordinary genocide recognition. â~@~Because I am outside the
U.S. government now, I have no insider knowledge of what his
communication with the U.S. government might be on the issue,â~@~] he
said.

â~@~From my thorough study of the events of that period I am
persuaded that they do indeed constitute a genocide,â~@~] he added.

Evans likewise told the U.S.-Armenian community that he studied the
subject in detail and consulted with a State Department lawyer before
going on record. Leading Armenian-American organizations were quick
to commend him.

One of those groups, the Armenian Assembly of America, has launched a
public campaign in support of the envoy, sending letters to members
of the U.S. Congress. “The Assembly commends Ambassador Evans for
accurately labeling the attempted annihilation of the Armenians as
Genocide and urges the President to follow his example and properly
characterize the atrocities in his remembrance statement next month,”
the chairman of its Board of Trustees, Hirair Hovnanian, said in a
statement.

Frank Pallone, the co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues, read out a similar statement on the House of
Representatives floor last Tuesday. â~@~Ambassador Evans simply
assigned the word to the definition that was already provided by
President Bush as well as members of his administration,â~@~] Pallone
said.

–Boundary_(ID_7N6e4G2B3jYB6Tb5NyswfA)–

Glendale News Press
Published February12, 2005
86p-4306c.html
FROM THE MARGINS
One city under the chupah

PATRICK AZADIAN

Many of my Armenian friends have an idealistic vision of the
Jewish-American community. Comments such as: “There is a lot to be
learned from Jewish-Americans. They help each other when they
can. They do not stab each other in the back. They don’t have
‘zillions’ of organizations doing the same thing. And most
importantly, they have assimilated into the American mainstream while
maintaining their distinct culture,” are not uncommon among some of my
friends.

In general, glorification of any group, including the Armenian Ameri-
cans, makes me feel uncomfort- able. So, when I had the opportunity
during my undergraduate days at UCLA, I took a few courses on Judaism
and the Jewish Diaspora offered by the Department of Sociology. I
wanted to demystify some myths for myself.

The courses gave me a better understanding of the Jewish
community. But as I had suspected, there are no perfectly organized
communities or peoples. As with most ethnic, religious and racial
minorities, the Jewish community has its own set of unique
accomplishments as well as issues and concerns. And yes, they also
have “zillions” of organizations, which are a reflection of their
community’s diverse background. And no, there is no magic formula of
full assimilation into the American mainstream while maintaining one’s
ethnic roots fully. What the courses did not teach me, however, was to
have a feel of the Jewish community. So when my Moroccan-Jewish friend
rang me up to send me her wedding invitation, I was excited. I asked
her: “Is it going to be a traditional wedding?”

“Somewhat,” she said. “We have to respect the backgrounds of both of
our families. He comes from a European background and I have Sephardic
roots.”

The wedding ceremony was held outside under the chupah, or canopy. And
based on what I remember, the Rabbi said the chupah symbolizes the
home to be built and be shared by the couple. The chupah is open on
all sides to welcome friends and relatives with unconditional
hospitality. It is also open because you are here of your own free
will, he said.

The Rabbi elaborated.

We are under the stars, as a sign of the blessing given by God, so
that his children shall be as the stars of the heavens, he said. Later
as the ceremony continued, I was under the impression that the Rabbi
made eye contact with me while he was on the topic of jewelry and
materialism: “You see, the chatan [groom] and the kallah [bride] are
wearing no jewelry. Their mutual commitment to one another is based on
who they are as people not on their respective material possessions,”
he said.

My nonclinical paranoia kicked in. Did he know I was Armenian? And was
he aware of the Armenian love affair with jewels and jewelry. I looked
around nervously and mumbled to myself, “I am not the official
representative of the Armenians. And I am only wearing silver.”

Soon, I remembered, I was not the center of universe and the eye
contact was a pure coincidence. Before the rings were presented, the
couple sipped wine. I had always thought the beverage was there to
numb the nerves and warm up the cold feet. But the Rabbi had another
take on the matter. “God has given us grapes, but it is humans who can
make it into wine. God has brought you together, but it is up to you
to make your marriage work. It is up to you to accept the grapes as a
gift and transform them into distinguished wine.”

There was so much tradition and symbolism, I had to come up with some
of my own. I could not help but draw a parallel between the wedding
and the city we live in. And as the Glendale elections’ season is
drawing near, the opportunity for the analogy has arrived.

For starters, we all have chosen Glendale as a home of our own free
will. Our connection to our city, to our neighbors and to our
community is very much like a marriage. As subcommunities and as
individuals, we don’t necessarily share common backgrounds, we all
have our pluses as well as character flaws, and whether we entered the
marriage in search of love, respect, family, convenience, friendship,
security, peer pressure or all of the above, we are here, together.

What is not clear, however, is whether the gift that has been given to
us in the form of an opportunity to pursue happiness, freedom and
progress, will ever be turned into reality.

The question remains: What is our vision for the future of our city?
What kind of wine do we want? Are the grapes gifted to us capable of
producing that particular type of wine? And last, but not least, are
we willing to get our feet discolored as we stomp the grapes?

I’ll be voting on April 5. But before that, I’ll be asking a question
or two from the candidates that require answers beyond the rhetorical
slogans of “no congestion, no crime.” It is the bare minimum I can do
to bring about a positive change to our city and community.

KOMMERSANT

KOMMERSANT News, MARCH 03, 2005

Axis of Evil Shaping Against Moscow

Rose-orange Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova are establishing an anti-Russian
tie-up to force Moscow from Caucasus and Pridnestrovie, analysts say quoted
by the RBC news agency.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili arrived in Moldova last night. In
Kishinev, Saakashvili held talks with Moldova’s President Vladimir Voronin.
The parties canvassed establishing cooperation under the GUUAM bloc, which
unites Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan (membership of
the last two countries is formal), to oppose `Russia’s imperialism’ in the
region. Only three parties appear aggressively involved in consultations.
The day before yesterday, Voronin went to Kiev to negotiate with Ukrainian
President Viktor Yushchenko. By mere chance, the visit of Moldova’s leader
coincided with the tour of the new Georgian PM Zurab Nogaideli. Top
officials have never bothered to conceal the target of GUUAM revival. The
main highlights are forcing Russia from the Caucasus and Pridnestrovie;
establishment of transport corridors, going the round of Russia. Therefore,
the parties actually endeavor to create a sanitary corridor to isolate
Russia from Europe and Transcaucasia. In view of the traditionally weak
foreign policy of Russia, Moscow is unable to rebuff, analysts told RBC. The
only way out is stop dancing to someone else’s pipe and apply `nonstandard
methods.’

It was exactly creation of a trilateral anti-Russian union
(Georgia-Moldova-Ukraine) based on GUUAM bloc that was in the limelight of
Kishinev negotiations. Before the Georgia-Moldova’s summit, that matter had
been thoroughly discussed in Kiev, in the course of the meeting between
Yushchenko and Voronin.

`GUUAM block had been created long ago and shaped by 1999, but it was idle
de-factor. Now, after a series of `color’ revolutions the hopes have sprung
for its revival,’ said Sergey Borovikov, expert at St. Petersburg
Constructing Future analytical group.

`GUUAM reanimation is underway. A triple axis that yet comprises Georgia,
Ukraine and Moldova is being created. The aim of this union is to force
Russia from Caucasus and the southeastern Europe. Armenia and Pridnestrovie
have turned out completely isolated from the RF. Ukraine and Moldova
enforced severe economic blockage of Tiraspol, having cut the developed
industry of Pridnestrovie of the market outlet,’ said Alexander Skakov,
expert at the Russian Strategic Research Institute. In Tbilisi and Kishinev,
they are looking to the West for help. A few days ago, Salome Zurabishvili
called on the United States and the EU to render real support to the
republic, when it is striving to get rid of the rudimental influence of
Russian military bases and to oppose Moscow’s encouragement of two
separatists’ republics.

Meanwhile, the battle might turn out not so losing for Russia. `The key
thing is not to repeat mistakes made in Ukraine and Abkhazia, i.e. not to
get involved in the `color’ revolutions,’ Borovikov said. Russia must
deliver unusual response. For instance, it may denounce Molotov-Ribbentrop
Pact and offer the neighbors to revise borders, in a move to trigger
concerns in Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine and Moldova. Or Russian military
bases could be assigned to the Emergency Ministry, which may be fighting
`disastrous humanitarian situation’ and terrorism in Georgia and
Pridnestrovie, Borovikov offered. Such point of view is shared by Alexander
Sobyanin, head of the strategic planning service at the Association of
Frontier Cooperation. `Russia is weak. We must act in full conformity with
the Western rhetoric, but under our own, not other’s rules,’ Sobyanin
specified.

ArmenPress
March 3 2005

VENICE COMMISSION AND OSCE/ODIHR VISIT ARMENIA TO DISCUSS PROGRESS OF
ELECTORAL LEGISLATION REFORM

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS: Representatives of the Council of
Europe’s Venice Commission and the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights have arrived today in Yerevan for a two-day visit in order to
discuss progress in the revision of Armenia’s electoral legislation,
based on the Joint Recommendations issued by the two organizations in
relation to the ongoing electoral reform in Armenia.
The visit is part of the co-operation program between the Council
of Europe and the Armenian authorities, in the framework of Armenia’s
monitoring procedure by the Committee of Ministers established after
its accession to the Council of Europe, and the follow-up of the
OSCE-ODIHR recommendations following the 2003 elections in Armenia.
The aim of the visit is to raise with the Armenian authorities and
experts on electoral matters the main points on which Armenia’s
electoral legislation and practice have yet to meet Council of Europe
standards and OSCE Commitments on democratic elections.

Armenian opposition MP puzzled at country’s “paradoxical” economic data

Arminfo
1 Mar 05

YEREVAN

The increasing volume of imports into Armenia was twice as high as
that of exports in 2004, something that brings about a high level of
Armenia’s dependence on foreign countries, opposition MP Tatul
Manaseryan told the parliament today.

Inflation was two and half times higher than it was expected in 2004,
while measures to make the [national currency] drum stronger did not
lead to a logical fall in prices.

“The head of the Central Bank says that the increase in the index of
consumer prices constituted 2.8 per cent in 2004, while official
statistics testify to a 7-per-cent growth. We do not have the moral
right to approve the candidacy of the chairman of the Central Bank
unless answers are given to these paradoxical questions,” the MP said.

Civil Georgia, Georgia
March 2 2005

European Commission Outlines Reform Goals for Georgia

The European Commission (EC) recommended to significantly intensify
relations with Georgia through the development of an Action Plan
under the EU’s Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), the European Commission’s
Delegation to Georgia and Armenia reported on March 2.

This recommendation is based on the Commission’s Country Report
published on March 2, which provides a comprehensive overview of the
political and economic situation in Georgia and the state of its
bilateral relations with the EU.

`The European Neighbourhood Policy gives us an opportunity to take
relations with Georgia up a gear. I very much hope that the Council
will give the go ahead to negotiate an Action Plan, so that we can
work out a joint agenda for action in the coming years. Progress in
our relationship will reflect the efforts and successes of the
country itself,’ Commissioner for External Relations and European
Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner said, according to the
press-release issued by the EC Delegation.

The key objectives for an Action Plan outlined by the EC are as
follow:

– Strengthening respect for the rule of law (reform of judiciary, law
enforcement agencies, penitentiary) and enhanced human rights
protection;
– Strengthening of democratic structures and pluralism (reform of
parliament, strengthening independence of media, reform of local self
government, electoral reform);
– Improvements in the business climate as well as public sector
modernization
– Reform of tax and customs administrations and legislation and
strengthening the fight against corruption and fraud
– A transparent privatization process
– Progress in poverty reduction, sustainable development;
environmental protection
– Progress in the resolution of conflicts and enhanced regional
cooperation.
– Prudent macroeconomic policies need to be maintained to support
effective implementation of an Action Plan.

European Union included Georgia, together with Armenia and
Azerbaijan, in its Neighbourhood Policy last June.

A `Vodka Lemon’ for lonely nights

The State (Columbia, South Carolina)
Friday, Feb. 25, 2005

By DESSON THOMSON, The Washington Post

`Vodka Lemon,’ a thematically bleak yet subtly comic film, is about
life in a world of nothing.

A world of icy nothing, that is. In post-Soviet Armenia, the land is
covered in snow, jobs are nonexistent and the inhabitants’ only
economic options are to leave for other countries or eke out a
miserable existence, many selling off their household possessions.

It’s a pretty regular sight to see people trundling wardrobes or
pianos along the roads, hoping to make some money. `Selling or
buying?’ others will ask, and, at this point, the bartering begins.

Aging Hamo (Romen Avinian) is a terrible haggler. So he doesn’t walk
away with much after selling his wardrobe, his old army uniform or his
television. But like his fellow citizens, he has amazing resilience
and pride.

Each day, he makes the bus trip to a snowbound cemetery, where he
speaks to the headstone and image of his recently departed wife. He
tells her of his measly pension and the letter from one of their sons
(now living in France), which contained no money, or the other son who
drinks too much.

Little by little, Hamo pays attention to another person coming to pay
respects. Her name is Nina (Lala Sarkissian), a widow who also
converses with a dead spouse. She comes to the graveyard at the same
time and takes the same bus. They both wipe the ice from the
headstones and talk to their loved ones.

While Hamo sells off his things, Nina earns money at a vodka bar
called Vodka Lemon, which is also the name of the drink she serves.

`Why is it called ‘Vodka Lemon’ when it tastes of almonds?’ asks a
customer at Nina’s bar.

`That’s Armenia,’ Nina says.

It doesn’t take a lifetime of watching global cinema to anticipate
that Hamo and Nina are destined for each other. Or to appreciate the
visual poetry of writer-director Hiner Saleem, an Iraqi Kurd whose eye
for the deadpan on a frigid landscape faintly echoes the work of
Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki.

In both filmmakers’ films, the characters move to elusive, stoic
rhythms whose individual beats seem to be months long. A sudden
gesture from these souls comes across as a thunderclap, and their
isolated pronouncements have a seriocomic weight to them. When Hamo
sells his dresser to an old married couple, they find themselves stuck
with a heavy piece of furniture in the middle of nowhere.

`Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea,’ says the wife, as they sit on a
stool, back to back.

`You always speak the truth too late,’ says her husband.

REVIEW

`Vodka Lemon’

2-½ stars

In Armenian, Russian and Kurdish, with English subtitles

Unrated

Running time: 1:27

Playing: Monday-Thursday at the Nickelodeon

GENERATIONAL HEALING WORKSHOP MARCH 5TH

Azg/arm
2 March 05

New York, NY: The Armenian American Society for Studies on Stress &
Genocide (AASSSG) & Association for Disaster & Mass Trauma Studies
spearheaded by Dr. Kalayjian, is doing their third yearly workshop
for all Armenians effected directly and indirectly by the Ottoman
Turkish Genocide.

The workshop places emphasis on understanding and processing
traumatic memories and finding positive meaning in this legacy of
cultural dislocation, and loss of nationhood, property, and dignity.
We believe next generation Armenians will also benefit by
experiencing the compassion as well as the educational interaction.

Feelings of alienation, denial, anger, and rage are explored.
Attitudes toward the perpetrators and uncaring world was also
explored, in order to understand how one’s personal and collective
history affects one’s daily life, and how one may process these
feelings in an attempt to integrate or dilute the trauma into one’s
psyche.

Workshop facilitators will be Dr. Anie Kalayjian, Professor and
psychotherapist, and Ms. Laura Aversano, psycho-spiritual counselor
and energy medicine practitioner. Both facilitators are experienced
group leaders, who have worked in the field of Genocide and trauma
studies for over two decades.

Dr. Kalayjian’s Six-Step Bio-Psychosocial and Spiritual – Model was
utilized with some modification. This model is comprised of the
following six steps:

1. Assess levels of distress

2. Encourage discovery of memories & expression of feelings

3. Provide empathy and validation

4. Encourage discovery and expression of positive meaning

5. Provide didactic information

6. Provide breathing exercises & physical relief

Former Participants Comments:

The best way to bring the content of the workshop to life is to share
what participants wrote to us after the workshop:

“When I first signed up for the workshop, I wasn’t sure what I would
gain, if anything at all. I asked myself whether I really needed to
HEAL anything at all, and if it was even that important to me. I was
sincerely surprised after a couple of hours into the workshop after
hearing from others older and younger than me, and similar and
different than me. I was able to share feelings that I didn’t even
know I had, and in the process, both negative and positive feelings
emerged about my experiences as an Armenian American, my life, my
liberties, and my individualism. To put it more succinctly, and
rather bluntly, I received a great therapy session for only $25!” A
young woman, 25 years of age.

Another participant a middle aged male, stated: “I did not know what
to expect and was a little apprehensive since I did not want to
express myself at first. The round table setting and informal
atmosphere helped peel the deep layers of sadness and mourning
carried within us as spiritual beings in physical bodies.

It was the validation from non-Armenians, like Tara and Christine,
which made the event memorable, meaningful and a worthwhile
experience.

God Bless you.”

Other young women stated: “The Armenian psyche has for a long time
tried to make sense of its recent history. Many Armenians have
difficulties coping with themselves and thus are constantly working
or building because often they have difficulty explaining their
survival and existence. I believe sessions such as these help
discuss, and understand feelings that need periodic venting before
they manifest themselves in other ways. However Armenians need real
worth before they bite on the idea of healing such as Real Positive
(feeling proud) values as some of the ones mentioned, a spiritual
dimension from clergy, and of course the yoga exercises. Thus you
have taken care of the entire human being: Mind, Spirit, and Body.”

Another participant stated: “The workshop allowed me to discuss many
of the emotions that go unsaid among Armenian-Americans in a
comfortable and open setting. I was surprised by how many others had
the same thoughts and experienced the same tensions in growing up as
Armenians in America. The connection to their experiences allowed me
to discuss and debate issues critical to our culture without the
anxiety normally associated with these topics.

The workshop was quite exciting because it let me freely express the
impact of the genocide on me and my family. All attendees were
allowed to ruminate their thoughts on the genocide and on their
Armenian heritage. Although the genocide is oftentimes our secret
history, this workshop shouted from the roof-tops that we can
transcend the Turkish denial and transform our lives on our own
terms. The workshop was an experience of empowerment. The workshop
leaders were excellent and worked well as a team. I look forward to
attending the next workshop! Thanks so much.”

One of the facilitators, Tara stated: Generally I was in awe of the
openness and compassion of this group to share their feelings,
insights, perceptions and relationship with the political and
personal legacy of the Armenian Genocide. The group seemed ready to
embrace the issue and discover how each of them, individually and
collectively could use there experiences to heal themselves, their
family, their community and fellow country people.

Feelings expressed were: Anger at the Turks, paranoia, grief for the
lives lost including parents and grandparents, brutality of the
genocide and how this genocide has effected their own lives with
depression, mental disease, shame, embarrassment for their hatred of
Turks, and fear of it happening again. Expression of feeling lost and
disconnected from themselves, their present family and Armenian
culture because their family lineage was interrupted by the death of
significant family members. Many spoke of the feeling of ‘burden’ the
weight of this legacy of trauma and suffering upon them.

To participate, you must register for the workshop; kindly contact
Dr. Kalayjian, E-mail: [email protected]. or call Mr. Milian at 631
226 7979 x231 for information.

Armenian American Society for Studies on Stress & Genocide &
Association for Disaster & Mass Trauma Studies; 185 E. 85th Street,
Mezz #4 New York, NY 10028 Phone: 201 941-2266 Fax: 201 941-5110
E-mail: [email protected]

Yorkshire Post Today
03 February 2005

Pope stays in hospital but there is no cause for alarm, says VaticanMaggie
Stratton

THE Pope was last night running a fever as he spent a second night in
hospital with flu and breathing difficulties.
The Vatican insisted there was “no cause for alarm” and said the ailing
pontiff was in a stable condition.
Officials said the 84-year-old Pope yesterday received visitors, celebrated
Mass and was able to appoint two new bishops despite being taken into
hospital on Tuesday night.
Catholics around the world continued to pray he makes a swift recovery, but
the Pope is expected to remain at Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic for several more
days.
Tests yesterday showed his heart and respiration were normal, but he was
running a slight fever, his spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said. He
insisted the Pope had never lost consciousness and had not needed a
tracheotomy to help him breathe.
“There is no cause for alarm,” Mr Navarro-Valls added.
Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, head of the Vatican’s health care office,
said keeping the Pope in hospital will afford “many means to stay ready for
any complications”.
His health problems are also likely to be made worse by the fact he has
Parkinson’s disease.
Cardinal Barragan said the Pope’s inability to hold his back up straight has
left his lungs and diaphragm in a crushed position.
The Vatican cancelled all the Pope’s engagements for this week on the advice
of doctors after he came down with flu on Sunday He missed his weekly
audience yesterday for the first time since September 2003, when he was
suffering from an intestinal ailment.
He was previously said to have been in good form and had been continuing to
receive foreign leaders.
The president of Armenia visited the Vatican last week and the president of
the European Parliament was due on Friday ~V as well as appear before
pilgrims and tourists twice a week. Austen Ivereigh, Press secretary
to the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, yesterday
said: “We are relieved to hear the Pope’s condition appears to have
stabilised, and we are continuing to pray for his swift recovery.”
During the regular morning Mass at Westminster Cathedral, London, the
headquarters of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, a prayer was said
“that in the midst of his sickness and suffering, he may be consoled and
strengthened by the knowledge of Christ’s abiding presence”.

03 February 2005

The Journal of Turkish Weekly
2005-02-04 08:09:40

Dr. Laciner: “Turkish-Armenian Alliance is not Impossible”

Jan SOYKOK, ANKARA – Dr. Sedat Laciner told JTW that Turkey-Armenia alliance
is possible. Laciner said Armenian state cannot survive in a hostile region
and has to solve its problems with Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Laciner further continued:

“As a matter of fact that neither the Western States nor the Armenian
Diaspora radicals see Armenia’s national interests as their priority.
Armenia’s and Diaspora’s interests are not the same. As Dr. Nilgun Gulcan
pointed out Armenia and Diaspora has contrary interests. Diaspora needs more
dispute between Turks and Armenians, because many Diaspora Armenian enjoy
from the ‘genocide industry’. If Turkey and Armenia solve their problem they
could not abuse the past for their individual interests. Many diaspora
institutions are dependent on ‘genocide donations’. Many Armenian actors,
businessmen, politician etc. in Northern America and Europe see
Turkish-Armenian problems as source of power. When the both side put an end
to the historical misunderstandings many militants will lose their financial
and political power over the ordinary Armenians in diaspora. Similarly some
of the Diaspora institutions argue that the 1915 Legacy is the most
important thing uniting Armenians. According to this approach, Diaspora
Armenians need a uniting cause in order to resist assimilation. Otherwise,
they think, Armenian identity would be diminished in front of the strong
Western cultures.

However Armenian state needs Turkey and other Turkic peoples.

Armenia is surrounded by more than 100 million Turkish people (Turkey,
Azerbaijan and Iran Azerbaijan). Georgia is an ally of Turkey and has good
relations with the Western states though Armenia stayed the only Russian
ally in the region.

Armenia is a relatively small and poor country, it is land-locked. If
Armenia can solve its problems with Turkey the life would be easier for the
Armenians.

In my opinion Turkey, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan could establish an
economic regional integration in Caucasus. Turkey could be a European door
for the Armenian businessmen and people. Turkish universities can open their
doors to Armenian youth. Armenia cannot survive in a hostile region.
So-called Russian support or relations with Iran cannot substitute relations
with Turkey. A strong Turkish-Armenian regional ally would change a lot in
the region. If Turkey and Armenia can establish a strong friendship, foreign
direct investment would boom, security problems down, and the region would
become a trade centre for the Central Asia, Black Sea and the Middle East”.

JTW, 4 February 2005

Turkish – Armenian Relations
2005-02-04 08:09:40