Author: Nalbandian Eduard

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

PRESS RELEASE

September 30, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA CALLS ON HILLARY CLINTON TO LIFT U.S. PRESSURE ON ARMENIA

WASHINGTON, DC — Ken Hachikian, Chairman of the Armenian National
Committee of America, today called upon Secretary of State Hillary
Rodham Clinton to lift the unfair and heavy pressure the
U.S. government is using to force Armenia to accept a set of highly
controversial Protocols on the normalization of relations with Turkey.

In his letter, dated September 30, 2009, Hachikian expressed the
Armenian American community’s concern that "these one-sided
agreements, which are being imposed upon a landlocked Republic of
Armenia that remains blockaded by Turkey and that is still working to
overcome the devastating demographic, economic and geopolitical legacy
of the Armenian Genocide, would, if adopted, call into question the
reality of the Armenian Genocide, threaten Armenia’s security,
jeopardize the freedom of Nagorno Karabagh, and compromise the
inalienable rights of all Armenians."

The complete text of the letter is provided below.

#####

September 30, 2009

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Clinton,

I am writing to share with you the growing alarm and
outrage among Armenian Americans over the heavy pressure
that you, officials of the Department of State, and others
in the Obama-Biden Administration are applying to Armenia
to accept the Turkey-Armenia Protocols.

These one-sided agreements, which are being imposed upon a
landlocked Republic of Armenia that remains blockaded by
Turkey and that is still working to overcome the
devastating demographic, economic and geopolitical legacy
of the Armenian Genocide, would, if adopted, call into
question the reality of the Armenian Genocide, threaten
Armenia’s security, jeopardize the freedom of Nagorno
Karabagh, and compromise the inalienable rights of all
Armenians.

As you can imagine, in light of your powerful track record
as a U.S. Senator and Presidential candidate in support of
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, we are particularly
troubled by the role that you have played in pressuring
Armenia to accept these Protocols. Rather than keeping
faith with your principled stands on this human rights
issue, you have, since taking office, aggressively
pressured Armenia into a process that effectively provides
President Obama with a rationale -morally flawed, but
nonetheless politically effective – for failing to honor
his clearly stated pledge to recognize the Armenian
Genocide.

The starkest evidence of the intense pressure applied on
Armenia is that the initial Turkey-Armenia "Roadmap" was
announced late on the evening of April 22nd, only hours
before the President’s first April 24th remarks, following
a marathon 14-hour session in Yerevan between the Foreign
Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandyan, and Matt Bryza, at
the time a Deputy Assistant Secretary. This meeting, and
all the intense pressure on Armenia in the days leading up
to the President’s reversal on his Armenian Genocide
pledge, was plainly intended to serve Turkey’s interest in
blocking U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. This
coercion has continued through to this day, with headlines
in the New York Times and elsewhere reporting your personal
"prodding" and "pushing" of the Armenian government to
accept the Protocols in the face of broad-based opposition
both in Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora.

As you may know, over 10,000 Armenian Americans gathered in
Los Angeles over the weekend to protest the one-sided
Protocols and to demand full U.S. recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. These American citizens and over one and
a half million Armenian Americans, rightful stakeholders in
our nation’s policies on Armenian issues, have been
excluded from any meaningful role in the shaping of our
nation’s active diplomacy on the Protocols. When we have
formally protested this exclusion to senior officials of
the State Department, we have been advised to address our
concerns to the Armenian government. This dismissal
represents a patent insult to every American of Armenian
heritage. We deserve transparency and honesty from our
government, a policy-making process that fairly embraces
all American stakeholders, and the opportunity to offer our
input in a respectful and meaningful manner.

In light of these concerns, I call upon you to lift the
pressure being applied to Armenia to accept the Protocols
and ask you, once again, to agree to accept our outstanding
request to meet to discuss these and other urgent matters
of concern to the Armenian American community.

Sincerely,

[signed]
Kenneth V. Hachikian
Chairman

IMF: OUR PROGRAMS HAVE HELPED EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO COPE BETTER WITH THE CRISIS

Wall-Street
29 September 2009

The mix of resources, policy flexibility, and more focused
conditionality has allowed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to
better support Eastern European countries hit by the recent global
financial crisis, said an internal IMF review released today.

MF said in an analysis that reviews the crisis programs ran in
Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Georgia, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Mongolia, Pakistan,
Romania, Serbia, and Ukraine that the Fund-supported actions were
delivering the kind of policy response and financing needed to help
cushion the blow from the worst crisis since the 1930s. The paper
shows that Mexico, Poland and Columbia have expressed their interest
in attracting financing, in the event of worsening economic conditions.

"What this study tells us is that, with IMF support, many of the severe
disruptions characteristic of past crises have so far been either
avoided or sharply reduced. Serious challenges remain, especially
restoring sustained growth in output and employment, but there are
encouraging signs of stabilization", said the managing director of IMF,
Dominique Strauss-Kahn (photo).

The study notes that the institution has brought funds to control
for pre-existing vulnerabilities, such as current account deficits
and credit booms.

"It is clear that this new generation of programs incorporate the
lessons of the past," IMF Director of Strategy, Policy, and Review
Reza Moghadam said, "While it is certainly too early to draw firm
conclusions, this assessment is useful in providing real-time
feedback to country authorities, IMF staff, partner institutions
and policymakers elsewhere, so that we can continue to learn and
improve further."

Among the factors that have helped avoid past problems were the large
and timely financing, stronger country ownership and policy re h this
year, Romania was the recipient of a â~B¬20-bln external financing
package: â~B¬12.9 bln from IMF, â~B¬5 bln from European Union,
â~B¬1 bln from World Bank and â~B¬1 bln from other international
institutions. IMF has also agreed with nine banks with large exposure
in Romania (Erste Bank, Raiffeisen International, Eurobank EFG,
National Bank of Greece, UniCredit, Societe Generale, Alpha Bank,
Volksbank and Piraeus Bank) to reaffirm their commitments to support
their subsidiaries in the country

EDWARD NALBANDIAN TAKES PART IN MEETING OF CSTO MEMBER COUNTRIES’ FOREIGN MINISTERS IN NEW YORK

NOYAN TAPAN
SEPTEMBER 28, 2009
NEW YORK

NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 28, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian, who is in New York on a working visit, on September 26,
took part in the meeting of Foreign Ministers of CSTO member countries.

According to a report by the RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information
Department, a number of issues on organization’s agenda were discussed
at the meeting, in particular, confrontation of foreign political
activity at UN and other international structures, issues on the
agenda of European and international security, as well as of the UN
General Assembly.

PREMIER OF "ALMAST" OPERA IN THE NATIONAL ACADEMIC THEATRE OF OPERA
AND BALLET AFTER AL. SPENDARIAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: Premier of the "Almast" opera will
take place September 27-28 in the National Academic Theatre of Opera
and Ballet after Al. Spendarian. This is Al. Spendarian’s only work
which remained unfinished.
""Almast" is the only opera which is uncompetitive in our music. It
is really a masterpiece with which we can proudly present ourselves in
any European stage," said the conductor of the Opera to Armenpress.
"Almast" is based on Hovhannes Toumanian’s "Tmbkaberti arum" poem
with certain changes.
"If in other Armenia operas there are a non-correspondence of
language and the music, in this case it is completely absent," the
conductor noted.
Selection of the figures was also rather difficult. The role of
Nadir Shah will be performed by the honorary artist Michael
Hovhannisian and Suren Manukian. The role of Almast will be performed
by Hasmik Hatsagorcian, Lilit Soghomonian, Narine Ananikian and
Kristene Sahakian.
The role of Tatul Ishkhan will be embodied by Arnold Kocharian and
Asatur Baljian. And the role of Tatul’s companion Ruben will be
performed by Poghos Biazbekian and Gevorg Maghakian.
The opera consists of 4 acts. The staging conductor of Almast is
the Armenian people’s artist Yuri Davtian, the staging director –
laureate of Russian state prize Georgi Isakhanian who is the chief
conductor and artistic director of Russian "Perm" theatre; painter of
the performance and the dresses is the Russian honorary painter
Vyacheslav Okunin who is the well-known painter of "Marinian" theatre
in Petersburg.
Armenian honorary artist Karen Sargsian is the group leader, the
staging of dances was conducted by Vilen Galstian.

11th plenary sitting of Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission
on Economic Cooperation held in Yaroslavl

YAROSLAVL, SEPTEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation headed by Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan paid a working visit to the Russian city of
Yaroslavl where the 11th sitting of the Armenian-Russian
Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation was held.

A tete-a-tete conversation of the Commission Co-Chairmen – Tigran
Sargsyan and Russian Minister of Transport Igor Levitin took place
prior to the sitting.

The sitting was opened by I. Levitin who considered it symbolic that
the sitting takes place Yaroslavl: a few days ago the city hosted an
international forum to discuss ways of overcoming the global crisis and
establishing new international economic links.

In his speech, T. Sargsyan addressed the bilateral economic
cooperation. "The processes taking place in the Armenian economy are
silimar to those in Russia, and it is no accident. Our economic systems
are integrated and correlated. More than a thousand companies with
Russian capital operate in Armenia. Our energy system and transport
communication are integrated with the Russian economy," he stated.
According to him, in the first half of this year the crisis hit hard at
the economy, but some economic growth tendencies are noticeable today,
which means that the anricrisis grogram of the Armenian government has
produced results.

Having discussed the issues on the agenda, the participants made
decisions on the implementation of the protocol taken at the
Commission’s 10th sitting held on 20 October 2008, the current state
and development prospects of the bilateral trade and economic relations
and the legal and contractual field, the operation of the enterprises
that Armenia has given to Russia against its state debt, as well as
decisions on cooperation in energy, transport, cultural and educational
spheres. The participants assessed the work on developing cooperation
in energy, transport, cultural and educational spheres as efficient.

According to the RA Government Information and PR Department, at the
conclusion of the sitting T. Sargsyan and I. Levitin signed the
Protocol of the 11th Sitting of the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental
Commission, following which they gave a press conference.

Erdogan Hopes Sarkisian Will Visit Turkey

hopes-sarkisian-will-visit-turkey/
By Asbarez Staff on Sep 25th

NEW YORK (RFE/RL) – Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed
hope that President Serzh Sarkisian will pay a landmark visit to
Turkey next month and said Ankara’s fence-mending agreements with
Yerevan could be submitted to the Turkish parliament for ratification
before that.

Sarkisian has been invited by his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul,
to watch with him the return match of the two countries’ national
football teams in the Turkish city of Bursa on October 14. The two
presidents’ presence at their first World Cup qualifying played in
Yerevan in September last year gave new impetus to the
Turkish-Armenian rapprochement.

`If the Turkish president can easily go to Armenia to watch a game,
then it should be just as easy and simple for the Armenian president
[to visit Turkey,]’ Turkish media on Thursday quoted Erdogan as saying
in a speech at Princeton University in the United States. `I think
asking for certain conditions to be met to decide to come is not the
right way forward in international politics anymore.’

Sarkisian has repeatedly stated that he will accept Gul’s invitation
only if Turkey takes `real steps’ to establish diplomatic relations
and open its border with Armenia. The August 31 publication of two
relevant draft protocols finalized by Ankara and Yerevan is thought to
have made his visit much more likely.

The trip would come just days after the anticipated signing of the
Turkish-Armenian protocols, most probably in a third country. Various
Turkish sources said last week that the signing ceremony has been
tentatively scheduled for October 11-13.

But Erdogan implied in his speech that the two sides could put pen to
paper on the Western-backed deal even before that. `If we don’t see
prejudice or some domestic political considerations at play, I believe
the preparation for the agreement, which has been initialed between
Turkey and Armenia, could be taken to Parliament to be ratified,’ he
said, according to `Today’s Zaman’ newspaper. `We hope to take those
steps by the 10th or 11th of next month.’

Erdogan did not specify whether his government will seek to push the
documents through Turkey’s Grand National Assembly, in which his
ruling Justice and Development Party has a majority, if Armenia and
Azerbaijan fail to achieve a breakthrough in their peace talks on
Nagorno-Karabakh. Sarkisian and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev
are expected to hold a potentially decisive meeting on October 6.

The Turkish premier reportedly said late last week that the
Turkish-Armenian frontier will not be reopened until `Azerbaijan’s
occupied territories are returned.’ Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard
Nalbandian swiftly criticized the remark, saying that it contradicts
`the letter, spirit and aims’ of the Turkish-Armenian agreements.

RA Ambassador to Italy enters upon his duties
24.09.2009 19:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On September 23, Armenian Ambassador to Italy Ruben
Karapetyan submitted the copies of his credentials to Leonardo
Visconti, Head of Italian State Diplomatic Protocol. Welcoming a new
Armenian Ambassador after a long interval, Italian official expressed
willingness to assist Karapetyan during his mission.

In his turn, Armenian diplomat attached special important to
Armenian-Italian relations, reiterating Armenian authorities’
willingness to extend bilateral cooperation, RA MFA press service
reports.

Garry Kasparov holds convincing victory over Anatoly Karpov
25.09.2009 10:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ World’s 12th and 13th chess champions Garry Kasparov
and Anatoly Karpov ended jubilee competitions in Valencia.

After 4 rapid games (25 min. + 5 sec.) in which Kasparov beat Karpov
3:1, the two chess titans played 8 blitz games (5 min. + 2 sec.), with
Kasparov being the leader.

Holding victory in the first blitz match, Karpov drew in the
second. In subsequent matches, Kasparov was the winner. Only in the
last round did parties agree to a draw, with Kasparov winning 6:2.

Thus, the match ended 9:3 in favor of world’s 13th champion.

Valencia match is one of the five tournaments between two chess
titans. It is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of their first
competition for Champion’s Crown. Within the upcoming six month, two
chess players are planning to compete in Spain, Russia, United States,
England and France, i.e. the countries where they struggled for World
Champion’s title.

THREE U.S. CONGRESSMEN SUPPORT RAPPROCHEMENT BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.09.2009 15:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Three congressmen who are the members of the
Congressional Caucus on Turkey sent a letter to other members of the
U.S. House of Representatives, supporting the rapprochement between
Turkey and Armenia.

In their letter, U.S. congressmen Robert Wexler, Edward Whitfield
and Kay Granger supported the August 31 joint declaration of Turkey,
Armenia and Switzerland and the normalization process between Turkey
and Armenia.

The three congressmen called on their other colleagues to support
normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations, and said the trilateral
declaration made by the governments of Turkey, Armenia and Switzerland
on August 31 made public two protocols and a schedule to normalize
relations.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN MEETS POLAND’S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

armradio.am
24.09.2009 11:04

President Serzh Sargsyan received the Deputy Prime Minister of Poland
and State Minister for European Integration, Mikolaj Dowgielewicz.

The President of Armenia hailed our relations with Poland and expressed
interest in their expansion in both bilateral and multilateral formats.

According to President Sargsyan, the Armenian-Polish relations can
acquire a new quality in the framework of the EU Eastern Partnership
Initiative.

Minister Dowgielewicz assessed the Eastern Partnership as one of
the best models of cooperation and noted that Armenia was one of the
leading countries of the Partnership initiative, entirely integrated
in the programs and can use the initiative fully to its benefit.

The President of Armenia said that our country intends to actively
participate in the program and to fully use its potential. "Our goal is
to conduct large-scale reforms in different areas so that the political
and economic structure of our country is consistent with that of the
states we strive to cooperate with," the President of Armenia stressed.

Serzh Sargsyan underscored in particular the importance of easing
the visa regime and activities related to the establishment of free
trade agreement.