Author: Tamamian Anna

US Vice President: USA interested in normalization of Armenia-Turkey
relations

2007-10-19 17:33:00
ArmInfo.

Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan and US Vice President Richard B.
Cheney discussed the prospects of Armenian-American relations at the
White House. The Armenian premier is on a visit to the USA, Armenian
Government press-service told ArmInfo.

Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan stressed the high level of
Armenian-American relations and Armenia’s readiness to further
development and deepening of these relations. The premier also added
that the Armenian authorities are decisive in establishment of absolute
democracy in the country. For his part, US Vice President reiterated
that the USA is ready to further assist Armenia in democratic reforms.
The parties discussed also the situation in the Middle East and the
Karabakh peace process. Serzh Sargsyan presented Armenia’s stand on
these issues and added that Armenia is ready to take measures to
regulate the relations with Turkey despite the fact that the
international recognition of Armenian Genocide is still on Armenia’s
foreign political agenda. As regards Karabakh conflict, Armenia adheres
to the principle of settlement through compromises. Richard Cheney
confirmed USA’s interest in normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations
and readiness to contribute to Karabakh conflict’s resolution.

Friday, on October 19, the Armenian delegation headed by Serzh Sargsyan
left for Los Angeles to meet with the leaderships of The Los Angeles
Times, Lincy Foundation, and the local Armenian community.

Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates
Oct 19 2007

`Taste of Armenia’ begins tomorrow
By Anwar Ahmad

19 October 2007

ABU DHABI – The Embassy of Armenia will host a cultural extravaganza
week – `Taste of Armenia’ – from tomorrow to October 25 in Abu Dhabi
and Ras Al Khaimah to promote the cultural relations and cement
bilateral trade and commerce ties between with the UAE.

People can taste the food and cultural heritage of Armenia at the
event, said Vahagn Melikian, Ambassador of Armenia to the UAE,
yesterday.

A concert will be held at the Cultural Centre in Ras Al Khaimah
tomorrow, while the official launch of `Taste of Armenia’ and other
activities of the cultural extravaganza will be convened at
Millennium Hotel in the capital on October 21, the 16th Independence
Day of Armenia.

The programmes are being sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of Armenia, Abu Dhabi Culture and Heritage Authority, Millennium
Hotel, Rakeen and others. They include concerts, live Jazz band, a
selection of Armenian cuisine, art exhibition and an exclusive gala
dinner.

`For making the event memorable, a group of professional and highly
acclaimed performers and artistes are arriving to convey the cultural
and historical heritage and spirit of our country to the UAE
nationals and expatriates,’ said Melikian.

`Prominent Armenian singers Aramo, Emma Petrosian and Arman
Hovhannessian are participating in the gala event. Violinist Hakob
Shirinian, painter Zara Gasparian and other singers will display
their creative works and talents,’ added Melikian.

Tourism and business
`We are trying to promote tourism. We want our Emirati friends and
foreigners to visit Armenia. They should come and discover what
Armenia has to offer,’ the ambassador said.

`We are also trying to bring businesses from Armenia to the UAE. Many
businessmen are already working here and signing contracts with
individual and private companies. The embassy is also taking measures
to promote business and tourism from the UAE,’ Melikian said.

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CONGRESS’ NEW ROLE: UNDERMINING U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
By Victor Davis Hanson

Town Hall, DC
Oct 18 2007

The president establishes American foreign policy and is commander in
chief. At least that’s what the Constitution states. Then Congress
oversees the president’s policies by either granting or withholding
money to carry them out – in addition to approving treaties and
authorizing war.

Apparently, the founding fathers were worried about dozens of renegade
congressional leaders and committees speaking on behalf of the United
States and opportunistically freelancing with foreign leaders.

In our past, self-appointed moralists – from Charles Lindbergh and Joe
Kennedy to Jimmy Carter and Jesse Jackson – have, from time to time,
tried to engage in diplomacy directly contrary to the president’s.

But usually Americans agree to let one elected president and his
secretary of state speak for the United States abroad. Then if they’re
displeased with the results, they can show it at the ballot box every
two years in national or midterm elections.

But recently hundreds in Congress have decided that they’re better
suited to handle international affairs than the State Department.

The U.S. Senate late last month passed a resolution urging the de facto
breakup of wartime Iraq into federal enclaves along sectarian lines –
even though this is not the official policy of the Bush administration,
much less the wish of a sovereign elected government in Baghdad.

That Senate vote only makes it tougher for 160,000 American soldiers
to stabilize a unitary Iraq. And Iraqis I spoke with during my recent
trip to Iraq are confused over why the U.S. Congress would preach to
them how to split apart their own country.

Then, last week, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a
resolution condemning Turkey for genocide against the Armenian people,
atrocities committed nearly a century ago during the waning years of
the Ottoman Empire.

If the entire House approves the resolution, the enraged Ankara
government could do everything from invade Iraqi Kurdistan – in hot
pursuit of suspected Kurdish guerrillas – to curtail U.S. over-flight
privileges and restrict use of American military bases in Turkey.

This new falling-out could interfere with supplying our soldiers in
Iraq. And it complicates a myriad of issues, from the NATO alliance
to Turkey’s bid to join the European Union.

The speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, earlier this year took another
hot-button foreign-policy matter into her own hands when she made a
special trip to reach out to Syria’s strongman, Bashar Assad.

That visit to Damascus was played up in the government-run Syrian
press as proof that ordinary Americans don’t feel that Syria is a
state sponsor of terrorism. Never mind that the Assad dictatorship
helps terrorists get into Iraq to kill American soldiers, is suspected
of involvement with the assassinations of journalists and democratic
leaders in Lebanon, and recently had bombed by the Israelis a facility
reported to contain a partially built nuclear reactor.

What are we to make of a Congress that now wants to establish rather
than just oversee U.S. foreign policy? Can it act as a foil to the
president and so give our diplomats leverage abroad with wayward
nations: "We suggest you do x, before our volatile Congress demands
we do y?"

Maybe – but any good is vastly outweighed by the bad. Partisan
politics often drive these anti-administration foreign policies,
aimed at making the president look weak abroad and embarrassed at home.

House representatives too often preach their own district politics,
less so the American people’s interest as a whole. What might ensure
their re-election or win local campaign funds isn’t necessarily good
for the United States and its allies.

And too often we see frustrated senators posture in debate during
televised hearings, trying out for the role of chief executive
or commander in chief. Most could never get elected president –
many have tried – but they seem to enjoy the notion that their
own under-appreciated brilliance and insight should supersede the
collective efforts of the State Department.

So they travel abroad, pass resolutions and pontificate a lot, but
rarely have to clean up the ensuing mess of their own freelancing of
American foreign policy.

Congress should stick to its constitutional mandate and quit the
publicity gestures. If it is unhappy with the ongoing effort to
stabilize a unified Iraq, then it should act seriously and vote to
cut off all funds and bring the troops home.

If the House wants to punish Turkey for denying that its Ottoman
forefathers engaged in a horrific genocide, then let congressional
members likewise deny funds for our military to stay among such a
genocide-denying amoral host.

If Speaker Pelosi believes that Syria is not a terrorist entity but
a country worth re-engaging diplomatically, then let her in mature
fashion introduce legislation that would resume full American financial
relations with our new partner Damascus.

Otherwise, it’s all talk – and dangerous talk at that.

Victor Davis Hanson is a classicist and historian at the Hoover
Institution, Stanford University, and author, most recently, of
"A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the
Peloponnesian War."

torDavisHanson/2007/10/18/congress_new_role_underm ining_us_foreign_policy&Comments=true

ACCORDING TO BUNDESTAG DEPUTY, ARMENIA IMPLEMENTS EUROPEAN NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY ACTIONS PLAN MOST SUCCESSFULLY IN REGION

Noyan Tapan
Oct 18 2007

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia is the first in the region
with efficiency of implementation of the European Neighborhood Policy
Actions Plan. Schtefen Raiche, the head of the German Bundestag’s
Germany-South Caucasus deputy group, stated at the October 18 meeting
with Armen Bayburdian, the RA Deputy Foreign Minister, in Yerevan.

According to the report received from the RA Foreign Ministry, the
parties also touched upon issues of regional cooperation. It was
mentioned that the European Neighborhood Policy is a good platform
for creation of not only an atmosphere of confidence, but also a
common system of values for regional countries.

Schtefen Raiche also said that the South Caucasus is of special
importance for Germany, and Germany is greatly interested in
development of relations with the South Caucasian countries. According
to him, the number of members of the Germany-South Caucasus deputy
friendship group has already reached 24.

October 19, 2007

PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

PRELATE TO CELEBRATE DIVINE LITURGY AND PRESIDE OVER BOOK FAIR AT FORTY
MARTYRS CHURCH

On Sunday, October 21st, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate,
will celebrate Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at Forty Martyrs Church
in Orange County. Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian and Parish Pastor Rev. Hrant
Yeretsian will assist at the altar.
On the same day a book fair has been organized by the Parish Pastor,
Board of Trustees, A.G. Minassian School administration and parent-teacher
organization on the occasion of Armenian Culture Month. The book fair will
take place at "Gugasian" Hall adjacent to the church. The Prelate will
preside over the opening of the book fair following Divine Liturgy.

NEW ACYA BOARD CONVENES ITS FIRST MEETING

On the evening of Monday, October 15, the new board of the Armenian
Church Youth Association (ACYA) convened their first meeting at the Prelacy
headquarters. Christian Education Department Directors presided over the
meeting.
Members discussed the current activities of the youth groups as well as the
drafting of new projects, and outlined a yearly agenda. Among the events
planned for the following year is a seminar for youth leaders and directors,
the forming of a youth choir to participate in the monthly Divine Liturgy
that is celebrated at the Prelacy St. Dertad and St. Ashkhen Chapel, and
participation of ACYA members in the youth gathering to be held by the
Catholicosate from August 13-18, 2008, in Bikfaya.
During the meeting the members also elected their divan which is as
follows: Raffi Naljian, Chairman, Manuk Chulyan, Vice-Chair, Ani Daglian,
Secretary, and Ani Dervishian, Treasurer.

PRELATE REPRESENTED AT
ORHNERK OUTREACH BANQUET

On the evening of Friday, October 19th, the inaugural celebration
banquet of the "Orhnerk Outreach" organization will take place at Gilmore
Hall of First Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena.
Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian will be in attendance representing
the Prelate and will deliver the Prelate’s blessings and remarks.

BANQUET HONORING PRIME MINISTER SERZH SARGSYAN

The USC Institute of Armenian Studies has organized a banquet
honoring the Prime Minister of Armenia His Excellency Serzh Sarsgyan, who is
in Los Angeles on a brief visit. The banquet will take place on the evening
of Friday, October 19th, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
H.E. Archbishop Yeprem Tabakian will attend on behalf of the
Prelate.

TURKEY SAYS IRAQ INCURSION NOT IMMEDIATE
By Christopher Torchia

The Associated Press
Oct 16 2007

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) – Turkey’s premier indicated Tuesday that an
offensive against Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq would not
immediately follow the expected go-ahead from Parliament, as oil
prices soared amid international calls for restraint.

The Iraqi government urged Turkey not to send troops across the
border to pursue separatist Kurds in mountain hideouts, calling for
"a diplomatic solution" to tensions that have raised fears of a new
front in the Iraq war.

Tareq al-Hashemi, one of Iraq’s two vice presidents, flew to Ankara
and met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other Turkish
officials before a Parliament vote Wednesday that is widely expected
to authorize cross-border attacks during the next year.

"The passage of the motion in Parliament does not mean that an
operation will be carried out at once," Erdogan said. "Turkey would
act with common sense and determination when necessary and when the
time is ripe."

Public anger over attacks by Kurdish guerrillas is running high, but
government leaders know that two dozen military campaigns into Iraq
since the 1980s failed to eradicate the rebel Kurdistan Workers’ Party,
or PKK. And a cross-border attack could strain ties with the U.S., a
NATO ally that opposes any disruption of its efforts to stabilize Iraq.

Light, sweet crude for November delivery rose $1.94 a barrel to $87.07
Tuesday on the New York Mercantile Exchange after hitting a record
$88.20. Traders attributed the surge partly to concerns that Turkish
military action might disrupt Mideast crude oil supplies.

"Whenever there is any escalation in political tensions in the Middle
East, oil markets become concerned," said David Moore, a commodity
strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney. "There is
production and there are pipelines that people worry may be affected
if there are any issues in Iraq."

The potential harm to Turkey’s economy, which has recovered strongly
from an economic crisis in 2001, is probably another factor in the
government’s deliberations on whether to send troops into Iraq.

Gazi Ercel, a former central bank governor, said an offensive could
trigger falls in the Turkish stock market and currency and cause
uneasiness among foreign investors about whether Turkey is a "risky
place" to do business.

The head of the United Nation’s refugee agency warned that a Turkish
incursion into Iraq could exacerbate what is already the Middle’s
East’s worst refugee crisis since the 1940s.

"I can only express our very deep concern about any development that
might lead to meaningful displacements of populations in that sensitive
area," said Antonio Guterres, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees.

Guterres said violence in Iraq has forced 4 million Iraqis to flee
their homes and an offensive into the Kurdish-controlled north would
upset one of Iraq’s few relatively stable areas.

There has been speculation Turkey’s government sought approval for
an offensive as a way to pressure U.S. and Iraqi authorities to move
against Turkish Kurd rebels operating from northern Iraq.

On Tuesday, Erdogan repeated his calls for a crackdown, saying the
Kurdish regional administration in northern Iraq should "build a
thick wall between itself and terrorist organizations."

Ali al-Dabbagh, spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki,
said Iraq’s government would not tolerate violence from the separatist
rebels, but he urged Turkey to "seek a diplomatic solution and not
a military one in dealing with the terrorist threats that target
it." Al-Maliki’s office said a high-level political and security team
would go to Turkey for talks later this week.

A Turkish soldier was killed Tuesday when he stepped on a land mine
believed to have been planted by Kurdish rebels near the southeastern
Turkish city of Bingol, local authorities said.

PKK rebels have been fighting for autonomy in Turkey’s
Kurdish-dominated southeast since 1984 in a conflict that has killed
thousands of people.

Turkey has complained about what it considers a lack of U.S. support
against the PKK, which has been labeled a terrorist group by
Washington.

Turkish frustration with America has intensified because of another
dispute: a congressional move toward declaring as a genocide the
killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians by Turks during World War I.

Turkey denies there was a systematic campaign to eliminate Armenians,
saying the deaths came during the civil unrest that accompanied the
collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

President Bush is strongly urging Congress not to pass the resolution
amid worries Turkey might retaliate by cutting off key supply routes
used by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Egemen Bagis, a foreign policy adviser to Erdogan, said Tuesday that
Turkey should not punish the Bush administration if the resolution
passes. He said it should react against those in Congress backing the
measure as well as impose sanctions against Armenia for supporting it.

Associated Press writers Selcan Hacaoglu and Suzan Fraser in Ankara
contributed to this report.

IN OPINION OF PRIME MINISTER OF RA, YEREVAN SITTING OF ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION ON ECONOMIC COOPERATION PASSED SUCCESSFULLY AND IN ATMOSPHERE OF MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING

Noyan Tapan
Oct 16, 2007

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The 6th sitting of the
Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation
was held at the Reception House of the Government of the RA on
October 15. NT was informed by the RA Government Information and PR
Department that the commission discussed issues related to execution
of the decisions taken at the previous sitting, the current state
and development prospects of the legal and contractual basis between
the sides, prospects of economic development, as well as cooperation
in energy, transport, agriculture, health care and social security,
finance, education and culture, environmental protection, tourism,
customs sphere.

The commission took notice of the information on execution of the
decisions taken at the previous sitting, noting with satisfaction that
in the indicated period the sides have done work on further promotion
of trade and economic relations between Armenia and Georgia, most
of the instructions have been carried out, while the rest are at
the implementation stage. The commission instructed the ministries
and departments of the two sides to take the appropriate measures to
ensure execution of decisions of the 5th sitting fully and to inform
the co-chairmen about results.

As for the current state and development of the legal and
contractual basis between the two countries, the commission noted with
satisfaction that during the sitting the Agreement on Administrative
Mutual Assistance in Customs Affairs and the Protocol on Order of
Cooperation in Exchange of Customs Statistical Information between
the State Customs Committee adjunct to the RA government and the
Georgian ministry of finance were signed.

The commission took into consideration that the work on the agreement
between the Armenian government and the Georgian government on air
comminication is continuing, and the foreign ministries of the two
countries, the RA Main Department of Civil Aviation, and the Georgian
ministry of economic development were instructed to brisk up the
preparatory work for signing these documents.

In connection with the protocol on making amendments in the agreement
on free trade of August 14, 1995, the foreign ministries of the
two countries, the RA ministry of trade and economic development,
and the Georgian ministry of economic development were instructed
to brisk up the preparatory work for agreeing on these documents and
their signing by late 2007.

The commission underlined the urgency of coordinating the positions
of the sides in the issue of "mutual recognition and protection of
geographic marks (names of goods’ places of origin) – in accordance
with the norms and principles of the World Trade Organization,
and instructed the Armenian and Georgian foreign ministries, the RA
ministry of trade and economic development, the Georgia ministry of
economic development to start the preparatory work on coordinating
the respective draft agreement and signing it by the governments of
the two countries. The Georgian side was commissioned to pass the
draft agreement to the Armenian side by December 1, 2007.

Procceding from the importance of solving the current problems of
the energy sector in a most comprehensive and coordinated way and
the necessity of the Armenian and Georgian energy systems’ working
in parallel, and taking into account the parallel work of power
supply system of Georgia and Russia, as well as of Armenia and Iran,
the Armenian side was instructed to prepare the respective draft
agreements and transfer them to the Georgian side by late 2007.

The sides also agreed on the tax legislation and the expediency of
signing a new intergovernmental agreement on cooperation and mutual
assistance in the fight against violations in this sphere, which
will replace the agreements signed in 1997. The RA State Tax Service
and the Georgian ministry of finance were instructed to prepare the
respective draft agreement.

The sides took into consideration the information that the Armenian
side will pass to the Georgian side the prepared draft agreements on
cooperation between the Armenian and Georgian governments in veterinary
service and plant quarantine. It was decided to instruct the foreign
ministries and the agriculture ministries of the two countries to
brisk up the preparatory work on signing of these documents.

The commission pointed out that as a result of activities of the
respective state commissions of the two sides on demarcation of the
state border between Armenia and Georgia, the sides have come to an
agreement on a border line of 150 km, and the work on the remaining
5 border sections of the total length of 75 km is underway. The
commission decided to propose that the delimitation commissions of
the two sides continue their work with the aim of reaching mutually
acceptable agreements.

It was decided to instruct the foreign and defence ministries of
Georgia to discuss (upon receiving from the Armenian side) the
draft agreement between the two countries on interstate military
transportation for needs of the armed forces of Armenia and Georgia,
and then to submit its proposals.

Discussing the issues of trade and economic cooperation between
Armenia and Georgia, the commission took notice of the fact that
bilateral external trade turnover is growing and in January-August
2007 the indices were equal to those in the year 2006.

The efficient cooperation between the chambers of commerce and
industry of the two countries was pointed out. Particularly, in 2006 an
exhibition was held in Tbilisi with the participation of the Georgian
chamber of commerce and industry and the Business Center of Assistance
to Business Women adjunct to the RA Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Armneian side informed the Georgian side about successful testing
of "Zenith" antihail system and expressed a willingness to provide
full information about it.

The commission took into consideration that in the indicated period
the Armenian Development Agency carried out some work on advertizing
goods of national producers and mutual supply of goods to markets of
the two countries.

The Armenian ministries of trade and economic development, finance,
transport and communication, the RA State Customs Committee, the State
Tax Service and the Georgian ministries of economic development and
finance, as well as interested ministries and departments of the two
sides were instructed to brisk up the work on further development
of trade and economic cooperation with the aim of increasing the
commodity turnover and attracting investments.

In connection with the problem of developing cooperation in tourism
sector, it was noted that this process is also proceeding successfully.

Particularly, the Armenian side took part in the annual tourism
fair CTF-2007 in Georgia in April 2007 and in the international
conference Turkom in Tbilisi on September 24-27. The sides stated
with satisfaction that in 2007, the number of tourists to Armenia
and Georgia has significantly grown.

The commission instructed the interested ministries and departments
of the two sides to continue cooperation in the tourism sector
by exchanging information and advertising material on tourism
opportunities of Armenia and Georgia, participating in exhibitions
and fairs on tourism in these countries. The sides were also told to
cooperate with the aim of attracting Armenian and Georgian investments
for construction of tourist facilities in Armenia and Georgia.

Addressing problems of cooperation in the transport sector, the sides
expressed their satisfaction over the fact that a stable growth in
motor and railway commodity transportation between the two countries
has been observed. Taking into account the fact that considerable part
of Armenian goods is transported through the territory of Georgia via
the ports of Poti and Batumi, the Armenian side proposed discussing the
opportunity to apply jointly to international financial institutions
for financing the reconstruction of Yerevan – Gyumri- Ninotsminda –
Akhaltskha – Shuakhevi – Batumi motorway, which will allow to reduce
the route of bilateral cargo transportation. The Armenian ministry
of transport and communication and the Georgian ministry of economic
development were instructed to discuss the opportunity to apply to
international financial institutions on this issue.

The commission assigned the sides to regularly exchange information
about organization of new ferry links via Poti and Batumi and to
discuss the issue of resuming regular air communication by Yerevan –
Tbilisi – Yerevan and Yerevan – Batumi – Yerevan flights. In order to
ensure continuous cargo transportation between Georgia and Armenia,
the respective departments of the two sides were instructed to develop
measures for improving the technical state of Ayrum railway station
and increasing its carrying capacity, while customs bodies were told
to discuss the issues of reducing the duration of customs functions
and developing a single coordinated principle of work.

The importance of cooperation in the energy sector was emphasized
at the sitting. The commission took into consideration that during
the meeting of the energy ministers of Armenia, Georgia and Iran in
September 29, 2006, a mutual understanding memorandum was signed,
by which the sides confirmed their willingness to continue work for
ensuring parallel operation of the power energy systems of their
countries. In connection with construction of the Armenia-Georgia 400
kv high-voltage line, it was noted that according to the decision
taken at the previous sitting of the commission, the Georgian side
started construction and repairs of this line in the territory of
Georgia. Reconstruction work in the 75 km section of the line has been
finished. The Georgian side spoke about the possibility of completing
the construction of a 18 km section by late 2008. The design of the
Armenian section of the Armenia-Georgia 400 kv high-volatge line
has been submitted for environmental examination. The appropriate
draft decision will soon be presented to the Armenian government for
discussion with the aim of determing the schedule of construction.

The commission took notice of the information that the sides have had
a number of meetings on the legal registration issue of the Ashotsk
– Ninotsminda transmission line but the issue remains unsettled due
to some difficulties. The sides were instructed to hold additional
discussions and submit proposals for solution of this issue.

For the purpose of forming an attractive investment environment
between the two sides, the commission considered it important to
bring the fiscal legislation of the sides into line with each other
and instructed the Armenian and Georgian finance ministers to set up
a joint working group with this aim by late 2007.

Issues of Armenian-Georgian cooperation in health care and social
security, education, culture, environmental protection, customs
sphere were also discussed at the sitting, with respective decisions
being made.

It was decided to hold the next – 7th sitting of the commission in
Tbilisi in 2008.

At the conclusion of the sitting, the Armenian prime minister Serge
Sargsian made a summary speech, in which he stated with satisfaction
that the 6th sitting of the commission passed successfully and in an
atmosphere of mutual understanding. He expressed confidence that the
execution of the commission’s decisions will have a great contribution
to the extension and deepening of economic and humanitarian cooperation
between the two countries.

The prime minister expressed his gratitude to the delegation members
and experts of the two sides for the work they have done and wished
them success in their further activities.

On the same day the document signing ceremony took place at the
Reception House of the Armenian government. The Armenian prime minister
Serge Sargsian and the Georgian prime minister Zurab Noghaideli
signed the protocol of the 6th sitting of the Armenian-Georgian
Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation. The Agreement on
Administrative Mutual Assistance in Customs Affairs and the Protocol
on Order of Cooperation in Customs Statistical Information Exchange
between the RA State Customs Committee and the Georgian ministry of
finance were signed. These documents were signed by the chairman of the
RA State Customs Committee Armen Avetisian and the deputy head of the
revenues service of the Georgian ministry of finance Irakli Siradze.

A joint press conference of the Armenian and Georgian prime ministers
took place after the signing ceremony.

During his working visit, the Georgian prime minister met with the
Armenian president Robert Kocharian.

The delegation headed by the Georgian prime minister Z. Noghaideli
leaves for Tbilisi on October 16.

A LITTLE TOO LATE

University of North Carolina The Daily Tar Heel, NC
Oct 16 2007

Congress should focus on the present, not the past
By: Editorial Board
Issue date: 10/16/07
Section: Opinion

In a time of tough Turkish-American relations, it does not make sense
to create more tension.

Unfortunately, the House of Representatives potentially could do
just that.

Last week the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a nonbinding
resolution that would officially recognize the Ottoman Turks’
deportation and subsequent deaths of 1.5 million Armenians during
World War I as genocide.

The Bush administration has condemned the resolution as an
inappropriate response, and we agree.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi decided this resolution was necessary now
because the survivors of this tragedy are elderly and, therefore,
the legislation must be passed now.

The biggest problem with the resolution is that it has no implications
in the present day nor does it change history. The killings began 92
years ago under a government that no longer exists.

We are not denying the importance of governments speaking out against
injustices by applying the term genocide. This issue has definite
modern applications, especially with the genocide in Sudan. But to
reclassify a historical event in such retrospect does no good today.

This legislation literally accomplishes nothing more than inflaming
a close ally of the U.S.

This has caused a serious backlash in Turkey, and in a time of war
such as this, the U.S. needs all the allies it can get, particularly
allies that border Iraq.

Turkey’s cooperation in the Iraq war has been critical to U.S.

operations. Turkish airstrips provide a stopover point for 70 percent
of all air cargo bound for Iraq and 30 percent of the fuel used by
our troops.

Tensions are already close to the boiling point between the U.S. and
Turkey. The Turks believe that Kurdish rebels are using northern
Iraq as a base for launching offensives into the Kurdish regions of
Turkey. The U.S. has urged Turkey not to attack the region.

Congress should not be taking chances in damaging already apprehensive
relations.

Instead, members of Congress should focus on getting more important
legislation, such a comprehensive defense bill, passed.

We are left at a loss as to how this legislation is at all pressing
or important enough to possibly jeopardize relations with one of the
few friendly regimes in the Middle East.

Turkey probably isn’t bluffing, either. Last year it broke military
ties with France after the lower house of its parliament voted to
adopt legislation that would have made the denial of the killings as
genocide a crime.

It would be a shame if the operations in Iraq were significantly
hindered because of a nonbinding resolution commenting on something
that happened 92 years ago.

Our politicians ought to spend more time passing legislation that is
actually pertinent to Americans and leave history to the historians.

WILD-TURKEY ALERT

New York Post, NY
Reuters
Oct 15 2007

October 15, 2007 — ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey’s military chief said
yesterday that if Congress approves a resolution branding the 1915
killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as genocide, ties between the
NATO allies would never be the same again.

Ankara is a critical ally for Washington, because of its border
with Iraq. Some analysts believe the vote could weaken Washington’s
influence over Turkey and result in a Turkish incursion into northern
Iraq to crush Kurdish rebels using the territory as a base.

SOME 3,000 ARMENIANS APPLY TO AXA FOR COMPENSATIONS

ARMENPRESS
Oct 15, 2007

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 15, ARMENPRESS: An official of the Armenian justice
ministry said over 3000 Armenians from across the world, who are
descendants of life insurances policyholders, issued by the French
Insurance Company AXA to Armenians, who perished during the Armenian
Genocide in the Ottoman empire, have applied for compensations.

The bulk of applications are from Armenians in the USA, Armenia
and France.

The French AXA insurance company has extended the deadline for
descendants of life insurances policyholders until December 20 to apply
for compensations. The previous deadline was October 1 of this year.

Last year AXA agreed to pay $17.5 million to descendants of life
insurance policyholders.

U.S.-based Mark Geragos along with attorneys Vartkes Yeghiayan and
Brian Kabateck had filed a class action lawsuit in a California federal
court against AXA for failing to pay death benefits for the insurance
policies purchased by Armenians in Turkey prior to the 1915.

The proceeds of the agreement, which was mediated by Federal Judge
Dickran Tevrizian, are to be disbursed as follows: Up to $11 million
for the heirs of life insurance policyholders; $3 million to be
contributed to a newly-created French-Armenian charity; and $3 million
for attorneys’ fees and legal/administrative.