Author: Tambiyan Samvel

NUCLEAR ISSUE OF IRAN IS NOW CLOSED, AHMADINEJAD SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.09.2007 14:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The issue of Iran’s nuclear activities is a matter
only for the United Nations atomic watchdog now and not the Security
Council, the country’s President told the General Assembly today as
he accused "arrogant powers" of abusing the Council to prevent Iran
enjoying its rights and entitlements.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad welcomed what he said was a shift by the UN
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) towards supporting the
rights of its Member States while supervising their nuclear activities.

"Previously, they illegally insisted on politicizing the Iranian
nation’s nuclear case, but today, because of the resistance of the
Iranian nation, the issue is back to the Agency, and I officially
announce that in our opinion the nuclear issue of Iran is now closed
and has turned into an ordinary Agency matter," he said.

The Security Council imposed sanctions on Iran last year amid
concern over the exact nature and scope of the country’s nuclear
activities. Earlier this month, however, IAEA Director General Mohamed
ElBaradei welcomed Iran’s agreement on a timeline to address all
outstanding issues.

Stressing that Iran’s nuclear activities have always been entirely
peaceful and transparent, Mr. Ahmadinejad said Tehran had been deprived
of other members’ technical assistance and sometimes even IAEA support,
despite having fulfilled all of its obligations. Even some centres not
involved in the fuel cycle production or requiring Agency supervision
were closed, he told the Assembly’s annual high-level debate.

"For about five years, some of the aforementioned powers have, by
exerting pressure on the IAEA, attempted to prevent the Iranian
nation from exercising its rights… The Iranian nation came to
the firm belief that the main concern of these powers is not the
possible deviation of Iran’s nuclear activities, but is to prevent
its scientific progress under this pretext."

Mr. Ahmadinejad devoted much of his speech to criticism of "certain
powers," which he said were responsible for many of the world’s
problems. These powers routinely breached human rights despite
claiming to be exclusive advocates of those rights; aggressively
attacked indigenous cultures and national values; promoted lewdness
and violence; perpetuated gross economic imbalances between countries;
violated rules of international law and disrespected their global
commitments; and escalated the arms race.

Mr. Ahmadinejad warned these countries "to learn from history and
their actions," saying they had lost the competence to lead the planet,
and that international relations would soon change.

"The era of darkness will end, prisoners will return home, the occupied
lands will be freed, Palestine and Iraq will be liberated from the
dominion of the occupiers, and the people of America and Europe will
be free of the pressure exerted by the Zionists.

"The tender-hearted and humanity-loving governments will replace the
aggressive and domineering ones.

Human dignity will be regained. The pleasing aroma of justice will
permeate the world, and people will live together in a brotherly and
affectionate manner."

He announced that Iran would help establish the "Coalition for Peace,"
which he described as "a front of fraternity, amity and sustainable
peace based on monotheism and justice."

The Iranian leader also called for the General Assembly to be viewed
and treated as the UN’s most important pillar, with the urgent task
of reforming the Security Council.

"The presence of some monopolistic powers has prevented the Security
Council from performing its main duty, which is the maintenance of
international peace and security based on justice. The credibility
of the Council has been tarnished and its efficacy in defending the
rights of UN Member States has been undermined."

Many nations had lost confidence in the Council, as well as in the
major international monetary and banking mechanisms, he said, the UN
news center reported.

WHAT THE BUTLER SAW

The Age, Australia
Sept 28 2007

Colonial charm … the view at the E&O hotel.

It’s a steep learning curve but Stella Martin quickly adapts to
royal treatment.

‘Most people don’t know how to use butlers now," says Elizabeth Dass,
communications manager at Penang’s Eastern and Oriental Hotel, in
a slightly peevish tone. "For example, if you are busy you can ask
your butler to pack your bags for you."

I don’t really want a stranger poking around the dirty laundry at the
bottom of my bag, but perhaps with a bit of practice I could get used
to it.

It is 25 years since my husband and I met, as young teachers working in
Malaysia. Now with the nest empty, we have returned for our anniversary
and checked into the E&O, which prides itself on its 24-hour butler
service. It would be hard to find a better place to celebrate.

We stagger in from the oppressive afternoon heat and frantic streets
of George Town and are quickly guided to enormous armchairs, presented
with cold face towels and glasses of pink fruit cocktail. I like this
place already.

A porter in pith helmet, white shirt, shorts, gloves and long socks
takes charge of our bags as our butler guides us across the domed
entrance hall. At the end of a cool, high corridor lined with old
photos of the hotel in its colonial heyday is our suite. "There are
no rooms, only suites" is the catchcry of the E&O. A sumptuously
furnished living room overlooks the swimming pool and, beyond the sea
wall, the bay. Our emperor-sized bed is flanked by butler-summoning
buttons, and beyond stained-glass doors is a black-and-white marble
bathroom. You could get lost in here.

One of the delights of Penang is its colonial architecture. Many
of the great buildings constructed during the days of the British
Empire are in a state of advanced decay, but the E&O is in beautiful
condition. Built in 1884 by the Armenian Sarkies brothers, the Eastern
Hotel was such a success that within a year they had added another,
the Oriental, next door. Eventually the two merged; our butler points
out the slightly sloping wooden floor that marks the join. A third
brother added an extravagant ballroom in 1903.

The hotel was renovated recently. The main staircase had to
be completely rebuilt but is identical to the one ascended by
Somerset Maugham, Rudyard Kipling, Hermann Hesse and Noel Coward. The
neoclassical facades, domes and minarets have been repainted a crisp
wedding-cake white.

The hotel was built to last. Its solid walls have caused headaches
for technicians installing modern communication facilities but its
sea wall stood up to the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004.

AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS PLAN SECOND VISIT TO NAGORNO KARABAKH

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 27 2007

Azerbaijani and Armenian intellectuals are planning to visit Khankendi,
Yerevan and Baku for the second time, Armenian extraordinary and
plenipotentiary ambassador to Russia Armen Smbatyan told "Panarmenian"
Agency, APA reports.

He said that it is impossible to say anything about it yet.

"But I am sure that these visits will continue," he said.

The intellectuals of the two countries visited Khankendi, Yerevan
and Baku on the initiative of Azerbaijani and Armenian ambassadors
to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu and Armen Smbatyan on June 28, 2007. Polad
Bulbuloglu, Farhad Badalbayli, Kamal Abdullah, Azerpasha Nematov and
Ilhami Fataliyev were in the composition of Azerbaijani delegation
and they visited conflict zone and Armenia.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

SEPTEMBER 21-27, 2007

HIGHLIGHTS:

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: NEW PARLIAMENT AND INNER POLITICAL SITUATION AHEAD OF
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

OSCE/ODIHR FINAL REPORT ON PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA

"ARMENIAN PHOTOGRAPHERS" ENCYCLOPEDIA PUBLISHED

CLAUDE-JEAN BERTRAND DECEASED

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: NEW PARLIAMENT AND INNER POLITICAL SITUATION AHEAD OF
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

On September 26 another "Press Club" show went on the evening air of "Yerkir
Media" TV company. The guest of the program host, the President of Yerevan
Press Club Boris Navasardian, was the leader of the National Democratic
Union Vazgen Manukian, faced by experts, the Chief Editor of "Azg" daily
Hagop Avedikian and the head of Transparency International-Armenia Amalia
Kostanian. The discussion subject was the start of the new parliament’s work
and the domestic political situation in Armenia before the presidential
elections.

The next program of "Press Club" cycle will be aired by "Yerkir Media" on
Wednesday, October 3 at 21.40.

The "Press Club" cycle is produced under a project of Media Diversity
Institute, with the support of the United Nations Development Program, Open
Society Institute Assistance Foundation-Armenia and the British Council
Armenia.

OSCE/ODIHR FINAL REPORT ON PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA

The OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission published its final report on
the parliamentary elections in Armenia, held on May 12, 2007. Among other
aspects of the election campaign the observers assessed the work of media.

The report notes in particular the high rates for political advertising as
established by broadcasters. As a result, few election contestants used paid
advertising. Besides, in some cases political advertising was aired without
a due title, and sometimes – was broadcast within commercial breaks.
"Neither of these breaches of the broadcasting law prompted any reaction
>From the oversight bodies", the document says. The allegations that the
Mission received regarding the unbalanced coverage of political forces of
the country, in the opinion of the observers, are due to the absence of
provisions, regulating the media work before the official campaign. The
situation, as the report noted, changed with the start of the pre-election
campaign: there was a noticeable increase of media attention to campaign
events and election contestants in their newscasts, current affairs programs
and talk shows. In particular, the observers mention the pre-election TV
debate series, organized by Yerevan Press Club on "Yerkir Media" TV channel.

"Overall, many national media (both in Yerevan and in other parts of the
country) made a visible effort to cover a broad range of political subjects
and thus to comply with legal provisions requiring equal conditions",
observers of OSCE/ODIHR believe.

At the same time, as media monitoring of OSCE/ODIHR showed, most of the TV
channels devoted the highest portion of coverage in the newscasts to
activities of the government and three political parties – the Republican
Party of Armenia, "Prosperous Armenia" and ARF "Dashnaktsutiun". The TV
coverage of government activities included a main focus on Prime Minister
Serge Sargsian. In the opinion of the observers, the not clear
distinguishing of the public appearances of Serge Sargsian as a Prime
Minister and as an election contestant is a reflection of a "broader issue
that legal provisions concerning campaigning by officials and its
presentation by the media are difficult to apply and enforce".

When reporting about election contestants the media paid attention
principally to the positions of leading political personalities towards
actual issues and questions, as well as to their previous achievements,
rather than to the political perspectives or platforms of the political
forces they represented, the OSCE/ODIHR observers believe. At the same time,
TV channels in their main newscasts presented positive and neutral
information, limiting to a minimum critical remarks. The observers also
noted that the media respected the silence period that started 24 hours
before the election day; with the exception for "Hayots Ashkhar" daily that
published materials bearing promotional signs of the Republican Party of
Armenia on May 11.

The First Channel of the Public Television of Armenia and the Public Radio
of Armenia "tried to purse an editorial line that would guarantee equal
conditions for contestants", covering predominantly major parties, those
represented in the parliament and those carrying out an active campaign, the
report says. The coverage in the main evening newscast of the Public Radio
was balanced, and its highest portion was accounted for by Republican Party,
"Orinats Yerkir" and People’s Party of Armenia.

In the opinion of the report authors, the PTA First Channel mostly ensured
the representation of political subjects on its air, yet its coverage of
"Orinats Yerkir" "called into question whether the channel’s qualitative
approach towards that party was really unbiased" (this refers to the almost
verbatim presentation on the air of the article from "Golos Armenii"
newspaper of April 21, 2007, containing the secret recording of the
conversation the leader of "Orinats Yerkir" Artur Baghdasarian had with a
British diplomat). Not withstanding the editorial freedom to inform the
public about important events, the observers think that the First Channel
"did not uphold journalistic standard by not presenting any response from
‘Orinats Yerkir’". The report also notes that the pre-election as well as
post-election coverage by First Channel of some opposition forces, such as
"Heritage" party, "Republic" party, "Impeachment" bloc and "New Times"
party, raises "concern about the channel’s objectivity and impartiality in
presenting different views in an unbiased manner".

Having studied the work of private broadcasters, the OSCE/ODIHR observers
arrived at the conclusion that in the news programs of all nationwide
private television channels the government was given the highest share of
coverage – almost exclusively positive and neutral in tone. Apart from the
authorities the largest part of the attention of private broadcasters was
focused on three parties – Republican Party, "Prosperous Armenia" and
"Dashnaktsutiun". Critical information about these parties was almost
completely absent. Critical viewpoints were aired only by radio stations,
mainly the programs of the Armenian Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty.

As to print media, they offered readers a diversity of views, including
critical comments and presented a diversity of political forces and
majoritarian candidates. However, they often displayed an unbalanced
approach. More balanced and analytical reporting was noticed in "Aravot"
daily, the final report of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission says.

"ARMENIAN PHOTOGRAPHERS" ENCYCLOPEDIA PUBLISHED

"Armenian Photographers" biographical reference book was published. It
author, a well-known Armenian photographer Vahan Kochar gathered together
over 500 photographers of Armenian origin that worked or still work in
Armenia and abroad since later 19th century to this day. The 450-page
encyclopedia presents biographies, facsimiles, and the works of the
photography professionals of the past and present, many of whom are also
photojournalists. The book is produced at "Tigran Mets" publishing house
with a print run of 1,000 copies.

CLAUDE-JEAN BERTRAND DECEASED

On September 21 Claude-Jean Bertrand, Professor Emeritus of University
Paris-2, passed away in Paris. Claude-Jean Bertrand devoted his professional
life to studying the media ethics, media accountability systems and their
deontology. Having authored numerous works, he contributed greatly to the
introduction of norms of professional conduct in different countries of the
world, including Armenia. In 2000 in "Journalist Library" series of Yerevan
Press Club the Armenian translation of Claude-Jean Bertrand’s book was
published – titled "Saving Press Freedom the Safe Way. Media Ethics and
Accountability Systems". Claude-Jean Bertrand made numerous visits to
Armenia to share his vast experience with Armenian colleagues. He was not
only our many-year partner, but also a good friend.

Yerevan Press Club expresses its sincere condolences to the wife, the
children, the grandchildren, all the friends of Claude-Jean Bertrand.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
_____________________________________ _______
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

THE ICE IS MELTING?
By R. Hayrapetian

AZG Armenian Daily
27/09/2007

Getting acquainted with the readers’ reaction of to the interview of
Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian to Editor-in-Chief of "Azg" newspaper
Hagob Avedikian, one comes to conclusion that the entire Armenian
people, both in homeland and in Diaspora, were greatly impressed by the
emotional and homelike speech of the high-ranking official. Probably
this is the first time when such a statesman tried simply to speak
with the people, and, surely, the people needed it.

It would be inconsistent to analyze the content of the conversation,
as it contained no professional comments on the ways of development
of economy (it is impossible to improve the economy by sending the
rich to the Heavens or to Hell). On the other hand, nobody can blame
Avedikian for flattering the Prime Minister.

Mr. Avedikian always wrote that there is a huge gap between the people
and the authorities of Armenia, there is no conversation between them,
and the protest of the people has become "vox clamantis in deserto", as
the Latin phrase goes. Who can argue that Vladimir Putin’s popularity
with the masses is also explained by his readiness to speak with his
people with the most common, understandable language. No, Avedikian
was not staggered by Serge Sarkisian, as some readers say. He just
gave way to his emotions and tried to establish a link between the two
"parties", the authority and the people.

The highest Armenian officials have indeed become daemons for the
people. No, they are not infernal creatures, as the dictionary
explains, but they seem inaccessible, insensible, egoistic,
self-determined and self-willed (I guess this is too much, but let
it be). Now it comes out that they are quite ordinary men, who are
able to speak heartily to the people. If the candidates for the Chair
afford themselves to share their thoughts with the people from time
to time, many things will go much better. If their speeches are not
to become pre-election vain outpourings, of course.

RUSSIA AND ARMENIA TO BOOST ECONOMIC TIES

RosBusinessConsulting, Russia
Sept 25 2007

RBC, 25.09.2007, Moscow 11:51:22.Russia’s Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov
considers economic partnership and the development of contract law
as a priority in Russian-Armenian relations, he stated at a meeting
with his Armenian counterpart Serge Sarkisian today. In addition,
Zubkov said that he was confident of continued relations between the
two countries after the 2008 presidential elections in both Russia
and Armenia. The Russian PM also noted that the countries have enjoyed
productive bilateral relations with an annual 70 percent increase in
trade, as the two countries have also been strengthening business ties.

BUSH’S NEXT BLIND LEAP?
By Charles Tannock

The Japan Times
September 24, 2007, Monday

Russia and the Kosovo card

TBILISI – Look before you leap is as sound a principle in foreign
policy as it is in life. Yet, once again, the Bush administration is
preparing to leap into the unknown.

Even though lack of foresight is universally viewed as a leading cause
of its Iraq debacle, the United States (with British backing probable)
is now preparing to recognize Kosovo’s independence unilaterally –
irrespective of the consequences for Europe and the world.

Kosovo has been administered since 1999 by a United Nations mission
guarded by NATO troops, although it remains formally a part of
Serbia. But, with Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian majority demanding its
own state, and with Russia refusing to recognize U.N. mediator Martti
Ahtisaari’s plan for conditional independence, the U.S. is preparing
to go it alone.

Instead of thinking what Ahtisaari deemed unthinkable, a partition
of Kosovo with a small part of the north going to Serbia and the rest
linked to the Kosovars ethnic brethren in Albania or a separate state,
the U.S. plans to act without the U.N.’s blessing, arguing that only
an independent Kosovo will bring stability to the Western Balkans.

That argument is debatable – and the record of the Kosovar government
suggests that it is wrong. But the U.S. position is unambiguously
misguided in not foreseeing that the "Kosovo precedent" will incite
instability and potentially even violence elsewhere.

Why the rush to give Kosovo independence? Many serious disputes have
gone unresolved for decades.

The Kashmir question has lingered since 1947, the Turkish occupation
of Northern Cyprus since 1974, and Israel’s occupation of the West
Bank from 1967. Yet no one is suggesting that unilateral solutions
be imposed in these potential flash points.

Nevertheless, the U.S. – and most European Union members – argue that
Kosovo’s situation is sui generis and will set no legally binding
international precedent. But Russia sees things very differently.

Indeed, it may seek to use this precedent to re-establish its
authority over the nations and territories that were once part of
the Soviet Union.

Spain and Cyprus, with their worries over secessionist-minded regions,
are worried by any possible precedent. Romania fears the fallout from
Kosovo’s unilaterally gaining independence on neighboring Moldova. The
worry is that Russia will unilaterally recognize the breakaway Moldovan
territory of Transdnistria, which Russian troops and criminal gangs
have been propping up for 16 years.

Ukraine – the great prize in Russia’s bid to recapture its former
sphere of influence – is also deeply anxious. It fears that Russia
will encourage separatist tendencies in Crimea, where the ethnic
Russian population forms a majority. (Crimea was ceded to Ukraine by
Nikita Khrushchev only in 1954).

Russia may decide to abuse the Kosovo precedent further to divide
Ukraine’s population between Russian speakers and Ukrainian speakers.

But the biggest risks posed by unilateral recognition of Kosovo’s
independence are in the South Caucasus, a region that abuts the
tinderbox of today’s Middle East. Here, there is a real danger that
Russia may recognize breakaway regions in the South Caucasus, –
and back them more strongly than it does now.

Even before Vladimir Putin became Russia’s president, the Kremlin was
making mischief in Georgia, issuing Russian passports to citizens
of Abkhazia (the largest breakaway region) and pouring money into
its economy. Russia’s supposed "peacekeeping troops" in Abkhazia and
South Ossetia, Georgia’s other secession-minded region, have in fact
protected their rebel governments. Russia has also been enforcing
a complete trade embargo on Georgia in the hope of weakening the
resolve of its pro-Western president, Mikhail Saakashvili.

Should Russia recognize Abkhazia’s independence, Saakashvili might be
tempted to respond militarily to prevent his country from unraveling.

Renewed conflict in Abkhazia would not only bring the risk of open
warfare with Russia, but strain relations with Armenia, as there
are near to 50,000 Armenians in Abkhazia who support the breakaway
government.

Another risk in the South Caucasus is that Russia (with Armenian
support) will recognize Nagorno-Karabakh’s self-proclaimed independence
from Azerbaijan. Nagorno-Karabakh, historically Armenian, endured
a secessionist war between 1988 and 1994, with 30,000 killed and
14 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory occupied by Russian-backed
Armenian forces.

Since then, oil has fueled an Azeri military buildup. So the government
in Baku is far more prepared to respond to renewed warfare than it was
in the 1990s. Moreover, it has neighboring Turkey on its side. Turkey
is already enforcing a punitive economic embargo on Armenia, including
closure of its border.

Military projections by the U.S. have repeatedly suggested that
Azerbaijan would lose such a battle, even with newly purchased
equipment and Turkish military support. Armenian forces are well dug in
and have received a significant boost from Russia’s diversion of heavy
weaponry to Armenia from some recently closed Georgian military bases.

Iran also must be factored into this equation, as it is becoming a
strategic investor by building an oil refinery just across its border
in Armenia, partly as a security measure in case of a U.S. attack
and partly to relieve its gasoline shortages. Moreover, Iran remains
eager to contain Azerbaijani revanchist claims over the large Azeri
minority in northern Iran.

The conflicts in Transdnistria and the South Caucasus are usually
called "frozen conflicts," because not much has happened since they
began in the early 1990s. Any unilateral move to give Kosovo its
independence is likely to unfreeze them – fast and bloodily. And such
potential bloodshed on Russia’s border may give Putin the pretext he
may desire to extend his rule beyond its constitutionally mandated
end next March.

Charles Tannock is a member of the European Parliament, where he is
spokesman on foreign affairs for the British Conservative Party.

Copyright Project Syndicate 2007 ()

TORCH RELAY CAMPAIGN AGAINST GENOCIDES REACHED ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.09.2007 16:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) is organizing
a special commemorative event to take place at the Tsitsernakapert
Genocide Memorial on Tuesday, September 25 at 10.30 AM in Yerevan.

In collaboration with "Olympic Dream for Darfur" the AAA will organize
an Olympic-style torch relay, as Armenia is the third stop on an
international symbolic Olympic Torch Relay campaign that calls for
an end to the genocide currently unfolding in Darfur. Special guests
in attendance will consist of survivors of the Armenian Genocide,
Rwandan Genocide and Darfur Genocide as well as His Holiness Garegin
II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and The Archbishop of Canterbury
Rowan Williams.

The torchlight procession that started in Eastern Chad today will
march through the states which suffered from genocide in different
times. In a couple of months the action participants will cross Rwanda
and Cambodia and reach Armenia. Afterwards they will head for Sarajevo.

The purpose of the procession is to attract attention of the
international community to the problem of genocide, specifically to
the situation in Darfur. The action was initiated by UNICEF goodwill
ambassador, actress Mia Farrow, who is dealing with the Darfur problem.

"We constantly speak of prevention of genocides.

However, they are repeated again and again. The activities of the
Sudanese government in Darfur can be described as the first genocide
of the 21st century.

It should be stopped," Ms. Farrow said.

The procession started August 8. On this very day the Summer Olympic
Games will kick off in Beijing next year. China, as Sudan’s major
economic partner, was chosen as one of the targets of the action.

"The Sudanese government empowered Chinese oil companies to use
nature resources of the country while 80% of the income is spent on
military operations in Darfur. Cooperating with China, we support
the perpetrators of the genocide in Darfur," Ms. Farrow noted.

WHITE HOUSE REMEMBERS ABOUT APPOINTING AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA, AMERICAN DIPLOMAT SAYS

ARMENPRESS
Sept 24 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS: The U.S. Charge d’Affaires in
Armenia, Rudolph Perina, said today the State Department in Washington
has not forgotten about nominating an ambassador to Armenia.

Speaking to reporters in Yerevan after signing a memorandum with
Armenian office of prosecutor-general Pernia said the candidate is
to be picked by the president and approved by the Senate.

"This issue is being discussed. However, I am not aware when and who
will be nominated. One thing I can say for sure: it won’t be me,"
Perina said.

On August 3, following a year of Armenian American organizations’
opposition the White House announced the withdrawal of the nomination
of Richard Hoagland, whose appointment was twice blocked by Senator
Robert Menendez.

"A genocide denier must never represent the U.S. in Armenia,"
Menendez argued.

TURKISH BUSINESS LEADER URGES US SPEAKER TO OPPOSE BILL ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Sept 14 2007

Washington D.C., 14 September: Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag, Chairperson
of Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD),
sent a letter to Speaker of the US House of Representatives and
wanted her to oppose to a draft resolution in the US Congress about
Armenian allegations.

In the letter Yalcindag said, "I am writing you to share with
you my serious concern to see renewed efforts in the US House of
Representatives to debate H. Res. 106, ‘Affirmation of the United
States Record on the Armenian Genocide Resolution.’ Turkey is a
key ally of the United States both bilaterally and also within
the framework of NATO. Their alliance is based on a long-standing
partnership that took years to develop and nurture. Attempts by the
US Congress to introduce resolutions like H. Res. 106 will hinder
development of good relations between Turkey and the United States at
a time when it is of utmost importance. Positive public opinion plays
a very significant role in defining these relations in all aspects."

"Moreover, such efforts by the House of Representatives come as the
debate in Turkey on Armenian issue is considerably more vocal and
open-minded. The public is beginning to call for better relations with
the Republic of Armenia as well as for a fresh look at the tragedy
that took place at the time of the Ottoman Empire during World War
I. In April 2005, Turkey asked Armenia to set up a joint commission
to study the genocide allegations and appealed for international
support for the proposal. To this end, Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter to Armenian President Kocharian, formally
proposing the joint commission and requesting that not only Turkey
but Armenia and other countries could open holdings in their achieves
on the Armenian issue. The Turkish Parliament, in a statement, backed
jointly by the government and the opposition, repeated this call for
setting up a commission of Turkish, Armenian and other independent
historians. Although President Kocharian rejected this offer, I
sincerely hope that he and his government will take the opportunity
to reciprocate this move by PM Erdogan," she said.

"On behalf of the Turkish business community, I urge your opposition to
this resolution. I believe that floor deliberation of such resolutions
would not be conducive to the improvement of relations between Turkey
and the United States nor for the formation of relations between
Turkey and Armenia," she remarked.