Author: Tambiyan Samvel

TURKEY SLAMS SARKISIAN’S OVERTURE FOR NORMALIZATION

Asbarez
Feb 9th, 2010

YEREVAN, ANKARA (Combined Sources)-Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu on Tuesday slammed efforts by Armenian President Serzh
Sarkisian, who in a letter addressed to his Turkish counterpart,
urged Turkey to honor its commitment to the protocols.

In his letter to Gul, Sarkisian said: "It is high time to demonstrate
the willingness to take a step forward in order to leave a stable
and secure region to future generations."

"Our initiative to normalize Armenia-Turkey relations is in the
spotlight of the international community. This is truly a historic
moment, and the entire world realizes it. The efforts of the countries
involved in the region are invaluable in the process of improvement
of bilateral relations. I’m confident that it would be impossible
to register progress without their mediation. At the same time, I do
believe that no matter the level of interest by friendly states for a
positive outcome of the process, there are certain steps that can be
taken only by our two nations," said Sarkisian, whose office issued
the letter while he was flying over Turkey on an official visit to
Great Britain.

"I think you’ll agree that the authorities are to play a key role
in breaking the stereotypes between our peoples and establishing an
atmosphere of mutual trust. It is only with trust in our efforts,
resoluteness and adherence to our principles that we can achieve
results. Otherwise, when the words and deeds contradict one another,
it brings about mistrust, thus opening a vast field for those who
oppose the process. We have to realize that, in this process, time
is not working for but against this process," added Sarkisian.

"If up to now, we have managed to elevate bi-lateral relations to a
point, from where the future of normal relations between our countries
becomes more real and tangible, today, it is high time to demonstrate
the willingness to take a step forward in order to leave a stable
and secure region to future generations," added Sarkisan.

Turkey’s Davutoglu was quick to react and said that Yerevan was
not displaying a positive approach to the protocols, saying "It is
customary to send messages like that while flying over other states.

The leaders of all states do so," said Davutoglu, as reported by
Haberturk news agency.

Davutoglu cited the Armenian Constitutional Court’s decision, which,
last month, verified the constitutionality of the protocols, but noted
that the process cannot be linked to the Karabakh conflict resolution,
nor can it impede Armenia from pursuing the international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide.

"The Armenian Constitutional Court’s decision is not constructive
and following these changes the relations between the two countries
are again back to where they were in the past," said Davutoglu,
as reported by the Azeri Trend news agency.

The Turkish foreign minister insisted that continuing the process would
be impossible "unless Armenia backs down from its non-constructive
position."

Davutoglu also said that a recent decision by the US House Foreign
Relations Committee to vote on the Armenian Genocide resolution
pending in Congress would greatly hinder the normalization process.

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF BURBANK PLANS TO PURCHASE NEW CENTER

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.02.2010 16:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian community of Burbank and the
organizations, such as the Homenetmen "Sipan" chapter no longer have
to look for and spend thousands of dollars to secure venues for their
activities, since through a community-wide effort, plans to purchase
of new center is underway.

The Burbank Chapter of the Armenian Cultural Foundation announced
that it has entered into escrow on a 14,410-square foot property
in the heart of Burbank. The facility has high ceilings and can be
retrofitted to house all the organizations working within the Burbank
and its vicinity.

The center will house the offices and activities of the Homenetmen
"Sipan" Chapter, the Armenian Youth Federation "Varak" chapter,
the "Gaidzag" Badanegan chapter, the Armenian Relief Society "Araz"
chapter and the Burbank chapter of the Armenian National Committee.

Burbank ACF chapter chairman Hrant Dostoumian said that the excitement
surrounding the acquisition of the new center has provided a new
jolt to the community and he is encouraged by the community coming
together for this worthwhile cause, Asbarez.com reported.

1.2% ECONOMIC GROWTH FORECAST FOR 2010 IS UNREALISTIC: MINASYAN

Tert.am
15:34 ~U 08.02.10

"I consider the 1.2% of economic growth forecast in the 2010 budget [in
Armenia] to be unrealistic and an ineffective policy," said Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) MP Artsvik Minasyan, while
speaking to journalists today.

According to the parliamentarian, there is no serious basis for that
forecast. "A forecast is also a promise; however, the government
has broken that promise a long time ago: in 2009, we had a situation
that was a 180-degree turn from the economic growth forecast [then],"
said Minasyan.

"I think it’s good to come down to earth; particularly, [in] Armenia,
to understand that every [new] development shouldn’t take place with
words, but rather with work and actions. Such actions demand that a
policy be implemented that will resolve current fundamental issues
in the economy," said the ARF-D deputy.

TAXIS CONFISCATED

A1Plus.am
08/02/10

Two days ago, compulsory enactment officials confiscated 28 cars
belonging to "Brothers Artyom-Artush" LTD and put at a pawnshop. The
cars were serving two taxi services.

The compulsory actions were committed within the framework of the
case based on the compulsory sheet handed by the Avan and Nor Nork
first instance court on December 22, 2009.

According to press secretary of the Service for Compulsory Enactment
of Judicial Acts Ruben Grdzelyan, the case envisages a fine of 123
million drams from "Brothers Artyom-Artush" LTD for "Ardshininvestbank"
CJSC. There was also a ban on 6 real estate items, including apartments
and villas.

The officials also found 12 means of transportation, but they were
not transferred to the service area due to malfunctioning. The banned
and confiscated items will be alienated through a compulsory online
auction by the established order.

BURBANK COMMUNITY TO PURCHASE NEW ARMENIAN CENTER

Asbarez
Feb 5th, 2010

BURBANK-The Armenian community of Burbank and the organizations,
such as the Homenetmen "Sipan" chapter no longer have to look for
and spend thousands of dollars to secure venues for their activities,
since through a community-wide effort, plans to purchase of new center
is underway.

The Burbank Chapter of the Armenian Cultural Foundation announced
that it has entered into escrow on a 14,410-square foot property
in the heart of Burbank. The facility has high ceilings and can be
retrofitted to house all the organizations working within the Burbank
and its vicinity.

The more than $2.5 million project can seem a bit mammoth. However,
the Armenian-American community of Burbank and neighboring areas has
come together to ensure that this dream is realized and a center that
can cater to all the needs of the community, especially the youth,
will finally open its doors.

The center will house the offices and activities of the Homenetmen
"Sipan" Chapter, the Armenian Youth Federation "Varak" chapter,
the "Gaidzag" Badanegan chapter, the Armenian Relief Society "Araz"
chapter and the Burbank chapter of the Armenian National Committee.

Burbank ACF chapter chairman Hrant Dostoumian said that the excitement
surrounding the acquisition of the new center has provided a new
jolt to the community and he is encouraged by the community coming
together for this worthwhile cause.

Dostoumian expressed hope that the community can kick off the
Community Center campaign, on Sunday, Februrary 21, at the new
facility on 75 E. anta Anita Ave. (corner of First St. and Santa
Anita Ave.). The event will begin at 4 p.m. For more information
please call 818.562.1918

Azeri President’s statements – consequence of his impunity
06.02.2010 14:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ilham Aliyev’s interview to Euronews was full of
pompous statements, more fitting to an Asian khan, Heritage
parliamentary group leader Stepan Safaryan said.

`Aliyev’s threats are the result of impunity Azeri authorities have
been enjoying since 1990s,’ he told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Commenting on Aliyev’s statement on disallowing use of democratic
instruments to achieve the change of power in his country, Stepan
Safaryan noted that international community should have long ago shut
the doors to Azerbaijan. `Suppression of democracy inside the country
is no longer an issue of local context,’ he emphasized.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out in 1988
as result of the ethnic cleansing the latter launched in the final
years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 to
1994. Since the ceasefire in 1994, sealed by Armenia, NKR and
Azerbaijan, most of Nagorno Karabakh and several regions of Azerbaijan
around it (the security zone) remain under the control of NKR defense
army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the
OSCE Minsk Group up till now.

AZERBAIJANI EXPERT: U.S. POLICY ON TURKEY-ARMENIA NORMALIZATION HAS COMPLETELY FAILED

Today.Az
02 February 2010 [17:04]

Azerbaijani political expert Vafa Guluzade says rapprochement between
Armenia and Turkey, in fact, is impossible which has already happened.

"Signing of the Zurich protocols was initiative by Washington and
personally by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. It was the U.S.

attempt to win over Armenia to the sphere of influence of Washington,
Ankara and NATO," the expert said.

"At the same time Russia cannot back these agreements. But Moscow
has not openly voiced its discontent. Demonstrations of Armenians
against rapprochement with Turkey show that Armenia has not renounced
its claims of recognition of the "Armenian genocide" in the Ottoman
Empire by the world powers. Armenian Constitutional Court’s adopting
the Zurich protocols with reservations, which is contrary to legal
norms of international law, are evidence of this."

I think it was Moscow who ordered these actions by Armenia. So, I
think that it is premature to talks about opening the Armenian-Turkish
border and Armenia’s falling into West’s sphere of influence," the
political expert said.

He believes "Turkey can never recognize a country which has territorial
claims to it. Therefore, Ankara’s ratification of the Zurich protocols
on mutual recognition of each other is impossible in this situation."

"In addition to this, Azerbaijan made clear to Ankara that if
rapprochement with Yerevan deepens, Turkey will lose Azerbaijan as
an ally. All this makes the opening of border with Yerevan extremely
unprofitable for Turkey. We can say that policy of the U.S., as
well as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the Armenian-Turkish
relations has completely failed," the political expert noted.

"There is a corridor of E50, road and air links between Turkey and
Armenia. But the rapprochement between Yerevan and Ankara is impossible
which has already happened."

As to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the expert said "Russia is
constantly trying to come up with any new senseless documents which
inhibit the process of resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict,"
he added.

"Moscow’s aim is to "pull" Azerbaijan to its side in all parameters,
including both economic and political. But Baku insists firmly on
his position and will make no changes in its foreign policy."

"It became clear for all once again that Azerbaijan negotiates to solve
the Karabakh conflict not with Yerevan, but Moscow, which dictates
all actions to its dominion Armenia. Therefore, I believe that we can
achieve solution to the Karabakh problem only when Russia’s influence
in our region will not be as great as now," he added.

NO CEASEFIRE VIOLATION FIXED DURING MONITORING OF NKR, AZERBAIJANI ARMED FORCES’ CONTACT LINE

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.02.2010 12:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to a previously achieved agreement with
the authorities of the Artsakh Republic (NKR), the OSCE Mission held
regular monitoring of the NKR and Azerbaijani armed forces’ contact
line, near Levonarkh village of Martakert region, NKR, on February 2.

>From the positions of the NKR Defense Army, the mission was led by
Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador
Andrzej Kasprzyk. The monitoring group comprised Field Assistants
of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office’s Personal Representative Vladimir
Chuntulov (Bulgaria) and Jaslan Nurtazin (Kazakhstan), who were
accompanied by representatives of the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Ministry of Defense.

The monitoring passed in accordance with the schedule, and no violation
of the ceasefire was fixed, NKR MFA press service reported.

LEVON ZURABYAN: ARMENIAN-TURKSIH RECONCILIATION IMPOSSIBLE UNLESS KARABAKH IS SOLVED
Karen Ghazaryan

"Radiolur"
02.02.2010 17:32

Coordinator of the Armenian National Congress today presented the
statement of the Congress, which severely criticizes the authorities
and notes that the program of establishment of Armenian-Turkish
relations is based on unpromising and incorrect calculations.

"The process of Armenian-Turkish reconciliation has actually turned
into an Armenian-Turkish conflict," Zurabyan said, recalling the
statements from both sides.

The ratification of the Armenian-Turkish protocols is impossible
without the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, Zurabyan noted.

According to him, Turkey will find excuses not to ratify the protocols
unless the Karabakh issue is solved.

AZERBAIJANI PARTY KEEPS ON FIRING ON KARABAKH POSITIONS

ArmInfo
2010-02-01 12:03:00

ArmInfo. A number of ceasefire violations have been fixed over the
last week on the contact line of the NKR and Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

As ArmInfo correspondent in Stepanakert reports, according to the
operations report of the NKR Defense Army, the Azerbaijani party fired
on the Karabakh positions from January 25 to 31 in all the directions
of the contact line from slot machines, shotguns and sniper rifles. In
particular, Hadrut, Martuni, Martakert and Askeran defense regions
were fired on. The subdivisions of the NKR Defense Army delivered a
return fire.