Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

EDWARD NALBANDYAN RECEIVES NEW RUSSIAN CO-CHAIR OF THE MINSK GROUP

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 27, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan received today newly-appointed OSCE Minsk Group Russian
co-chair Igor Popov.

Armenian Foreign Ministry press and information department told
Armenpress that welcoming the guest Edward Nalbandyan congratulated
on the appointment and expressed hope that I. Popov will have his
important contribution to the process of settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict.

Igor Popov said he will do his best to promote the regulation of
the issue. During the conversation the parties discussed the recent
developments over the Karabakh issue.

EVENTS IN ATHENS COMMEMORATE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Athens News Agency
April 25, 2010 Sunday

A central political rally in central Athens, followed by the laying of
wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, capped off weekend events
on Sunday commemorating the 95th anniversary of the commencement of the
Armenian genocide in then Ottoman Turkey. Similar events took place in
the northern port city of Thessaloniki and in the northeastern Thracian
city of Komotini. Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis attended the events
on Sunday, while former Parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis was
an honored guest at the events, as he was the legislature’s speaker
when Parliament recognised — April 25, 1996 — the Armenian Genocide,
adding Greece to the list of countries that recognise the annihilation
of much of the Armenian population in the Ottoman territories.

Representatives of all political parties also attended, as did the
Armenian ambassador to Greece, Amb. Gagik Ghalachyan.

OBAMA AVOIDS CALLING ARMENIA KILLINGS GENOCIDE
BY PETER BAKER

The International Herald Tribune
April 26, 2010 Monday
France

ABSTRACT

President Barack Obama, who as a candidate vowed to use the term
genocide to describe the Ottoman mass slaughter of Armenians nearly
a century ago, has once again declined to do so.

President Barack Obama, who as a candidate vowed to use the term
genocide to describe the Ottoman mass slaughter of Armenians nearly
a century ago, has once again declined to do so as he marked the
anniversary of the start of the killings.

Trying to navigate one of his more emotionally fraught foreign policy
challenges, Mr. Obama issued a statement Saturday from his weekend
getaway here commemorating the victims of the killings but tried to
avoid alienating Turkey, a NATO ally, which adamantly rejects the
genocide label.

"On this solemn day of remembrance, we pause to recall that 95 years
ago one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century began," Mr. Obama
said in the statement, which largely echoed the same language he used
on this date a year ago. "In that dark moment of history, 1.5 million
Armenians were massacred or marched to their death in the final days
of the Ottoman Empire."

When he was running for president and seeking votes from
Armenian-Americans, Mr. Obama had no qualms about using the term
genocide and criticized the George W. Bush administration for
recalling an ambassador who dared to say the word. As a senator,
he supported legislation calling the killings genocide, and in a
statement on Jan. 19, 2008, he said that "the Armenian genocide is
not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather
a widely documented fact."

Two years later, as president, he used none of that sort of language,
though as he did a year ago, he hinted to Armenians that he still felt
the same way. "I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred
in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed," he said.

His statement came as the issue has grown as a source of tension
between the United States and Turkey, and as a reconciliation
effort between Turkey and Armenia, that Mr. Obama has championed,
has seemingly stalled.

In March, the House Foreign Affairs Committee voted narrowly to
condemn the killings as an act of genocide, defying a last-minute
plea from the Obama administration to forgo a vote because it would
threaten the Turkish-Armenian reconciliation efforts. Turkey briefly
recalled its ambassador from Washington in protest.

Armenia announced Thursday that it would suspend ratification of
peace accords with Turkey, apparently because it was angered that
Turkey was making new demands. Armenia insisted that it was not
altogether abandoning the peace process, but analysts indicated that
the Armenian government believed Turkey was trying to pressure it
to reach a separate peace treaty with another neighbor, Azerbaijan,
a close Turkish ally.

Although the president’s statement did not use the term "genocide"
on Saturday, it was strong enough to provoke a sharp statement from
the Turkish Foreign Ministry, which called the language a reflection
of a one-sided political perception. "Third countries neither have a
right nor authority to judge the history of Turkish-Armenian relations
with political motives," the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Armenian National Committee of America, an advocacy
group based in Washington, condemned the "euphemisms and evasive
terminology" in Mr. Obama’s statement and called it "yet another
disgraceful capitulation to Turkey’s threats."

PROFESSOR AT THE GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY MARK N. KATZ: ALTHOUGH NOT EASY, THE US NEEDS TO WORK ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH AND TURKISH-ARMENIA PROBLEMS SIMULTANEOUSLY

APA
April 26 2010
Azerbaijan

Washington. Isabel Levine – APA. "I believe that it was a mistake not
to invite Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Washington DC during
the Nuclear Summit.

Although not easy, the US needs to work on Nagorno-Karabakh and
Turkish-Armenia problems simultaneously. Otherwise, I fear, neither
will be resolved", told APA’s Washington correspondent American
analyst Mark N. Katz, professor of Government and Politics at the
George Mason University.

According to the analyst the Turkish-Armenian reconciliation process
is integrally linked with the Azeri-Armenian reconciliation process.

Speaking about the recent statement of President Obama on 1915 events,
Mr. Katz mentioned that the US president is trying to placate both
Turkey (through not using the term "genocide"), and Armenia (by using
the Armenian phrase "Meds Yeghern").

"It is now up to the Turkish and Armenian governments to decide
whether they want to move forward and achieve the mutual benefits
that a Turkish-Armenian rapprochement would provide, or whether they
prefer to argue about the past", – he stated.

TURKEY TO SET UP STRATEGIC COOPERATION COUNCIL WITH GREECE, RUSSIA

WorldBulletin.net
April 26 2010
Turkey

Turkey will establish high-level strategic cooperation council
mechanism with Greece and Russia in May, Turkey’s foreign minister
said on Monday.

Monday, 26 April 2010 13:14

Turkey will establish high-level strategic cooperation council
mechanism with Greece and Russia in May, Turkey’s foreign minister
said on Monday.

Ahmet Davutoglu told a parliamentary session that Turkish and Greek
governments would have a joint cabinet meeting during Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s upcoming visit to Greece in May. Davutoglu
said such a meeting would also be held with Russia during Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Ankara the same month.

Turkey plans to set up the strategic cooperation mechanism with
Bulgaria and Ukraine, Davutoglu said.

Currently, Turkey carries out strategic cooperation mechanism with
neighboring countries Iraq and Syria. Last year, Turkey and Iraq
signed 48 agreements, while Turkey and Syria inked 51 agreements in
this frame.

"STATUS QUO HAS TO CHANCE IN CAUCASÄ°A"

On problems in the Caucasia, Davutoglu said Turkey does not want the
status quo to go on. Turkey aims not to allow discussion or judgement
of Turkey-Armenia relations in third countries, Davutoglu said.

"Medvedev will come to Turkey in the coming month and the top issue on
the agenda will be Azerbaijan’s occupied territory. We assume it as
our own issue and continue to keep it on the agenda on all grounds,"
he said.

"Nothing can deal a blow on friendship between Turkey and Azerbaijan,"
Davutoglu said. "Everybody must know it very well."

Davutoglu gave information to lawmakers also about government’s goals
for the future. He said Turks and Armenians will learn to share pain
and common history, adding, "they will live together."

"This is our perspective on peace," Davutoglu said.

"Parallel to this, occupation of Azeri lands will end and the dispute
between Azerbaijan and Armenia will be resolved. The border between
Azerbaijan and Armenia and also the border between Turkey and Armenia
will open. It means a corridor from Erzurum [a province in the east
of Turkey] will open through the Central Asia," he said.

Davutoglu said "Turkey-Armenia relations will become normalized."

Davutoglu said Turkey would not allow this issue to cast shadow
on Turkey’s relations with other countries anymore, especially on
relations with the United States.

"RIGHT TO TAKE NECESSARY PRECATUIONS"

Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu also said Monday Turkey had the
right to take the necessary precautions if the protocols signed with
Armenia were interpreted against the spirit of the protocols.

Ahmet Davutoglu told a parliamentary session that the protocols would
be ratified by the respective parliaments when political conditions
get formed.

By pursuing an active foreign policy in regions of neighboring
countries, we want to facilitate the establishment of permanent peace.

We are at a stage where we are about to establish strategic cooperation
councils with all of our neighbors, Davutoglu said.

Within this framework, we signed agreements with Iraq and Syria last
year. A similar mechanism will be established with Greece and Russia
next month. We are planning to establish a similar mechanism with
Bulgaria and Ukraine, Davutoglu said.

When you consider Turkey’s close relations with Azerbaijan and Georgia,
you notice that the only missing ring is Armenia. We want to develop
good relations with Armenia based on the respect of borders and
deepened by diplomatic ties. This is actually a foreign policy based on
the principle of ‘Peace at Home, Peace in the World’, Davutoglu said.

Touching on an Armenian resolution in the United States, Davutoglu
said that the Turkish government took all the necessary precautions
on this matter.

Our goal is not to let third countries interfere in Turkey’s relations
with Armenia, Davutoglu said.

"CONDEMNED THE INSULTS"

During this process, Turkey conducts relations with Azerbaijani
officials in full coordination. Turkey regards the Azerbaijani
territory under (Armenian) occupation as her own issue. There is full
coordination with Azerbaijan in this matter. No development can be
a blow to the friendship between Turkey and Azerbaijan, Davutoglu said.

Our goal is to normalize Turkey-Armenia relations and resolve the
dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Davutoglu said.

Wherever they may meet, Turks and Armenians, from now on, will not
only share pains but also common history and they will be together.

This is our perspective of peace, Davutoglu said.

Despite such efforts of Turkey, we have to strongly condemn the
acts of certain Armenian groups against our flag and symbols of the
Turkish state. We have always condemned such acts. Yet we know that
such provocators can not be an obstacle to the implementation of
our great vision. We will continue to struggle against such groups
everywhere and at every platform. We will give the necessary response
to all those offending the honor and history of the Turks. Turkey is
determined to be the engine of the whole region and will become the
engine, Davutoglu also said.

NATURAL GAS SUPPLIES TO ARMENIA IN Q1 DROP BY 14% TO 575 MILLION CUBIC METERS

ARKA
April 26, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, April 26, /ARKA/. The volume of natural gas deliveries to
Armenia in the first 3 months of 2010 dropped by 14% year-on-year
to 575 million cubic meters, Armenia’s national gas operator,
ArmRosGazprom (ARG) said.

According to a statement, posted on the company’s official website,
natural gas sales in the country in the reporting period of time
fell by 14.2% to 536.5 million cubic meters. Household consumption
contracted by 20.1% to 214.1 million cubic meters. The power gird
consumed some 99 million cubic meters that was almost 21% less than
in the first quarter of 2009. Industrial sector’s consumption was
slightly up, by 1.8% making 75.2 million cubic meters.

Stations selling liquefied gas to motor vehicles reported a 6.6%
decline to 65.3 million cubic meters. Other consumers said their
consumption dropped by 6.4% to 83 million cubic meters.

ARG has a monopoly over the delivery and distribution of natural
gas in Armenia which is mainly imported from Russia via Georgia
and partially from Iran. The Armenian government owns 20% in ARG,
and the remaining 80% is owned by Russia’s Gazprom.

PROTEST RALLY AGAINST THE VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II TO BAKU

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 26, 2010
BAKU

BAKU, APRIL 26, ARMENPRESS: The women’s wing of the so-called ‘Karabakh
Liberation Organization (KLO)’ held a protest rally in Baku against
the visit of the Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Karekin II
and his participation in World Summit of Spiritual Leaders.

Armenpress cited Azerbaijani ‘ANS PRESS’ agency as reporting that
the participants of the rally, gathered in the territory of Gulistan
Palace, made offensive statements towards the Catholicos of All
Armenians His Holiness Karekin II. Even Ali Hasanov, chief of the
public policy department of the Presidential Administration of
Azerbaijan, did not manage to make the protestors calm down.

Afterwards the police interfered and the protest was canceled. Another
group of members of Karabakh Liberation Organization held a protest
rally April 25 against the participation of the Armenian sportsmen in
the International Boxing Championship. According to ‘ANS PRESS’, the
Championship has been stopped for 3 times because of those protest
rallies. One of the KLO members was wounded and taken to hospital,
6 of them were arrested and called to account and 3 of them got
warnings. Ilgar Aliev, deputy director of KLO, was arrested and stayed
at the police office all night.

A. SHAKARYAN SAYS TURKISH INTELLECTUALS CAN HIGHLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE CHANGE OF ALL THE TURKISH PEOPLE

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 26, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 26, ARMENPRESS: Turkish intellectuals can highly
contribute to the change of all the Turkish people, specialist
of Turkish studies Artak Shakaryan said today at a meeting with
journalists. According to him, about 500 intellectuals of Turkey
gathered April 24 not only in Taksim Square, Istanbul, but also
visited Haidar Pasha Square, where Armenian intellectuals were killed
in 1915. According to A. Shakaryan, as a result of the analyses of the
articles of the Turkish journalists, it turned out that the authors of
the articles condemn Ankara for bringing forward the issue on Nagorno
Karabakh settlement as a precondition in Armenian-Turkish relations.

According to him, one of the Turkish historians noted in his speech
delivered in Kurdish that Turkey must apologize to the Armenians for
committing genocide; it must apologize to Kurds, who it has made to
become an accessory to that crime, and to Turks, who it has cheated
for such a long time.

But in A. Shakaryan’s opinion, those intellectuals mainly struggle
not for recognition of the Armenian Genocide, but against the Turkish
authority. They chant they are against fascism. "In any case, Turkey
has greatly changed. By saying Turkey I mean Istanbul; organization
of similar rallies in the West is impossible," the specialist of
Turkish studies stressed.

The regulation process of Armenian-Turkish relations, according to A.

Shakaryan, will be frosted for several years and will be restored only
after the presidential elections of Armenia in 2013. He said that
parliamentary elections will be held in 2011 in Turkey, a growth of
the nationalism level is also expected.

"In 2015 the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide will be
celebrated as well. Yerevan, Ankara, Washington, Moscow and Paris
will do their best to have improved protocols in 2010," A. Shakaryan
pointed out.

ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES HELPED OBAMA AVOID THE TERM GENOCIDE

Tert.am
26.04.10

It was quite presumable that US President Barack Obama would not use
the word genocide in his April 24 commemoration speech, Heritage Party
Board Chairman Armen Martirosyan told Tert.am, commenting on Obama’s
address this year in which he used the term Meds Yeghern instead of
what Armenians expected – Armenian Genocide.

"Obama did not use the word genocide with the help of our authorities
who contributed Obama not to deliver on his promise. With regard
to the address in general, Obama defended the interests of his own
country and did not use the word genocide so that it would not cause
any problem for his country," said Martirosyan.

According to him Obama avoided facing the history of his own country
this time either, while there are numerous materials in the American
archives which prove that what happened in 1915 constituted Genocide.

Turkey will recognize the Armenian Genocide in the upcoming 10 years

17:29 24/04/2010 » Politics

"Republic" Party leader Aram Sargsyan, who had come to Tsitsernakaberd
to pay tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims,
expressed conviction that Turkey will recognize the Armenian Genocide
in the upcoming 10 years. `For such thoughts I am inspired by the
numerous Turkish intellectuals unveiling their approaches and views,
writing novels and stories on the massacres of the Armenians,’ he
said.

A. Sargsyan, however, signified that the recognition be voluntary, not
obliged. `Voluntary recognition is confession, while the obliged
confession will give us nothing.’

Source: Panorama.am