Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

ARMENIA BLAMES TURKEY FOR DELAYING VOTE ON DEAL TO OPEN BORDER
By Helena Bedwell and Steve Bryant

Business Week
Jan 22 2010

Jan. 22 (Bloomberg) — Armenia said Turkey’s government will be to
blame if the Turkish parliament delays a vote on a treaty to re-open
their common border, as a dispute over ratification threatens to
derail the agreement.

"Armenia will take appropriate measures if Turkey refuses to act on the
treaty in time or deliberately delays," Nairi Petrosyan, a spokesman
for Armenia’s National Assembly said in a telephone interview from
Yerevan. "This was agreed from the beginning when the sides met in
Geneva on signing the accord."

The two nations agreed Oct. 10 to re-establish ties and open their
border within two months of ratification. Armenia expects the step
to boost the country’s economy. Relations have been frozen since
Turkey closed the border in 1993 to protest Armenia’s occupation of
the Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan, a key Turkish ally and
energy supplier.

Two days ago, Turkey accused the Armenian Constitutional Court, which
approved the accord last week, of adding conditions to the treaty
that distort the text agreed on last year relating to a commission to
investigate the killings of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey in World War
I. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the ratification
process would stall unless the court revises its ruling.

Armenian opposition politicians are concerned the treaty may lead to
compromises with Azerbaijan on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh as well
as on Armenia’s demand that Turkey recognize the massacres as genocide.

‘New Ball Game’

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Burak Ozugergin rejected accusations
of delay, while reiterating the Turkish view that the court had
changed the text of the treaty.

"Turkey does not accept accusations that it’s delaying," he said in
a telephone interview from Ankara yesterday. Unless Armenia takes
action to change the court decision, "it would not be the same text,
it would be a whole new ball game."

In the Oct. 10 agreement, Turkey and Armenia pledged to set up a joint
commission of historians to investigate the massacres, recognized
by France and other countries as genocide. Armenia says as many as
1.5 million people were systematically killed. Turkey cites a lower
figure and says the deaths were the result of civil strife in which
many Turks were also killed.

Petrosyan said Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has not forwarded
the treaty to the National Assembly for ratification yet. Samvel
Farmanyan, a spokesman for Sargsyan, said by phone that "no text has
been changed."

"It’s clear by the rhetoric coming out of Ankara and Yerevan that
the agreements are in trouble," Lawrence Sheets, senior analyst
and Caucasus program director with the International Crisis Group,
said by e-mail from Tbilisi. "If Turkey and Armenia fail to establish
relations, the peace process regarding Nagorno-Karabakh will also be
in trouble, with potentially disastrous consequences down the road,
given the saber-rattling going on about a new war".

The government of Armenia, a landlocked country of 3.2 million people,
estimates opening the border will increase foreign investment by
50 percent.

Farmanyan said the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan plan to meet
in Sochi, Russia, on Jan. 25 to discuss Nagorno- Karabakh.

–Editors: Eddie Buckle, Leon Mangasarian

-01-22/armenia-blames-turkey-for-delaying-vote-on- deal-to-open-border.html

ARMENIA DOESN’T EXPECT BREAKTHROUGH ON THE KARABAKH ISSUE IN 2010

Aysor
Jan 22 2010
Armenia

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said doesn’t think any
breakthrough on the Karabakh issue is expectable this year.

"If Azerbaijan shows a constructive position, then a certain progress
and developments in the process may be registered. But I don’t think
a turning-point can occur at the talks in 2010," said minister at
the press conference in Yerevan.

IN 2009 ARMENIA STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIP WITH US

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.01.2010 19:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In 2009, Armenia expanded and strengthened
partnership with US, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said,
summarizing 2009 results.

"Effective political dialogue was established between Yerevan and
Washington. A number of programs were implemented within bilateral
collaboration frameworks," Edward Nalbandian told a news conference
in Yerevan.

According to him, Armenia continued development of relations with
Europe, both within bilateral collaboration and European structures’
frameworks. Progress was also registered in establishing closer
ties with neighboring Iran and Georgia. Active steps were undertaken
towards development of relations with Arabic states.

Special emphasis was put on strengthening of relations with China,
India and Japan. Steps were undertaken towards development of relations
with Latin American, South Eastern Asia and African states.

Over the last year, Armenia showed consistence in Independent
Procurement Alliance Program (IPAP) implementation, expanding its
participation in international peacemaking activities.

RA continued active participation in international organizations’
activities as well as involvement in the struggle against terrorism
and other challenges, Edward Nalbandian stated.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY ENTANGLED WITH TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY’S STATEMENT

APA
Jan 19 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku. Ziya Agazade – APA. Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandyan
is planning talk to his Turkish counterpart, pursuing to show his
surprise concerning the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s recently spread
statement, saying the last decision of Armenian Constitutional Court
on Turkish-Armenian protocols includes preconditions.

Armenian FM Edvard Nalbandyan is trying to clarify from Turkish FM
Davudoglu the exact place where they faced preconditions in Protocols
and why they were against the protocol regulations, APA quoted
"Novosti-Armenia" news agency as saying.

"I’m confident that Turkish government is not striving to justify
its continuing attempts of presenting its preconditions and to wrap
up the break of ratification of protocols, said the Armenian FM".

Note that, Turkish Foreign Ministry said the decision of Armenian
Constitutional Court on Turkish-Armenian protocols signed on October
10th, 2009 in Zurich city contains clauses contradicting the text
and spirit of the protocols and noted that it was inadmissible.

IT’S NOT YET LATE TO DEMAND COMPENSATION FROM BAKU

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.01.2010 14:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Representatives of all Armenian political forces
visited Tuesday Tsitsernakaberd to lay flower wreaths on the khachkkar
(cross-stone) commemorating the victims of Armenian pogroms in Baku.

"We must never think that Armenian diplomacy missed the chance for
demanding compensation from Azerbaijan," ARFD parliamentary group
leader Vahan Hovhannisyan said.

"We must demand the independence of Karabakh and the surrounding
security zone in return for the death and sufferings of hundreds and
thousands of Armenians," he noted.

For his part, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said, "Our compatriots
were killed in Baku just because of being Armenians. The lost
their lives because of Armenian people’s century old struggle for
independence. This is what we should focus on while commemorating
victims of Armenian pogroms."

"A question arises as to what extent Armenians are protected in
world’s different parts. Don’t they face new threats and challenges?"

Mr. Sargsyan said, adding that an independent and powerful state is
the only guarantee for Armenia.

The ceremony was also attended by Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglaryan,
Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan and representatives from political
parties (Republican, Heritage and ARFD). Participants (about 500
people) also laid flowers on the tomb of Artsakh war hero Movses
Georgisyan.

In January 1990, Azerbaijani authorities instigated the Armenian
pogroms in Baku. Some 400 Armenians were killed and 200 thousand
were exiled in the period of January 13-19, 1990. The exact number
of those killed was never determined, as no investigation was carried
out into the crimes.

On January 13, a crowd numbering 50 thousand people divided into
groups and started "cleaning" the city of Armenians. On January 17,
the European Parliament called on EU Council of Foreign Ministers
and European Council to protect Armenians and render assistance to
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. On January 18, a group of U.S. Senators
sent a letter to Mikhail Gorbachev to express concerns over the
violence against the Armenian population in Azerbaijan and called
for unification of Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia.

NIKOL PASHINYAN SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT

ArmInfo
2010-01-19 14:58:00

Arminfo. The editor-in-chief of "Haykakan zhamanak" newspaper Nikol
Pashinyan has been sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment, the court of
Kentron and Nork Marash Yerevan districts issued such a verdict today.

To recall, Pashinyan was accused for the violation towards a policeman
which was not dangerous for his life (the 1st part of the article 316
of Armenian Criminal Code), as well as for organization of the mass
disorders on 1-2 March 2008 in Yerevan (part 1 of the article 225).

For more than a year Pashinyan was escaping the law-enforcement
agencies and emerged from the underground in August 2009 after
proclaiming amnesty. The court under chairmanship of Mnatsakan
Martirosyan justified Pashinyan on the article 316 but accused him
on the article 225.

‘PEOPLE OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH TRUST ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT’

Aysor
Jan 19 2010
Armenia

People of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic trust Armenia’s government,
told journalists Alexander Kananian, a political scientist. He said
people of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic have faced out all the severity
of war; they restored the country after the war never involving into
political talks and trusting Armenian government.

"NKR people believed that a Karabakh-born Armenian, leading
the country, cannot take any step contrary to safety of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. So, and today a mere villager cannot even
imagine that the current-sitting president, who fought for freedom,
can surrender any territory," said Alexander Kananian.

He said many believe that statements by Armenia’s government on
surrendering the territories are just a bluff, a diplomatic step to
avoid the pressure. "In fact, neither bluff can last so long.

Actually, there is not any bluff. Serge Sarkisian believes it’s
necessary to be out of the ‘headache’ — the Karabakh conflict —
to strengthen his positions, as at any moment the region can go in
war which will bring serious waste to a loser."

DELEGATION LED BY RA NA SPEAKER HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN TO LEAVE FOR THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

National Assembly
Jan 18 2010
Armenia

On January 16 the delegation led by the Speaker of the National
Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan will leave
for the Arab Republic of Egypt. The delegation comprises of RA NA Chief
of Staff Mr. Gegham Gharibjanyan, RA NA deputies Mr. Galust Sahakyan,
Mr. Mkrtich Minasyan, Mr. Hamlet Harutyunyan, Mr. Surik Poghosyan,
Mr. Vardan Bostanjyan, Mr. Hovhannes Margaryan, Mr. Araik Grigoryan,
RA Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Arman Kirakosyan and other officials.

In Cairo the delegation led by RA NA Speaker will have meetings with
the Speaker of the People’s Assembly of the Arab Republic of Egypt Dr.

Ahmed Fathi Sorour and Prime Minister Mr. Ahmed Nazif. During the
meeting the delegation will have a meeting with the representatives
of the Egyptian Armenian community, as well as will take part in the
official reception being organized in the Embassy of the Republic of
Armenia in Egypt in honour of RA NA Speaker.

On January 18 the official delegation led by RA NA Speaker Mr. Hovik
Abrahamyan will return to Yerevan.

ADL FINDS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION UNTIMELY FOR NOW

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.01.2010 16:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Anti-Defamation league (ADL) has not changed
its position on Armenian genocide, according to Jess Hordes, the
director of the ADL’s Washington office.

"We continue to believe that there was a genocide, but there’s no
useful purpose in the House or the Senate passing a resolution on it
at this time. It’s a principled post that the better way of addressing
this issue is for the Armenians and the Turks to move forward with
this through the historical commission," he said.

As the diplomatic row between Israel and Turkey continues, attempts
are being made by the Israel lobby in the U.S. to infuse some calm,
The Jerusalem Post said in a recent article

According to the Israeli newspaper, Jewish organizations have helped
Turkey in the past to lobby against the legislation in Congress to
declare the event a genocide.

Turkish Ambassador to Israel Namik Tan recently told the periodical
that Turkey expects Israel to "deliver" American Jewish organizations
and ensure that the USCongress does not pass a resolution
characterizing as genocide the massacre of Armenians during World War I

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic
destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during
and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres, and
deportations involving forced marches under conditions designed to
lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths
reaching 1.5 million.

The date of the onset of the genocide is conventionally held to be
April 24, 1915, the day that Ottoman authorities arrested some 250
Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople.

Thereafter, the Ottoman military uprooted Armenians from their homes
and forced them to march for hundreds of miles, depriving them of
food and water, to the desert of what is now Syria. Massacres were
indiscriminate of age or gender, with rape and other sexual abuse
commonplace. The Armenian Genocide is the second most-studied case
of genocide after the Holocaust.

The Republic of Turkey, the successor state of the Ottoman Empire,
denies the word genocide is an accurate description of the events. In
recent years, it has faced repeated calls to accept the events as
genocide.

To date, twenty countries and 44 U.S. states have officially recognized
the events of the period as genocide, and most genocide scholars
and historians accept this view. The Armenian Genocide has been also
recognized by influential media including The New York Times, BBC,
The Washington Post and The Associated Press.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the
Genocide survivors.

Andrey Khachaturyan to play for BATE
16.01.2010 15:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Negotiations between BATE and "Minsk" came to the
logical end: on January 15 ,’BATE contracted 22-year-old central
midfielder of "Minsk" Andrey Khachaturyan .

Andrey Khachaturyan , a 22-year-old trainee of "Minsk". His first
coach was Alexander Gegenya. Khachaturyan played for six years
(2004-2009) in "Minsk" in 141 games as part of the core team and
scored 19 goals. The 2009 season was the best in the career of a young
football player. Khachaturyan is one of two players of "Minsk", who
participated in all 26 games of the last championship of Belarus.

FC BATE – FC BATE Borisov is a Belarusian football team playing in the
city of Barysaw. They compete in the Belarusian Premier League and are
the reigning champions. BATE are the only Belarusian team to have
qualified for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, having
done so in 2008-09. Their home stadium is the Borisov City Stadium.
The team was founded in 1973, reconstituted in 1996. The first
Belarusian club passed the group stage of the Champions League and the
League of Europe.