Author: Tavakalian Edgar

SILENCE THE LIES! ROCK THE TRUTH! SOCIAL JUSTICE CONCERT TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Asbarez
k-the-truth-social-justice-concert-to-raise-awaren ess-of-the-armenian-genocide/
Mar 22nd, 2010

LOS ANGELES-Complementing this year’s diverse array of Armenian
Genocide commemoration activities will be the second annual "Silence
the Lies! Rock the Truth!" concert. Organized by a coalition of
community organizations and artists, this social justice concert
will be dedicated to raising awareness of the Armenian Genocide
through music and activism. The groundbreaking concert, now in its
second year will be held at the El Rey Theatre in the heart of Los
Angeles on Saturday, April 24, 2010. In 2009, the first annual Silence
the Lies Rock the Truth concert played to a sold out audience with
performances by Viza, Sebu, the Cause, HomeMadeDevices and Echocell
and was featured in the Los Angeles Times.

"We look forward to what will be a memorable evening of commemoration
through artistic expression," stated ANCA-WR Government Relations
Director Lerna Shirinian. "Working with socially conscious artists
helps to advance the Armenian Cause with not only Armenian Americans
but within the broader human rights community and media spheres
throughout the region," she added. The ANCA-WR and AYF-WR will
be joined by the AGBU, Serjical Strike Records, Alpha Gamma Alpha
Sorority and Knoup Presents in co-hosting the event.

With a lineup featuring Viza and Element and other guest artists such
as the Dirty Diamond and Rapper R-Mean, this year’s concert promises
to send a powerful message to rock the truth on the Armenian Genocide.

As the 95th Annual Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide approaches on
April 24, 2010, Armenians and human rights activists from across the
globe are preparing to honor the 1.5 million souls that were victims
of this crime against humanity. This particular year, especially with
the passing of House Resolution 252 in the Foreign Affairs committee
of the United States House of Representatives, commemoration events
honoring the genocide will be extraordinarily poignant.

"The AYF is committed to educating our youth and preparing them to be
the leaders of tomorrow," stated AYF-WR Chairman Arek Santikian. "What
better way to spread the word than to collaborate together in hosting
a human rights oriented concert to raise awareness of the Armenian
Genocide," he added.

Concert organizers shall donate proceeds of the concert to two very
important organizations. The Armenian Relief Society’s "Armenia-Artsakh
Orphan Project" and the Bird’s Nest Orphanage in Lebanon both provide
vital support and assistance to needy Armenian children abroad. The
artists and co-hosting parties would like to encourage everyone in
the community to participate in this event to not only commemorate
the martyrs of 1915 but to also benefit the Armenian orphans.

For further information please visit to learn
more about the Armenian Genocide, take action in the United States
Congress, and help support involved charities. Tickets are also
available for advanced purchase on the website.

Silence the Lies Rock the Truth is an annual social justice concert
dedicated to exposing denial of the Armenian Genocide and raising
awareness of this horrible crime against humanity. As a part of its
benevolent mission, concert organizers annually donate proceeds of
the concert to worthy charities such as the Oran Charity in Armenia
and the Armenian Relief Society.

CENTRAL ASIA: AIRLINES WITH TIES TO BLACKWATER HAS LONG RECORD OF SERVICE IN REGION
Deirdre Tynan

Eurasia Insight
ghtb/articles/eav032210.shtml
3/22/10

A company with ties to Blackwater, the controversial private security
firm now known as Xe, has been ferrying US government-directed
cargos over the past five-plus years across Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan,
Afghanistan and Pakistan. In addition, the company may be a candidate
to continue its services for years to come, if a Sources Sought
Announcement posted by the US Defense Department becomes a live
contract.

Presidential Airways, which numerous Department of Defense documents
identify as "[doing business as] Blackwater Aviation," provides Short
Take-Off and Landing air services in an area of responsibility that
includes Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Presidential Airways has its head office in Moyock, North Carolina.

The company secured its first contract in September 2004, covering
"airlift in and around the Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan
area of responsibility." In September 2007 Presidential Airways won a
contract worth $92 million to perform "passenger, cargo and combi Short
Take-Off and Landing air transportation services between locations
in the Area of Responsibility of Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan
and Uzbekistan." A modification to the 2007 contract HTC711-08-D-0010
says that services performed under the agreement are "expected to be
completed [by] Sept., 30, 2011."

Between 2004 and 2008, Presidential Airways netted contracts worth
at least $192.1 million to cover the Central Asian region. The 2008
award for "Pressurized Short Take-Off and Landing Airlift Services
for US Central Command" names Manas, Kyrgyzstan, and Karshi-Khanabad,
Uzbekistan, as "potential" landing locations. However, "specific
locations will be provided at the time of mission scheduling," the
award adds. The US air base at Karshi-Khanabad was vacated in late
2005. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

According to a recent Sources Sought Announcement, Army Contracting
Command is looking to "determine interest in a multi-year services
contract for fixed-wing aircraft, personnel, equipment, equipment,
tools, material, maintenance and supervision necessary to perform
passenger and cargo combination (COMBI) and Low-Cost Low-Altitude
(LCLA) airdrop operations using Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) air
transportation services between locations in the Area of Responsibility
(AOR) Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan." The contract
would be for a base year, along with four one-year options, meaning
the potential contract potentially covers up to five years.

"The contractor shall provide all direct labor, transportation,
supervision, training, fixed-wing aircraft, administrative support
for conducting air operations and all other items and services
necessary to perform Air Support Services (parachute operations)
for Government-directed aerial delivery missions," the announcement
added on February 18, 2010.

Presidential Airways representatives did not respond to queries from
EurasiaNet, but documents released under the Freedom of Information
Act in 2007, and now publicly available on US Transportation Command’s
website, reveal the company’s Bagram-based fleet for STOL services in
Central Asia as of 2007 included 9 CASA 212-200; 2 Fairchild SA-227;
2 Eurocopter SA-330; 1 DeHavilland DHC-8 and 1 Cessna CE-208.

Presidential Airways is also approved to "provide on-demand operational
paratroop and airborne jump support to all military services under
a Special Operations Command contract."

STOL/LCLA services appeal to the military because of their cost
effectiveness. STOL/LCLA operations are typically used to deliver
small numbers of passengers, both military and civilian contractors,
food, medical supplies, propaganda and weapons into remote areas.

The 2008 contract for airlift services for US Central Command states
that "the government requires passengers to carry a full compliment
of munitions and explosives necessary to execute their mission as
well as other [hazardous materials]."

A Presidential Airways contractor performance assessment report for
2004-2005 stated: "Presidential has transported 7,072 passengers,
902,664 lbs. of cargo, and 833,048 lbs. of mail to various locations."

"Without this carrier’s support, the Helicopter task force currently
in Pakistan would have ground to a halt," the assessment continued.

"Their service for light airborne operations (mostly leaflet drops)
has saved the government over $40,000 in costs compared with either
a C-130 or Helicopters."

A similar assessment for 2005-2006 stated: "Blackwater has transported
12,987 passengers. 1,789,945 lbs. of cargo, and 942.666 lbs. of mail
to various locations throughout the Combined Joint Operations Area
(CJOA). These numbers represent an 84 percent increase in passenger
movement, a 98 percent increase in cargo and a 13 percent increase
in mail movement compared to the same period the previous year."

By 2006-2007, operations had increased to "28,379 passengers,
2,950,331 lbs. of cargo, and 3,693,668 lbs. of mail" throughout
the area of responsibility, according to that year’s contractor
performance assessment.

A separate solicitation issued on February 25, 2010, to provide
fixed-wing transportation services for US Central Command and the
National Geospatial Agency (NGA), to which Presidential Airways is
listed as an interested vendor, also includes Karshi-Khanabad as one
of 16 airfields that could be potentially used within the scope of
the contract.

The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency is a "Department of Defense
combat support agency, and a member of the national Intelligence
Community, [developing] imagery and map-based intelligence solutions"
according to its website.

Posted March 22, 2010 © Eurasianet

M. KIRAKOSYAN BLACKJACKED AT THE EDITORIAL OFFICE

on
07:23 pm | March 22, 2010

Social

Manvel Kirakosyan, 42, lodged a complaint with the police about
ill-treatment at the editorial office of Hayots Ashkarh daily.

Kirakosyan said he had received a blow in the head.

According to a police release, on March 20, during an argument with
Hayots Ashkarh’s chief editor Gagik Lazarian, M. Kirakosyan knocked
Lazarian to the ground at the entrance of the editorial office.

"Vahan Lazarian, the son of G. Lazarian, witnessed the incident
on his way to the working room and blackjacked M. Kirakosyan," reads
the release.

M. Kirakosyan and G. Lazarian will undergo a forensic examination.

Investigation is in process.

ARMENIAN MILITARY DOWNPLAYS RESERVIST CALL-UP
Ruzanna Stepanian

/1990725.html
22.03.2010

The Armenian military on Monday confirmed an ongoing nationwide
call-up of reservists but insisted that it does not signify a growing
likelihood of renewed war with Azerbaijan.

Colonel Seyran Shahsuvarian, the spokesman for the Armenian Defense
Ministry, told RFE/RL that men across Armenia aged up to 50 are being
summoned by military commissariats to take part in military exercises.

He said they spend up to a week in military camps refreshing and
improving their combat skills.

Shahsvuvarian downplayed the significance of such drills, saying that
the Armenian Armed Forces have always called up reservists to verify
their availability and make sure that "every duty-bound Armenian man
knows his place and function in the military" in case of a large-scale
armed conflict.

The latest call-up comes amid rumors, stoked by some media, that the
army has been put on high alert in anticipation of an Azerbaijani
offensive. The Defense Ministry has categorically denied those reports.

A senior Nagorno-Karabakh security official, Colonel Levon Chalian, on
Monday dismissed as a "provocation" pro-opposition media claims that
the authorities in Stepanakert have banned local male residents from
leaving the territory. "We are performing our duties as usual," he told
RFE/RL’s Armenian service. "There are no restrictive instructions."

Shahsuvarian, for his part, insisted that recent deadly skirmishes on
the main Armenian-Azerbaijani frontline east of Karabakh and Armenia’s
heavily fortified border with Azerbaijan do not indicate an overall
weakening of the ceasefire regime or an increased likelihood of
another war.

"We have the same stable situation that has existed during all these
years," he said. "It would be wrong to say that such incidents have
increased or that something has changed on the frontline." Chances
of an all-out Armenian-Azerbaijani war are minimal at the moment,
he added.

Shahsuvarian stressed at the same time that the Armenian military is
taking Azerbaijani threats to solve the Karabakh conflict by force
seriously. "We have been reinforcing our frontline fortifications,"
he said. "We now have several lines of defense there. We are raising
soldiers’ spirits, combat-readiness and so on.

"We also keep the military hardware at the ready. It’s almost
impossible today to find a single faulty unit of hardware at any
military base."

Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian likewise warned Azerbaijan recently
against attempting to win back Nagorno-Karabakh by force, saying that
Armenian troops have significantly beefed up defense fortifications
around the disputed territory and are prepared for another war.

ARMENIAN WOMEN’S HANDBALL TEAM COMES IN THIRD

Tert.am
22.03.10

On March 21, the Armenian Women’s handball team played its last
game in the 2010 IHF/EHF (International Handball Federation/European
Handball Federation) Women’s Challenge Trophy in Israel. Having lost
two previous games, the Armenian team celebrated a victory at last,
defeating Malta with a score of 21-12, reports Armsport.am.

Earlier, the Armenian team had a narrow defeat against Cyprus (27-28),
and also losing against Israel (9-32). Having competed with three
teams, the Armenian team could only beat Malta and came in third
(with Israel in first and Cyprus in second) in the wining list.

Israel, Turkey Ties `Warming,’ Says Army Chief
By Asbarez Staff
Mar 16th, 2010

ANKARA (Hurriyet)-Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi has
signaled that relations between his country and its once-close
regional ally Turkey are warming again after a period of tension.

`Our military relations are excellent and I believe that political
problems will soon be overcome,’ Ashkenazi told the Turkish press
Monday.

Ashkenazi, the first Israeli army chief to visit Turkey since 2005,
joined a NATO conference on terrorism and international cooperation
and held talks with his Turkish counterpart, Gen. Ilker Basbug, and
Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul.

`This was an important meeting and there is no need to emphasize
Turkey’s strategic significance and centrality, for many and diverse
reasons,’ Ashkenazi said in a statement released early Tuesday by the
Israel Defense Forces, or IDF.

Ashkenazi discussed bilateral military cooperation and shared his
vision about regional issues related to Iran, Syria and Lebanon, as
well as their ties with Hamas and Hezbollah. He also informed Basbug
about the IDF’s `Operation Cast Lead’ and the Second Lebanon War.

His one-day trip aimed to mend deteriorating ties with Ankara,
according to a report by Tel Aviv-based daily Haaretz.

`We have an interest in strengthening ties with Turkey and I have
noticed a similar Turkish desire. The cooperation between us will
continue,’ the IDF chief said.

Ashkenazi also placed a bouquet of flowers in the mausoleum honoring
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey. He signed the
memorial book by writing in Hebrew: `On behalf of the Israeli Defense
Forces, it is an honor to commemorate the great leader Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk. He was a special leader and [is] still a role model with his
unique profile, vision, military capability and extreme devotion.’

A diplomatic row broke out in January that led Israel to apologize for
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon’s actions when summoning Turkish
Ambassador Oguz Celikkol over the anti-Israeli content of a TV series.
Ayalon deliberately humiliated the envoy by seating him on a lower
chair, saying to the press in Hebrew, `You see, their place is lower
than ours.’

Israel has since made overtures to repair ties with its closest ally
in the Muslim world.

US, Russia clash over Iran nuclear plant

PRESS TV
Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:58:09 GMT

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) and Russian Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov
The United States says Russia’s claim that Iran’s Bushehr nuclear
plant should go online this summer is ‘premature.’

"We think it would be premature to go forward with any project at this
time because we want to send an unequivocal message to the Iranians,"
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a press briefing with
her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Moscow.

Clinton made the remarks after Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
earlier said that Moscow would start up the long-delayed plant in
mid-2010.

Clinton, however, added that "Iran is entitled to civil nuclear
power." But, she also claimed that Tehran’s nuclear drive "remains an
issue of grave concern for the international community".

"It is a nuclear weapons program that it is not entitled to and if it
reassures the world, or if its behavior has changed because of
international sanctions, then it can pursue peaceful nuclear power,"
she said.

The US and its allies are against Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.
They accuse Iran of trying to develop a military nuclear program, a
claim absolutely rejected by Tehran.

Iran is adamant its nuclear program is entirely peaceful and that it
is aimed at producing electricity for its increasing domestic energy
demand.

The United States and its mainly Western allies are stepping up
efforts to rally support for a forth round of sanctions against the
Islamic Republic for its refusal to bow to pressure by nuclear powers
to halt its uranium enrichment activities.

Clinton noted that her country was still committed to diplomatic
solution in resolving the dispute over the nuclear issue.

"We are as committed as we have been to a diplomatic solution, but
there must be a solution. Iran is not living up to its international
obligations," she said.

Ara Papian: Erdogan’s statement proves that Turkish society is sick

20.03.2010 12:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The statement of the Turkish Prime Minister was
interpreted correctly, an Armenian historian said.

If the Turkish PM spoke about deportation of all illegal migrants it
would be clear, although illogical. But judging by his statement,
undocumented Georgians, Arabs and Russians have the right to violate
the law but Armenians don’t,’ head Modus Vivendi center Ara Papian
said, adding that the Turkish authorities will hardly persecute
Armenians henceforth.

`With this statement Erdogan proved that the Turkish society is sick.
His utterances reveal the Turkish population’s thoughts,’ he said.

`The Turkish Prime Minister violated articles 1, 7 and 16 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights,’ Mr. Papian concluded.

Le Matin, Suisse
March 20 2010

Le PM turc revient sur sa menace d’expulser les clandestins arméniens

Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a déclaré samedi qu’il
n’avait pas l’intention dans l’immédiat d’expulser les clandestins
arméniens de Turquie, revenant sur une menace proférée cette semaine
qui a provoqué l’indignation en Turquie et à l’étranger.

AFP – le 20 mars 2010, 13h03

Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a déclaré samedi qu’il
n’avait pas l’intention dans l’immédiat d’expulser les clandestins
arméniens de Turquie, revenant sur une menace proférée cette semaine
qui a provoqué l’indignation en Turquie et à l’étranger.

Il a cependant demandé aux pays occidentaux de cesser de condamner son
pays pour "génocide" du peuple arménien, les accusant d’"ingérence"
dans les relations turco-arméniennes.

M. Erdogan avait déclaré mardi au service turc de la BBC qu’il
envisagerait d’expulser les Arméniens illégaux si les Parlements de
par le monde continuaient à voter des résolutions sur le "génocide"
des Arméniens par les Turcs, pendant la Première guerre mondiale,
comme cela a été le cas ces dernières semaines, aux Etats-Unis et en
Suède.

"Il y a 170.000 Arméniens dans mon pays. Parmi ceux-lÃ, 70.000 sont
des nationaux, mais nous tolérons les 100.000 autres (…) Si cela
était nécessaire, je pourrais être dans l’obligation de leur dire de
retourner dans leur pays", avait-il averti.

Le Premier ministre a expliqué, lors d’une rencontre avec des artistes
turcs, que ses remarques visaient en fait à "attirer l’attention
mondiale sur notre approche tolérante à l’égard de ces gens" (les
clandestins arméniens), et ne signifiaient pas que "nous allons
prendre immédiatement une décision" d’expulsion.

Les massacres et déportations d’Arméniens dans l’Empire ottoman ont
fait entre 1915 et 1917 environ 1,5 million de morts selon les
Arméniens, et de 250.000 à 500.000 selon la Turquie, qui récuse la
notion de "génocide" reconnue par Paris, Ottawa et le Parlement
européen.

"Ce que je dis, c’est que ceux qui votent ces résolutions sans
fondement (sur un génocide)… devaient considérer l’approche
humanitaire que nous avons concernant ce problème… Ils ne devraient
pas s’ingérer dans les relations que nous avons avec nos voisins",
a-t-il ajouté.

La Turquie et l’Arménie ont signé en octobre 2009 deux textes
prévoyant l’établissement de relations diplomatiques et la réouverture
de leur frontière, qui doivent encore être ratifiés par leurs
parlements. Mais depuis, des désaccords sont apparus, notamment sur ce
passé tragique.

"Nous avons fait la preuve de notre bonne volonté. Nous avons fait
preuve de tolérance envers des gens qui sont dans le besoin… et nous
continuerons à le faire", a-t-il ajouté à propos des clandestins.

Le chiffre de 100.000 clandestins arméniens en Turquie avancé mardi
par M. Erdogan est exagéré, selon les experts, qui le situent entre
10.000 et 20.000.

Les déclarations de M. Erdogan sur la BBC ont provoqué l’indignation
de l’Arménie et ont été critiquées par la presse turque et certains
responsables du parti au pouvoir.

Début mars, la Commission des affaires étrangères du Congrès américain
a approuvé une résolution qualifiant de "génocide" les massacres
d’Arméniens par les Turcs, et le parlement de Suède à voté un texte en
ce sens la semaine dernière.

Ankara a rappelé ses ambassadeurs aux Etats-Unis et en Suède, pour
protester contre ces votes.

evient-menace-expulser-clandestins-armeniens

NEW TIME NEWSPAPER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: NO INFORMATION ABOUT NAGORNO-KARABAKH IN ARABIAN COUNTRIES’ MEDIA

Trend
March 19 2010
Azerbaijan

It is regrettable that there is no information about Karabakh in the
media of Arab countries, editor-in-chief "New time" newspaper Shakir
Gabiloglu told Trend News. He participated in the international forum
in Turkey March 11-14.

Turkey hosted the international forum March 11-14. Media
representatives from the Middle East – Egypt, Qatar, Tunisia, Yemen,
Oman, Iraq, Jordan, Iran, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Lebanon, Libya,
Kuwait , Sudan, Cyprus and Azerbaijan participated in it. During the
forum, journalists met with representatives of the Turkish government,
MPs and businessmen.

Gabiloglu met with journalists from the Middle East and representatives
of Arab organizations within the forum. The plans about establishment
of the Azerbaijani-Arabian organization were discussed at a meeting
with TASKA chief secretary, acting in the field of art, culture and
tourism Mohammed Adil. It was stressed that there is little information
about Karabakh in the media of the Arab countries. Establishment of
such an organization will play an important role in the propaganda
of Azerbaijan.