Author: Tigranian Ani

No Borders Here

TOL podcast: An Armenian journalist and an Azeri activist use new media
to breach the region’s information barrier.
by Onnik Krikorian

18 February 2010

With the conflict in the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh still
unresolved, journalists and civil society activists in Armenia have few
opportunities to meet with their Azeri counterparts, and vice versa. But
increasingly, blogs and social networks offer new possibilities for
dialogue across a cease-fire line in place since 1994. Other online
tools offer immediate audio and video communication between the two
countries, free from monitoring or interception. If adopted as general
practice by journalists and activists, such tools could represent a
revolution in cross-border cooperation.

For this final segment in our multimedia series on overcoming
stereotypes in the South Caucasus, I interviewed Arzu Geybullayeva, an
Azerbaijani political and regional analyst, about her work on civil
society, women’s, and cross-border issues using new media tools. It was
a rare direct conversation between Yerevan and Baku, conducted with the
voice-over-Internet service Skype.

Educated in Azerbaijan, Turkey, the United States, and the United
Kingdom, Geybullayeva worked as an Azerbaijan analyst for the
Berlin-based European Stability Initiative until December 2009. Since
then she has been a political officer with the National Democratic
Institute in Baku. She also writes for a variety of online publications,
including the recently launched Women’s Forum.

I first contacted Geybullayeva in late 2008 via her blog, Flying Carpets
and Broken Pipelines, and remained in contact through online services
such as Twitter and Facebook. We met face-to-face last September in
Telavi, Georgia, to make a presentation on new and social media for
Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian youth activists. We also visited the
nearby, ethnically Azeri village of Karajala and posted photographs,
accounts, and multimedia presentations on their blogs (see an audio
slide show about it here), a trip that became the forerunner of this
project.

You can listen to the podcast on the player or download it at:
ders-here.html

Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

February 18, 2010
Contact: Lerna Kayserian Shirinian

REP. BRAD SHERMAN JOINS WITH COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS TO RALLY SUPPORT
FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION AS COMMITTEE VOTE APPROACHES

VAN NUYS, CA – San Fernando Valley Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)
pledged to stand strong against escalating Turkish Government lobby
efforts to defeat the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.252), as
the House Foreign Affairs Committee prepares to mark-up the measure
on March 4th, reported the Armenian National Committee Western
Region (ANC-WR).

Representatives of the Armenian National Committee – West San
Fernando Valley (ANC West SFV) and Armenian National Committee –
Western Region (ANC-WR) discussed Congressional affirmation of the
Armenian Genocide and a broad range of community concerns during a
meeting Rep. Sherman (D-CA) at his Van Nuys district office earlier
this week. The meeting was led by ANC-WR Government Relations
Director Lerna Shirinian and Chairman of the ANC West SFV, Nareg
Kitsinian.

Serving as senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Rep. Sherman noted his commitment to working with his colleagues in
Congress to continue building support for H. Res. 252 and ensuring
a victory in the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

"Rep. Sherman’s active support for the Armenian Genocide Resolution
is exactly the strong moral leadership we need to bring America
back to the right side on this important human rights issue,"
stated ANC-WR Government Relations Director Lerna Shirinian. "We
look forward to working with the Congressman on this and other
initiatives to help end the cycle of genocide," she added.

Since his election to office in 1997, Rep. Sherman has been
outspoken in his calls on the Turkish Government to deal honestly
with its genocidal past and end the international campaign of
denial. . During remarks at the ANCA’s "End the Cycle of Genocide"
commemorative event in Washington, DC, Rep. Sherman argued, "Where
would America be if we said, ‘slavery – it didn’t really happen.’
Where would America be if we said ‘there was no effort to destroy
particular Native American tribes during the 1700 and 1800s.’ Where
would America be if we failed to acknowledge our own history? Where
would Germany be if it failed to acknowledge its history? Why does
Turkey think it can reach the modern world if it still anchors
itself to an Ottoman mentality? It cannot do that. The future of
Turkey is in acknowledging the history of its own people."

He has been a vocal advocate of expanded U.S. assistance to Armenia
and Nagorno Karabagh, challenging former Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice over the Bush Administration’s call for a
significant reduction in aid to Armenia in its FY09 budget during
her appearance before the Foreign Affairs Committee in 2008.

"Congressman Sherman has been a powerful and eloquent advocate for
a strong U.S.-Armenia relationship and just resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabagh conflict," said Nareg Kitsinian, Chairman of the
ANC West SFV. "We are proud to have him representing our community
in Congress."

H.Res.252, introduced in March of 2009 by lead sponsors Adam Schiff
and George Radanovich (R-CA), and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-
chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), currently has
over 137 cosponsors. A parallel Senate measure, spearheaded by
Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and John Ensign (R-NV), has 13
cosponsors. Efforts to recognize the Armenian Genocide have been
welcomed by a broad range of coalition partners from the Greek,
Jewish, Christian and genocide-prevention constituencies.
Congressman Howard Berman, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee recently announced that a vote on H.Res.252 will be take
place on March 4th of this year, following a year-long mobilization
of the ANCA and Armenian American grassroots activists across the
country.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization
in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western
United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the
ANC-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on
a broad range of issues.

###

Photo caption: ANC-WR Government Relations Director Lerna Kayserian
Shirinian, Congressman Brad Sherman, ANC of West San Fernando
Valley Chairman Nareg Kitsinian.

ARONIAN MAKES DRAW WITH GASHIMOV

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.02.2010 11:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian made a draw
with Azerbaijan’s Vugar Gashimov in the 4th round of Linares chess
tournament. Aronian is the third with 2 points.

The other games of the round – Alexander Grischuk/ Francisco Vallejo
Pons, Boris Gelfand/ Veselin Topalov, ended in a draw as well.

In the 5th round on February 18 Aronian play vs. Israel’s Boris
Gelfand.

Levon Aronian (born on October 6, 1982 in Yerevan) is an Armenian
Grandmaster. He is the winner of FIDE Grand Prix in 2008 and 2009 and
2009 World Rapid Chess Champion. He was honored with Movses Khorenatsi
order in 2006 and with an order of merit in 2008

US AMBASSADOR LINKS ARMENIAN ‘GENOCIDE’ BILL TO PROTOCOLS, SOURCES SAY

Hurriyet
Feb 16 2010
Turkey

U.S. Ambassador to Ankara James Jeffrey warned Turkish deputies on
Tuesday that the Armenian "genocide" bill would likely pass through
the U.S. Congress in March unless the Turkish Parliament ratifies
the normalization protocols, the Daily News has learned from reliable
sources.

Members of the Turkish Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Commission
expressed their concern to Jeffrey, who earlier confirmed his full
support to the normalization process between Turkey and Armenia.

The commission said it was concerned that a pending resolution in the
U.S. House of Representatives recognizing the 1915 events as "genocide"
would destroy ongoing normalization talks. The U.S. House Foreign
Affairs Committee is expected to discuss the related bill on March 4.

Asked before the meeting if the bill would harm the ongoing process
between Yerevan and Ankara, Jeffrey replied: "We give full support for
the [normalization] process between Turkey and Armenia. As President
[Barack] Obama noted in his speech at the Turkish Parliament, the best
way is to continue this process. That’s why we send this message to
both countries."

Following the hour-and-a-half-long meeting, Murat Mercan, chairman
of the commission, said, "We will do what is best for our country
regardless of the outside effects."

Onur Oymen, a deputy from the opposition Republican People’s Party,
or CHP, noted the protocols would not be passed by Parliament unless
Armenia withdraws from occupied Azerbaijani territories.

"The approval of the bill will harm Turkish-U.S. relations. There
is disagreement on this issue between the deputies of the ruling and
opposition parties," Oymen said.

"I will convey the message given by the parliamentarians," Jeffrey
said.

Upon questions related to Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s talks in
Tehran, Jeffrey outlined ongoing consultations between U.S. and Turkish
diplomats but recalled that Iran had yet to give any satisfactory
or concrete answer to the offer by the United Nations Security
Council. "Hopefully, an answer will come thanks to mediation by
Mr. Davutoglu," he said.

SWEDEN TO VOTE ON RECOGNIZING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Armradio.am
16.02.2010 15:04

Turkey faces another threat of genocide recognition as the Swedish
Parliament prepares to vote on a motion that describes the killing of
Armenians, Assyrians and Chaldeans during the collapse of the Ottoman
Empire as genocide.

The Turkish politicians warned Swedish authorities that voting on such
a motion in the Swedish Parliament would damage bilateral relations
and make the approval of protocols signed by Turkey and Armenia more
difficult, Today’s Zaman reported.

Approval of the motion is backed by the opposition Swedish Social
Democratic Party, which proposed the motion, and the government’s
rightist coalition partners. A similar motion that recognizes the
1915 killings as genocide was not approved by the Swedish Parliament
in 2007.

As parliamentary elections will be held in September in Sweden, the
current parliament has to handle all the motions before the elections.

NO DOCUMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED, IF PREPARED WITHOUT NKR’S PARTICIPATION

Tert.am
18:04 ~U 16.02.10

It is impossible that a document on the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict be created without the participation of the
Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR), President of NKR Bako Sahakyan
said at a meeting with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Foreign Minister
of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev in Yerevan.

According to Sahakyan, the renewed Madrid Principles and any document
that is being designed without NKR’s participation will run counter
to the negotiation process, since they require NKR’s participation
in preparing such documents.

While speaking about Azerbaijan’s bellicose statements, the NKR
President said they are a new type and form of terrorism, adding that
the international community isn’t taking any step to prevent them.

"We hope that the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, within his power, will
make the necessary efforts, which can bring Azerbaijan to a more
constructive position and which will contribute only to the logical
development of the negotiation process," said Sahakyan.

The NKR President also attached importance to the fact that
international organizations should pay visits to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Sahakyan mentioned that he has suggested to the OSCE
Chairperson-in-Office that he also visit the capital of NKR,
Stepanakert, when making regional visits. Otherwise, according to
Sahakyan, the visits the representatives of international organizations
make in the region, but not to Stepanakert, cannot be effective for
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.

GOVERNMENT ORDER FOR TREATMENT OF CHILD DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AMOUNTS TO AMD 190 THOUSAND

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.02.2010 15:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The technique to combat cancer in Armenia is inferior
to that in developed countries, where new products enter the market
every year.

"However, all kinds of cancer are diagnosed in Armenia, and we
can’t say that our technology is outdated. In addition, we have
highly-skilled professionals, young specialists as well," Professor
Grigory Badalyan, head of Pediatric Oncology and Chemotherapy
Department at the National Center of Oncology, told a press conference
in Yerevan.

"Particularly, the IAEA provided the National Center of Oncology with
modern equipment for radiation treatment," he said.

According to the professor, the government order for treatment of a
child diagnosed with cancer amounts to AMD 190 thousand.

"However, this amount can only cover the basic treatment but not
expensive drugs," prof. Badalyan said. That is why, foundations
supporting treatment of cancer need to be established in Armenia.

For these purposes, charity concerts and dinners organized, proceeds
from the concerts are directed to the acquisition of expensive drugs.

The upcoming charitable concert will be held on February 15 at Gabriel
Sundukyan State Academic Theater.

Under Secretary Burns Travel to Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, and Azerbaijan
14.02.2010 15:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Bill
Burns will travel to Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, and Azerbaijan from
February 16-19. In Lebanon, on February 16, he will meet with
President Sleiman, Prime Minister Hariri, and other Lebanese leaders.
His visit to Lebanon demonstrates the United States’ continued support
for a sovereign and independent Lebanon.

During his February 17 visit to Syria, Under Secretary Burns will meet
with President Assad and Foreign Minister Muallim. His trip to Syria
reflects our continued interest in furthering dialogue with the Syrian
government on all aspects of our bilateral relationship.

Under Secretary Burns will also travel to Turkey on February 18 for
meetings with senior officials pursuant to the 2006 Shared Vision
framework for our strategic partnership. From there, he will continue
on to Azerbaijan for a meeting on February 19 with President Aliyev to
reinforce the strength of our bilateral relations and for a meeting
with civil society members.

news.am, Armenia
Feb 13 2010

Armenian-Turkish reconciliation process not derailed

15:54 / 02/13/2010Representatives of both governmental and opposition
camps, as well as experts, are of the opinion that it is yet early to
speak of the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation process as a failure.

Talking to NEWS.am Secretary of the Prosperous Armenia parliamentary
faction Armen Safaryan said that the Armenia-Turkey reconciliation
process is going on. `I do not rule out it may be protracted, as
almost all the influential nations are interested in the
Armenian-Turkish relations being normalized and they will never allow
the process to fail,’ Safaryan said. He does not rule out that Turkey
may step up its activities on the occasion of the next anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide to prevent the fact from being recognized by a
number of other states, particularly, the U.S.

Head of the Heritage faction Stepan Safaryan is sure that the
Armenian-Turkish protocols will be ratified before the end of this
year. He stressed that the international community is pressuring the
sides. Being a stronger nation, Turkey does not yield to it as much as
Armenia does. `So the international community places its hopes on
Armenia. They think that Turkey will have to take reciprocal steps if
Armenia takes all the steps it can,’ S. Safaryan said.

Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies Ruben Safrastyan stated
that no prerequisites for a failure of the Armenian-Turkish dialogue
exist. `Turkey is trying to gain time to think over its steps,’ he
said. The experts does not rule out that Armenia may take reciprocal
steps, as official Yerevan has already done all in its power to
normalize relations with Ankara. Safrastyan also thinks that, on the
occasion of the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Turkey may
cash in on the Armenian-Turkish protocols to derail the process of
recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

T.P.

Artsakh to develop relations with Diaspora
13.02.2010 13:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan met
Friday with representatives of the Armenian community of Abkhazia.

The head of the state briefed on the socio-economic situation and
implementation of development programs in the NKR as well as the
current stage and prospects of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict
settlement. He also touched upon ways to strengthen ties between the
Artsakh and Diaspora and answered questions of the meeting
participants.

Advisor of the NKR President Armen Isagulov, NKR deputy foreign
minister Vasily Atajanyan and head of the central information
department of the office of the NKR President David Babayan also
attended the meeting, reported the Central Information Department of
the Office of the NKR President.