ASSEMBLY COUNTRY DIRECTOR RESIGNS
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.03.2010 15:57 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Arpi Vartanian, Armenian Assembly of America Country
Director for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, has sent in resignation.
As a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter came to know from the Assembly’s press
office, Ms. Vartanian has quitted for personal reasons.
TURKEY TO U.S.: YOU WOULDN’T LIKE US WHEN WE’RE ANGRY
By Joshua Keating
Foreign Policy
/02/turkey_to_us_you_wouldnt_like_us_when_were_ang ry
March 1 2010
On Thursday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will debate a
resolution to recognize the 1915 killing of Armenian civilians by
Turkish troops as a genocide. A similar resolution failed in 2007. The
Obama administration has not taken a stand on the resolution, which
is largely supported by the Armenian-American community, but it’s
long been supported by House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
A Turkish parliamentary delegation, including members of both the
ruling AKP party and opposition CHP party, is currently visiting
Washington to lobby against the resolution. At a media briefing at the
Turkish embassy this morning, they made very clear that the passage
of the resolution would "seriously affect the relationship between
the two countries."
Foreign relations committee chairman Murat Mercan discussed some
specific U.S. projects that could be affected:
I envision for instance the withdrawal of American troops, which is
a huge logistical operation involving thousands of soldiers moving
away from Iraq [through Turkey.] Thousands of tons of equipment. This
type of thing might require parliamentary approval. It will come to
our committee.
The Turkish military precence in Afghanistan is extended in the Turkish
parliament. Every year year present of Turkish troops needs to be
approved by the parliament This too will come through our committee.
Former U.S. ambassador Sukru Elekdag described Turkey’s importance
to the United States as a back-channel to Iran, interlocutor with
Pakistan, and ally in resolving the frozen conflicts in the South
Caucasus.
The new measure comes up at a time when Turkey and Armenia finally
seem to be moving toward rapproachment, a process the MPs also said
would be jeopardized by the House motion.
It seems a bit contradictory to me that the Turkish government on
the one hand says it sees the Armenian rapproachment as vital to its
own national interest, but on the other hand says the U.S. resolution
will imperil it. I asked Mercan why Turkish-Armenian relations should
be affected by what the U.S. congress says:
The rapprocahment has three pillars: one is opening the borders, one
is diplomatic relations, one is setting up a historical commission
that would explore what happened in the past, in 1915. If other
parliaments decide things like this without merit or investigaiton,
then how would you convince your Armenian counterpart that this kind
of committee is needed?
In realist terms, it’s certainly hard to justify jeopardizing
U.S.-Turkish cooperation today over something that happened almost
a century ago, and it seems unlikely to me that this one will ever
reach President Obama’s desk. On the other hand, Turkey is not doing
a great job making it seem like they care about the rapproachement
for its own sake, rather than as a result of U.S. pressure.
In any event, it’s very interesting to see how a Turkish government
that realizes its crucial role in U.S. policy is learning throw its
weight around a bit.
RUSSIA AND FRANCE TO WORK TOGETHER OVER NAGORNO GARABAGH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
APA
March 2 2010
Azerbaijan
Baku – APA. Russia and France will keep on close cooperation on
solution Nagorno Garabagh conflict. French president Nicolas Sarkozy
told at the joint press conference after negotiations with his Russian
counterpart Dmitry Medvedev, APA reports quoting "RIA Novosti".
"Russia and France will work together to help both Armenia and
Azerbaijan to work and support each other", – Sarkozy told.
AZERBAIJANI MEDIA URGE TO HACK XOCALI.NET
PanARMENIAN.Net
01.03.2010 15:22 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Xocali.net () web-site, launched
by Xenophobia Prevention Initiative provoked a reaction both within
Azerbaijan, and in diplomatic circles, Samvel Martirosyan , expert
in information security of the web site told a news conference today.
An event dedicated to the dead in Khojalu was scheduled on February
26 in the Czech town of Lidice. The Minister of Culture of the
Czech Republic, who was expected to attend the meeting after the
intervention of Armenian diplomats refused from participation. In
turn, the Mayor of Lidice said he would not tolerate anti-Armenian
statements at the party.
According to Board member of Xenophobia Prevention Initiative Armine
Adibekyan, Azerbaijan was planning a large scale anti-Armenian campaign
abroad. "But their actions have not received a response anticipated
by Azerbaijani propaganda," she said.
According to experts, revealed falsifications and forgery of events in
Khojalu made Azeris nervous. " Vesti.az news site published an article,
calling on hackers to hack the site. Site hacking, in Azerbaijan,
as throughout the world is a criminal offense, and Azerbaijani mass
media encourage the public to commit a criminal offense, Samvel
Martirosyan said.
Over 10 000 people have visited Xocali.net () within the
past two days, mostly from Europe, Russia and Azerbaijan. Launched on
February 24 by Xenophobia Prevention Initiative, Xocali.net displays
evidence of falsifications and forgeries of Azerbaijani propaganda
in the information war against Armenia.
Experts of Xenophobia Prevention Initiative have revealed and displayed
about 20 photographs of victims of Kurdish riots in Turkey, slaughter
in Srebrenica (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and others, that represented
by Azerbaijan as died during the Agdam events of February 26, 1992,
when the Khojaly villagers perished.
Russian, English, Azerbaijani and German versions of Xocali.net are
available, and French and Iranian versions will be also launched
in future. According to Xenophobia Prevention Initiative experts,
Xocali.net () prevented numerous hacker attacks over
the past two days.
Center for Public Relations and Information at the RA Presidents
Office and the Openarmenia.com forum contributed to the project.
Secretary Clinton distancing State Department from its traditional
stand against Armenian Genocide resolution
26.02.2010 13:34
Yerevan (Yerkir) – Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in response
earlier today to a series of questions during her testimony before
Congress, broke with the Department of State’s long-standing pattern
of aggressively opposing legislation recognizing the Armenian
Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
During her testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on
Foreign Operations, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Mark Kirk
(R-IL) noted Secretary Clinton’s previous support for Armenian
Genocide legislation in the Senate. Referring to the impending
Committee vote on a similar resolution, H.Res.252, Rep. Kirk stated:
"I hope we do that; and I hope the House of Representatives does
that, and I hope you let that happen."
Secretary Clinton responded, citing the ongoing Turkey-Armenia
Protocols discussion and continued efforts by the Administration to
urge their ratification, but remained silent on the resolution. In
past years, previous administration’s, both Democratic and
Republican, have used every opportunity to seek to defeat such
legislation.
Armenian Genocide Resolution lead sponsor Adam Schiff (D-CA), during
his questioning, stated, "I don’t think the prospect of
reconciliation, as much as I would like it to happen, should be used
as a reason not to recognize the undeniable fact of the Armenian
Genocide." He urged "the Administration’s support on the
legislation and at a minimum certainly not to get involved in opposing
the legislation."
Secretary Clinton offered her support for the Turkey-Armenia
Protocols, but, once again, did not attack the Armenian Genocide
Resolution in response to questions during an earlier hearing before
the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
"Secretary Clinton’s remarks represent the third time in just the
past few weeks that a senior Obama Administration official – in
response to pointed questions about the Armenian Genocide Resolution –
has chosen not to voice any opposition to the adoption
of this genocide-prevention measure," said ANCA Executive Director
Aram Hamparian. "The current Administration’s conduct, at least to
date, stands in stark contrast to past Administrations – both
Democratic and Republican – that used every opportunity to score
points with Ankara by attacking the broad, bipartisan Congressional
majority that has long existed in support of U.S. condemnation and
commemoration of the Armenian Genocide."
Secretary Clinton appeared before both Committees to outline the
fiscal year 2011 State Department foreign aid priorities. Foreign
Affairs Committee member Brad Sherman (D-CA) praised the Obama
Administration for increasing its assistance request for Armenia in
2011, but argued that "Congress should enhance that." He noted that
while the Obama Administration had maintained parity in Foreign
Military Financing assistance between Armenia and Azerbaijan, military
training assistance was not balanced. He also called for a "specific
aid request for Nagorno Karabagh."
Secretary Clinton will have an opportunity to respond to his questions
in writing.
"We would like to thank Representatives Kirk, Schiff and Sherman for
speaking out about Armenia foreign aid priorities and once again
urging passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution," stated
Hamparian. "With the Foreign Affairs Committee set to vote on
H.Res.252 and the foreign aid process in full gear, we are actively
reaching out to our community expand our engagement with legislators
from across the country."
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) has
scheduled a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.252) on
March 4th. Over 137 House Members have cosponsored this measure,
spearheaded by Representatives Schiff, George Radanovich (R-CA), and
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark
Kirk (R-IL). A similar measure in the Senate (S.Res.316), led by
Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and John Ensign (R-NV) has 13 cosponsors.
Presently Turkey is in no mood for Protocols
In case of military coup in Turkey, Armenia will get a very
unpredictable and dangerous neighbor, which, by the way, has always
been such.
26.02.2010 GMT+04:00
Thus, the Armenian-Turkish Protocols reached an impasse, or rather
fell into the trap set by Azerbaijan and the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) in Turkey. Detentions of senior military
officials, who are accused of the coup attempt organized in 2003 may
lead to two consequences: either there will really be a military coup,
or the secular government will be finally replaced by an Islamic one.
In either case the country will have to face instability and setback
that will immediately reflect on ratification of the Protocols by the
Turkish Parliament.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ By the way, most apparently the Turkish Parliament
was not going to ratify the Protocols anyway. As always Ankara pinned
its hopes on blackmail and threats, without delving into the essence
of the problem. But the fact is that for Turkey the Protocols could be
the only road to Europe. It was an issue of secondary importance
whether Armenian-Turkish relations would be normalized. The essential
point was opening of the border, but Ankara did not realize or refused
to realize this importance. Detentions of military officials began
just as the country’s leadership came to the conclusion that
international community can no longer be influenced and it has firmly
decided to push ratification of the Protocols. In case of military
coup in Turkey, Armenia will get a very unpredictable and dangerous
neighbor, which, by the way, has always been such. But now the danger
is much greater and no one can foretell how the confrontation between
the generals and the AKP will end. As a result of the possible coup,
we’ll witness a new round of Kurdish-Turkish confrontation in close
proximity to the Armenian border. A more detailed inspection of the
situation brings up several questions, the first of them being why the
coup, which was prepared in 2003, was not suppressed then. Or is it
possible that the AKP had kept it `in reserve’ to use in case of
unexpected developments in the region? As long as Turkey was rapidly
gaining weight and with the help of Russia and the United States it
had a chance to really become a regional power in near future, the
army had taken the government side. Or, at least, so it seemed.
Moreover, the army, so true to the precepts of Kemalism, favoured
Turkey’s integration into the EU. What is more, after the August war
in South Ossetia, it was Turkey that revived the completely forgotten
Platform of Stability in the Caucasus. And it was Turkey that for some
reason decided she could settle the Karabakh conflict and become
co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.
The blame for such behavior of Ankara should be assigned to the
superpowers, which hurried to declare Turkey a bridge from East to
West, from Islam to Christianity. And only the French President kept
to his position. According to him, there is no place for Turkey in
Europe. Roughly the same happened 100 years ago, when with the support
of then powers Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom the Ottoman
Empire got involved in the World War I. As a result the Young Turks
slaughtered almost the entire Christian population of the Empire, and
these were not only Armenians, but also Greeks and Assyrians. And then
Ataturk came, and Turkey began to build something of a `civilized’
state, which was collapsed 50 years ago, after the first military
coup. Afterwards there were three more – in 1971, 1980 and 1997. So
there is nothing particularly surprising – military coups in Turkey
are a custom that started with the Janissaries, who overthrew the
sultan then.
They were especially the military coups that led the powers to show a
more restrained attitude towards Turkey, because nobody knows what
consequences next coup can have. But, be that as it may, nothing may
happen this time. In the face of the threat of opening the
Armenian-Turkish border, or, more specifically, in the face of the
superpowers’ support for Armenia, the army will not decide on an open
confrontation. But an excellent excuse is chosen for the protocols.
However, Ankara should keep in mind that Armenia will not be seeking
excuses for denunciation of the Protocols. According to the supplement
to the `Law on international treaties’ adopted the other day, the
Armenian President is granted such a right. So, the future of the
Protocols is rather dim. If Ankara is reluctant to obey direct signals
from Washington, it means Turkey has decided she can do what she
pleases. This position is fundamentally vulnerable and entails
far-reaching consequences. Under the present circumstances there is
nothing good for Ankara. And no matter how hard the Azeri media tries
to pass the desirable for reality, the Turkish press is soberer in
this sense. And when Mehmet Ali Birand writes that Turkey and
Azerbaijan have found themselves in diplomatic isolation, he knows
what he says.
Karine Ter-Sahakyan
«PanARMENIAN.Net» analytical department
DAVIT HARUTYUNYAN: RATIFYING PROTOCOLS WITH RESERVATIONS MEANS REJECTING THEM
PanARMENIAN.Net
23.02.2010 17:21 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian government has already initiated
introduction of amendments to the RA Law On International Agreements,
an Armenian official said.
"The issue will be discussed during next 4-day parliament session,"
head of the Armenian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe Davit Harutyunyan said, when commenting on the
possible withdrawal of signature from the Armenian-Turkish Protocols.
As to the ruling of the RA Constitutional Court, Mr. Harutyunyan
said the CC did not make reservations but just prevented attempts to
distort the essence of the Protocols. "Ratifying the Protocols with
reservations means rejecting them," he said.
Asked about the possible ratification terms, Mr. Harutyunyan remarked,
"I would refrain from setting dates. Reasonable terms can’t imply
years. It’s a matter of a couple of months."
The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of
the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet
Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks
held through Swiss mediation.
On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of
Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.
PURCHASE AND SALE TRANSACTIONS OF .95 MILLION CONDUCTED AT NASDAQ OMX ARMENIA OJSC ON FEBRUARY 22
Noyan Tapan
Feb 22, 2010
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Purchase and sale transactions
of .95 million at the weighted average exchange rate of 382.53 drams
per dollar were conducted at Nasdaq OMX Armenia OJSC on February 22.
According to the press service of the Central Bank of Armenia, the
closing price was 382.65 drams.
PETER SEMNEBY ARRIVES IN AZERBAIJAN
News.am
Feb 23 2010
Armenia
February 23, EU Special Representative for South Caucasus and Central
Asia Peter Semneby will pay a 2-day visit to Azerbaijan.
He will hold meetings with Azeri high-ranking officials and NGO
representatives, APA agency reports referring to Semneby’s adviser
Claire Delessard.
Issues on Azerbaijan-EU cooperation, as well as Karabakh peace process
will be in focus.
WELCOMING ADDRESS OF ARTSAKH REPUBLIC PRESIDENT BAKO SAHAKYAN …
22-0 2-2010
to the participants of the meeting with NKR National Assembly deputies
of all convocations in connection with the Artsakh Revival Day
Dear attendees,
I am glad to welcome all of you and congratulate all our compatriots
on the Artsakh Revival Day. Each of you carries the very symbol of
this day and has had a personal contribution to the realization of
the ideas of the national liberation movement. Many of our friends
have laid down their lives for victory of these ideas. Eternal glory
and honor to them! 20 February of 1988 became the starting point
of our national revival. We stood to defend our natural right for
free and independent life on our native land, for mastering our own
destiny independently and in correspondence with international norms
and principles. Azerbaijan reacted to our peaceful and just demand
with cruel and bloody war, which caused heavy human sacrifices and
devastations.
The heroic people of Artsakh together with world spread Armenians
managed to withstand all the ordeals and chose the path of building a
democratic state. For us this way has been irreversible and final. We
are very much confident that every problem the contemporary world faces
can be solved exclusively in civilized manner, around the negotiation
table through direct dialogue. In contrast with this the authorities
of Azerbaijan continue to wage militaristic policy keeping their
own people in a situation of permanent tensions and the danger of
war resumption. These threats are vain and inappropriate. We have a
regular and efficient army that is ready to give a fitting rebuff to
any encroachment upon the security of our state and people.
Dear friends,
The NKR National Assembly of all convocations has played a
great role in building an independent statehood, forming state
institutions and consolidating democratic values. Soon there will
be new regular elections of the NKR National Assembly. For our
people it is a political event of utmost importance. And we should
do everything possible for these elections as always to be carried
out in correspondence with international standards and take us a step
forward Ïn the way of building a firm and prosperous future of Artsakh.
Thank you!