Author: Toneyan Mark

TURKISH FM INFORMS PARLIAMENT OVER ARMENIA BILLS

March 15 2010
Turkey

Davutoglu informed the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs on
resolutions about the incidents of 1915, which were brought onto
agenda of parliaments of several countries.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu informed on Monday the
Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs on resolutions about the
incidents of 1915, which were brought onto agenda of parliaments of
several countries.

Davutoglu said members of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign
Affairs and Turkish-American Friendship Group members had a close
cooperation and conducted a good work in regard to developments at
the U.S. Congress.

Governments’ influence on parliaments should be increased, he said.

Relations between parliaments of several countries and members of
the Committee on Foreign Affairs should be improved, he said.

Turkish Ambassador in Washington, D.C. Namik Tan and Ambassadress in
Stockholm Zergun Koruturk also attended the meeting which was later
closed to press.

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted
a resolution on Armenian allegations related to the incidents of 1915
in a voting of 23-22 on March 4.

On March 11, Swedish Parliament also approved a similar resolution on
1915 incidents. The resolution was approved with 131 votes against 130.

Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols on October 10, 2009 to
normalize relations between the two countries. The protocols envisage
the two countries to establish diplomatic ties and open the border
that has been close since 1993.

Turkey and Armenia also agreed to take steps to operate a
sub-commission on impartial scientific examination of the historical
records and archive to define existing problems and formulate
recommendations, in which Armenian, Turkish as well as Swiss and
other international experts would take part.

However, on January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of Armenia
declared a decision of constitutional conformity on the protocols.

Turkey thought the fifth article of Armenian Constitutional Court’s
verdict regarding the protocols was against the target and basis of
the protocols.

Also, in 2005, Turkey officially proposed to Armenian government the
establishment of a joint commission of history composed of historians
and other experts from both sides to study together the events of
1915 not only in the archives of Turkey and Armenia but also in the
archives of all relevant third countries and to share their findings
with the public.

Interfax, Russia
March 11 2010

Armenian speaker urges solving Karabakh problem with self-determination

YEREVAN March 11

It is necessary to settle the Karabakh conflict through
self-determination of the Karabakh people, Armenian Parliament Speaker
Hovik Abrahamyan said at the Yerevan seminar of the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly on Thursday.

"The Karabakh conflict must be settled on principles of
self-determination of the Karabakh people, in keeping with
international laws," he said.

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the right of peoples
to self-determination at the 64th session on December 18, 2009, the
speaker noted.

"The resolution once again confirmed the need for applying this
international legal principle to the solution of the Karabakh
conflict," he said.

Armenia FM to meet the Minsk Group Co-Chairs in Paris

armradio.am
13.03.2010 12:05

On March 15 the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, will
pay an official visit to Berlin, Press and Information Department of
the ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

On March 16 Edward Nalbandian will visit Paris, where he is scheduled
to meet the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

news.am, Armenia
March 13 2010

Armenian-Azerbaijani societies’ ties to assist Karabakh conflict
settlement: Sammut

15:23 / 03/13/2010Azerbaijani opposition is splitted and weak, which
negatively affects the domestic situation in the country, Executive
Director of London Information Network on Conflicts and State-building
(LINKS) Dennis Sammut said at the 73rd NATO PA Rose-Roth seminar in
Yerevan, speaking of the Political developments in Azerbaijan.

He emphasized that all the three countries in South Caucasus have a
long and complicated way in the process of democratization. `Shortly,
all three states will have a chance to see EU’s increasing role in the
process,’ Sammut stated.

According to him, South Caucasian countries will be unable to take an
independent line on the way to democracy and here Europe can aid them.
Touching upon the conflict resolution, particularly Karabakh issue,
Sammut emphasized the necessity of the intensification of ties between
Armenian and Azerbaijani civil societies. He maintained that it will
greatly contribute to the conlifct settlement.

Executive Director of the International Center for Human Development
(ICHD) Tevan Poghosyan pronounced for the issue.

L.A.

TURKISH RATIFICATION OF ARMENIA ACCORDS ‘ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE’ NOW
Sargis Harutyunyan

Radio Liberty
March 11 2010

Turkey – Suat Kiniklioglu, a deputy chairman of the ruling Justice
and Development Party, undated.

Turkey is extremely unlikely to ratify its fence-mending protocols with
Armenia at this juncture, a senior Turkish lawmaker and deputy chairman
of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) said on Thursday.

In an interview with RFE/RL’s Armenian service in Yerevan, Suat
Kiniklioglu made clear that Ankara continues to make the normalization
of Turkish-Armenian relations conditional on a Karabakh settlement. He
said the passage of an Armenian genocide resolution by a U.S.

congressional committee has rendered Turkish ratification of the
protocols even "more difficult."

"[Ratification] is very difficult right now," Kiniklioglu said,
speaking on the sidelines of an international seminar organized in
the Armenian capital by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. "It’s almost
impossible. Especially after [the progress of the House Resolution]
252, it’s almost impossible."

Turkey has strongly condemned the draft resolution approved by the
Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives on March
4. It calls on President Barack Obama to "accurately characterize
the systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1,500,000 Armenians
as genocide."

Kiniklioglu headed one of the two Turkish parliamentary delegations
that traveled to Washington last week to lobby against the bill’s
passage. They were present at the committee debate and vote on the
measure along with fellow parliamentarians from Armenia.

"Neither the Turkish parliament nor any other parliament should be
judging on other peoples’ history," Kiniklioglu told RFE/RL. "We
continue to propose the history commission that was part of the
protocols, and I think that’s the best way to go about.

Turkish-Armenian relations do not need the American Congress to be
approved or to be condoned. I think Turks and Armenians are mature
enough to resolve their problems on a bilateral level."

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has publicly warned Washington
against exploiting the genocide bill to pressure Ankara to validate
the U.S.-brokered agreements envisaging diplomatic relations between
Armenia and Turkey and the opening of their border. U.S.

officials have repeatedly called for a speedy and unconditional
ratification of the protocols.

Kiniklioglu indicated that the Turkish government, which has a clear
majority in parliament, persists in linking the ratification with
an Armenian-Azerbaijani agreement on Karabakh. "In our view, there
is a connection [with Karabakh,]" he said. "You can not normalize
[relations] with a country when there is an abnormal situation going
on right next door to you."

"All sides, especially the American side, the Minsk Group, are working
on the Karabakh issue," said the lawmaker. "I hope something positive
will come out of it because as soon as something positive comes out,
I think we will push the protocols through the parliament."

Meeting with Davutoglu in Kiev late last month, President Serzh
Sarkisian threatened to walk away from the deal if the Turks fail
to honor it "within the shortest period of time." U.S. and European
Union officials have likewise said it should be ratified within a
"reasonable" timeframe.

"I think eventually it will happen, but we should not put artificial
deadlines on the process and should continue in a determined fashion
towards finalizing the reconciliation process," countered Kiniklioglu.

"I am on the optimistic side," he said. "One year ago or two years ago,
there were no protocols whatsoever. Right now we have two documents
that outline in detail how the normalization should take place. I
think it’s still a success."

"True, they are still awaiting ratification by the Turkish and Armenian
parliaments," added the AKP vice-chairman for foreign relations. "But
I think if we show enough patience — and hopefully there will be some
movement on Karabakh, we don’t know — I’m confident that normalization
will eventually take place."

Kiniklioglu went on to describe the Armenians and the Turks as
"very similar people" who can put an end to their long history of
mutual hostility. "This is my fourth visit to Armenia," he said. "I
have lots of friends here and I see more and more commonalities and
similarities between us."

/1980769.html

SPECIAL CONTROL DEPARTMENT OF IMPORT AND EXPORT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS WILL BE ESTABLISHED IN ARMENIA

ARKA
March 9, 2010

YEREVAN, March 9. /ARKA/. Tigran Sargsyan, Prime Minister of Armenia
met with the members of National Association of Farmers and assigned
the Armenian Ministry of Agriculture to establish special department
jointly with the Association which will deal with regulation of import
and export.

Sargsyan emphasized the importance of development of effective
cooperation model which will control implementation of joint programs.

The Department will deal with the issues of agriculture, particularly
livestock breeding.

"Today we should discuss your visions of the problems and priority
issues of the State for the provision of serious progress in the
sphere of livestock breeding", said Sargsyan.

Members of the Association thanked the Prime Minister for the attention
of the government regarding agriculture sphere.

They raised a number of issues, mainly related to the sphere of poultry
keeping, potato growing, fruit-growing, bee keeping and sheep breeding.

Priority issues were expansion of export opportunities for agricultural
products, improvement of legislative field and long-term development
model in agriculture.

Sargsyan made relevant assignments to Gerasim Alaverdyan, Armenian
Minister of Agriculture for solving the main problems.

TURKEY HASN’T YET SENT ITS AMBASSADOR BACK TO WASHINGTON

Tert.am
17:12 ~U 09.03.10

Since it hasn’t yet received a clear message from the US administration
on House Resolution 252 on the Armenian Genocide, Turkey hasn’t
sent its ambassador back to Washington, said Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan while in Saudi Arabia, report various Turkish
news media.

Immediately after the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs
Committee passed H.Res.252 on recognizing the Armenian Genocide,
Ankara recalled its ambassador to Washington, Namik Tan.

SERZH SARGSYAN TO BE IN FRANCE ON OFFICIAL VISIT BETWEEN MARCH 9 TO 11

Noyan Tapan
March 9, 2010

YEREVAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN. A delegation led by RA President Serzh
Sargsyan, including Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Minister
of Diaspora Hranush Hakobian, NA deputy, head of the Armenia-France
deputy friendship group Ara Babloyan and other high-ranking officials
will be in France on an official visit between March 9 to 11.

According to RA President’s Press Office, French President Nicolas
Sarkozy will receive S. Sargsyan on March 10 at Champs-Elysees. The
heads of the two countries will discuss the agenda of the
Armenia-France relations, urgent international and regional issues. A
dinner will be served on behalf of the French President in honor of
the Armenian President. The heads of the countries will also hold a
press conference.

Within the framework of the official visit to France S. Sargsyan will
meet with Chairman of the French Senate Gerard Larche and National
Assembly Speaker Bernard Akoie, we well as with prominent figures of
the French Armenian community, will visit the Matignon exhibition hall
where he will watch the collection of Jansem’s pictures accompanied
by the painter.

The delegation led by S. Sargsyan will return to Yerevan on March 11.

Trend, Azerbaijan
March 5 2010

Turkish FM: Country has not yet considers possibility of closing U.S.
military base Incirlik

Although, the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee
adopted a resolution recognizing the so-called "Armenian genocide",
Ankara has not yet considering closing the U.S. military base Incirlik
in Turkey, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said.

"Every spring we wait the threat of a crisis in the U.S-Turkey
relations with fear," he said. "Yet, we do not consider the closure of
Incirlik military base."

U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday adopted 23 votes
to 22 a resolution recognizing the so-called "Armenian genocide".

Armenia claims that the Ottoman Empire committed genocide against
Armenians living in Anatolia in 1915. Making greater efforts to
promote the issue internationally, Armenians have achieved its
recognition by parliaments of some countries.

Regarding the U.S government’s position on the issue of the "Armenian
genocide", Davutoglu expressed hope that President Barack Obama will
not recognize it Apr.24.

"Recognition of the so-called "Armenian genocide will have a very
strong negative impact on the further establishment of peace in the
Caucasus", he added.

Turkey calls on Armenia to open all archives and not to exert pressure
through the U.S. Congress, and negotiate face to face, Ahmet Davutoglu
said.

The minister considers erroneous view that the adoption of the
resolution could put pressure on Ankara to ratify the Armenian-Turkish
protocols.

"The fact is that Turkey has taken decision on in this issue for ten
days, Armenia has done for four months," he said.

The intervention of a third party, in this case the U.S., in relations
between Armenia and Turkey, complicates the process of reconciliation
between the countries, he said.

The adoption of a resolution recognizing the "Armenian genocide"
indicates that the U.S Congress is very weak in developing a future
political strategy, the Turkish minister said.

Las Vegas Sun, NV
March 6 2010

White House discourages Armenian genocide vote

AP Saturday, March 6, 2010 | 12:28 a.m.

The Obama administration is urging a House panel not to offend Turkey
by declaring that the Ottoman-era killing of Armenians was genocide.
But the committee chairman pressed ahead Thursday.

The administration stepped in despite a campaign promise by President
Barack Obama to brand as genocide the killing of as many as 1.5
million Armenians by Ottoman Turks. The vote by the congressional
committee could alienate Turkey, which plays an important role for
U.S. interests in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

Spokesman Mike Hammer said in a statement that Secretary of State
Hillary Rodham Clinton had spoken with Foreign Affairs Committee
Chairman Howard Berman on Wednesday _ the eve of the scheduled vote _
and indicated that "further Congressional action could impede progress
on normalization of relations" between Turkey and Armenia.

Hammer would not specify whether Clinton urged Berman to cancel
Thursday’s hearing or to vote against the resolution.

Still, Berman on Thursday urged fellow members of the committee to
approve the resolution. The committee appeared likely to endorse it,
sending it to the full House, where its prospects are uncertain.

"The Turks say passing this resolution could have terrible
consequences for our bilateral relationship, and indeed perhaps there
will be some consequences," Berman said. "But I believe that Turkey
values its relations with the United States at least as much as we
value our relations with Turkey."

The United States relies on Turkey as a key supply route for U.S.
troops in Iraq and Turkey’s troops serve in the U.S.-led coalition
forces in Afghanistan. The United States also is pressing Turkey,
which holds a rotating seat in the U.N. Security Council, to support
sanctions against Iran, Turkey’s neighbor.

Hammer said Obama called President Abdullah Gul on Wednesday to
express his appreciation for Turkey’s efforts to normalize relations
with Armenia.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs suggested the administration was
trying to buy time for Turkey’s parliament to act. In October, Turkey
and Armenia signed an agreement to normalize relations, but Turkey has
yet to ratify it.

"Our focus is on continuing to make progress on an issue that has, for
almost 100 years, divided two countries," Gibbs said. "Through some
very tough diplomatic work by Secretary Clinton, we’ve made progress.
We’re on the cusp of normalization."

The Foreign Affairs Committee approved a similar genocide measure in
2007, but it was not brought to the House floor for a vote following
intensive pressure by then President George W. Bush.

Following the 2007 committee vote, Turkey promptly recalled its
ambassador, and U.S. officials feared the Turks might cut off American
access to a Turkish air base essential to operations in Iraq. After
intensive lobbying by top Bush administration officials, the
resolution was not considered by the full House.

On Thursday, a Turkish official suggested his country could again
recall its ambassador if the congressional panel approves the
resolution.

"All options are on the table," the government official said, speaking
on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she will wait to see the result of
the committee vote before deciding whether to bring the resolution
before the full House.

Armenian American groups have for decades sought congressional
affirmation of the killings as genocide. Historians estimate that up
to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks around the time
of World War I, an event widely viewed by scholars as the first
genocide of the 20th century. Turkey says the toll has been inflated
and those killed were victims of civil war and unrest, not genocide.

In April, Obama broke a campaign promise to brand the killings
genocide in an annual White House statement on the day marking
Armenian remembrance, although he said his personal views had not
changed. (AP)

white-house-discourages-armenian-genocide-vote/