Author: Torgomian Varazdat

DEPUTY KORYUN NAHAPETIAN: TURKEY WILL NOT CARRY OUT ITS THREATS ADDRESSED TO U.S.

Noyan Tapan
March 9, 2010

YEREVAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian delegation’s presence at the
discussions on Armenian Genocide at the U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on Foreign Affairs showed that the Armenians are united and
resolute in the issue of international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. Independent deputy Koryun Nahapetian, a member of the RA
National Assembly delegation that had left for the U.S. on March
3-6 declared at a March 9 press conference. He reminded that four
similar resolutions were adopted at the U.S. Congress in the past
years but no delegation from Armenia took part in them. According
to him, the participation in the March 4 discussions is Armenian
diplomacy’s achievement.

According to K. Nahapetian, some members of the Committee voiced at
the meeting that today it is high time to recognize and condemn the
Armenian Genocide. Thus, according to the deputy, the U.S. confirmed
its loyalty to universal values though some Congressmen expressed an
apprehension over possible worsening of the Turkish-American relations.

Another member of Armenia’s delegation, RPA deputy Artak Zakarian found
it difficult to predict whether the resolution on the Genocide will
be submitted for a discussion at the Congress plenary session. In his
words, it depends on Turkey’s further position. However, according
to A. Zakarian, Turkey will not carry out its threats addressed to
the U.S. as did not do it to Russia, France and other countries when
the latters recognized the Armenian Genocide.

WILL WE LOSE TURKEY?

The Spectator
825208/will-we-lose-turkey.thtml
March 8 2010
UK

Earlier this year, Transatlantic Trends, an annual survey of public
opinion on both sides of the Atlantic, was published. Key highlights
from the survey included a quadrupling of European support for
President Obama’s handling of foreign policy. But what really caught
my eye was how badly the relationship between the West and Turkey had
frayed. 65 percent of Turks do not think it is likely their country
will join the EU. Nearly half of Turks polled think Turkey is not
really part of the West, while 43 percent think Turkey should not
partner with the EU, the US or Russia in solving global problems.

The break-down of the alliance between the West and Turkey – which
has endured since the Truman administration, and contributed to the
strength of NATO, the resistance to the Soviet Union and, latterly,
to a number of Middle East peace initiatives – is bad news; not
least because many commentators, like George Friedman of Stratfor,
believe Turkey will become one of the most important global powers
in coming years.

The recent conflict between the US and Turkey over what to call the
killing of Armenians during World War II – which has seen Ankara
recall it ambassador to DC in protest at a congressional resolution
– is only the latest bone of contention. Turkey and the EU have
for a while been locked in fruitless discussions about Turkey’s EU
accession, an irresolvable proposition so long as French President
Nicolas Sarkozy remains opposed.

Meanwhile, Turkey is moving away from its pro-Western orientation and
Euro-Atlantic institutions. Under Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s
guidance, Turkish foreign policy’s focus has shifted towards other
regions, mostly the Middle East. As he told a Sarajevo audience last
year: Turkey’s sphere of influence extends in a 3000 kilometers circle
from the capital Ankara and takes in 72 countries.

Relations between Ankara and Moscow are at a particular high, which
should worry Western policy-makers. Russia has been Turkey’s No. 1
trade partner since 2003. Hundreds of Turkish firms operate in Russia,
and Russians are the most frequent visitors in Turkey, with more than
2 million each year. Russia also provides half of Turkey’s coal and 65
percent of its gas through the world’s longest undersea gas pipeline,
Blue Stream.

The Turkish government still talks the talk of EU accession. Its
line is that Turkey wants to wrap up EU accession talks by 2013,
and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Turkish republic in 2023
as an EU member state. But with increased opposition in Europe this
aim looks ambitious.

If the strategic divorce between Turkey and West continues, the price
paid by both sides will be steep. The West needs Turkey in dealing
with Russia, Iran, Syria and Iraq, not to mention as a broker in
the Middle East Peace Process. If Russia weakens, Turkey emerges as
the dominant power in the region. Economically, too, Turkey will be
important; it is now the world’s 17th-largest economy and its $60
billion public-procurement market will be important for European
firms. Its military is the most capable in the region and is also
probably the strongest in the European vicinity, apart from the
British armed forces.

In the late 1940s, the question asked in the US foreign policy
community was ‘Who Lost China?’. If we are not careful, it will be
Turkey which is lost to the West. To help avoid this, whoever wins
the forthcoming general election here should make improving strategic
ties between Britain and Turkey a foreign policy priority.

Ha’aretz, Israel
March 6 2010

‘Jewish lobby behind U.S. Armenia genocide vote’

By Haaretz Service

Pro-Israel activists manipulated Congress to damage Turkey, says
London daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi.

Jewish lobbyists contrived a U.S. congressional vote that labeled the
World War One-era massacre of Armenians by Turkish forces as genocide,
a London-based Arabic-language newspaper claimed on Saturday.

Pro-Israel lobbyists had previously backed Turkey on the issue ? but
changed tack in retaliation for Turkish condemnation of Israel’s
policies in the Gaza Strip, the Al-Quds Al-Arabi daily said in an
editorial, according to Israel Radio reports.

Israel and Turkey are traditional allies but ties took a downturn in
2009 when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned
Israel’s offensive in Gaza, in which some 1,400 Palestinians and 13
Israelis were killed.
Advertisement

A crisis in diplomatic relations came to a head in January when when
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon publicly humiliated Turkey’s
ambassador in front of press cameras.

In his leading article, Al-Quds Al-Arabi editor Abd al-Bari Atwan
curged Erdogan not to give in to the Jewish lobby’s "extortion"
tactics.

Erdogan on Thursday recalled Turkey’s ambassador to Washington after
the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee voted 23-22 to
approve the non-binding resolution, clearing it for consideration by
the full House.

"The decision of the Foreign Affairs Committee will not hurt Turkey,
but it will greatly harm bilateral relations, interests and vision.
Turkey will not be the one who loses," said Erdogan, speaking at a
summit of Turkish businessmen.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said the vote was a boost
for human rights.

The vote calls on President Barack Obama to ensure U.S. policy
formally refers to the massacre as genocide, putting him in a tight
spot.

In a telephone call with Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Wednesday,
Obama emphasized his administration had urged lawmakers to consider
the potential damage to efforts to normalize Armenian-Turkish ties, a
senior administration official said.

At a news conference in Costa Rica on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton said she and Obama, who both supported proposed
Armenia genocide resolutions as presidential candidates, had changed
their minds because they believed the drive to normalize relations
between Turkey and Armenia was bearing fruit.

Turkey, a Muslim secular democracy that plays a vital role for U.S.
interests from Iraq to Iran and in Afghanistan and the Middle East,
accepts that many Armenians were killed by Ottoman forces but denies
that up to 1.5 million died and that it amounted to genocide – a term
employed by many Western historians and some foreign parliaments.

Turkey regards such accusations as an affront to its national honor.

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16:04 05/03/2010 » Politics
NKR President addresses letter of condolence

President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan sent a
condolence letter to President of the Republic of Abkhazia Sergey
Baghapsh over the death of former President Vladislav Ardzinba, the
central information department of NKR president’s office reported.

The letter runs as follows:

"Abkhazia and its people suffered a great loss. The first President of
the Republic of Abkhazia Vladislav Ardzinba has departed this life.

Vladislav Ardzinba stood at the origins of the national-liberation
movement of Abkhazia, led the republic at a most crucial period of its
history. Under his governance Abkhazia overcame all the hardships with
flying colors, embarked firmly on the path of further strengthening
its statehood.

Vladislav Ardzinba is widely known far beyond Abkhazia. He enjoys deep
respect and warm feeling in Artsakh.

On behalf of the people and the authorities of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic I express my condolence and support to You and to the
fraternal people of Abkhazia over this irretrievable loss."

Source: Panorama.am

news.az, Azerbaijan
March 5 2010

Turkish nationalist: We expect "one minute" from Erdogan
Fri 05 March 2010 | 12:15 GMT Text size:

Recep Tayyip Erdogan Turkish nationalists are resented over the
decision of the US Congress.

Mehmed Shindir, deputy chairman of the faction of National Unity,
urged Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan to tell Obama "one minute"
(Erdogan’s speech during word fighting with Israeli President Schimon
Peres during the Davos forum).

"The decision by the US Congress is a disrespect to Turkey and its
people. We do not deserve this. Turkey was on the front line of
struggle with communism during the Cold war. Americans have forgotten
it too quickly", Hurriyet says.
"We have warned the authorities not to flirt with Armenians and here
are the results", Shindir said.

1news.az

Armenia Welcomes House Foreign Relations Committee Vote

enia-welcomes-house-foreign-relations-committee-vo te/
By Weekly Staff – on March 5, 2010 –

YEREVAN (A.W.) – On March 5, Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian
issued a brief statement welcoming the House Committee vote on the
Armenian Genocide Resolution.

`We highly appreciate the decision by the Committee on Foreign Affairs
of the United States House of Representatives to adopt Resolution 252
on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide,’ the statement read.
`This is another proof of the devotion of the American people to
universal human values and is an important step toward the prevention
of the crimes against humanity.’

Turkey condemns vote, recalls ambassador

Turkey, however, recalled its ambassador to the U.S. for consultations
following the vote minutes after the U.S. congressional panel approved
the resolution on March 4.

`Our ambassador to Washington Namik Tan was recalled tonight to Ankara
for consultations after the development,’ said a statement issued by
the Turkish prime minister’s office. `We condemn this resolution
accusing Turkey of a crime that it has not committed.’

BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS INITIATES SECOND READING ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY BILL APRIL 30

Panorama.am
18:00 04/03/2010

Politics

The British House of Commons initiated discussions on the Armenian
Genocide Remembrance Day bill introduced in the Commons in January;
the bill is to be read a second time on Friday 30 April, Anka reported.

The bill has been presented to the House of Commons by Labour MP
Andrew Dismore January 6, while the House scheduled a second reading
of the bill April 30.

To become a law, the bill should be approved by the House of Lords
and deserve Queen’s approval. Note that the British authorities have
not recognized the Armenian Genocide yet.

LARSI CHECKPOINT REOPENS: SO WHAT?

The Messenger
March 3 2010
Georgia

The Larsi checkpoint reopened on March 1, following more than 6 months
of negotiations between Russia and Georgia under Armenian mediation.

Nothing is known about the content of these negotiations: what
was discussed and who asked for what? There has been no convincing
explanation of why this checkpoint has been opened at all, but the
one thing we know for sure is that Georgia will gain nothing from
the reestablishment of a land connection with Russia.

Georgia maintains that the checkpoint has been opened for the sake of
Armenia, under some international pressure. The administration assures
us that opening the checkpoint does not compromise Georgia’s security.

However some analysts challenge this, insisting that under the
existing circumstances an open border with Russia is extremely
dangerous for Georgia.

There are no diplomatic relations between Georgia and Russia. Moscow
occupies 1/5th of Georgian territory and the Russian President has
declared Saakashvili persona non grata. Despite all this the only land
connection between Georgia and Russia, which Moscow closed unilaterally
in 2006, has been reopened. While the negotiations were being conducted
some Georgian analysts hoped that Russia would lift its embargo on
Georgian agricultural products if it was also prepared to open the
checkpoint, but others stated that territory cannot be exchanged
for the chance to sell wine and mineral water. The checkpoint is
open, the Russian embargo is still in force, Russia still occupies
the breakaway regions. Nor have any special benefits been given to
the Georgians living near the border. Georgia receives almost zero
economic profit from the reopened checkpoint. Maybe the lorry drivers
will stop and eat in a Georgian restaurant, buy goods here or fill
their tanks with petrol on this side of the border. But that’s it.

We are told that if cargo can pass between Armenia and Russia through
this checkpoint Armenia will be friendlier to Georgia. A possible
separatist outbreak among Georgia’s ethnic Armenians in Javakheti
will be avoided, Armenia will refuse to recognise Abkhazia and South
Ossetia and the Armenian media will stop broadcasting anti Georgian
material. However Georgian analysts suppose, not without serious
grounds, that Russia will use the newly opened road to send military
hardware, logistics supplies and spare parts to the Russian military
base in Armenia. After the Russian aggression against Georgia in
August 2008 this base and the rest of Armenia could only be supplied
by plane. So it could be said that this is a very controversial deal.

Is it not strange to be helping the enemy supply its bases in a
neighbouring country? Analysts ask this question and express their
utmost surprise and concern.

Some Georgian analysts expect further Russian provocations in the
Kazbegi region now the checkpoint has been opened, as Russia has
designs on occupying this region as well if the recent ‘historical
analysis’ is to be believed. The Ossetian media has started saying
that Kazbegi was historically Ossetian territory and should therefore
belong to the Kokoity regime. A couple of hundred Ossetian families
do live there, so the more pessimistic analysts think that these
Ossetians might ask the Russians to help them and Russia will send
its troops in response. The West, as is traditional, would express its
concern about this but do no more, and more Georgian territory would
therefore be lost. This is a very pessimistic scenario, and hopefully
things will not turn out to be that bad, but it is a possibility.

It would have been more realistic for Georgia to ask for some
conditions in return for opening the checkpoint, for example OSCE
observers being allowed to enter the occupied territories or at least
be based at the Larsi checkpoint. The administration may try and calm
the population by saying there is no threat whatsoever in reopening
Larsi, but most Georgians doubt the ability of the authorities
to assess long term developments logically and realistically,
having experienced the August 2008 war and the obvious provocations
beforehand.

AZERBAIJANI OFFICIAL: I DON’T BELIEVE THE U.S. CONGRESS WILL ADOPT RESOLUTION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Trend
March 4 2010
Azerbaijan

"The activities of the Turkish delegation that is on a visit to
the United States will be effective," Nizami Jafarov, Azerbaijani
Parliamentary Culture Committee chairman and head of the
Azerbaijan-Turkey Inter-Parliamentary Working Group, told Trend News.

"The U.S, Congress will not accept the resolution on the so-called
Armenian genocide," he said.

U.S. Congress International Relations Commission Chairman Howard
Berman proposed to submit the issue for consideration March 4.

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.

Azerbaijan also took steps to prevent the adoption of the resolution
by the U.S. Congress.

"Given all this, I can say that the resolution is unlikely to be
adopted by the U.S. Congress. However, even if the document is adopted,
it is not so radical," he added.

Turkey and Azerbaijan can influence the U.S. Congress.

"Despite the fact that these opportunities are currently quite limited,
they are gradually increasing. So I do not believe that the resolution
on the Armenian genocide can be easily adopted in the U.S.

Congress," he said.

H.RES.252 PASSAGE MAY DRAW FORTH NEW PROCESSES IN CAUCASUS

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.03.2010 13:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Adoption of the Armenian Genocide resolution by
the U.S. Congress will damage Ankara-Washington relations, former
NKR Foreign Minister said.

"Adoption of the resolution may draw forth new processes in Caucasus.

It may promote consolidation of Russian-Turkish ties and also hamper
Karabakh talks," Arman Melikyan told a news conference in Yerevan
on Wednesday.

He also noted that Washington’s current policy is alienating Ankara.

Member of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia Rafik Petrosyan
said, for his part, that if Ankara doesn’t ratify the Protocols on
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations until April 24, Yerevan
can withdraw its signature and freeze the reconciliation process.

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.

The Armenian Genocide resolution (H.Res.106) was submitted to the
House of Representatives by Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA), on
January 30, 2007, during the 110th United States Congress. It was
a non-binding resolution calling upon the US President to ensure
that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate
understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human
rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States
record relating to the Armenian Genocide, and for other purposes. Upon
its introduction it was referred to United States House Committee
on Foreign Affairs where it passed a 27-21 vote and was sent back
for a full house vote. On October 26, 2007, in a letter addressed
to the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, four key sponsors of the bill,
requested a debate on the bill in full House to be postponed.

Another resolution affirming the U.S. record on the Armenian
Genocide (H.Res.252) was formally introduced in the U.S. House of
Representatives by Reps. Adam Schiff (D.-CA), George Radanovich
(R.-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D.-NJ), and Mark Kirk (R.-Ill) in 2009.

It currently has 137 co-sponsors.