Author: Vanyan Gary

TURKEY CRIES FOUL OVER U.S. GENOCIDE RESOLUTION; WARNS CONGRESS TO DROP BILL

Asbarez
Feb 8th, 2010

ANKARA (Combined Sources)-Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
denounced a U.S. congressional committee over the weekend for
scheduling a vote on the Armenian Genocide resolution, saying that its
passage would seriously harm Turkey’s relations with both the United
States and Armenia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported Monday.

Davutoglu reportedly suggested that Washington is using the prospect
of the resolution’s passage by the U.S. House of Representatives to
force Turkey to ratify its fence-mending agreements with Armenia. He
also accused Yerevan of hampering further progress in international
efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"Why is that draft included on the [committee] agenda now?" he said,
according to a "Hurriyet" report cited by the Azerbaijani APA news
agency on Monday. "Let them not expect from us the ratification of
protocols by using April 24 as a tool for pressure.

"The draft’s inclusion on the agenda is not in the interests of the
USA, Turkey and Armenia. This process can lead both our bilateral
relations with the USA and Turkey’s rapprochement with Armenia into
deadlock."

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian Monday commented on the
Turkish diplomat’s most recent warning to Washington. "Davutoglu has
developed quite a nasty habit of lecturing America," said Hamparian,
urging Congress and President Obama to look past the foreign pressure
and stand firm behind US values and principles.

"It’s no more Turkey’s place to tell our Congress how it can speak
about the Armenian Genocide, than it is the Chinese government’s
place to tell our President whether he can meet with the Dalai Lama,"
Hamparian said. "Just as President Obama has properly taken a stand
against China’s threats, so too should the entire U.S. government
reject Ankara’s gag-rule on the proper commemoration of the Armenian
Genocide."

The Armenian Genocide resolution (H.Res.252) which was introduced by
U.S. lawmakers a year ago, urges President Barack Obama 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 the consequences of the
failure to realize a just resolution."

The resolution also "calls upon the President in the President’s
annual message commemorating the Armenian Genocide issued on or about
April 24, to accurately characterize the systematic and deliberate
annihilation of 1,500,000 Armenians as genocide and to recall the
proud history of United States intervention in opposition to the
Armenian Genocide."

Howard Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
said on Friday that the panel will vote on it early next month.

The vote will come less than two months before the 95th anniversary of
the start of Genocide. Turkey, which denies its crime and continues
to occupy Western Armenian lands, vehemently condemned similar bills
that were passed by the committee but never put to a full House vote
in the past. It refers to the crime not as genocide but as killings
and ethnic strife that occurred on a small scale and were not the
result of a premeditated government effort to exterminate Ottoman
Turkey’s Armenian population.

Davutoglu said he raised Ankara’s concerns with U.S. Deputy Secretary
of State James Steinberg at a meeting held on Saturday on the sidelines
of an international security conference in Munich. Speaking to
Turkish journalists on his way back from the conference, he claimed
that Armenia was also behind the scheduling of the congressional
committee vote.

"At first, Armenia’s Constitutional Court made comments about
the signed protocols that are unacceptable to us," Davutoglu said,
according to APA. "Then the Armenian side retreated from a constructive
position during the [last] meeting between Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian. Now such a bill
is being included on the U.S. Congress agenda."

"The sequence of these three events is making us think that this is
not happening by chance," added Davutoglu.

Official Yerevan, meanwhile, signaled on Monday its satisfaction with
progress of the genocide bill. When asked by RFE/RL to comment on
the planned vote on the bill, an Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesman
cited statements on the issue made by President Serzh Sarkisian and
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian in recent months.

Sarkisian said in an October address to the nation that the Armenian
genocide "must be recognized and condemned by the entire progressive
humanity." Nalbandian, for his part, told RFE/RL last month that
Armenia "will never cast doubt on the importance of international
recognition of the genocide."

TERYAN YEAR KICKS OFF IN ARMENIA

Armradio.am
09.02.2010 18:02

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan visited Komitas Pantheon today on the
occasion of Vahan Teryan’s 125th anniversary and laid flowers at the
tomb of the great poet.

This commemoration ceremony marked the start of the Teryan Year in
Armenia. A government Commission has been set up to organize the
jubilee celebrations, Information and Public Relations Department of
the Armenian Government reports.

The jubilee events will include traditional Teryan Days in the poet’s
birthplace and Orenburg, students’ competition-festival, publication of
the jubilee issue of "Grakan Tert," exhibitions of Armenian artists,
school competitions, publication of the "Vahan Teryan" encyclopedia,
issuing of stamps, etc.

GEORGIA TO SHUT DOWN ARMENIAN TV CHANNEL

news.am
Feb 9 2010
Armenia

Georgian national communications commission appealed to cable TV
companies recommending to cut Russian and Armenian TV channels’
off the air, Georgian Rezonansi daily reports.

Recommendations extend to Euronews, several Russian music channels
and one Armenian television.

In return commission will shut eyes to license-free broadcasting for
some time. After the commission sitting, representatives stated that
bans were out of the question and it was a mere working meeting.

ANKARA CASHES U.S. PRESSURE ON FOR PROTOCOLS’ RATIFICATION: TURKISH MP

news.am
Feb 9 2010
Armenia

Turkish authorities will make an effort to ratify Armenia-Turkey
Protocols by April taking the U.S. pressure to its advantage, Turkish
Republican People’s Party MP Canan Artiman told Azerbaijani Trend News.

According to her, Davutoglu’s statement about U.S. Congress is mere
pretext and authorities will turn it to their advantage.

MP considers concerns of official Ankara over Genocide recognition
groundless.

"Turkey never did it, there is no official document proving the fact
of Genocide and Turkey’s concern over adoption of law by the U.S. is
unfounded," underlined Artiman.

She reckons that unlike Armenia Turkey has not disclosed its stance
on the Protocols by now. "Despite the alterations in the Protocols
made by RA Constitutional Court, Ankara still hopes for the Protocols’
ratification," she concluded.

REDISTRIBUTION OF PROPERTY

Lragir.am
08/02/10

The ARF faction member Artsvik Minasyan commented on the draft
amendments to tax legislation proposing the establishment of new
territorial tax rates, and noted that the project does not resist
criticism either legally or socially. He also said that the law is
politically motivated.

"This tax policy will lead to redistribution of property. On the one
hand, it strengthens the position of bad faith community leaders, on
the other – weakens the positions of bona fide leaders: a provision
allowing community leaders to submit to the court with a claim for
deprivation of property of a person who does not pay taxes in time,
represents a threat to the communities in which citizens do not have
large incomes", said Artsvik Minasyan.

He proposes to discuss the bill at the conceptual level. "You should
begin with answers to the question what the consequences these types
of taxes would have whether they would be justified, as they are
consistent with the notion of "tax". And not to turn taxes into fee
and use them as a punitive tool", says Artsvik Minasyan.

He noted that the draft does not define some terms used – the sales
tax, tax on uncultivated agricultural land. Large landowners have no
problem with the processing of land, they will invest at least in order
to "wash out" shadow incomes, says the MP. Ordinary villagers do not
handle small plots for the lack of financial reserves. If it lies under
the land consolidation plan, for that there are other justifications,
said Artsvik Minasyan, suggesting, say, a variant of cooperation.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont-Quebec H2V 3H2
Contact: Deacon Hagop Arslanian,
Tel: 514-276-9479
Fax: 514-276-9960
Email: [email protected]
Web:

Sun, Feb 7 2010

An Educational Journey to Jerusalem – A Path of Discovery
Your Faith… In the Armenian Jerusalem

The Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada, is organizing an educational
journey for our youth, to Jerusalem, which will be led by His Eminence
Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate of the Diocese. This educational journey
– a path of discovery, has been especially organized and planned for
college and university students, young professionals to enable them to
witness their Armenian heritage in the Holy Land and present an
opportunity to revive their Christian faith=2E

Speaking on the significance of this educational journey His Eminence
said, "Jerusalem has a significant role in our history. It is, indeed, the
place where our Lord and Savior lived. It is the land of the Holy Bible,
it is the centre of geopolitical interests, and it is the crossroads of
all religions. In all this, we want our youth to discover the Armenian
Jerusalem=2E

"We have stated many times that JERUSALEM IS ABOUT OUR IDENTITY. To know
who you are as Armenian you have to go to Jerusalem. There is the strength
and power of our identity, the vision and heroism of our ancestors. That
is why we cannot, we are not allowed to forget about or abandon Jerusalem.
It will become self-denial, self-abandonment.

"Thus, we are initiating this annual "Educational Journey to Jerusalem" to
educate our university students about the true self of our race. It is a
path of discovery of our own faith and identity in Jerusalem. This is the
initial year and I commend all the organizers and participants, the
University students who positively responded to our appeal. May God bless
you all"=2E

The journey is scheduled to take place from June 7 to 16, 2010. For all
those interested in joining this pilgrimage, we urge you to please contact
the Diocese at 514-276-9479, immediately, to reserve your place, as space
is limited. The deadline for registration is, April 10, 2010=2E

While the Holy Land is special for all Christians, the rich Armenian
flavor in the region makes it an even more special destination for our
Armenian youth pilgrims. During the trip, participants will visit the
Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and meet with His Beatitude Archbishop
Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch. They will also tour the Holy Sites
maintained by Armenian clergy and have the experience of visiting various
sacred sites and other places of interest=2E

07 Feb 2010 by Press Office

©2004 Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada. All rights reserved.

Trend, Azerbaijan
Feb 6 2010

OSCE chairman-in-office: New breath provided to Nagorno-Karabakh process
06.02.2010 14:05
USA, Washington, February 6 /Trend News, N.Bogdanova/

The last meeting between the presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Russia in Sochi provided new breath to the negotiation process on
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, said OSCE Chairman-in-Office
Kanat Saudabayev.

"As a country in the region, we have more opportunities to get closer
to the final stage of the Nagorno-Karabakh process, Saudabayev, State
Secretary and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan told Trend News. We
expect the solution to the conflict to be found before we shift OSCE
chairmanship to the next country. "

This year’s first trilateral meeting between the presidents of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Russia Dmitry Medvedev and Armenia Serj
Sargsyan was held in Sochi on Jan. 25 to discuss peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The meeting agreed upon the preamble of the document to resolve the
conflict that arose in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against
Azerbaijan. As a result of the conflict, Nagorno-Karabakh and seven
surrounding districts – 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory – are
under occupation of Armenian armed forces.

Last year, the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia met six times – in
Munich, Chisinau, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Prague and Zurich. The
meetings in Moscow and St. Petersburg were held in the trilateral
format.

"We will do everything we can to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, based on the progress made in previous years. The OSCE Minsk
Group has now reached the big breakthrough," said Saudabayev.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are
currently holding the peace negotiations.

Saudabayev stressed that Kazakhstan will use all its unique
capabilities to achieve a breakthrough in the conflict.

This week Saudabayev held talks with U.S. officials in Washington and
took part in the hearing of the Helsinki Commission of the United
States. He said that in the coming weeks he plans to visit South
Caucasus countries.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Feb 6 2010

ATC warns Turkey will be blamed if talks with Armenia fail

Turkey will be the party that circles in Washington will hold
responsible if efforts by Ankara and Yerevan to normalize their
relations fail, James Holmes, a retired US ambassador and the
president and chief executive officer of the American-Turkish Council
(ATC), has said.

After months of Swiss mediation and US encouragement, Turkey and
Armenia signed two protocols in October 2009 to re-establish
diplomatic ties and reopen their shared border. However, the process
hit rocky ground after an Armenian court upheld the legality of the
protocols but underlined that they could not contradict Yerevan’s
official position that the alleged Armenian genocide must be
internationally recognized.

Holmes, speaking with the Anatolia news agency in Washington, said he
was `hopeful, however, also concerned,’ regarding the course of
affairs in Turkey-Armenia normalization.

Holmes said everybody’s concerns will disappear if the parliaments of
both countries ratify the protocols, Anatolia reported on Friday.

`I know Washington’s history concerning this issue. Even if Turkey is
no guiltier than Yerevan, the political climate in Washington will
mean that Turkey will be held responsible for any failure. This
concerns me,’ Holmes was quoted as saying by the agency.

`Therefore, we should be very careful and prepare in case of a
negative course of events,’ he said.

06 February 2010, Saturday
TODAY’S ZAMAN ANKARA

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE 95TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION TO BE HELD AT NEW YORK’S TIMES SQUARE

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.02.2010 18:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On Sunday, April 25, 2010, for the 25th year,
thousands of Armenian Americans and people against genocide will
gather in New York’s Times Square from 2-4 PM to commemorate the first
genocide of the 20th Century, the Armenian Genocide. The new theme is
"Turkey is the Question, America is the Answer."

This historic event will pay tribute to the 1.5 million Armenians
who were annihilated by the Young Turk Government of the Ottoman
Empire (1915-1923) and address the consequences which are still with
us today. Government leaders and the news media have recently been
preoccupied with Turkish-Armenians relations and the closed borders
in the Caucasus.

Major political figures will speak as well as civic, humanitarian,
and educational leaders.

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY NEITHER CONFIRMS NOR REFUTES REPORTS ON POSSIBLE PARTICIPATION OF SEYRAN OHANYAN IN MEETING OF EURO-ATLANTIC PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL (EAPC) IN TURKEY

ArmInfo
2010-02-04 10:25:00

ArmInfo. The Armenian Defense Ministry has neither confirmed nor
refuted the reports on possible visit of Defense Minister Seyran
Ohanyan to Turkey.

Seyran Shakhsouvaryan, Defense Minister’s Spokesman, promised to make
relevant official report at the request of ArmInfo. It is still unknown
if he will confirm Seyran Ohanyan’s participation in the meeting of
the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) in Turkey or not.