Author: Vardapetian Ophelia

Armenian paper critical of foreign minister for raising money abroad

Armenian newspaper 168 Zham, Yerevan
20 Feb 07

Text of L. Seyranyan’s report in Armenian newspaper 168 Zham on 20
February headlined "Vardan Oskanyan starts his PR campaign"

Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan, who is rumoured to be a reserve
candidate of the authorities to the post of president, has started his
campaign in an absolutely different sphere. He has decided to engage
in a village charity programme.

Yesterday’s press release of the Hayastan (Armenia) Foundation said
that Vardan Oskanyan and the executive director of the Hayastan
Foundation, Naira Melkumyan, had an "important" meeting with local
representatives and patrons of the foundation in Paris on 15 February
to discuss the development programme of more than 150 villages in
Armenia and Karabakh. But it is not clear why the foreign minister is
dealing with this programme if we have an agriculture minister for
this.

But many people explain Vardan Oskanyan’s new "hobby" with his
political goals. He did not disprove that and said that he had
numerous projects and programmes which he would like to continue. For
this reason he decided to carry out his PR campaign in this way by
means of giving aid to villages. In fact, Oskanyan uses his post of
foreign minister and carries out his PR campaign at the expense of the
Armenian community abroad.

He officially announced this programme at an Armenia-diaspora forum in
September 2006. The programme will be officially submitted to the
trustees’ council of the Hayastan Foundation on 7 May 2007. Naturally,
Vardan Oskanyan will not give out his own money to spend on the
programme implementation, and it was not accidental that he said about
that for the first time at the Armenia-diaspora conference where
numerous rich members of the Armenian diaspora were
present. Naturally, they immediately understood that Oskanyan made the
statement not by chance and expected a serious approach in the form of
money. Meanwhile, waiting for the response of our "diaspora friends",
Oskanyan left for Paris.

The press release says that at the "important" meetings Armenian
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said that "the international
importance of the aid given to Armenia has increased, and at present
it is time for the diaspora to unite around the Hayastan Foundation
once again and help implement this wide-scale programme of village
development". That is to say, it seems to Oskanyan that every day the
diaspora sleeps and wakes up and thinks how to give money to Armenia.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE FOLLY
By Soner Cagaptay

Washington Institute for Near East Policy, DC
Feb 22 2007

U.S.-Turkish relations, already battered since the Iraq war, face a
new challenge this spring: the "Armenian genocide" resolution. This
resolution, introduced Jan. 30 in the House of Representatives,
will likely come to the floor soon.

If passed in the House, the resolution would sever the bilateral
ties between Washington and Ankara. The resolution would also be
the Democratic majority’s first foreign-policy blunder in the new
Congress. At this critical juncture of spiraling instability in Iraq
and a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan, the United States cannot
afford to lose Turkey, a major, if underappreciated, partner for U.S.
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan alike.

An overwhelming number of Turks say that the 1915 deportation of
Armenians from Anatolia to Syria in the Ottoman Empire does not
constitute genocide, yet the House resolution declares 1915 to be a
genocide. By passing the resolution, the Congress would be passing
judgment on Turkish history, which the Turks would see as the ultimate
insult. This is bad news at a time when America’s favorability rating
in Turkish opinion polls is already at an all-time low of 7 percent.

The House resolution would cause a massive public outpouring of Turkish
resentment against the United States. This backlash would inevitably
cripple U.S.-Turkish military cooperation.

In November 2006, the French parliament passed a resolution declaring
1915 a genocide. The Turkish response was unforgiving and harsh,
especially in the military sphere. Turkey halted bilateral military
exchanges and froze all reciprocal military visits and joint military
exercises with France. Paris was barred from bidding for Turkish
defense contracts, and on their own initiative Turkish generals whom
France had honored returned their decorations.

The likely similar Turkish response to the passage of the Armenian
resolution would have a devastating effect on U.S. plans, especially
in Iraq.

For starters, the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey, an invaluable
asset for U.S. military operations in the Middle East, would come
under pressure. Three-quarters of all air cargo bound for Iraq
transits Incirlik, and Turkey provides blanket clearance for military
overflights supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring
Freedom in Afghanistan. For instance, KC-135 tankers operating out of
Incirlik have flown 3,400 sorties and delivered 35 million gallons
of fuel to U.S. fighter and transport aircraft on missions in Iraq
and Afghanistan.

With its proximity to Iraq, Incirlik also helps defray the cost of
American operations there. Six U.S. C-17 cargo aircraft based at
Incirlik do the job of nine or 10 military aircraft based in Germany,
saving the United States $160 million per year.

In September 2000, when another Armenian resolution was submitted
to Congress, more than 10,000 Turks demonstrated outside Incirlik,
shutting down the base for three days. U.S. military operations in
Iraq and Afghanistan cannot afford a repeat of demonstrations that
close the airbase.

In addition to Incirlik, the Habur border gate between Turkey and
Iraq is another critical supply line. Turkey is the only developed
economy bordering Iraq, and the provision of goods and services from
Turkey to Iraq through Habur is of crucial importance. Though Iraq
is rich in oil reserves, its crippled infrastructure requires Iraq
to import gas from Turkey. Half of the fuel used by Iraqi consumers
enters Iraq through Habur. Turkey also provides 19 percent of Iraq’s
food and water, and will soon supply 25 percent of its electricity.

Habur is also vital for the U.S. military because one-quarter of the
fuel used by coalition troops enters Iraq from Turkey via Habur.

The passage of the Armenian resolution would also hurt U.S. businesses
and consumers. Ankara is engaged in several major defense cooperation
projects with the United States, including the Joint Strike Fighter,
in which Turkey has $175 million invested and an expected purchase of
100 jets, and the upgrading of 200-plus Turkish F-16 fighters at a
cost of $1.6 billion. The Armenian resolution would jeopardize such
cooperative projects, as well as kill a number of pending Turkish
defense purchases from the United States, including Patriot PAC
III Air Defense System for $1.3 billion, 52 Sikorsky Black Hawks
helicopters at a value of $800 million, 10 heavy-lift Boeing and
Sikorsky helicopters worth $500 million and between 30 and 50 Boeing
Apache or Bell Cobra helicopters worth between $1.5 and $2 billion.

Passing the Armenian resolution would spark a major bilateral crisis
that would be detrimental to American interests. The United States
needs Turkey in Afghanistan. Whether in the end it opts for a smart
surge or a staged withdrawal, the United States cannot succeed in Iraq
without Turkish assets. The Bush administration and the Democrat-led
Congress both should be interested in preventing an Armenian train
wreck in Iraq. In today’s hyperpartisan Washington, this spectacle
should be a refreshing opportunity for bipartisan agreement.

Soner Cagaptay is a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for
Near East Policy and an Ertegun professor at Princeton University.

mplateC06.php?CID=1031

TANER AKCHAM: THE IDEA TO EXHILE ARMENIANS FROM ANATOLIA CAME IN 1913

ArmRadio.am
21.02.2007 17:58

The idea of exhiling Armenians from Anatolia – the heart of the
Ottoman Empire – came to the mind of Turkish authorities in 1913,
since after losing in the Balkan War a prior to that they had come
to the conclusion that it is impossible to live in the same country
with Christians, leading Turkish intellectual, historian Taner Akcham
said in an interview with the American " Minneapolis Start Tribune"
newspaper.

"In 1912 during one week the Ottoman Empire lost 69% of its European
land which was the motherland of the ruling elite. They lost their
native land mostly due to Christians. Thus, the decision was taken
that it is impossible to live with them. Armenians comprised 45%
of the population of Anatolia," said the Turkish historian.

According to Akcham, from January 1914 the leaders of the Ottoman
Empire worked out a strategy and programs of creating homogeneous
Anatolia.

AZNAVOUR CHANTE POUR LES ENFANTS D’ARMENIE

La Nouvelle Republique du Centre Ouest
19 fevrier 2007 lundi
Edition INFORMATIONS GENERALES

Dans le cadre de l’Annee de l’Armenie en France, Charles Aznavour a
reuni samedi soir, sur la scène de l’Opera de Paris, une vingtaine
de chanteurs francais, dont Florent Pagny, Patrick Bruel et Michel
Delpech, pour un concert de bienfaisance, en presence du president
armenien Robert Kotcharian et de Bernadette Chirac. Sur la scène du
Palais Garnier, où il se produisait pour la première fois, Charles
Aznavour, 82 ans, a interprete ses principaux succès, accompagne par
un grand orchestre et une formation de cordes, a l’occasion de duos
inedits, avec les representants de la jeune chanson francaise dont
Chimène Badi, Benabar, Amel Bent, Dany Brillant, Grand Corps Malade,
Nolwenn Leroy, Nâdiya– Les ministres Michèle Alliot-Marie (Defense),
Nelly Olin (Environnement), Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres (Culture) et
Azouz Begag (Egalite des chances), le porte-parole du gouvernement
Jean-Francois Coppe, et l’ambassadeur d’Armenie en France, Edward
Nalbandian, ont assiste a ce gala au profit de l’operation " 1.000
enfants d’Armenie ". En mars, de jeunes Armeniens viendront apprendre
le francais dans une trentaine de villes d’accueil, avec le soutien
du ministère francais de l’Education nationale.

Axelle Red, Gerard Darmon, Helène Segara, Elisa Tovati et la Chorale
des enfants armeniens etaient aussi a l’affiche, tout comme les
petits rats de l’Opera de Paris qui ont interprete notamment Je me
voyais deja.

–Boundary_(ID_5hhTkzE7kParE2CUxwQJMg)–

NewsBlaze, CA
Feb 17 2007

Crossfire War – German FM to Embark on Three Capital Trip – South
Caucasus

By Willard Payne

Crossfire War – Berlin – Washington – Moscow Watch – South Caucasus –
Central Asia Theatre: German FM Embarks Sunday on a Three Capital
Trip to South Caucasus – Baku – Tbilisi – Yerevan – Energy Security
Concerns

Night Watch: BERLIN – As part of the concerted effort of
Berlin-Washington-Moscow, and the industrial concerns that unite
them, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is scheduled to
embark Sunday on a three day, three capital trip to the South
Caucasus, on the eve of (f)allout fighting in this region the
deciding front: Baku-Tbilisi/Yerevan.

That may be the order in which he visits them. The visits in
Azerbaijan and Georgia may be more of a confrontation since both
governments have military support from Turkey-Iran with the intention
of causing another defeat for Russia in the region as in the first
Caucasus war from 1994-96, when due to so much corruption in the
Kremlin, Russian troops were not being paid as they are now under
President Vladimir Putin, Berlin’s protege. [IRNA]

Yerevan however is an extremely strategic base the Allies can use to
counter Tehran-Ankara. Armenia defeated Azerbaijan in their war over
Nagorno-Karabakh, 1988-94 and relations between Yerevan/Baku are
still extremely hostile with occasional exchanges of fire, but with
Allied support Yerevan will have no difficulty when fighting erupts
again and Armenia can even be used as a secure base for Allied
forces. And therefore help Moscow secure the Caucasus-Caspian and its
enormous energy resources for the industrialized world.

Steinmeier is representing the banking-industrial concerns that have
been financing Moscow’s domestic and foreign policy. An extension of
the centuries old economic connection between the West-Russia as the
West established Russia for the primary purpose of guaranteeing
access to Central Asian raw materials. This current war has increased
and solidified Germany and Russia economically to the extent where
right after the war’s conclusion the world may see a brand new
international hard currency ruble directed linked to a new deutsche
mark. Parts of Germany have never used the euro. The war will make
official what had been long known privately.

During and after Steinmeier’s visit to Yerevan watch for Allied
support of Armenia to increase.

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Feb 14 2007

"INTERPRINT: PRINTING ART. PUBLICITY. DESIGN. PACKING EXPO -2007" TO
BE HELD IN YEREVAN IN MARCH

YEREVAN, February 14. /ARKA/. The second specialized international
exhibition "INTERPRINT: Printing Art. Publicity. Design. Packing EXPO
-2007" will be held in Yerevan on March 23-25, 2007.
The LOGOS EXPO Center reported that the special feature of the
exhibition is attracting the first-class producers and specialists
and promoting advanced ideas, efficiently utilizing IT in printing
art, publicity, design and add-in products, improving design quality
of published materials and strengthening the ties between producers
and design studios.
The main subject sections are the Printing Works, Publishing, Packing
Industry, Publicity, and Design.
The event is to present the products and services, advertise and
promote the brands, advance innovation ideas, establish business
contacts between the exhibition participants.
The international competition in the sphere is high and the experts
need to exchange information, new ideas and experience, the
representatives of LOGOS EXPO Center said. The participation of
international producers and suppliers allow the local companies to
get familiar with the recent developments and new technologies in the
sphere.
Armenia’s Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, Foreign
Ministry, Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen, National
Association of Publishers and Union of Writers provided official
support in organizing the exhibition.
LOGOS EXPO Center is the first exhibition-holding company (founded in
1999) and is currently the leader in holding branch exhibitions,
production displays, national and international exhibitions and
congresses both in Armenia and abroad.
In the last seven years, the LOGOS EXPO Center organized more than 75
special and international exhibitions in different economic sectors.
More than 1,000 local and foreign companies participated in them,
with total number of participants amounting to 50,000 and the total
display area making 21,000 square meters. N.V. -0–

ISRAELI MINISTER IS UNAWARE OF HIS COUNTRY’S POLICY ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.02.2007 18:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ottawa-Canadian Jewish organizations organized
a conference with Armenian community of Canada on the issue of the
Armenian Genocide on February 6. The ANCC (Armenian National Committee
of Canada) told the PanARMENIAN.Net journalist that during debates
between Aris Babikian, ANCC executive director, and Israel’s minister
of public security Avi Dicter the latter said he is not aware of any
decision or policy by his government to deny the Armenian Genocide.

Earlier in the day Babikian participated in a panel discussion titled
"Having Our Voices heard: Enhancing Effectiveness of the Ethnic
Community Advocacy." He presented the Armenian National Committee’s
advocacy work in the past 40 years on behalf of the Canadian-Armenia
community and specially the organization’s efforts to secure the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the federal, provincial and
municipal governments.

WILL OPENING OF BORDER DO ARMENIA GOOD?

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.02.2007 18:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "We should bear in mind that the alternative
railway from Turkey to Azerbaijan will be built anyway, even if the
Armenian-Turkish border is opened," director of Caucasus analytical
center Victor Yakubyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. Ankara and
Baku will not abandon efforts to establish railway communication
independent of their relations with Armenia, according to him.

"Probably, Armenia by strengthening rhetoric at the European arena will
secure opening of the border. However, I cannot say for sure whether it
will do Armenia good. It’s hard to foretell Turkey’s demographic and
migration policy and how it will influence on Armenia’s security and
strategic interests. On the other hand, it’s interesting to watch the
situation in Turkey and try to influence on her by using the threads
of interests between Turkey and Russia, the complex agenda between
Turkey and Arab states, Turkey and the European Union," he underscored.

TURKISH CHIEF OF STAFF TO TRY TO HINDER ADOPTION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION IN U.S.

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.02.2007 14:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish Chief of Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit
departs for the United States at the invitation of the U.S. Chairman
of Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace. During his meeting with
U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney and U.S. army commanders issues due
to be discussed are bilateral strategic relations, Iraq, fighting
against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, the Middle East and
the Armenian Genocide resolution that US Congress is to vote on,
Cihan News Agency reports.

PROMINENT POLITICAL ANALYST MAHTESIAN TO SPEAK AT LA CITY HALL

ASBAREZ
2/10/2007

LOS ANGELES–The Armenian National of Committee of America — Western
Region (ANCA-WR) announced it will be hosting a special speaking
and networking event, as part of its Leadership Speaker Series, on
February 24th featuring Charles Mahtesian, editor of the Almanac of
Politics. Mahtesian will provide his insider analysis of the 110th
Congress, the new leadership in Congress, and the possibility of a
new direction for America. The unique event will also draw political
staffers from various federal and state legislators’ offices throughout
southern California.

Charles Mahtesian is the editor of the Almanac of American Politics,
the biennial book often referred to as "the bible of American
politics." Prior to joining the Almanac, he spent eight years as
a national correspondent for Governing magazine, where he covered
state legislatures, governors, and urban politics. He began his
career reporting on elections and congressional redistricting for
Congressional Quarterly, where he was also a contributing writer to
the reference books, Politics in America and Congressional Districts
in the 1990s.

Mahtesian has served as an election night analyst on National Public
Radio and appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including
NPR’s All Things Considered, C-Span’s Washington Journal, and on CNN
and the BBC. He has written for a variety of newspapers, journals,
and magazines including The Weekly Standard, Campaigns and Elections,
and Congress Daily. He currently writes a monthly column on politics
for Government Executive magazine. Mahtesian earned his bachelor’s
degree in politics from Catholic University in Washington D.C. and
his J.D. from American University.

In 2006, Charles Mahtesian delivered the keynote address during the
ANCA’s Leadership Conference held in Washington Mahtesian provided the
conference attendees with a comprehensive overview of the political
landscape in the 2006 general election.

The event will take place on Saturday, February 24, 2007 at Los
Angeles City Hall on 200 North Spring Street in the Tom Bradley Room,
26th Floor. For more information or to RSVP, please call the ANCA-WR
office at (818) 500-1918.

The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest
and most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns
of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.