Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS NOT LINKED TO THE KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
Lusine Vasilyan

‘Radiolur’
03.09.2009 11:44

On August 31 the Armenian-Turkish relations reached an important
phase. The year started with a new stage of relations. Despite
difficulties, Yerevan and Ankara managed to demonstrate political
will to move forward, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian told a
press conference in Yerevan. "The world approves the Armenia-Turkey
rapprochement. Superpowers urge Turkey and Armenia to move on and
fulfill agreements entered within shortest terms. I hope, we’ll make
progress, as the rapprochement is supported by the whole world,"
Minister Nalbandian noted.

Edward Nalbandian also noted that though Yerevan and Ankara reached
an important phase, the process requires serious efforts. "Armenia
wants to normalize ties with Turkey. We’re ready to fulfill agreements
entered.

Time will show if both parties are able to fulfill them," the Foreign
Minister stated.

Armenian government repeatedly stated that in case agreements are
reached between Armenia and Turkey, the agreements will be submitted
to public discussion. "Armenian people understand that eternal enmity
with Turkey is against our interests," he emphasized.

Joint statement of RA and Turkey as well as protocols on establishment
of diplomatic relations clearly state that the parties respect
international norms and principles. There9s no mention of Kars
agreement in Armenian-Turkish rapprochement protocols, and there’s
no need to look for something the documents simply don’t contain,
Minister Nalbandian stated.

"As we repeatedly stated, intergovernmental committee to be
created will discuss all issues on Armenian-Turkish relations. The
committee will include several subcommittees, one of them in charge
of restoration of trust between the two countries,"Edward Nalbandian
noted. According to him, negotiations with Ankara did not include
discussions on Armenian Genocide, neither was the issue mentioned in
the protocols.

As for the Karabakh issue, the Foreign Ministre said it’s not linked
to the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement.

"There were attempts to link the two processes, but as you might see
upon protocols’ publication, there’s no connection between them.

Both Armenia and MG OSCE Co-chairs repeatedly stated the fact,"
Edward Nalbandian emphasized. According to the Foreign Minister,
Ankara’s attempts to link the two processes are illogical.

ONLY OPENING BORDER WITH ARMENIA WILL NOT STIMULATE ECONOMY

armradio.am
03.09.2009 15:35

Turkey and Armenia’s efforts to reconcile their differences will
relieve some tension in the Caucasus, but a boom in trade from
reopening the border can only take place if Azerbaijan is included in
the equation and that is dependant on unraveling the Nagorno-Karabakh
problem, according to Turkish leaders, Hurriyet Daily News reports.

Despite the historic step taken by Turkey and Armenia, local
businessmen and experts warn that only a comprehensive solution that
includes Azerbaijan could boost economic and trade opportunities for
the region.

"It is quite important to find a parallel solution for the
Azerbaijan-Armenian track. We actually think Turkish-Armenian
reconciliation will accelerate the Nagorno-Karabakh solution,"
Kaan Soyak, co-chairman of the Turkish-Armenian Business Development
Council, or TABDC, said Wednesday in an interview with the Hurriyet
Daily News & Economic Review.

The normalization process is expected to have an enormous impact
on trade between the border towns of the two countries. Igdır,
which is linked to Armenia through the border gate Alican, is one of
them. "The border trade has become the main actor of the local economy
as livestock and agriculture production decreased," Kamil Arslan,
president of Igdır Industry and Trade Chamber told the Daily News
on Wednesday.

0D The exclusion of Azerbaijan from the peace process would be the
worst scenario for local tradesmen, according to Arslan. Pointing
out that many local businessmen have deals in autonomous Azeri areas
such as Nahchivan, Arslan said: "In such a case they might lose their
current market."

"It takes 10 to 12 days to send our goods to Azerbaijan and
Turkmenistan through Georgia. However, it will only take four hours
to export through Armenia. That’s why we insist on a comprehensive
solution that includes the Azerbaijanis."

He advocated Armenia had no promising potential, saying: "Trade only
with Armenia will not be profitable. It doesn’t have medium or large
industry. Its economy is weak with no significant production. We
already sell our goods to them thanks to our dealers across the
country."

"But if a transit corridor linking Igdır to Baku is opened, then
our trade volume will be doubled" he said.

INDIVIDUAL PRIVATE HOUSES IN ARMENIA TO BE BUILT ON STANDARD ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

ArmInfo
2009-09-03 14:46:00

ArmInfo. Individual private houses in Armenia will be built on standard
architectural design, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said
in the government on Thursday. Private houses in the country are
mostly eclectic.

Everyone builds his house depending on his budget and imagination
without any project, he said. In rural areas residents often build
houses without projects and face bureaucratic acrimony, legalization
procedures or elementary requirements of security. In this context,
the government intends to create a state catalogue of standard
architectural designs of housing construction. A tender will be
announced for approval of 10 and more standard designs. The designs
will be provided to the citizens free of charge and available in
the Internet.

"DO NOT GET OFFENDED"

09/2/dashnaks
08:30 pm | September 02, 2009

Politics

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun held a rally at
Yerevan’s Charles Aznavour Square at 6:30 September 2.

"Don’t get offended. Our divergence is not connected with persons
signing the Protocols. We would raise a similar wave of protest if
the Protocols were signed by Armenia’s first and second presidents,"
ARF Leader Vahan Hovhannisyan announced during today’s rally.

Despite the heavy rain, people gathered at the square to voice protest
against August 31 Protocols between Armenia and Turkey.

They were carrying posters, "Artsakh is a part of Armenia," "Armenian
spirit will not surrender," "No concessions to Turkey!"

In his addressing speech, ARF member Gegham Manukyan congratulated
the ralliers on Karabakh’s independence.

Leader of the ARF parliamentary faction Vahan Hovhannisyan read out
the Protocols and criticized Armenia’s foreign policy.

Mr. Hovhannisyan thinks Armenia has diverted from security norms.

He also thanked the presentees for confiding in the Party and ralling
at Aznavour Square.

The meeting ended at 8:00.

EDITORIAL: GOING ON THE OFFENSIVE

02/editorial-going-on-the-offensive/
September 2, 2009

The signing of protocols on the establishment and development of
relations between Turkey and Armenia on Aug. 31 was yet another
adventure the Armenian authorities embarked upon without a sober
analysis and calculation of the grave damages it might inflict on
the Armenian cause.

And, it seems, the signals from the Turkish side that they have no
serious commitment to good neighborly relations, opening the border
without preconditions, or facing their past, were not picked up
(or were conveniently ignored) by the Armenian authorities.

Analysts will have a lot to say about this most recent
development. They will discuss potential outcomes, possible reactions
in Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and beyond. Many others will take
the noncommittal wait-and-see position.

But a closer look at what has transpired since "soccer diplomacy"
was launched last year will show that the wait-and-see approach is in
fact a stance with detrimental consequences that will only encourage
further capitulations.

Armenians in the diaspora and in Armenia who are outraged-an
understatement, perhaps-with the policies of the Armenian authorities
should take the initiative and aggressively pursue an agenda that
struggles to secure the rights of Armenians.

The time has come to take the initiative and move beyond condemning
what the Armenian government is doing. In fact, that time was
yesterday.

SARKISIAN SAYS HISTORICAL JUSTICE MUST BE RESTORED

Asbarez
1/sarkisian-says-historical-justice-must-be-restor ed/
Aug 31, 2009

YEREVAN-In an interview published Monday, President Serzh Sarkisian
emphasized the importance of restoring historical justice and told
the BBC what he envisions to be the course of Armenia-Turkey relations.

This interview was conducted prior to Monday’s announcement of
protocols governing the establishment and development of Armenia-Turkey
relations, which was publicized via a joint statement by the Armenian,
Turkish and Swiss foreign ministers.

The announcement stated that political consultations around the
protocols will be completed within six weeks, following which the two
countries will sign the protocols and present it to their respective
parliaments for ratification.

Below is the translated text of Sarkisian’s interview.

BBC: President Sarkisian will you attend the return match in Turkey?

Serzh Sarkisian: The question has two answers. The fist answer is as
follows. It’s not important whether I’ll visit Turkey or not. I’d
like to say that my visit to Turley should not be linked to the
relations between the two countries. There are two scenarios. Let’s
assume that Armenia freezes the negotiation process with Turkey and I
leave for that country to watch the soccer match. The second option
is that the two countries continue negotiating, but I don’t attend
the match. Which is more important? This is my answer if you ask the
question in the context of our talks with Turkey.

BBC: What signals is Armenia expecting from Turkey in order to resume
the talks?

S.S.: I have already announced and will say once again that I will
leave for Turkey only in case of opening of the border or at the
threshold of the event. We have an agreement with Turkey. I think it’s
the right thing for the parties to stick to the agreement reached
earlier. Unfortunately, so far I have not seen a great desire and
aspiration to implement those agreements. Our wish remains the same –
to establish relations without preconditions

BBC: Is Armenia ready to make concessions in regard to the events of
1915 and do you believe Turkey will call the events genocide?

S.S: Of course, it’s very important for our people, for Turkey and the
entire world. It’s important that historical justice be restored. It’s
important for our nations to be able to establish normal relations. At
last, it’s important that it never reoccurs in the future. But we
do not see the recognition of genocide as a precondition for the
establishment of relations.

BBC: Do you mean to say that there is an opportunity of compromise?

S.S.: It is not the case when one can talk about a compromise. We say
– yes, there was genocide, and no matter whether Turkey today admits
that or not, this is a fact that is recognized by all specialists
on genocides in the world; it is recognized by many countries of the
world. But in current conditions, we do not view it as a precondition
for establishing relations with the Turks

BBC: Anyway, that problem is an obstacle to regulate ties with
Turkey. A man, with whom I spoke earlier in Yerevan, recommended
another solution: when you drive you should look into the rear view
mirror to be mindful of what’s going on in the back, but the important
aspect is what’s in front of you. How well does this example describe
the current situation?

S.S.: Right, I can see quite well what the man wanted to say. He wants
to say that we should look toward the future, but we do not have the
right to forget the past.

CONTENT OF PROTOCOLS SIGNED BY ARMENIA, TURKEY PROMULGATED

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.09.2009 00:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey
have agreed to start their internal political consultations on the
two protocols – the "Protocol on the establishment of diplomatic
relations" and the "Protocol on the development of bilateral relations"
– which have been initiated in the course of their efforts under
Swiss mediation.

The two Protocols provide for a framework for the normalization of
their bilateral relations within a reasonable timeframe. The political
consultations will be completed within six weeks, following which
the two Protocols will be signed and submitted to the respective
Parliaments for the ratification on each side. Both sides will make
their best efforts for the timely progression of the ratification in
line with their constitutional and legal procedures.

The normalization of bilateral relations will contribute to the
regional peace and stability. The Republic of Armenia and the Republic
of Turkey are committed are pursuing their joint efforts with the
assistance of Switzerland.

WORLD BANK TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FINANCING OF 36.6 MILLION DOLLARS FOR LIFELINE ROADS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Sep 1, 2009

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The World Bank’s Board of Executive
Directors made a decision last week to allocate an additional sum of
36.6 million USD for the Lifeline Roads Improvement Project (LRIP)
in Armenia.

The project will help rehabilitate about 140 km of lifeline roads in
seven marzes (provinces).

According to a report of the World Bank Armenia Office, the project
will assist the Armenian government with the improvement of the
country’s main road network and the creation of jobs in the medium
term. It will also allow mitigating the impact of the global economic
crisis on the country’s economy and population.

USA HOPES FOR TANGIBLE RESULT IN NORMALIZATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS SOON: MARIE L. YOVANOVITCH

ArmInfo
2009-08-31 14:55:00

ArmInfo. U.S. President Barack Obama in his traditional speech on April
24 was very clear in his view regarding this issue (incidents of 1915
in Ottoman Turkey) as well as on ways to move this process forward,
said U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Marie L. Yovanovitch, commenting at
the request of ArmInfo on the process of recognition of the Armenian
Genocide by the USA .

She said that very important negotiations are underway between Armenia
and Turkey and the USA supports this process as well as opening of
the border.

The Ambassador added that rapprochement Armenia and Turkey is important
both to Turkey and Armenia as well as to the region. The United States
hope for tangible result in this process soon, Ambassador said.

MEDIEVAL CHURCH DISCOVERED IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am

A ug 31 2009
Armenia

The specialists of the Tourism Department, Government of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) discovered ruins of a church and
khachkars (cross-stones) on the slope of a hill in the village of
Krkzhan, to the south of Stepanakert.

The village of Krkzhan is famous for its archeological
finds. Archeologists found pitchers there before, and different
articles can be found during construction work now. It is noteworthy
that, in his book entitled Artsakh, Archbishop Markar Barkhudaryan
mentions St. Stephen Church located there. The old residents of
Krkzhan told about the church, but the young ones have not seen it.

During the Soviet times the rapidly increasing Azerbaijani population
in the village was ousting the Armenian elements toward Stepanakert.

The newly discovered building is evidence of Azerbaijanis’ attempts
to blot out every trace of an Armenian church and cross-stones. The
church was probably used as a cattle shed, and the cross-stones were
broken to pieces, say the specialists.

Sergey Shahverdyan, Head of the Tourism Department, said that an
archeologist will be involved in the cleaning work at the church. At
present, the specialists plan to clean the 12 meters high and five
meters wide church building (a limestone structure with a baptistry)
as well as the cross-stones and prepare them for the 10th anniversary
of the re-establishment of the Armenian Church in the NKR.