Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

TURKISH MEDIA RESPONSE TO SARGSYAN-ERDOGAN MEETING

Tert.am
13.04.10

Turkish media has widely covered Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan’s visit to Washington and his meeting with Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan over the Armenia-Turkey normalization.

According to local daily Turkish Sabah Sargsyan demanded Erdogan to
avoid making statements that link the Armenia-Turkey normalization
to the Nagorno Karabakh issue. Erdogan has responded saying Turkey
does not link these two processes.

"Our objective is establishing stability in the region. There has
been progress in the Minsk Group mediating process," Erdogan was
quoted as saying.

Turkish local daily Hurriyet writes that Erdogan reaffirmed Ankara’s
stance of backing Azerbaijan’s viewpoints till the end.

"While Yerevan declared that the Karabakh conflict, not mentioned in
the Protocols, cannot be a pre-condition. With that regard Erdogan has
stressed that they want to see positive steps in the Karabakh issue,
and that Ankara is not going to make any concessions over that issue,"
writes Hurriyet.

Hurriyet also mentioned that Sargsyan and Erdogan discussed the details
of the letters Erdogan’s special delegate Feridun Sinirlioglu handed to
the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents during his visits to Yerevan
and Baku, as well as the US congressional resolution recognizing the
Armenian Genocide.

In reference to Sargsyan’s speech delivered at the tomb of US former
President Woodrow Wilson, the newspaper furthermore writes that is
has roused serious worries among Turkish diplomats.

Trend, Azerbaijan
April 8 2010

Israel is main danger on peace in Mideast, region – Turkish PM

Israel is the main danger on peace in the Middle East and the whole
region, Turkish Prime Minister Recip Tayyep Erdogan said in Paris on
Wednesday, Yemeni Saba News Agency reported according to Kuwait News
Agency (KUNA).

Erdogan said in a statement to reporters before a lunch hosted by
French President Nicolas Sarkozy that Israel had used excessive force
in Gaza Strip that includes phosphorus bombs that killed about 1,500
people under "unjustified pretexts and lies."

The so-called Judge Richard Goldstone report on Gaza, he said, was
clear in blaming Israel of committing war crimes in Gaza.

He said that Turkey’s accession negotiations with EU which began in
2005 would continue despite some opposition. He did not elaborate.

Erdogan reiterated that Turkey would not be a burden on the EU but
will help to interlink the West and the Islamic world.

The Turkish Prime Minister began his visit yesterday by attending the
closing ceremony of the "Year of Turkey" in France. Erdogan and
Sarkozy have a full agenda for talks, which will include bilateral,
international and especially security issues.

Erdogan will address the issue of the PKK Kurdish militants and their
presence in France and Europe and he will purportedly be pushing for
faster responses on extradition requests.

Other issues to be discussed include Iran, Iraq, the Middle East peace
process and regional relations, like Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and
others.

Turkey’s demands to adhere to the European Union are a bone of
contention because Sarkozy has made it clear he opposes Turkey joining
the EU.

For his part, Sarkozy indicated that the EU question will not be at
the heart of the discussions but Turkish sources said that Erdogan
will be bringing it up in Wednesday’s discussions.

Both nations, which had a trade volume of close to USD 14.0 billion in
2009, are also eager to boost trade and France says it hopes to
increase the above figure by 50 percent by 2012.

France is the second-largest foreign investor in Turkey and employs
100,000 people there in 300 companies.

France has become the sixth supplier of goods and services to Turkey
and is the second client for Turkish exports in a trade relationship
that officials here said was ‘balanced.’ New projects are under study
and should be discussed during Erdogan’s visit. They include projects
in the energy, transport and infrastructure sectors.

ARMENIAN HAIRDRESSERS, STYLISTS TO TAKE PART IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN PARIS

PanARMENIAN.Net –
April 7, 2010 – 18:15 AMT 13:15 GMT

Armenia will take part in the world hairdressing championships in
November 2010 in Paris, Maria Arakelyan, head of Sergei Zverev salon
told journalists in Yerevan on April 7.

"These competitions are good opportunities to show culture, style
and vision of the fashion," she said.

According to Maria Arakelyan, the national team has already started
preparations for participation in the forthcoming championships,
participation of Armenian hairdressers in the European Championship
in February 2010 became a good preparation for them.

The eighth Armenian championship in hairdressing and decorative
cosmetics will be held in May 2011.

SENIOR TURKISH OFFICIAL VISITS ARMENIA

armradio.am
07.04.2010 15:00

A senior Turkish diplomat is set to hold talks in Yerevan as the
special envoy for the Turkish prime minister, Turkish diplomatic
sources said on Wednesday.

Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu is set to
meet with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian to discuss difficulties regarding two protocols Turkey and
Armenia had signed as well as details of a possible meeting between
Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Sargsyan, sources said,
Turkish media report.

TURKISH ORGANIZATION TO SEND LETTER TO U.S PRESIDENT ON EVE OF APRIL 24TH

Today
April 5 2010
Azerbaijan

Day of Remembrance for the victims of the so-called "Armenian
genocide", the Turkish Group ASIMED will send a letter to
U.S. President Barack Obama not to pronounce the "genocide" word.

"In March, the Committee on International Relations of the House
of Representatives adopted a resolution recognizing the "Armenian
genocide". The decision angered Ankara. In response, Turkish Ambassador
Namik Tan was recalled from Washington.

The letter says that so far none of Obama’s predecessor uttered the
word "genocide", but used the words hinting at it.

"Obama, like other presidents must not utter the word ‘genocide’
or use the expression, hinting at it," the letter said.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who will visit Washington
April 12-13, said that neither Congress nor the Swedish Parliament,
which adopted a similar resolution a week ago, have any historical
evidence proving that the events of 1915 were "genocide".

The words of Armenian historian Mateos of Urfa were added at the end
of the letter. He wrote that the Turks have never felt hatred towards
Armenians and Christians. Two peoples – Armenian and Turkish have
always lived in peace.

Armenia and the Armenian lobby claim that Turkey’s predecessor –
Ottoman empire committed "genocide" against Armenians living in
Anatolia in 1915. The Armenians willing the recognition of this fact,
by strengthening the propaganda of the so-called "genocide" in the
world, achieved its recognition by the parliaments of some countries.

/Trend/

URL:

SMBAT MARGARYAN GETS SILVER IN EUROPEAN WEIGHTLIFTING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Tert.am
12:17 ~U 06.04.10

On April 5, Armenian weightlifter Smbat Margaryan, only 17 years old,
had an amazing performance in the 2010 European Senior Weightlifting
Championships in Minsk, Belarus, winning a silver medal in the 56
kg category.

Margaryan competed in Group B, lifting 109 kg in the snatch category,
and 146 kg – a European Youth Record – in the clean & jerk. With a
total result of 255 kg, Smbat waited for the Group A participants to
have their turn.

A number of experienced weightlifter competed in this group, however,
it was Vitaliy Derbenev, representing Belarus, who won the gold medal.

Scoring a total result of 256 kg, Derbenev beat Margaryan simply by
1 kg.

Another weightlifter of Armenian origin, Arsen Tamrazian, representing
Russia, also competed in the 56 kg category, coming in at 9th place
by lifting a total of 238 kg.

EU WELCOMES ARMENIA-TURKEY RECONCILIATION

news.am
April 6 2010
Armenia

EU encourages Armenia and Turkey to remain committed to the process
of normalization and calls on both states to ratify and implement
the Protocols without preconditions and in a reasonable timeframe,
reads the statement by Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

"In this context, the EU welcomes the decision of the Armenian
President to submit both protocols to the parliament as well as the
recent declaration by the President of Turkey to remain committed
to the normalization of relations with Armenia. The European Union
believes that the full normalization of bilateral relations between
Armenia and Turkey would be an important contribution to security,
stability and cooperation in the Southern Caucasus. The EU will
continue to provide its political and technical support to this process
and stands ready to help implementing the steps agreed between the
two countries," the statement says.

Armenia-Turkey Protocols were signed in Zurich, October 10, 2009 to
be ratified by both countries’ parliaments.

ESTONIA’S ALEN STEPANJAN TO PLAY FOR ARMENIAN TEAM

Tert.am
14:47 â~@¢ 01.04.10

Alen Stepanjan, a striker with Latvia’s football team FK JaunÄ"ba RÄ"ga
and who formerly played in Estonia’s national under-21 football team,
will most likely come to Yerevan in May.

Born in Estonia, the football player of Armenian origin told
Armsport.am that he got in contact with the Armenian Football
Federation thanks to Boghos Arabajian, a representative of Belgium’s
Armenian community.

"There was an offer for me to come play for my historical homeland,
Armenia’s youth team, and I agreed," said Stepanjan.

IMPOSED BEGGING IS TRAFFICKING

/trafficking
04:16 pm | March 30, 2010

Social

Even adults in Syunik region were unaware of child trafficking.

Last year, 22 experts in five regions of Armenia tried to find out what
children and adults know about child trafficking. Based on results,
girls are more aware than boys. In addition, children from socially
insecure families are more aware than those from rich families.

The study was conducted by "Harmonious Society" social workers
association.

"When children are pushed into begging and the money they "earn" is
used by another person, that means child trafficking," said president
of "Harmonious Society" association Mira Antonyan as she presented
the results of the study at EU Delegation Office in Yerevan.

According to Antonyan, the approach toward child trafficking has
recently changed.

"Before it used to be considered as an anti-social act, but now,
based on the Conventions, it is considered to be the most extreme
case of abuse," said Mira Antonyan.

Only in the past couple of years did child trafficking become the
focus in Armenia and so far only one person has been arrested for
child trafficking.

OPENING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER MAY BECOME NEW SOURCE OF DRUG TRAFFICKING

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.03.2010 20:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Illegal circulation of drugs is a scourge to
society and provides a financial base for terrorism and corruption,
Hrayr Karapetyan, head of the NA Standing Committee on Defence,
National Security and Internal Affairs, member of the ARF group told
parliamentary hearings on the fight against illegal circulation of
narcotic drugs in Armenia.

According to Mr. Karapetyan, unfortunately due to its geography Armenia
is sometimes used as a transit for drug trafficking. According to
the Armenian Police data, last year 1238 crimes and 130 offenses were
revealed in the struggle against illegal circulation of narcotic drugs,
while in 2008 only 763 crimes and 22 offenses were reported.

Hrayr Karapetyan said, Armenia still lacks a universal strategy to
combat the illicit circulation of drugs, which complicates the joint
fight against drug trafficking.

Armenian First Deputy Chief of Police Hunan Poghosyan said, the
struggle against illegal circulation of narcotic drugs is strengthened
every year in Armenia. "Heavy drugs such as opium and heroin are
mostly detected, entering the country from Iran," he said.

In case of opening of the Armenian-Turkish border a new flow of drugs
from Turkey may enter Armenia, Hunan Poghosyan said, stressing that
in order to prevent that flow the Armenia’s border checkpoints should
be significantly reequipped.

By RA President’s decree, an interdepartmental committee has already
been established and currently is developing a universal strategy to
fight against the illicit circulation of drugs.