Author: Zaminian Bedik

NECESSARY TO PUNISH TURKEY

Lragir.am
04/02/10

The head of the Armenian Center for National and International studies
Richard Kirakosyan saying that the future of the Armenian and Turkish
protocols depends exceptionally on Turkey, added that now Armenia
needs to think about "punishing" Turkey if the latter does not ratify
the protocols.

According to him, if Turkey fails the process, Armenia can punish
and even harm Turkey. He says that the Armenian and Turkish issue
is the only one in which Americans, Russians and Europeans agree
with each other, as well as it is the only issue in which all the
expectations are connected with Turkey. Richard Kirakosyan says the
protractions of Turkey make the Americans angry. The president Obama
may use the issue of genocide to show that he is a powerful leader,
says Richard Kirakosyan.

According to Kirakosyan if Turkey does not understand the situation
well enough, it may appear in danger. Turkey tried to provoke Armenia
but the Armenian president did not even respond to the provocation
of the Turkish side. The response of Armenia was smart. Turkey is to
be let harm itself, says Kirakosyan. According to him, Armenia just
needs to assist Russia and the U.S. because so, Armenia seems to be
more interested in the stability and security of the region. It is
Azerbaijan which daily threats a war and deputies are beaten in the
Turkish parliament, says Kirakosyan.

ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO PACE PRESENTS MATERIALS ON BAKU POGROMS TO ALL DELEGATES OF ASSEMBLY

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.02.2010 17:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A report on refugees was made at the PACE
meeting, which was followed by a "special" opinion of a delegate
from Azerbaijan, who distorted facts, Naira Zohrabyan , member of
the Armenian delegation to PACE told reporters. According to her,
in response to the opinion voiced by the Azerbaijani delegation
that Baku allegedly has a million refugees, the Armenian delegation
insisted, it is not true, besides the majority of refugees from
Yerevan received appropriate compensation in contrary to Armenian
refugees. Armenian delegation to PACE presented materials on Baku
pogroms to all delegates of the Assembly. "Usual Genocide: Baku,
January 1990" and "Vandals of the 21st century" films were among
the materials submitted. "I personally handed the materials to the
Azerbaijani delegation," Zohrabyan said.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which held
its first session in Strasbourg on 10 August 1949, can be considered
the oldest international parliamentary assembly with a pluralistic
composition of democratically elected members of parliament established
on the basis of an intergovernmental treaty. The Assembly is one of
the two statutory organs of the Council of Europe, which is composed of
the Committee of Ministers (the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, meeting
usually at the level of their deputies) and the Assembly representing
the political forces (majority and opposition) in its member states.

In January 1990, Azerbaijani authorities instigated the Armenian
pogroms in Baku. Some 400 Armenians were killed and 200 thousand
were exiled in the period of January 13-19. The exact number of those
killed was never determined, as no investigation was carried out into
the crimes.

On January 13, a crowd numbering 50 thousand people divided into
groups and started "cleaning" the city of Armenians. On January 17,
the European Parliament called on EU Council of Foreign Ministers
and European Council to protect Armenians and render assistance to
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. On January 18, a group of U.S. Senators
sent a letter to Mikhail Gorbachev to express concerns over the
violence against the Armenian population in Azerbaijan and called
for unification of Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia.

ERDOGAN: TURKEY CANNOT WATCH ISRAEL KILLING INNOCENTS, TURNING GAZA INTO PRISON

PIC
01/02/2010 – 02:08 PM

ISTANBUL, (PIC)– Turkish premier Recep Erdogan reiterated Sunday
that Turkey would not stand idly watching Israel killing innocent
people without mercy, destroying infrastructure and turning the Gaza
Strip into a big prison.

During a televised interview with Euronews satellite channel,
Erdogan warned Israel that it should reconsider its relations with
its neighboring countries and be careful when dealing with other
countries especially Turkey, which has a unique history, if it likes
to be part of this world.

The premier demanded Israel to think twice before losing Turkey
through its persistence in such practices, especially its latest
attitude towards the Turkish ambassador that violated the norms of
international diplomacy.

He pointed that many Turkish agreements with Israel might be affected
if the climate of mistrust which the latter keeps talking about
continued.

Turkey needs several nuclear plants to ‘meet power shortage’

ANKARA, January 30 (RIA Novosti)

Turkey needs several nuclear power stations to cope with a growing
shortage of electricity, the head of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce
said Saturday.

Sinan Aygun said Turkey would face an "electricity crisis" starting
from 2014 or 2015 due to the ongoing economic revival.

"Turkey needs to build several nuclear power plants as soon as
possible," he said.

According to a recent ATO report, Turkey’s electricity demand will
increase to 202 billion kWh in 2010 and 357 billion kWh by 2018.

In mid-January, Turkey and Russia signed a joint statement regarding
plans to build a nuclear power plant on Turkish soil.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country was
completing preparations for the signing of a formal agreement on the
construction of a nuclear power plant on its territory.

Turkey canceled a tender for the construction of its first nuclear
power plant late last year, but was expected to announce a new tender
for three nuclear power plants later this year.

PROCESS BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA WAS IMPORTANT FOR TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.01.2010 18:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said
Friday the normalization process between Turkey and Armenia should
not be hurt.

Speaking at a press conference in London, Davutoglu stressed that the
continuation of the process between Turkey and Armenia was important
for Turkey.

For this reason, we will do all that we can. We will not pay attention
to any criticisms for a thing that we believe we are doing right,
Davutoglu stressed.

Answering a question on the Armenian Constitutional Court’s recent
decision on the protocols signed by Turkey and Armenia, Davutoglu said
that Turkey believed that the process with Armenia would not progress
right with comments that were against the spirit and substance of
the signed protocols.

We have respect for the (domestic) system of every country. The
protocols’ going to the Armenian Constitutional Court is an internal
process of Armenia. What we are careful about is that the protocols
signed do not get changed, Davutoglu stressed.

Turkish-Armenian relations passed through very difficult stages and
we have come to a point today. After having gone through a difficult
process, the normalization process reached should not be hurt. Yet,
in order for normalization to be implemented, mutual good will and
political will must be displayed. We had a very open meeting with Mr.

Nalbandian on Thursday. The Armenian side knows our thoughts,
Davutoglu added.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: DEAL BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA IS UNDER GROWING THREAT OF COLLAPSE

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.01.2010 15:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A deal between Turkey and Armenia to open their
border and establish diplomatic relations after generations of dispute
over genocide allegations and territory is under growing threat of
collapse, the Wall Street Journal says in an article.

According to the author of the publication, Armenia is pushing for
rapid ratification of the Protocols, signed in October, while Turkey
has a longer time frame. On Wednesday, Azerbaijan President Ilham
Aliyev added to concerns for the deal when he said he was confident
Turkey wouldn’t ratify the agreement until Armenia has returned Azeri
territory that it occupies, including the mainly ethnic Armenian
region of Nagorno Karabakh.

"There is a common understanding in the region that there should
be a first step by Armenia to start the liberation of the occupied
territories," Mr. Aliyev said in an interview with The Wall Street
Journal in the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos,
Switzerland. He said he was "fully satisfied" with Turkey’s
understanding of the issue, despite harshly criticizing Turkey’s
handling of it in the past.

"If the two issues are disconnected, then probably Armenia will freeze
negotiations with Azerbaijan (over Nagorno Karabakh)," said Mr.

Aliyev, adding that he believed economic pressure was one of the main
incentives for Armenia to come to the table. Mr. Aliyev has warned
previously that such an outcome could lead to renewed war.

Turkey’s leaders, including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
have said repeatedly that the border opening and settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict are linked.

There is no sign of progress in the 15-year-old peace talks. But some
ambiguity remains in Turkey’s position. The territorial dispute isn’t
mentioned in October’s protocols.

Turkish officials, by contrast, talk about an open-ended process that
could last a year or more if necessary. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu also recently expressed anger at a decision by Armenia’s
constitutional court that he said in effect puts conditions on the
deal-a claim Mr. Sargsyan dismissed.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in protest at the
occupation by Armenia-backed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and seven
districts around it that were seized as buffer zones. But in the
wake of the war between Georgia and Russia in August 2008, Turkey’s
government said it was ready to negotiate an end to Armenia’s
isolation, as Ankara sought a bigger role in the Caucasus region.

By last sring, the two sides had drafted protocols outlining a deal
that would open the borders, establish diplomatic and trade relations
and set up a joint commission to examine historical issues, including
the 1915 Ottoman massacre of up to 1.5 million ethnic Armenians,
in what is now Eastern Turkey, which Armenia and many historians
consider genocide. But Turkey’s leaders refused at the last minute to
sign, in the face of fierce opposition from Mr. Aliyev and opponents
within Turkey.

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.

Following the decision, the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued an official
statement concerning the deal. It runs particularly as follows:

"The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia has declared
its decision of constitutional conformity on the Protocols between
Turkey and Armenia signed on 10 October 2009 with a short statement
on 12 January 2010. The Constitutional Court has recently published
its grounds of decision. It has been observed that this decision
contains preconditions and restrictive provisions which impair the
letter and spirit of the Protocols.

The said decision undermines the very reason for negotiating these
Protocols as well as their fundamental objective. This approach
cannot be accepted on our part," says the statement posted on Turkish
MFA website.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out in
1988 as result of the ethnic cleansing the latter launched in the
final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from
1991 to 1994. Since the ceasefire in 1994, sealed by Armenia, Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan, most of Nagorno Karabakh and several regions
of Azerbaijan around it (the security zone) remain under the control
of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks
mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic
destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during
and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres, and
deportations involving forced marches under conditions designed to
lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths
reaching 1.5 million.

The date of the onset of the genocide is conventionally held to be
April 24, 1915, the day that Ottoman authorities arrested some 250
Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople.

Thereafter, the Ottoman military uprooted Armenians from their homes
and forced them to march for hundreds of miles, depriving them of
food and water, to the desert of what is now Syria. Massacres were
indiscriminate of age or gender, with rape and other sexual abuse
commonplace. The Armenian Genocide is the second most-studied case
of genocide after the Holocaust.

The Republic of Turkey, the successor state of the Ottoman Empire,
denies the word genocide is an accurate description of the events. In
recent years, it has faced repeated calls to accept the events as
genocide.

To date, twenty countries and 44 U.S. states have officially recognized
the events of the period as genocide, and most genocide scholars
and historians accept this view. The Armenian Genocide has been also
recognized by influential media including The New York Times, BBC,
The Washington Post and The Associated Press.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the
Genocide survivors.

"THE PARTY IS OVER"

Gibrahayer – Nicosia
Jan 25, 2010

The Cyprus Mail – January 25 – By Patroclos – British cuckoos in the
north may require the help of the odd sleeping pill before they go to
bed at night, since the announcement of the Orams judgment on Tuesday.

Not friendly at the best of times, the Brits in the north seemed
particularly edgy and hostile when they were approached by a Mail
journalist for comments, after the judgment.

They got their comeuppance in the end, the properties they bought on
the cheap, because they were stolen, now, being practically worth a
fraction of their bargain price as there are no buyers. This could
not have happened to nicer people, as they say. And now they have to
look over their shoulder wherever they go, in case there is a devious
Greek Cypriot waiting to hand them a court summons.

As our friend Constantis Candounas, the lawyer who made it all happen,
smugly boasted at his Thursday news conference, "The party is over".

And the proud party-pooper was Candounas who looked as pleased and
emotional as a singer who had just won the Eurovision song contest.

His was a super-achievement and deserved all the praise he received, as
he singlehandedly – like a mythical hero – shafted Turkish developers,
cheapskate Brits, the pseudo-state’s economy and, most probably,
Talat’s re-election prospects. In Kyproulla of today all the heroism
takes place not on the battlefield but in the court of law and heroes
are not soldiers but lawyers.

CARPETS WORTH $600,000

Tert.am
17:58 ~U 27.01.10

The Greco-Roman style Wrestling World Cup Championship, taking place
in Yerevan from February 13-14, will be organized professionally
with necessary amount of money allocated for the purpose, Armenian
Wrestling Federation Deputy President Hrant Enoqyan and Armenian
Olympic Committee’s Deputy President Razmik Stepanyan said, ArmSport.am
reports today.

"You may know that no money has been set aside by Armenia’s state
budget for this championship. In fact, all expenses for the event
were financed by the International Wrestling Federation (FILA). The
Olympic Committee of Armenia also has an active role in the financing,"
Razmik Stepanyan said.

He also mentioned that a total of $600,000 USD will be spent for the
Wrestling World Cup Championship.

"I have to say that this sizeable sum is expected to ensure that
sports equipment and carpets are bought which will meet international
standards," he said.

According to Stepanyan the above-mentioned sum will also be used
for prize money. In his words, those who will occupy the top three
places will get money prizes. "That is the requirement of the Olympic
Committee of Armenia," said Stepanyan.

THE SOCHI MEETING REVISED EXISTING STATUS QUO IN THE REGION
Karine Ter-Sahakyan

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
26.01.2010 GMT+04:00

At the current stage of negotiations the most essential thing for
Baku is that Karabakh not be a legally recognized state, as it would
deprive Baku of the opportunity to launch military action.

The meeting of Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian Presidents in
Sochi at first glance clarified the situation in Karabakh conflict
regulation, especially in the part referred to by Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov. The case in point is some preamble that is agreed
upon and concerns the direct participation of Nagorno-Karabakh in
negotiation processes. However, on the whole, the Sochi meeting only
adjusted the existing status quo in the region, once again confirming
that in the foreseeable future Russia is determined to keep her role
of a leader in the Caucasus.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Settlement of the Karabakh conflict is almost at a
standstill, and attempts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries
to somehow set the process going result in declarations at the best.

Well, no other variant could be expected as the two sides are
diametrically opposed and in the near future, as we have been
repeatedly saying, progress is definitely not foreseen. It’s hard to
judge whether this is good or bad, but if the improbable happens and
NKR sits round the table of negotiations as a full participant, then
indeed we can speak of a breakthrough. Another advantage was that the
presidents refrained from signing a "Meindorf-2", for it is clear that
no declaration can force to sign a framework agreement on Karabakh.

Nor is realistic the timing of an agreement defined by OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chair of Russia Yuri Merzlyakov. According to him, the parties
have been given 2 weeks to agree on the basic principles of conflict
regulation, which is simply impossible by definition. In short, as
far as the Karabakh conflict settlement is concerned, the year of
2010 will be like that of 2009.

In this regard it should be noted that last week according to Dmitry
Medvedev’s presidential decree there was set up the North Caucasus
Federal District, designed to naturally strengthen Moscow’s position
in the highly volatile region. On the whole, the positions of the
two sides can be described as follows: Russia, as an OSCE Minsk
Group co-chair country, is interested in temporary holdup of war over
Karabakh because she needs to further strengthen her position. The USA
and EU in the person of France will not hinder Moscow, as they need
her as a transit route to Afghanistan. As far as Turkey and Iran are
concerned, their positions are already defined: they cannot influence
the adoption of any solution to the Karabakh problem, neither will
they be allowed to hinder. And again we come to the conclusion that
it is especially Moscow that will not allow it, reasoning from mutual
benefit: both Turkey and Iran are now in need of Russia’s support.

Strained Turkish-Israeli relations ban be settled with the help
of Moscow, not to mention Iran’s nuclear program. Moreover, the
increasing activity of Turkey in regional affairs may, oddly enough,
harm Azerbaijan, because in this case, the countries concerned will
adhere to a uniform policy, and Ankara, with his open support for Baku
and obvious aversion to Armenia, can be driven into a corner. Iran’s
policy in this issue is much balanced: Tehran just wants to "help to
regulate the conflict as a disinterested party". And, most likely,
if the time comes, Tehran will be given preference (as compared
to Ankara).

And it turns out that only very serious events taking place far from
the Caucasus can shake or knock Russia out of the region. Where and
what it might be is not yet clear; it may depend on the outcome of
elections in the Ukraine, on Belarus, on anything. Thus far everything
is quiet. But this quietness may explode if Baku suddenly decides to
launch a war. However, at the current stage of negotiations the most
essential thing for Baku is that Karabakh not be a legally recognized
state, as it would deprive Baku of the chance to launch military
action, even if a window of opportunity turns up.

FORMER CA GOVERNOR DEUKMEJIAN ENDORSES TARKANIAN FOR SENATE

Armenian Weekly
January 25, 2010

On Jan. 24, Danny Tarkanian’s campaign for the United States Senate
announced the recent endorsement by former California Governor George
Deukmejian.

"I am pleased to announce my endorsement of Danny Tarkanian for
the United States Senate," said Governor Deukmejian. "Danny is both
an entrepreneur and a leading voice in non-profit educational work
in his community. Most importantly Danny Tarkanian is committed to
building a better future for his state and to helping to shape the
policies critical to America’s future, while remaining true to our core
conservative values and fundamental principles of the Constitution."

"Danny Tarkanian is poised to become the first Armenian American member
of the United States Senate, and I am confident that he will work
tirelessly as an advocate for the issues important to all Americans,"
the former governor added.

"I am deeply grateful for Governor Deukmejian’s support," said Danny
Tarkanian. "I have always said that I want to be a public servant,
rather than a politician, and Governor Deukmejian’s strong leadership
as governor of California is an example I would be proud to follow."

In turn, "Armenians for Tarkanian" welcomed the endorsement. "Governor
Deukemejian’s endorsement is a powerful and warmly welcomed addition
to the growing support for Danny Tarkanian’s bid for the Senate,"
said Armenians for Tarkanian activist Aram Gaboudian. "Danny will
bring the Armenian American community’s concerns directly to the the
Senate, standing up to the politics-as-usual approach to the Armenian
Genocide and the full range of Armenian American issues."