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FAAE TURNED TO THE CONGRESSMEN

rahos16977.html
12:30:31 – 26/02/2010

Your Honors, Congressmen of the United States of America

The Presidency of the Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe had
written last April to HE Mr. Barack Obama, The President of the United
States of America, with the following request.

HE Mr. Barack Obama The President of the United States of America

April 15, 2009

Your Excellency, Mr. President,

In the name of the representatives of the Armenian communities in
Europe please allow us to express our deepest and utmost gratitude
for your stance on the Armenian Genocide during your pre-election
campaign. We feel confident that your continuous efforts will
contribute to the adoption of the resultant resolution on the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the US Congress.

Honorable President, Armenian communities have hitherto contributed
to the adoption of similar resolutions by the Parliaments of a number
of European countries in faith that this will aid to the development
of Turkish-Armenian relations and their neighborly cooperation. By
helping Turkey to reconcile with its past and enhance working relations
with its neighboring country, we will naturally contribute to the
development of Turkey’s democracy and create an opportunity for it
to earn its right for its future integration into the European Union.

The adoption of the resolution recognizing and condemning the
Armenian Genocide by the United States will greatly contribute to this
historical process and will help the Turkish authorities to ‘cross
Rubicon’ and rid itself of the heavy burden inherited from its past.

Honorable President,

We eagerly await your speech on April 24 in faith and hope and we
express our admiration and deepest gratitude for your newly initiated
efforts.

HAK ACTIVISTS INFORM CITIZENS ABOUT MARCH 1 RALLY

/hak
07:08 pm | February 26, 2010

Politics

Young activists of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) today marched
through Yerevan streets informing citizens about a rally of March 1.

They passed through Koryun, Abovyan and Mashtots streets shouting out,
"Struggle till the end! Nikol!"

When asked whether that means of notification was effective, one of
the protesters said: "We had no other alternative as we were denied the
opportunity of reporting on the rally on television and other media."

Today’s demonstration was held without major incidents.

ARMAN’S LIFE DEPENDS ON YOUR MERCY

rman-kostandyan
04:28 pm | February 26, 2010

Social

In November 2009, the world turned upside down for 10-year-old Arman
Kostandyan and his parents after Arman was diagnosed with aplastic
anemia.

Twelve patients currently undergo treatment in the Blood Transfusion
Center named after Professor R. Yolyan, another seven were discharge
after a full recovery. Immunosuppressive Therapy is frontline treatment
for individuals with congenital or acquired aplastic anemia.

If the organism is sensitive to drugs, the treatment gives the
desirable effect, otherwise the patient needs urgent bone marrow
transplantation.

Arman Kostandyan has been in the centre for three months. He mainly
spends his time drawing. The hospital walls are decorated with his
pictures. We noticed a Bible beside his brushes and paints. Arman
says he began reading the Bible in hospital.

"I want to read it up though the book is difficult for me," says Arman.

The ten-year-old boy believes that people are kind-hearted and
careful. He wishes to return to the family and play his brother.

Doctors say if Arman’s condition does not improve after six months
treatment, bone marrow transplantation will be required," Arman’s
father Aram Kostandyan told A1+.

The parents’ attempts to find a donor in the Armenian Bone Marrow
Donor Registry were in vain as they could not to find a match among
the 15 000 donors. The family has turned to famous foreign clinics
but they asked huge sums of money for the operation. Finally, in full
despair, they opened a bank account relying on the financial support
of the public.

"Many people contact us and hold a helping hand which means people
have lost their mercy," said the parents.

Munich’s Elite Medical Clinic has agreed to make the transplantation
of the bone marrow after the family pays ~@260 000. Arman’s parents
have not responded yet.

So far, the bank account has raised $3000-4000.

ADVOCATES CHAMBER CRITICIZES POLICE ACTIONS

/computer
08:39 pm | February 25, 2010

Social

The RA Chamber of Advocates released a statement today criticizing
an attempt by an investigator attached to the Erebuni Investigative
Division to seize a computer belonging to "Sretenka-Konsul" legal firm.

The Chamber received a complaint filed by attorney Ara Zohrabyan
regarding the illegal seizure of the computer containing the firm’s
legal documents.

The Chamber points out that Armenia has agreed to a number
of international treaties guaranteeing the inviolability of
"attorney-client" privilege and secrecy of consultations. It also
criticizes recent police efforts to prevent attorneys from contacting
clients who have been detained by law-enforcement.

DOES AZERBAIJAN INTEND TO PUT THE HEAT ON ARMENIA THROUGH IRAN?

ArmInfo
2010-02-26 10:50:00

ArmInfo. Iran has enough mechanism of influence on Armenia in order
to achieve fair solution to the Karabakh conflict, spokesman for
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Elkhan Polukhov said, APA reports.

"Using these mechanisms we hope that we can achieve solution to this
conflict in accordance with the international norms and standards",
Polukhov said. When commenting on the statement of Iranian ambassador
Mahammad Bagir Bahrami saying "Iran has started assisting in the
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict", Polukhov said: "This is
nothing new here. Iran borders on Azerbaijan. As you know, a part
of this border is not controlled by Azerbaijan at present. And Iran
would be interested in the restoration of peace in the region and
Azerbaijan’s control over these borders. On the other hand, Iran
is the neighbor of Azerbaijan and Armenia and would be interested
in creating conditions to achieve solution to the conflict. In this
respect, Iran is ready to support the process", spokesman said.

EU TO CALL ANKARA TO ACCOUNT CONCERNING RATIFICATION OF PROTOCOLS

ArmInfo
2010-02-26 10:28:00

As Secretary General of the European Friends of Armenia organization
(EuFoA) Michael Kambeck told ArmInfo, he knows in details that the
new Supreme Representative Baroness ‘atherine Ashton as EU minister
for foreign affairs will shortly publicly reference to the issue of
the Armenian-Turkish process.

According to M. Kambeck, C. Ashton will make an appeal to express EU
gratitude to the Armenian party for the measures towards ratification
of the Protocols and call on Ankara to follow the lead of Yerevan. He
said Turkey has to remember that the whole world keeps an eye on this
process. EU is too tired of the fact that Turkey signs international
treaties but never ratifies or fulfills them, like it was in case
with Cyprus. He added that uniqueness of this process is that EU,
the USA and Russia achieved a consensus and advocate unconditional
and timely ratification of Protocols. According to Kambeck, this
consensus lays a foundation and quite favourable conditions for EU
actions, responsible for efficient implementation of the principle of
multilateral relations in the international arena. He recalled that
EU has new and more effective standards to rule its foreign policy.

He said that at present European Union has all the necessary means to
reach the ambitions proclaimed to become a stronger and initiating
player in the Caucasus. The EU wants peace and development and may
reach it when cooperating with Russia and thge USA. In fact, it will
mean general application of all 27 member-states which call on Turkey
to ratify the Protocols, Mr. Kambeck said.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email. [email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
February 26, 2010
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

SECRETARY CLINTON DISTANCING STATE DEPARTMENT FROM ITS TRADITIONAL
STAND AGAINST THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

— For the First Time in More than a Generation a Sitting
Secretary of State has not Responded to Congressional Inquiries on
Armenian Genocide Legislation by Expressing the Executive Branch’s
Opposition to its Adoption

WASHINGTON, DC – Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in response
earlier today to a series of questions during her testimony before
Congress, broke with the Department of State’s long-standing pattern
of aggressively opposing legislation recognizing the Armenian
Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).

During her testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee
on Foreign Operations, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Mark
Kirk (R-IL) noted Secretary Clinton’s previous support for Armenian
Genocide legislation in the Senate. Referring to the impending
Committee vote on a similar resolution, H.Res.252, Rep. Kirk
stated: "I hope we do that; and I hope the House of Representatives
does that, and I hope you let that happen."

Secretary Clinton responded, citing the ongoing Turkey-Armenia
Protocols discussion and continued efforts by the Administration to
urge their ratification, but remained silent on the resolution. In
past years, previous administration’s, both Democratic and
Republican, have used every opportunity to seek to defeat such
legislation.

Armenian Genocide Resolution lead sponsor Adam Schiff (D-CA),
during his questioning, stated, "I don’t think the prospect of
reconciliation, as much as I would like it to happen, should be
used as a reason not to recognize the undeniable fact of the
Armenian Genocide." He urged "the Administration’s support on the
legislation and at a minimum certainly not to get involved in
opposing the legislation."

Secretary Clinton offered her support for the Turkey-Armenia
Protocols, but, once again, did not attack the Armenian Genocide
Resolution in response to questions during an earlier hearing
before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

"Secretary Clinton’s remarks represent the third time in just the
past few weeks that a senior Obama Administration official – in
response to pointed questions about the Armenian Genocide
Resolution – has chosen not to voice any opposition to the adoption
of this genocide-prevention measure," said ANCA Executive Director
Aram Hamparian. "The current Administration’s conduct, at least to
date, stands in stark contrast to past Administrations – both
Democratic and Republican – that used every opportunity to score
points with Ankara by attacking the broad, bipartisan Congressional
majority that has long existed in support of U.S. condemnation and
commemoration of the Armenian Genocide."

Secretary Clinton appeared before both Committees to outline the
fiscal year 2011 State Department foreign aid priorities. Foreign
Affairs Committee member Brad Sherman (D-CA) praised the Obama
Administration for increasing its assistance request for Armenia in
2011, but argued that "Congress should enhance that." He noted
that while the Obama Administration had maintained parity in
Foreign Military Financing assistance between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, military training assistance was not balanced. He also
called for a "specific aid request for Nagorno Karabagh."
Secretary Clinton will have an opportunity to respond to his
questions in writing.

"We would like to thank Representatives Kirk, Schiff and Sherman
for speaking out about Armenia foreign aid priorities and once
again urging passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution," stated
Hamparian. "With the Foreign Affairs Committee set to vote on
H.Res.252 and the foreign aid process in full gear, we are actively
reaching out to our community expand our engagement with
legislators from across the country."

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) has
scheduled a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.252) on
March 4th. Over 137 House Members have cosponsored this measure,
spearheaded by Representatives Schiff, George Radanovich (R-CA),
and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
and Mark Kirk (R-IL). A similar measure in the Senate (S.Res.316),
led by Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and John Ensign (R-NV) has 13
cosponsors.

THE GENERAL PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE CONDEMNS HE VIOLENCE AGAINST PHOTO-JOURNALIST GAGIK SHAMSHYAN

armradio.am
25.02.2010 17:17

The General Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia has issued a statement today
condemning any act of violence, regardless of the fact against who it
was committed. "The General Prosecutor’s Office is concerned about the
incident that took place on February 24 at the entrance of the building
of the General Prosecutor’s Office between the photo-journalist Gagik
Shamshyan and a 30-year-old young fellow defined by the latter.

Gagik Shamshyan reported about the incident during the news conference
held at the General Prosecutor’s Office on February 24 and the
RA General Prosecutor demanded that Gagik Shamshyan present the
video-recordings and photos on the incident.

The General Prosecutor’s Office will pursue the goal to identify the
circumstances of the incident and to legally assess the acts by the
guilty persons. The public will be informed about the whole procedure
of the identification of this incident," the statement reads.

RA CONSTITUTION PROHIBITS PARLIAMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN CONCLUSION OF INTERNATIONAL TREATIES

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.02.2010 17:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Proposal of the ARFD parliamentary group about
involvement of the Armenian Parliament in negotiating of international
treaties is understandable and acceptable for me," Armenian MP Viktor
Dallakyan said.

However, according to him, that proposal cannot be applied in practice,
since the Armenian Constitution does not allow that. "Under the
Constitution the Parliament ratifies and denounces international
treaties only by the president’ request. So unfortunately, according
to RA Constitution, Parliament has no right to take the initiative
to denounce or suspend a treaty," he stressed.

The MP also suggested to preserve the right of initiative to suspend
or denounce international treaties only for the president, since he
concludes international treaties. "A government should have the right
to make proposals to suspend a treaty," Victor Dallakyan said.

ISSUE OF GENOCIDE IS A ‘YELLOW CARD’ TO SUPPRESS TURKEY

Aysor
Feb 25 2010
Armenia

Azg paper’s chief editor Hakob Avetikian said he thinks the White
House makes uses the issue of Genocide as if it is a ‘yellow card’
to suppress Turkey.

"It’s insulting, as our nation’s tragedy becomes a subject for
bargaining, a mean of pressure," he said keeping in view the upcoming
hearings at the U.S. Congress on Armenian Genocide.

According to Hakob Avetikian, issue of Genocide may be included in
agenda for hearings, if only Turkey by that time wouldn’t ‘ratify
Armenia-Turkey protocols in a hurry."