Author: Antonian Lara

TURKISH WRITER: EITHER WE’VE BEEN CHEATED OR WE’VE DONE WRONG

Panorama.am
14:02 30/03/2010

Region

Famous Turkish writer and reporter Mehmet Ali Birand published a story
in Hurriyet web site referring to recent regional developments. The
reporter wrote it sure that if Ankara doesn’t make any statement
Armenia will decline the protocols.

"The protocols are of great significance. I think, they are the only
way out of Genocide tortuous. But it didn’t happen or couldn’t.

Somebody spoiled the game. Either we’re cheated or we’ve done wrong,"
Birand writes.

Birand writes that official Yerevan got deeply concerned when
Turkey broke the rules and linked the NKR conflict resolution with
ratification of Armenian-Turkish protocols.

"Prime Minister Erdogan hurried to Baku and under Aliyev’s threatening
eyes declared at Mejlis that Karabakh conflict resolution is linked
with ratification of protocols. To conclude the protocols have been
directly linked with Armenian-Azerbaijani ties. This authorized
Azerbaijan to put veto on Armenian-Turkish ties," expert writes.

What is the conclusion to this article? Birand writes that official
Yerevan waits for some statement from Turkey. Will the protocols come
into force without any preconditions or will linking with Karabakh
issue continue?

ERDOGAN AND MERKEL CLASH AHEAD OF CHANCELLOR’S VISIT

The Irish Times
Monday, March 29, 2010

CHANCELLOR ANGELA Merkel and Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan have traded barbs ahead of the German leader’s state visit
today to Turkey.

Ahead of her first visit to Ankara in four years, Dr Merkel called
on the three million Turkish nationals living in Germany to make a
greater effort to integrate into their adoptive home.

Meanwhile, Mr Erdogan denied in an interview with Der Spiegel magazine
that the 1915 massacre of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire was genocide.

Despite close business and cultural ties, Dr Merkel’s visit is unlikely
to take the edge off bilateral relations burdened by Turkey’s ambition
to achieve full EU membership.

Dr Merkel insists that Ankara should make do with a "privileged
partnership" while Mr Erdogan says full membership is the goal "from
which Turkey will not veer".

"We are already in negotiations for full membership," said Mr Erdogan,
adding "making proposals that differ from this is like shifting the
goal post during a penalty kick – absurd".

Dr Merkel picked up on a notorious 2008 speech by Mr Erdogan,
encouraging Turks living in Germany to integrate while warning them
that assimilation was a "crime against humanity".

"We don’t want assimilation but that people who have lived here for
generations integrate and participate in our society," said Dr Merkel.

"That means, of course, that the German language is learned and German
laws are respected."

She dismissed Mr Erdogan’s call for Turkish-language academies to be
set up in Germany.

With a standoff on most bilateral issues, the two leaders will hope to
make progress on an issue of mutual interest, namely Iran’s nuclear
ambitions.

But the two camps seem far away from meaningful common ground on how
best to proceed.

Dr Merkel said yesterday that if Iran "does not show transparency"
on the nuclear issue then "we must think about sanctions".

But Turkey, currently a non-permanent member of the UN Security
Council, is of a different view.

"Multiple sanctions have been placed on Iran but with what result so
far?" asked Mr Erdogan in Der Spiegel. "We need diplomacy, diplomacy,
diplomacy. Everything else threatens global peace and yields nothing
else."

In an apparent nod to Israel, he added: "At least Iran doesn’t have
any nuclear weapons at the moment . . . We don’t want any nuclear
weapons at all in this region."

BAKO SAHAKYAN: ATTEMPTS TO RECAPTURE THE PAST PREGNANT WITH UNPREDICTABLE CONSEQUENCES

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.03.2010 11:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan met
Sunday with Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Robert
Bradtke of the US, Yuri Merzlyakov of the Russian Federation and
Bernard Fassier of France to discuss the current stage and prospects
of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement. The meeting was
also attended by NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosyan and Personal
Representative of the OSCE CiO, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk.

Reiterating that comprehensive settlement of the conflict is
impossible without full-fledged participation of NKR, Mr. Sahakyan
said, "Azerbaijan’s destructive approach and its reluctance to take
confidence-building measures appear as pivotal hindrances to the
conflict settlement."

He also said that independence and security of Artsakh can’t be
questioned and any attempt to recapture the past is pregnant with
unpredictable consequences.

Touching upon normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, the
President emphasized that this process is not linked to Karabakh
conflict resolution.

TWO ARMENIANS KILLED IN THE MOSCOW SUBWAY BLAST

armradio.am
29.03.2010 12:40

Two citizens of the Republic of Armenia – Hasmik Melkumyan (born 1973)
and Levon Khachatryan (born 1982) were among the victims of blast in
Moscow subway, acting spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Tigran Balayan informed.

Another man of Armenian origin – Hamik Martirosyan (1992) was taken
to #36 Moscow hospital.

At least 40 were killed and 37 were wounded on Monday when suicide
bombers detonated explosives on two packed Moscow metro trains during
the morning rush hour, the worst attack in the Russian capital for
six years.

According to Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, the Russian Federal Security
Service blames the blasts on the Moscow metro on women suicide
bombers. Reports say the explosions were planned to hit as many
victims as possible.

Two citizens of the Republic of Armenia – Hasmik Melkumyan (born 1973)
and Levon Khachatryan (born 1982) were among the victims of blast in
Moscow subway, acting spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Tigran Balayan informed.

Another man of Armenian origin – Hamik Martirosyan (1992) was taken
to #36 Moscow hospital.

Both attacks – on the central Lybyanka and Park Kultury stations –
occurred as the trains approached the platform.

Moscow’s prosecutors office says it is investigating the blasts as
terrorism. No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Yeni Musavat, Azerbaijan
March 19 2010

Azeri soldiers said to be forced to work in Iran

An Azeri independent military expert has alleged that Azerbaijani
soldiers are taken to Iran and forced to work in Iran, the opposition
daily Yeni Musavat has reported.

Retired Col Uzeyir Cafarov, the chairman of the public union of
military journalists, told a news conference in Baku on 18 March that
young soldiers are taken from the Azerbaijani exclave of Naxcivan to
Iran and forced to work "as slaves".

"We are very concerned over the reports about events in military units
in Naxcivan. It’s unacceptable that our soldiers are degraded in
Iran."

Cafarov believes that a state official stands behind such actions: "We
invited representatives from law enforcement bodies and the Defense
Ministry to the press conference but no one came which raised our
doubts. Some official stands behind this shameful action."

Another military expert, retired Col Ildirim Mammadov, said the
authorities should react to the reports because "this discredits the
army".

Naxcivan is an Azerbaijani exclave that borders Iran, Turkey and Armenia.

[translated from Azeri]

Andrzej Kasprzyk: Karabakh conflict cannot be considered "frozen"

27.03.2010 18:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict cannot be considered
"frozen". In fact, only the solution is frozen, Personal
Representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk said.

`Since last year we have seen the most intensive phase of the
negotiation process to date: the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
met six times in 2009, three times in expanded format with President
Medvedev, and once so far in 2010, again in the presence of President
Medvedev. The personal involvement of President Medvedev resulted in
the first-ever
statement on Nagorno-Karabakh signed by the Presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan – the so-called Moscow Declaration of November 2008. If
this conflict were in fact to become "hot" and hostilities to resume,
obviously the international community would be involved even to a
greater extent.’

`I am responsible for keeping the Chairperson-in- Office informed and
up-to-date on the situation on the ground and the current state of the
talks. Acting on his behalf, I work in support of the peace process,
maintaining contact with the parties, promoting confidence- and
security-building measures. I also participate in the Minsk Group
Co-Chairs’ visits and their meetings with the leaderships. One of the
most important parts of the process is maintaining dialogue.
Facilitating that dialogue is one of my main functions. My knowledge
of the situation on the ground is also used occasionally by the
mediators. Since I am on the ground, I occasionally convey information
on behalf of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs to the leaderships and vice
versa. The monitoring conducted by my Office has on occasion decreased
growing tension that could, in turn, have obstructed the
negotiations.’

`Confidentiality is crucial to any process. A certain element of trust
has to be fostered so as to maintain a dialogue between leaders of
countries that technically remain in a state of war with each other.
Before an agreement is reached, it would be difficult to put it up for
public discussion, as this could torpedo the process. For that reason,
the leaders have
requested that the process be completely confidential,’ Andrzej
Kasprzyk concluded.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict broke out back in 1991, when, subsequent
to the demand for self-determination of the Nagorno-Karabakh people,
Azerbaijani authorities attempted to resolve the issue through ethnic
cleansings, carried out by Soviet security forces (KGB special units)
under the pretext of the implementation of the passport regime and by
launching of large-scale military operations, which left thousands
dead and caused considerable material damage. A cease-fire agreement
was established in 1994. Negotiations on the settlement of the
conflict are being conducted under the mediation of the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chairmen (Russia, USA, France) and on the basis of their
Madrid proposals, presented in November, 2007.

Azerbaijan has not yet implemented the 4 resolutions of the UN
Security Council adopted in 1993, by continuing to provoke arms race
in the region and openly violating on of the basic principles of the
international law non-use of force or threat of force.

The OSCE Minsk Group was created in 1992 to encourage a peaceful,
negotiated resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The Minsk
Group is headed by a Co-Chairmanship consisting of France, Russia and
the United States. The main objectives of the Minsk Process are as
follows: Providing an appropriate framework for conflict resolution in
the way of assuring the negotiation process supported by the Minsk
Group; Obtaining conclusion by the Parties of an agreement on the
cessation of the armed conflict in order to permit the convening of
the Minsk Conference; Promoting the peace process by deploying OSCE
multinational peacekeeping forces.

Sargsyan Should Speak of `Mutual Concessions’ in Karabakh
Negotiations: Paruir Hairikian

17:02 – 26.03.10

It was the idiots who were formerly in charge in independent Armenia
who said that the security zone around Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR) is not
Armenian territory, said National Self-Determination Union (NSDU)
leader Paruir Hairikian at a press conference today, referring to
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s recent statement on possible
mutual concessions between Yerevan and Baku on settling the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

`This president came to power, having the former president’s [Robert
Kocharian’s] inheritance. It was the former lamebrains of independent
Armenia who spoke about the security zone around Nagorno-Karabakh as a
territory that’s not ours,’ said Hairikian, adding that the president
must use the term `mutual concessions’ when he goes to negotiate.

Referring to the issue that those territories are determined by the
NKR Constitution, Hairikian said: `If the president of Artsakh [NKR]
speaks [about it], he must be guided by his Constitution. Armenia’s
president is Armenia’s president,’ said Hairikian.

According to him, it runs against NKR’s right to self-determination
when Armenia’s authorities make statements on NKR’s behalf.

`In the best case scenario, they should’ve said that upon Artsakh
authorities’ request, since they don’t have equal rights in
international relations; we [Armenia’s authorities] act and pass on
their views. It would also benefit Armenia,’ explained Hairikian.

Tert.am

news.am, Armenia
March 26 2010

Martin Bartak visited Genocide Memorial

19:51 / 03/26/2010 March 26, Czech Defense Minister and caretaker in
the government of Czech PM Martin Bartak visited Tsitsernakaberd
Memorial Complex to pay tribute to Genocide victims and laid a wreath
on the eternal light.

He also visited Armenian Genocide Institute-Museum and planted a tree
at the Memory Alley.

Earlier, Martin Bartak met with RA President Serzh Sarsgyan and RA
Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan. Defense ministers signed a bilateral
military cooperation agreement.

A.G.

AS OF THE MOMENT MEETING OF THE ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI FMS IN MOSCOW NOT INTENDED

5713/lang/en
2010-03-24

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS: "As of the present moment, the March 26
meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers Edward Nalbandyan
and Elmar Mammadyarov in Moscow is not intended," spokesman for the
Armenian Foreign Ministry Tigran Balayan told Armenpress. On March
26 in Moscow, the session of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers
will be summoned.

In response to the question whether an Armenian-Turkish
inter-governmental sub-committee of historians is in a stage of
formation stage, as US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has earlier
stated, T. Balayan said that the issue of the Armenian Genocide is
not a subject for discussion, and a sub-committee is intended to
set up only after the ratification of the protocols. "The issue of
the Armenian Genocide is not viewed as a subject for discussion. As
the president and foreign minister of the republic have stated many
times the fact of the genocide is not subject for discussion; Armenia
has not discussed and will never discuss the fact of the genocide,"
T. Balayan pointed out.

ARMENIAN EASTER BRINGS TRADITION TO THE FOREFRONT
By Nicole Jansezian, Travelujah

Armenian-Easter-brings-tradition-to-the-forefront
18 March, 2010

In the West, Easter is usually a simple one-day affair. The different
denominations in Israel, however, each celebrate Easter in their own
special way and, particularly in Jerusalem, where a high concentration
of Christians gathers, a variety of different ceremonies unfolds.

So how does the oldest Christian community in Jerusalem celebrate
Easter? With their own Quarter in the Old City, the Armenians boast a
history in Jerusalem dating back to the 4th century. In 301, Armenia
became the first country to adopt Christianity as the nation’s
religion. Since then, there has been a continual Armenian presence
in the Holy Land, where Mount Zion served as a base for Armenian
pilgrims to Jerusalem.

The traditions of the Armenians are as enduring as the people
themselves. From Palm Sunday until the day after Easter Sunday, the
days are filled with services, many unique to the Armenian church
in Jerusalem.

"The holy places require a different approach and schedule for the
celebrations," Archbishop Aris Shirvanian told Travelujah. "When you
are abroad, you have one church, no other community. It is pretty
simple abroad."

Not all the rituals are religious. Some are simply an extension of the
celebratory atmosphere and an effort to involve the entire community.

The two Armenian social clubs each have marching bands with bagpipes
and drums that proceed with the Patriarch and priests to the Holy
Sepulchre on Holy Saturday. Anybody in the Old City near Jaffa Gate
can view the parade, listen to festive music and watch the scouts go
by in their uniforms.

On Palm Sunday, the Armenians, Copts and Syrians join together for a
processional three times around the rotunda in the Holy Sepulchre,
each chanting or singing in their own language. An elaborate foot
washing ceremony takes place on Holy Thursday in St. James as the
Armenian Patriarch washes the feet of twelve of the priests, imitating
Jesus washing the disciples’ feet.

One of the services unique to the Armenians is the Good Friday
processional from the Holy Archangels Church, which is the site of
an olive tree believed to be the one to which Jesus was tied while
he awaited an audience with Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas the
High Priest (John 18:19-24). According to church tradition, Jesus
was brought here to Annas’ house after his arrest in Gethsemane to
await trial with the high priest. The church is also known as Deir
al Zeytune, the Convent of the Olive Tree.

The Franciscans have their own processional as well from this church
that usually occurs on a different day. However, this year the dates
for Orthodox and Catholic and Protestant Easter coincide and the
processional will be on the same day.

For Lent, Armenians fast all animal products such as meat, dairy and
eggs. The fast is traditionally broken on Easter eve, after the Holy
Fire ceremony at the Holy Sepulchre.

Another service unique to the Armenians in Jerusalem occurs on
the Monday following Easter. The priests hold a processional in the
courtyard of St. James with the parish’s relics. This morning ceremony
is held particularly for the pilgrims from Armenia to appreciate the
Armenian heritage in jerusalem.

"Pilgrims coming (to Jerusalem) strengthens their faith and is a
moral boost for us as Christians," Shirvanian said.

Shirvanian knows that from experience. He himself was raised in Haifa,
but moved to Jerusalem to attend the Armenian seminary and study to
be a priest.

"My life was completely changed living in this atmosphere among the
holy places," he said.

By Nicole Jansezian, Travelujah

Nicole Jansezian writes for Travelujah.com, the only Christian social
network focused on travel to the Holy Land. Travelujah is a vibrant
online community offering high quality Christian content, user and
expert blogs, travel tours and planning services for people interested
in connecting with or traveling to the Holy Land.