Author: Chilingarian Babken

ARMENIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS THE CLOSED ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDERS IS A SEPARATING LINE, THE LAST CLOSED BORDER OF EUROPE AND CANNOT LAST LONG

ARMENPRESS
Nov 24, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS: In the quickly changing world
everyone wishes new relations which are not build on separating lines.

The closed Armenian-Turkish borders is a separating line, is the last
closed border of Europe and cannot last long, Armenian deputy foreign
minister Shavarsh Kocharyan said in an interview to Armenpress.

According to him, the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations is
of those exclusive issues over which there is no conflict of interests
of the big states. It may be testified not only with the statements of
the three power centers – USA, Russia, EU but other states as well. "We
may say that besides Azerbaijan, all the states even if they have not
expressed positively their viewpoint, have adopted neutral position,"
the deputy minister said.

"Many think that this contradicts to the interests of Iran: I do
not think that it is so: the better is the region predictable the
better will be for Iran. The programs we have with Iran must get new
impetus. There is one issue here – the region has become a hostage of
Azerbaijan’s caprice connected with the variety of communication and
economic programs as Azerbaijan does not have foreign policy but it
has inner propaganda which has become an outside one being dictated to
the whole region. The goal is one to isolate, blockade Armenia, loosen
Nagorno Karabakh Republic, oblige such a solution which is favorable
for Azerbaijan, and Turkey is involved in it. The circumstance that
Turkey started this process irrespective of further developments,
witnesses that Turkey understood that such approach has no prospect
and it will lose more from it, it remains Azerbaijan to understand
it," Shavarsh Kocharyan pointed out. From that point of view everyone
understood that the region must not be an explosion hazard circle which
threatens the general stability but a stable developing territory.

"Understanding both our interests and Turkey’s strive we must go to
it with dignity. Two points are unequivocal – we will not let linking
Armenian-Turkish relations with Karabakh conflict issue and will never
let put the fact of Genocide under doubt," the deputy minister said.

Referring to speculations, as if the normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations is artificially being dragged by Turkey, Shavarsh Kocharyan
said that at this moment it is early to speak about dragging. The
coming two-three months will show in what direction the developments
will go. He said the reasonable timeframe is decided by the parties,
mediators and international community. To speak about the artificial
slowing down of the process is early as all the necessary inner-state
procedures have been applied. The protocols are presented to the
parliament of Turkey for the discussion of the foreign relations
commission. The commission must present the conclusion in midst
of December. In Armenia too the inner state procedures have
started. Armenian Constitutional Court must examine the relevance
of the documents to the Armenian Constitution. It is logical to
wait that this step be undertaken by Turkey as twice this country
tried to step back from its commitments. "First time it was in early
April as during that time the political consultations were to take
place but were postponed till September. Turkey stepped back from its
commitments, which was obvious for all the mediators. With its second
step Turkey essentially "impoverished" the signing ceremony in Zurich
as the intended speeches were not voiced. The Turkish foreign minister
tried to make such comments in his speech which contradicted both the
arrangements and spirit and goals of the protocols. After these two
precedents it is very natural that both Armenia and the international
community will consider it logical that the first notable step must
be made by Turkey," the deputy foreign minister said.

TOWN HALLS RAISE AWARENESS ON NEXT STEPS AGAINST PROTOCOLS

Asbarez
Nov 23rd, 2009

ENCINO, CA-Town hall meetings have begun throughout the Western
United States to inform Armenian communities of the current state
of negotiations between Armenia and Turkey and the steps being taken
to prevent the ratification of dangerous agreements between the two
countries, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) reported on Saturday.

The community briefings, which began this week with two meetings in
the San Fernando Valley and Orange County, will be updating Armenian
Americans on the ongoing developments in the anti-protocols initiative
and providing avenues for activism on the issue.

The first town-hall, organized by the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation’s Western Region (ARF-WR), was held at Ferrahian Highschool
in Encino on November 19. More than 200 people attended the discussion,
lead by ARF-WR Central Committee Members Steven Dadayan and John
Kossakian.

Kossakian presented a brief history of Armenian-Turkish relations
since the independence of Armenia, discussing Turkey’s decades long
blockade of Armenia and its efforts at pressuring the young Armenian
republic into making the difficult choice between the Armenian people’s
historical rights or the country’s economic prosperity.

On April 22, Armenia and Turkey announced they had agreed to a
roadmap to normalize their relations and open the closed border. The
announcement came on the eve of the 94th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, allowing US President Obama to backtrack on promises to
recognize the Armenian Genocide. Amid intense opposition and protests
by Armenians around the world, Armenia’s foreign minister signed
agreements with his Turkish counterpart on October 10 to establish
ties between the two countries.

The signature came despite Turkey’s strong preconditions that Armenia
must relinquish legal rights to historic territories in Turkey,
agree to the establishment of a historical commission to debate
the Genocide, and concede the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict to Azerbaijan.

"Now that the protocols have been signed, everyone’s main concern is
which parliament is going to ratify it first," Kossakian said, adding
that Armenia is currently playing a waiting game with the document.

"Instead of worrying about this, we should start working on our next
step-to confront the Armenian government about the protocol issues."

In his remarks Kossakian underscored the anti-protocols campaign’s
latest initiative of channeling public sentiment against the protocols
to pressure the Armenian parliament not to ratify the devastating
documents.

Dissecting the actual provisions in the protocols, Dadayan discussed
the legal implications of the documents and the heavy burdens Armenia
will be required to uphold if it’s ratified.

Through these protocols, Dadayan explained, Turkey is seeking to
legalize its current de-facto border with Armenia. The current
boundaries are illegal and based on the illegitimate treaties of
Moscow and Kars, signed in the 1920s by the rogue Bolshevik and
Kemalist regimes. If the protocols are ratified, Armenia will once
and for all relinquish its rights to US President Woodrow Wilson’s
arbitral award of historic territories now under Turkish occupation.

Dadayan also discussed provisions in the protocols that will constrain
Armenia’s relations with Karabakh and prevent Yerevan from from serving
as the guarantor of its independence and security. He explained that
if Karabakh is one day attacked or overrun by Azerbaijan and Armenia
wants to take action or send medical or military assistance, it is
legally prevented from doing so.

In underscoring the unequal bargaining position Armenia has been
placed in throughout the negotiations process, Dadayan recalled his
encounter with Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian during his visit
to Los Angeles in September to meet with Armenian Community leaders.

Dadayan said he had asked Sarkisian what international lawyers and
experts of international law were consulted by the Armenian government
about the legal implications of the protocols, which were drafted in
English. "The president said he was not good in English nor was he a
lawyer" Dadayan recalled, noting that Sarkisian said he trusted his
diplomats enough not to seek professional advice.

The same points were raised at the Armenian Center in Santa Anna,
CA on Saturday, November 20 by Vache Thomassian from the ARF Shant
Student Association. Thomassian spoke to some 50 people at a briefing,
hosted by the AYF’s Orange County ‘Ashod Yergat’ chapter. In his
remarks, he reiterated community concerns over the forced choices
being presented to the Armenian people by the protocols and discussed
the unprecedented level of activism around the issue.

Presenting a photo-montage of global anti-protocols activities
spanning the last two months, Thomassian stressed the resound impact
of the Diaspora’s actions in Armenia. "Anywhere you had an Armenian
community around the world, you saw people express their disapproval,"
he said. "Our voices were heard and shared all the way to Yerevan,
where 60,000 people demonstrated against the signing of the protocols."

That there is widespread opposition to the documents is not
surprising. "There’s a lot to be lost here and very little to be
gained," said Thomassian, explaining the many preconditions Armenia is
faced with if it wants to normalize relations with its neighbor. "The
protocols could very well evolve into a package deal that includes
a quick resolution to the Karabakh conflict."

Thomassian discussed the current strategies and tactics being employed
by the "Stop the Protocols" Campaign, from educating and mobilizing
Armenian communities across the US to work within the American
political system to advance the Armenian Genocide resolution to a
vote in Congress.

He also discussed many of the ARF’s recent initiatives in Armenia. The
party has been working around the clock in parliament and at the
grassroots level to not only prevent ratification but also to address
the underlying problem of corruption, he explained. ARF activists
have been visiting villages, organizing communities to oppose the
documents. Meanwhile, the ARF has been meeting with other parties
opposed to the protocols in Armenia to strategize future joint actions
against ratification.

But neither Sarkisian, nor the protocols are the "end all problem
here," Thomassian said, explaining that the present situation is
largely due to corruption and a lack of democracy in Armenia. "The
protocols didn’t pop out of nowhere; they are the result of oligarchs
selling out the interests of the people for their own self interest."

Thomassian discussed the ARF’s call for a serious overhaul of the
corruption and oligarchic rule in Armenia, talking about the party’s
initiative to build the groundwork for radical changes in Armenia."The
long-term objective of the ARF is social reforms, government reforms
and democratic reforms," Thomassian said. "In the last few weeks the
ARF has been introducing dozens of pieces of legislation in parliament
on issues concerning the national debt, women’s’ rights, poverty,
and social security."

"The protocols are in limbo right now, but that doesn’t mean we
are meaningless; we need to dig in further and do more work, be
more active and get our voices heard that much louder," Thomassian
exclaimed. "everything we have done to this point has had an impact
and if we can increase the pressure and create enough obstacles,
this thing might completely collapse."

YEREVAN TO HOST NATO ROSE ROTH SEMINAR IN MARCH 2010

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.11.2009 12:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yerevan will host NATO Rose Roth "Regional
cooperation in the South Caucasus. Challenges, Opportunities,
Perspectives" seminar from March 11 to 13, 2010.

"According to an agreement with the Alliance, Armenian will be one
of the working languages of the seminar, so that Armenian MPs can
offer their views," chairman of the Armenian delegation to NATO PA, Mr.

Karen Avagyan told a news conference on Monday.

NATO Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia,
Mr. Robert Simmons and EU Envoy for the South Caucasus, Mr. Peter
Semneby were invited as guest speakers.

Mr. Avagyan described the work of the Armenian delegation during the
55th NATO PA session in Edinburgh as successful. "Stepan Safaryan
gave a report on cyber security. As to Azerbaijani parliamentarians,
they spoke in cliches and received a proper response from the Armenian
delegation," he said.

RUBEN HAYRAPETYAN: FFA DOESN’T NEED MONEY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
20.11.2009 15:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The President of the Football Federation of Armenia
summoned a press conference on November 20 to sum up the outcomes of
football tournaments held in 2009.

"The 2010 national budget doesn’t envisage assignment for the Football
Federation. It’s saddening that the government has forgotten about our
federation. It may be conditioned by the crisis or unserious approach
of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs," Ruben Hayrapetyan said.

"The Federation doesn’t need money. But Armenian football needs good
stadiums and schools. The government should address these problems
by contributing some AMD 50-100 million annually," he said.

REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ARMENIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT ABOUT THE ARP PM

Aysor
Nov 19 2009
Armenia

"While changing the places of the items the sum is not being changed",
– the board member of the Armenian National Movement (HHSh) Aram
Manukyan said today answering the question asked by the Aysor.am
reporter inquiring how he will appreciate the fact of Tigran Sargsyan
entering into the rows of the Republican Party.

Referring to the resignation of the Labor and Social Affairs Minister
Gevorg Petrosian who is a member of "Prosperous Armenia Party" (BHK),
A. Manukian said that the resignation will not bring any change in
the authorities.

As for the ARP or the BHK parties, A. Manukian expressed only his
regret saying that: "It is disgusting that the matured 40 or 80 years
old people enter the party by force. They enter "BHK" just for getting
2 coins. They advertise themselves by all the TV channels and spoil
the students. I feel pain for this."

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN RECEIVED JACEK JEZIERSKI

news.am
Nov 19 2009
Armenia

November 19, 2009 RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan received Chair of the
EUROSAI Governing Board and the President of Polish Supreme Chamber
of Control (NIK) Jacek Jezierski.

Abrahamyan hailed significant Jezierski’s visit to Armenia within
the framework of Armenian-Polish bilateral cooperation development,
as well as Armenia’s involvement in European structures’ activities,
RA parliamentary press service informed NEWS.am.

Abrahamyan also expressed content with operations of RA Control Chamber
drawing Jezierski’s attention to the steps of legislative and practical
guarantees ensuring independence of RA Control Chamber. The officials
agreed that from the effective activity viewpoint the determinant
factor of supreme control bodies is independence.

Hovik Abrahamyan presented Jacek Jezierski the cooperation between
RA National Assembly and Control Chamber, as well as its substance in
the context of operating expenses of budgetary resources and provision
of effective control.

15 CASES OF A/H1N1 FLU VIRUS RECORDED IN ARMENIA

Tert
Nov 16 2009
Armenia

There have been 15 cases of the A/H1N1 flu virus recorded in Armenia
thus far, said Republic of Armenia Healthcare Minister assistant
Shushan Hunyanyan to Tert.am today.

Out of the 15 reported cases, 8 had been in Nork infection control
hospital today, though two out of the 8 were discharged by the end
of the day, and two, according to the minister’s assistant, are in
stable condition.

Speaking with Tert.am, Hunyanyan noted that all precautionary measures
have been taken, and continue to be taken in stricter force, to combat
the virus. According to the information provided by Hunyanyan, daily
checks continue to take place in schools and kindergartens, and border
control, both road and at the airport, is in full effect. In addition,
negotiations to secure vaccinations are underway.

4TH TRADITIONAL MEMORIAL OF VACHIK MKRTCHYAN FINISHED

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.11.2009 20:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 4th Traditional Memorial, dedicated to the memory
of an international master of sports in boxing Vachik Lazarian,
finished. The tournament was attended by 122 boxers of 16-17 years
from all regions of Armenia. As the general secretary of the Memorial
Narek Vardanyan told PanARMENIAN.Net following boxers in 11 weight
classes won victories:

w/c 48 Koryun Sogomonyan w/c 51 Narek Apkaryan w/c 54 Hovhannes
Bochkov w/c 57 Dzhonik Tonoyan w/c 60 Hrayr Matevosyan w/c 64 Arthur
Kirajyan w/c 69 Hayk Khachatryan w/c 75 Sergey Tovmasyan w/c 81 Vache
Gabrielyan w/c 91 Gor Margaryan w/c 91 Vakhtang Lazarian.

LEVON ARONIAN SHARES 4-5TH PLACES IN MIKHAIL TAL COMMEMORATIVE TOURNAMENT

Noyan Tapan
Nov 16, 2009

MOSCOW, NOVEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Mikhail Tal Commemorative Tournament
finished on November 15 in Moscow. Levon Aronian (Armenia) beat
Viswanathan Anand (India) in the last round and shared the 4-5th
places with him with 5 points each. Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) won
the tournament with 6 points.

Commemorative tournament’s participants and a number of invited
renowned grand masters will take part in the Lightning Chess World
Tournament between November 16 to 18.

THE PRESENTATION OF HAKOB TERZIAN’S BOOK ENTITLED "CILICIA 1909: THE MASSACRES OF ARMENIANS" WAS HELD IN FRESNO

Noyan Tapan
16.11.2009

FRESNO: The London-based "Komitas" Institute published the new edited
English version of Hakob Terzian’s book entitled "Cilicia 1909:
The Massacres of Armenians". The book was published in Istanbul in
1912 and was later confiscated by the Ottoman government. The author
describes the massacres of Armenians in Adana in 1909 through his
eyewitness accounts.

As reported by "Aztag", the presentation of the book was held at the
Fresno State University in light of the events dedicated to the 100th
anniversary of the massacres of Adana.

According to information from the book, 21,000 Armenians were killed
in the last two weeks of the massacres alone and Armenians suffered
material damage worth nearly 5.4 million Turkish gold.

During the translation, Stepan Melkonyan and Ara Sarafyan viewed
the book not only as documental evidence of the massacres of Adana,
but a way to tell the story of the horrors to the coming generations,
writes "Aztag".