Author: Ekmekjian Janet

SWEDISH PARLIAMENT RECOGNIZES GENOCIDE OF ARMENIANS IN OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Itar-Tass
March 11 2010
Russia

STOCKHOLM, March 11 (Itar-Tass) – Swedish parliament has adopted a
resolution that recognizes the genocide of Armenians, Assyrians and
Pontic Greeks in the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

The resolution was put up for voting Thursday morning and its
discussion continued until almost the end of the workday.

The draft was submitted by opposition forces – the Left Party, the
Green Party, the Social Democratic Workers’ Party and several MPs
from the Liberal People’s Party and the Christian Democratic Party.

The resolution was endorsed by a slight majority of votes. It
recognizes the extermination of 1.5 million Armenians, 250,000 to
500,000 Assyrians and about 350,000 Pontic Greeks in the last phase
of Turkey’s imperial history.

The opponents of recognition of the genocide came up with explanations
for their position.

One of them, Gustav Blix of the Moderate Coalition Party, told Radio
Sweden that it is not politicians that should write history.

He indicated that decisions on such knotty issues should be taken by
international law agencies.

Blix fears the recognition of genocide may hamper the incipient
process of rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey.

The radio recalled in this connection that a Turkish parliamentary
delegation, which made a visit to Sweden a short while ago, warned
the recognition of genocide might do a serious blow to Swedish-Turkish
relations.

US ARMENIA GENOCIDE RECOGNITION FOSTERS HOPE FOR PEACE WITH TURKEY
By Gayane Abrahamyan

Eurasia Review
us-armenia-genocide-recognition.html
March 12 2010

A US congressional committee’s approval of a non-binding, draft
resolution to recognize Ottoman Turkey’s 1915 slaughter of ethnic
Armenians as genocide has sparked optimism among some Armenian analysts
and pro-government politicians that the measure will push Turkey to
reconcile with Armenia.

The March 4 decision by the US House of Representatives’ Committee
on Foreign Relations was narrowly carried by one vote (23 to 22)
and the measure has yet to be scheduled for debate by the full US
House of Representatives.

Nonetheless, the committee’s deliberations were watched in Yerevan with
as much attention as the September 2008 match between the Armenian and
Turkish soccer teams, a game that kicked off the "football diplomacy"
that led to the current reconciliation process.

The optimism that has followed the vote is centered on two fronts. On
the domestic front, reconciliation supporters believe that the measure
undermines opponents’ argument that restoring ties with Turkey will put
an end to Armenia’s international campaign for genocide recognition. On
the external front, such supporters also believe that the Committee’s
resolution vote will somehow push Turkey to ratify the reconciliation
protocols, a step they say is necessary before the Armenian parliament
can follow suit.

"This was a crucial argument to prove that the protocols and the
process of the settlement of Armenian-Turkish relations do not hinder
the adoption of the resolution [recognizing Ottoman Turkey’s 1915
slaughter of ethnic Armenians as genocide]," Parliamentary Deputy
Speaker Samvel Nikoian, a member of the ruling Republican Party of
Armenia, commented to EurasiaNet.org about the House Committee on
Foreign Relations’ vote.

Armen Rustamian, a senior member of the opposition Armenian
Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutiun, counters that the House
committee decision only underlines that the protocols now pose
the main obstacle to a US genocide recognition — a goal which his
party, along with various US-based Armenian Diaspora lobby groups,
has long promoted.

"As we all saw, this time the arguments for voting against [the
resolution] were only the ill-fated protocols and the efforts not
to hinder the settlement process," argued Rustamian. "This should be
a lesson for our deputies: They have to realize the extent to which
the settlement process can challenge our interests."

Members of Armenia’s ruling coalition, however, seem to believe
that Yerevan can still, conceivably, accomplish its official goal
of reconciliation with Turkey. In 1993, Turkey severed diplomatic
relations with Armenia and closed its border with the Caucasus state
to protest Armenia’s conflict with Turkish ally Azerbaijan over the
disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh.

"Of course, Turkey will show strong resistance in the beginning,
but will finally ratify the protocols before April 24, before the
[US] president’s April 24 speech [on the 95th anniversary of the
1915 slaughter of ethnic Armenians], to prevent the adoption of the
resolution by Congress," predicted Aram Safarian, a member of the
Prosperous Armenia Party’s political board.

As of yet, though, Ankara shows no inclination to follow that course
of action. On March 9, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an
stated that Ankara would not return its ambassador to Washington "
unless we get a clear sign on the outcome of the situation" about
the non-binding resolution on recognition of the 1915 slaughter as
genocide, the Anatolian news service reported.

Undaunted, some analysts remain optimistic.

Independent analyst Artak Shakarian, an expert on Turkey, believes
that the non-binding resolution "is quite a serious lever for the US
over Turkey: Turkey understood that the US is serious about settling
Armenian-Turkish relations because such a resolution is largely within
US foreign interests."

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton appears to differ.

Clinton has pledged that the White House" will work very hard to make
sure it [the non-binding resolution] does not go to the House floor"
for a vote, news sites reported.

Similar measures have won committee approval three times previously —
in 2000, 2005 and 2007 — but none were brought to a full House vote.

Nonetheless, Armenian hopes for a full House vote linger on. Another
analyst, Karen Bekarian, head of the non-governmental organization
European Integration, even believes that the prospect of a vote in 2010
on the non-binding genocide resolution could diminish opposition to
Turkish-Armenian reconciliation from longtime Armenian foe, Azerbaijan.

"This time Azerbaijan will see Turkey is under serious pressure and
will not condemn Turkey’s settling relations with Armenia, as it does
now," Bekarian commented.

Apparently sensing the complexity of the moment, Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian in a March 6 interview with Armenian public
television cautioned that "tying up the recognition of the genocide
by Turkey with the settlement of Armenian-Turkish relations has no
prospects, to say the least."

Meanwhile, Yerevan itself appears to be trying to keep its options
open on reconciliation with Turkey.

President Serzh Sargsyan submitted the protocols to parliament
on February 15 for discussion, but the agreement has not yet been
scheduled for debate.

On March 6, the president took a further step, signing into law a
bill that will allow Yerevan to withdraw from signed international
treaties, whether or not they have been ratified. The measure is seen
as a likely fallback plan for the 2009 protocols with Turkey if the
disadvantages of such an agreement begin to outweigh the advantages.

Gayane Abrahamyan is a reporter for ArmeniaNow who is based in Yerevan.

GORAN LENNMARKER: "THE SOLUTION TO NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT MUST PROVIDE SECURITY OF ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI PEOPLE AT FIRST"

APA
March 11 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA. "The Nagorno Karabakh conflict can be solved because it was
not frozen", Special Representative of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
for Nagorno Karabakh and Georgian conflicts Goran Lennmarker said in
his address to the 73rd Rose Roth workshop of the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly in Armenia. He said the solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict
is not outside, but inside the region. "The outside forces can only
assist the conflicted sides. The Minsk Group is only play-ground for
the conflict solution and any attempt to transfer the problem UN or
Council of Europe play-grounds can prolong the solution".

Lennmarker said the solution should be determined in such manner that
all sides could accept it. "I think the conflict solution should
provide security of Armenia and Armenian people. Azerbaijan should
understand that. But Armenia also must understand the position of
Azerbaijan, which consider itself as a victim and defeated side of
the conflict",

The special representative said the solution to the conflict was
found and discussed in details and there were few steps to be taken
by the sides. "The solution is in a political level mostly and the
sides should be ready for domestic discussions".

Lennmarker said Yerevan had political will to solve the problem and
Baku would also demonstrate its willingness. "The most important issue
is to solve the Karabakh conflict. There can be a question only about
the soonest solution".

ARMECONOMBANK RESTORES LEADERSHIP ON PLASTIC CARD MARKET

ArmInfo
09.03.2010

ArmInfo. Armeconombank has restored its leadership on the plastic
card market, reports the press service of the bank.

As of Mar 1 2010 the bank had issued 82,646 cards – 17.8% of the
total number of cards issued by the ArCa member banks and 24.6% of
local cards. Some 96,649 transactions worth 3,645,199,833 AMD were
carried out by means of Armeconombank’s bancomats and POS-terminals
in Feb 2010.

In the last two years the leader on the plastic card market has been
ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank. Armeconombank issues ArCas and MasterCards
and is planning to join Visa International by the end of this year.

Feb 1 2010 there were 456,594 cards issued by the ArCA member banks –
30% more than Feb 1 2009.

BEEF PRICE IN ARMENIA RAISED ARTIFICIALLY: ABGAR YEGHOYAN

Tert.am
15:52 ~U 10.03.10

Research conducted by the Armenian NGO Protection of Consumers Rights
have revealed that the price of beef was recently raised artificially
in Armenia.

As stated by NGO President Abgar Yeghoyan at a press conference today,
one of the reasons for the rise in beef prices could’ve been the cost
of mutton going up, thus resulting in an increased demand for beef.

However, according to Yeghoyan, probing the issue revealed that
instead of the demand for beef increasing, it has fallen, while its
price went up.

According to Yeghoyan, Protection of Consumers Rights cannot solve
this issue; however, it’s not necessary to turn to the RA State
Commission for Protection of Economic Competition as there’s no
monopoly in this sector.

"The state should use different leverages in this matter; this field
should be regulated by law," said Yeghoyan, adding that he was hopeful
that the cattlebreeding and sheepbreeding program implemented by the
RA Ministry of Agriculture would be able to regulate this sector.

NEIGHBORS / WHO’S IN FAVOR OF TURKEY?
By Zvi Bar’el

Ha’aretz
es/1155365.html
March 10 2010
Israel

The shock waves generated when the U.S. House Committee on Foreign
Affairs passed a bill defining the 1915 massacre of the Armenians as
genocide did not stop at Turkey’s shores. There have also been many
ripples in the corridors of the Jewish lobby in Washington.

M.J. Rosenberg, a senior fellow at the Media Matters Action Network –
whose aim, among other things, is "correcting misinformation … and
combating wrongheaded assessments of conservative" groups relating
to the Middle East – published an analysis of the resolution late
last week. Rosenberg, who once edited the weekly information bulletin
published by the pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC, and later "crossed the lines"
to direct the Israel Policy Forum’s policy department, wrote that
the Israelis are trying to teach Turkey a lesson. If the resolution
passes both houses of Congress and goes into effect, he wrote,
"it will not be out of some newfound compassion for the victims of
the Armenian genocide and their descendants but to send a message
to Turkey: if you mess with Israel, its lobby will make Turkey pay a
price in Washington. And, just maybe, the United States will pay it
too." Advertisement

Rosenberg based his analysis on an article written by Ron Kampeas, the
Washington bureau chief of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Kampeas noted
that "in the past, the pro-Israel community has lobbied hard against
previous attempts to pass similar resolutions, citing warnings from
Turkish officials that it could harm the alliance not only with the
United States but with Israel." But for the last year or so, he added,
"officials of American pro-Israel groups have said that while they will
not support new resolutions, they will no longer oppose them, citing
Turkey’s heightened rhetorical attacks on Israel and a flourishing
of outright anti-Semitism the government has done little to stem."

Kampeas immediately responded to Rosenberg. In an article published
on JTA’s web site, he said he agreed that the pro-Israel community is
"hanging back and telling the lawmakers, ‘Do what you feel is right.

We’re not spending political capital on the Turks this season.’" But,
he stressed, he rejects the contention that Israel or the Jewish lobby
was behind the resolution. Back in 2007, when a similar resolution
came before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, he noted, seven of the
eight Jewish committee members also voted in favor: Only Robert Wexler
of Florida voted against, because he was "a friend of the Turkish
lobby." In other words, the Jews have always sought to define the
Armenian massacre as a genocide.

So what changed this time around? In 2007, the committee’s chairman,
the late Tom Lantos, wrestled with the question before eventually
voting in favor; this time, the chairman, Howard Berman, co-sponsored
the bill. Wexler is no longer a congressman, and the other seven
Jews on the panel all voted in favor of the resolution. Yet in fact,
Kampeas noted, the bill secured a larger majority in the committee
in 2007 – with 27 in favor and 21 opposed – than it did this time:
Last week’s resolution passed by a very narrow majority of 23-22.

Why does all this matter? Because the bottom line is that the Jewish
congressmen also voted in favor in 2007, "when pro-Israel groups
lobbied very, very hard against the resolution. That they felt freer
to vote in favor yesterday is significant, but the bigger picture
underscores that they are not the lobby’s pawns."

So who was the winner in this vote? Did the pro-Israel lobby
successfully avenge Israel, or did Jewish members of Congress vote
as they did out of moral considerations rather than political ones?

For Turkey, these Jewish calculations are of no interest, nor is the
balance of power between the Jewish lobby and Jewish congressmen. Suat
Kiniklioglu, chairman of the Turkish parliament’s committee on
Israeli-Turkish relations, said in response to the resolution that
"though it seems that neither the American government nor the Jewish
lobby supported the Turkish position, the result was still a Turkish
victory. The Armenians thought they would be able to achieve an easier
and greater victory." In his eyes, and in those of the other Turkish
members of parliament from the ruling Justice and Development Party,
there is no doubt that Israel was behind the resolution, and that this
is the price it is exacting for the past year’s attacks on Israel by
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Is this also the end of the honeymoon between Turkey and AIPAC and
other Jewish organizations that have previously promoted Turkish
interests? "Not necessarily," said a former Turkish diplomat. "Turkey
has plenty of other interests with which the Jewish lobbies could
assist it – for example, military purchasing."

An illness in need of treatment

The Turkish minister for women and family affairs, Selma Aliye Kavaf,
has a clear stance: "I believe that homosexuality is a biological
defect, an illness. Homosexuality is something that needs treatment,
and therefore I don’t have a positive attitude to homosexual
marriages," she said.

Kavaf, whom Erdogan appointed to direct his party’s activities for
women even before he made her a minister, is a symbol of the party’s
openness toward women and its desire to advance them to senior
positions. But it seems that advancing women is not necessarily
synonymous with advancing liberalism.

A few days before she made her medical diagnosis, the minister also
made it clear that she opposed love scenes that included kissing
being screened in Turkish television soap operas. "In Europe and
America, series like these are broadcast under supervision," she
said. "They are coded, and anyone who wants to see them has to buy
them separately. Scenes such as these are perhaps not important for
the morals of people aged 45 or 50, but they can have a different
impact on 4- to 10-year-olds."

So what does the minister like watching on TV? "I watch the ‘Valley
of the Wolves’ series," she responded – the very series that sparked
so much friction between Ankara and Jerusalem because of the way it
depicts Israeli soldiers.

ARMENIAN, RUSSIAN FMS MEET IN MOSCOW

armradio.am
09.03.2010 14:44

The foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with
his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. The Foreign Ministers of the
two countries exchanged views on a number of issues on international
agenda.

Ministers Nalbandian and Lavrov discussed the process of implementation
of the agreements reached between the leaders of the two countries,
as well as issues related to the further development of the
Armenian-Russian allied relations.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Russia discussed the process of
negotiations on the Karabakh conflict settlement.

OSCE REPORT LABELS 2008 POST-ELECTION TRIALS AS FLAWED

2010/03/ 08 | 21:49

The conduct of the trials that took place in the aftermath of the
March 2008 post-election violence in Yerevan reveals shortcomings in
Armenia’s justice system, concludes a report published today by the
OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

The 114-page report, based on the monitoring of 93 criminal cases
during a 16-month period, offers detailed recommendations on how to
address the identified shortcomings.

"The trials took place amid high tensions, which made the work of
courts extraordinarily difficult and at the same time raised the
bar for their professional performance to the highest levels," said
Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, ODIHR’s director.

"We hope that this report can give new impetus to the ongoing efforts
by the Armenian authorities to reform the country’s justice system
in line with international standards and OSCE commitments."

The violent clashes that erupted in Yerevan on 1-2 March 2008 between
the police and protesters demonstrating against the conduct of the
February 2008 presidential election resulted in at least eight deaths
and numerous injuries.

Between April 2008 and July 2009, 37 ODIHR monitors observed the
trials of the individuals charged in connection with the clashes.

The report’s recommendations include limiting the use of pre-trial
detention and upholding the presumption of innocence. It also
recommends measures to ensure equality between prosecution and
defence in court and comprehensive investigations into all allegations
of torture or other ill-treatment in order to eliminate the use of
evidence obtained through illegal means. It says judges would benefit
from further training to enhance impartiality and professional conduct.

"The OSCE stands ready to assist the authorities in further advancing
justice reform in Armenia," said Lenarcic.

"We are encouraged by the open attitude we have encountered during
the trial monitoring project and value the authorities’ input in the
process of preparing the final report. It appears that some steps
are already being taken to address the identified shortcomings."

EuroNews , France
March 5, 2010 Friday

Corks pop in Armenia at "genocide" resolution

In the capital of Armenia, applause and the pop of champagne corks
greeted the vote by the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs
Committee.

People rejoiced at the resolution labelling the mass killings of
Armenians in 1915 as "genocide".

"Parliament will now cement itself as the source of progressive
ideas," Sociologist Ludmila Arutunyan said. "What will Armenians
receive? Nothing. They are simply trying to continue their case for
the recognition of genocide against people as a very important step in
preventing genocide in general. There are no personal agendas here.
This is social, human interest."

On the streets of Yerevan, one passer-by said it was important to
speak out against the killings, which happened amid the chaos
surrounding World War I and the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire.

"A progressive and civilised society should express its opinion, that
it condemns such events, then it will be possible to live on this
planet in a civilized way," he said.

The vote comes at a tense time for Turkish-Armenian relations. The two
countries had agreed on protocols forseeing diplomatic relations and
an opening of the common border.

But Armenia’s highest court ruled against them, saying foreign policy
must conform with the view of the killings as genocide.

Targeted News Service
March 4, 2010 Thursday 3:51 AM EST

Rep. Costa Praises Approval of Armenian Genocide Resolution by Foreign
Affairs Committee

WASHINGTON

Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif. (20th CD), issued the following news release:

Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) released the following statement
today after H. Res. 252, a House resolution recognizing the Armenian
Genocide was approved by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Approval by the Committee is a key step towards the resolution being
considered by the full House of Representatives. "As we approach the
95th anniversary of the start of the Armenian Genocide, I am pleased
that members of the Foreign Affairs Committee came together to approve
this resolution," Costa said. "Established history shows that between
1915 and 1923 the Ottoman Empire systematically killed an estimated
1.5 million Armenians and drove hundreds of thousands of others into
exile from their ancestral homeland. The Armenian Genocide created a
framework for genocide, as similar atrocities continued to occur
throughout the 20th century in the Holocaust, Cambodia, Rwanda,
Bosnia, and Darfur."

Along with 42 U.S. States, the Armenian Genocide has been officially
recognized by more than 20 nations, including 11 NATO allies. As
Senators, President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Secretary of
State Clinton recognized the Armenian Genocide and called upon
Congress to adopt the Armenian Genocide Resolution.

"We simply cannot continue our policy of denial regarding the Armenian
Genocide," Costa said. "Silence on this issue runs contrary to our
nation’s values and record on human rights. Genocide must never be
glossed over and forgotten. As the President has said, the Armenian
Genocide is not an allegation, an opinion, or a point of view, but
rather a fact supported by an undeniable body of evidence."

Similar resolutions recognizing the Armenian Genocide have passed the
Foreign Affairs Committee in 2000, 2005, and 2007. Throughout his
career, Congressman Costa has been a strong supporter and advocate for
the Armenian community in the San Joaquin Valley and around the world.

Costa added, "World leaders, especially the United States, must
recognize this genocide and condemn any genocide around the world. I
will work to bring this resolution before the full House for a vote.
Congress must adopt this resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide
so we can truly say ‘never again.’"

Video of Congressman Costa speaking in support of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution can be seen
here( rE)