AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI’S HEALTH "GOOD"
Aysor.am
Saturday, October 17
Some media outlets released yesterday that Iran’s Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dead or might be in a coma.
Aysor’s correspondent asked this question to Iranian Embassy which
responded: "He feels well and there were no such information to be
spread or discussed in Iran. Inside the country there was no such
subject, just outside. His condition is good."
OPERA SINGER ARAKS DAVTYAN TO PERFORM IN YEREVAN IN FRAMES OF "RETURN" FESTIVAL
PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2009 15:18 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The fifth out six concerts in frames of the third
"Return" festival will be held October 18 at the Chamber Music Hall
after Komitas.
Viva Mozart concert will be held with participation of the famous
opera singer Araks Davtyan , as well as the Armenian state ensemble
of soloists under the leadership of Zaven Vardanyan. Araks Davtyan
received international recognition after she had won the Viotti
International Competition in 1984 and immediately was invited to the
Bolshoi Theater, where she made her debut as Violetta (La Traviata
"by Verdi).
Her concert tour in the U.S. and Europe with the "Moscow Virtuoso
under Vladimir Spivakov" was an international sensation. Araks Davtyan
has had numerous performances with the most famous orchestras and
conductors, including the State Academic Chamber Orchestra of Russia
under Constantine Orbelian.
The "Return" festival aims to attract attention of Armenians around the
world to the problem of repatriation. The festival is also aimed at
presenting the Armenian audience the latest achievements of skilled
musicians, promoting and encouraging new creative ideas and the
work of Armenian composers, to shape a social need in the modern
classical music.
The festival opened September 22 will last until October 24. The
"Return" festival of classical music is held by the "Art Gallery"
Cultural Foundation under the high patronage of Armenia’s First Lady
Rita Sargsyan and with financial support of VivaCell-MTS.
TURKEY 2 – 0 ARMENIA
armradio.am
15.10.2009 11:09
The Armenian national football team lost to Turkey Armenia 2-0 in a
World Cup qualifying group game on Wednesday.
The two teams met in Bursa for a football game that was rich in
political texture but low in sporting importance. Both teams had lost
hopes of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but the
match was still interesting because it came as the two countries take
steps toward normalization.
The game at Bursa Ataturk Stadium was watched by Turkish President
Abdullah Gul, Armenian President Serge Sarkisian and the chief of
world football’s governing body, FIFA, Michel Platini.
Football kicks off an end to hostility between Armenia and Turkey
>From The Times Online
October 14, 2009
Commentary: Suna Erdem
Football and nationalism go hand in hand in Turkey and Bursa is one of its
more nationalistic cities.
Despite an agreement this week that hopes to end nearly a century of hatred
over Ottoman Turkish massacres of ethnic Armenians, the issue remains
divisive.
Talks between the leadership of the countries began in 2005 but it was the
attendance of Abdullah Gül, the Turkish President, at a game in Yerevan last
year that started a national debate.
That led to protocols being signed on Saturday which established diplomatic
ties for the first time since the founding of the Turkish republic 86 years
ago.
They will also lead to the reopening of the last closed European border,
which was shut in 1993. Turkey¹s Deputy Prime Minister, Cemil Cicek, said
that the protocols would be debated in Parliament on October 21. Opposition
parties in Turkey, with a tradition of nationalistic bluster behind them,
continue to resist the Armenia deal.
The two countries have also agreed to set up a joint ³historical commission²
to review the events of 1915-1923, though it is unclear how much authority
its findings will have against a century of enmity.
Nevertheless, many observers believe that there can be no return to the days
of outright hostility. ³All this is even more important than it looks,²
wrote Etyen Mahcupyan, the editor of Agos, the Armenian-language newspaper.
³The defining factor here is the process between the peoples… Even if they
do not open the border, people will behave as if it had been opened…
Turkey¹s good fortune here is that it has a government that could take the
initiative.²
The insistence of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Prime Minister, to pursue an
unpopular political course less than two years before he faces a general
election has been lauded. However it is Mr Gül ? elected in 2007 amid public
fear over his Islamist background ? who has been singled out for praise as
the most democratically minded president Turkey has ever had.
³Abdullah Gül¹s contribution is enormous,² said Baskin Oran, who campaigns
for Turks to apologise for the 1915 killings. ³This leadership is the first
in Turkey without nationalistic baggage.²
Turkey undoubtedly hopes to please the European Union, which it wants to
join, and the US, which threatens to recognise the Armenian ³genocide². The
country¹s new masters are genuinely puzzled by the reluctance of their
predecessors to make amends.
As the Turkish Culture Minister, Ertugrul Gunay, declared: ³There is no
quarrel between today¹s Armenia and today¹s Turkey, and it is hardly
justified or rational for an argument over something that happened so long
ago, before the Turkish republic even existed, to overshadow relations
between the two countries.²
TURKEY-ARMENIA ACCORDS AIM TO DISPEL HOSTILITY
By Delphine Strauss in Ankara
FT
October 12 2009 03:00
Turkey and Armenia signed accords aimed at ending a century of
hostility at the weekend, but only after a nail-biting delay that
showed how difficult it could still be to turn promises on paper
into reality.
Diplomatic convoys raced through the streets of Zurich throughout
the evening as Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, stepped
in to help smooth last-minute disagreements that threatened to derail
the ceremony.
Foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward Nalbandian finally
emerged to sign protocols setting a timetable for the two countries
to restore diplomatic relations and open their shared border – after
agreeing neither would make any statement.
After a handshake, punctuated by smiles only from Turkey’s Mr
Davutoglu, the two men received hugs and congratulations from
on-lookers including Bernard Kouchner, the French foreign minister,
the European Union’s Javier Solana and Russia’s Sergei Lavrov.
By mending ties, Turkey stands to gain influence in the Caucasus,
smooth its path to EU membership – and lessen the perennial threat of
US legislators recognising Ottoman massacres of up to 1.5m Armenians
in 1915 as genocide.
Armenia would also gain through trade links with a large economy
closely tied to the EU if Turkey reopens the border it closed in 1994
to support its ally Azerbaijan in a conflict with Armenia over the
disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
But Armenians’ anger at Turkey’s denial that the 1915 killings were
genocide, and Turks’ anger at Armenia’s occupation of Azeri territory,
mean each government faces big obstacles to ratifying and implementing
the agreement – even though each should technically be able to win
a parliamentary vote.
"We are sending the protocols to parliament, but to ratify these our
parliament will certainly watch what is happening in the matter of
Azerbaijan and Armenia," Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish prime minister,
told his party yesterday. "Turkey cannot take a positive step towards
Armenia unless Armenia withdraws from Azeri land."
Azerbaijan has hinted that it could reconsider oil and gas sales to
Turkey if Ankara mends ties with Yerevan before any solution to the
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. The foreign ministry in Baku said
in a statement yesterday that the agreement was against its national
interests and "cast a shadow over fraternal relations" with Turkey,
which are based on close ethnic ties.
The protocols make no mention of Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia says that
there should be no linkage between the two issues. Although Russian
diplomats said talks between the Armenian and Azeri presidents last
Thursday were "constructive", Ilham Aliyev, Azeri president, told
state television there had been no progress.
TURKEY REASSURES AZERBAIJAN OVER ARMENIAN BORDER
AZG DAILY
2009-10-14 00:21:37 (GMT +04:00)
Armenia-Turkey-Azerbaijan
Turkey has given Azerbaijan fresh assurances that it will not normalize
relations with Armenia until a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict satisfying Azerbaijani demands.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated on Tuesday that further
progress in the Karabakh peace process will be a determining factor
in the consideration by the Turkish parliament of the Turkish-Armenian
agreements signed in Zurich over the weekend.
"The parliament will look at the developments in the problems between
Azerbaijan and Armenia," AFP news agency quoted Erdogan as telling a
meeting of his party’s lawmakers, who hold the majority of seats in
Turkey’s Grand National Assembly.
"If the problems… are put on the track of solution, the Turkish
people will embrace more the normalization of Turkish-Armenian
relations and the Turkish parliament’s ratification of the protocols
will become much easier," he said, Azatutyun reports.
NATO WEEK STARTED
os15516.html
15:12:10 – 12/10/2009
>From October 12 to 16, within the frameworks of the Armenia-NATO
Private partnership actions, the NATO regular week will be held
(third time) in Armenia during which visits of the representatives
of the alliance to Yerevan, as well as meetings, an international
conference, photo-exhibition, Yerevan-Pristine TV bridge are planned.
The NATO week is one of the most important events of this year and
aims at presenting the Armenian society the main directions of the
Armenia-NATO cooperation and its content.
BORDER MUST BE OPENED
s15500.html
11:43:09 – 12/10/2009
The German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued a statement
in connection with singing of the Armenian and Turkish protocols
which runs:
"Armenia and Turkey opened a new page in their histories. I command
this brave step which deserves our respect and recognition. These
arrangements offer concrete prospects for good neighborly relations
based on mutual accord and trust.
This course of rapprochement is also an important contribution to
the Caucasus region for cooperation, security, and stability.
Now the question is to ratify the protocols as soon as possible and
to put them in force. We encourage all the political forces in Turkey
and Armenia to use the present dynamics for the sake of normalizing
relations".
The protocols, besides the establishment of diplomatic relations also
provide for border opening within two months after their entrance
in force.
Regular consultations are to be held between the foreign
ministries. Dialogue has to be carried out on the historic side of the
relations which will include also independent scientific study. The
fulfillment of arrangements must be secured by a joint interstate
commission headed by foreign ministries.
Press service-Foreign Department Berlin, 11 October 2009
PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
461 Bergen Boulevard
Ridgefield, NJ 07657
Tel: 201-945-0011
Fax: 201-945-8992
E-mail: [email protected]
ARMENIAN REVOLUTIONARY FEDERATION-DASHNAKTSUTYUN
DECLARATION
The protocols on establishing relations between the Republic of
Armenia and the Republic of Turkey were signed on October 10.
On this occasion, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation declares:
a) Consultations, which took place over the last several weeks after
the protocols were made public, although not always under free and
transparent conditions, proved that there are serious concerns and
great counteraction regarding these documents; that the homeland and
the Diaspora have the same approach to fundamental issues concerning
all Armenians. It was made clear that the struggle for the Armenian
Cause is simultaneously a struggle for the fate and development of our
independent statehood.
b) The consultations proved that the protocols and the process include
provisions satisfying the three fundamental preconditions which Turkey
has put forth since the first days of the independence of the Republic
of Armenia. It also became apparent that the same concerns existed in
those Armenian circles who were defending the Armenian President’s
policy.
c) These concerns were finally clearly expressed by the President of
the Republic of Armenia in his address to the Armenian people on
October 10. The President of Armenia disclosed the existence of those
very same dangers and preconditions that the Dashnaktsutyun had
expressed. In particular, the President of the Republic of Armenia
affirmed that:
1. Any kind of relations with Turkey cannot put into question the
veracity of the Armenian Genocide and the fact that the Armenian
people have been dispossessed of their homeland.
2. There exists a border issue between Armenia and Turkey.
3. The signed documents cannot in any way be related to the resolution
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
We are convinced that had the president expressed these positions
earlier, it could have steered the consultations correctly and could
have resulted in the refusal to sign the protocols. At any rate, this
position must guide all the representatives of the Armenian
authorities, as well as those who defended the now-signed protocols.
d) Turkey’s unconstructive position during the signing ceremonies of
the protocols is an eloquent testament that Turkey is realizing the
process in favor of accomplishing its own preconditions, which was
sufficient foundation for Armenia to refuse to sign. The scandal that
occurred during the signing ceremony is a testament to the failure of
our diplomacy in Armenia-Turkey negotiations. The presence of the
foreign ministers of the United States, the Russian Federation,
France, the European Union and Switzerland and the efforts to ensure
the signing of the protocols at any cost is in fact pressure being
brought to bear, especially on the Republic of Armenia. We are
convinced, that Armenia should not have succumbed to those pressures.
It is equally unacceptable for the world’s power centers to exert
pressure on small nations, through political, economical or other
means.
e) We are entering a new stage of the struggle following the signing
of the protocols. The new announcements being made from Turkey are a
testament to that country’s objective, which is to weaken Armenia and
the Armenians and to enforce new concessions.
Under these conditions it is necessary, through all possible means to
prevent the ratification of the protocols which are a blow to the
interests of our state and nation. That objective demands the widening
and deepening of our pan-Armenian unity; not to open the door to any
expression of national discord and to be prepared to endure
potentially dangerous new developments that await pan-national issues.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is steadfast in its struggle to
ensure the failure of the ratification of the protocols. For that
objective, the Dashnaktsutyun will use all political and
constitutional means all the way to regime change, if necessary.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is appealing to the all
Armenians to arm themselves with confidence and resolve. We are
compelled to prevent the ratification of the protocols with our
combined powers and by doing so to neutralize the real dangers
threatening Armenia and the Armenians, in the name of the Republic of
Armenia, liberated Artsakh, the unity of our people and the right of
our generations to live in dignity in the world.
ARMENIAN REVOLUTIONARY FEDERATION
12 October 2009
Yerevan
PRESIDENT TO REVIEW HIS TIES WITH DIASPORA AFTER PROTOCOL SIGNING
PanARMENIAN.Net
10.10.2009 14:14 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On October 10, Chair of Heritage faction Stepan
Safaryan disseminated a statement in Zurich in connection with
Armenian-Turkish Protocols. Statement particularly says that violating
regional status quo to Armenia’s benefit, Protocol signing drives a
wedge between Armenia and Diaspora.
After Protocol signing, Safaryan said, President Sargsyan will have
to review his statement saying, "Armenia with Diaspora differs from
Armenia without Diaspora."
Statement also says that by making decision to sign Protocols, RA
President affirmed that Armenia and Diaspora had different interests
in all-national issues and interests of 75% of Armenians worldwide
are not considered in Armenian-Turkish process.