Author: Harutyunian Christine

MCMAHON BANKROLLED BY TURKISH COALITION OF AMERICA TO DENY ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

M ar 22, 2010

WASHINGTON (Cyprus Action Network of America) – Rep. Michael McMahon
has become bankrolled by the Turkish Coalition of America, according
to the Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA).

In 2009, McMahon became a member of the Subcommittee on Europe in
the House Foreign Affairs Committee. On May 10, 2009, McMahon joined
the Turkish Caucus. He joined the Hellenic Caucus pledging support
for Cyprus and the Patriarchate. To the dismay of Armenian Americans
and Greek Americans, he took the Turkish side to deny the Armenian
Genocide. He took the Azeri Turkish side to condemn the freedom of
Armenian Nagorno-Karabagh from Azerbaijan Turkish persecution. How
trustworthy is this man to Greek Americans when he supports the Turkish
side’s denial of the Armenian Genocide, which means he probably denies
the Genocide of Greeks and Assyrians of Asia Minor, 1915-1923.

McMahon pledged to oppose the Armenian Genocide Resolution in the March
4, vote in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He kept his promise.

The Turkish Lobby is using McMahon, after Robert Wexler’s resignation
from Congress on January 10, to be the next strong Turkey supporter
in the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe.

Wexler was co-chair of the Turkish Caucus and Chair of the Subcommittee
on Europe. McMahon like Wexler occupied congressional districts
where huge Greek-American communities resided. Regardless, they keep
to their strong support for Turkey. Democrat Michael McMahon is the
only strong Turkey supporter in the Subcommittee on Europe along with
Democrat David Scott (he voted against Armenian Genocide Resolution),
CANA reported.

McMahon represents New York’s 13th Congressional District, which
includes Staten Island, Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights and
neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

The Armenian Genocide resolution (H.Res. 106) was submitted to the
House of Representatives by Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA), on
January 30, 2007, during the 110th United States Congress. It was
a non-binding resolution calling upon the US president to ensure
that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate
understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human
rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States
record relating to the Armenian Genocide, and for other purposes. Upon
its introduction it was referred to United States House Committee
on Foreign Affairs where it passed a 27-21 vote and was sent back
for a full house vote. On October 26, 2007, in a letter addressed
to the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, four key sponsors of the bill,
requested a debate on the bill in full House to be postponed.

The resolution affirming the US record on the Armenian Genocide (HR
252) was introduced in the US House by Representatives Adam Schiff
(D.-CA), George Radanovich (R.-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D.-NJ) and
Mark Kirk (R.-Ill) in 2009.

TAIEX to work out recommendations for RA Postal Communication Sector

20.03.2010 18:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On April 19-23 TAIEX (Technical Assistance
Information Exchange) Technical Assistance Information Exchange)
program will conduct 5 day assessment mission to review the existing
Armenian legislative, institutional and regulatory frameworks of
Postal Communication Sector.

The review aims at assessment of the level of compliance of the
Armenian legislation and regulatory policy concerning Postal
Communication Sector with the relevant EU legislation and best
practices, identification of existing legislative, institutional and
regulatory gaps; elaboration of recommendations aimed at the
enhancement of the process of Postal Communication Sector’s reforming
and approximation of the concerned legislation to the relevant EU
acquis and best practices.

The target audience is: representatives of the Ministry of Transport
and Communication of the Republic of Armenia; representatives of
Public Services Regulatory Commission of the Republic of Armenia,
representatives of "Haypost" CJSC.

TAIEX is the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Instrument
of the Institution Building unit of Directorate-General Enlargement of
the European Commission. In operation since 1996, TAIEX provides
centrally managed short-term technical assistance in the field of
approximation, application and enforcement of legislation. Its
services are complementary to the several alternative assistance
programmes the European Commission offers to new Member States,
candidates for accession to the European Union, and the countries of
the Western Balkans. The role of TAIEX is that of a catalyst,
channelling requests for assistance, as well as that of a facilitator,
acting as a broker between the concerned institutions and European
Union Member States for the delivery of appropriate tailor-made
expertise to address problems at short notice. TAIEX is demand driven
in that most of the assistance provided is in response to requests
from the beneficiary countries, the Commission Services, and Member
States. TAIEX is also strategy driven in that requests are addressed
in accordance with the priorities identified by the Commission. The
strategic approach is also evident in the large number of TAIEX’s own
initiatives.

The Australian
March 19, 2010 Friday
1 – All-round Country Edition

Turkish PM’s threat to expel Armenians

The Ottoman genocide in World War I still haunts the modern state

ISTANBUL: Turkey’s Prime Minister has bought into an international row
over the mass killing of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey by threatening to
expel 100,000 Armenians living in the country.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned yesterday that action could be taken if
foreign parliaments continued to recognise the massacre of Armenians
by Ottoman Turks a century ago as genocide.

“In my country there are 170,000 Armenians; 70,000 of them are
citizens. We tolerate 100,000 more. So what am I going to do tomorrow?
If necessary, I will tell the 100,000: OK, time to go back to your
country. Why? They are not my citizens. I am not obliged to keep them
in my country,” he said while in London.

He also warned the Armenian diaspora that its campaign to have the
genocide recognised by foreign parliaments would jeopardise improved
ties between Turkey and Armenia.

Mr Erdogan was to have travelled on to Sweden but he cancelled the
visit and recalled Turkey’s ambassador after Sweden’s parliament voted
to join the nearly 20 countries accusing Ottoman Turks of genocide
over the killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians during World War I.

Ankara also recalled its ambassador to Washington this month after a
US foreign affairs committee passed a genocide resolution. Armenia
condemned Mr Erdogan’s comments, saying it revived memories of the
original killings — many of which happened during deportations of
Armenians accused of supporting the invading Russian army.

“These kinds of statements do not help to improve relations between
our two states. When the Turkish Prime Minister allows himself to make
such statements, it brings up memories of the events of 1915,”
Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian said.

Turkey rejects the accusations. Ankara insists that hundreds of
thousands of Armenians and Muslim Turks died during civil strife in
the final days of the Ottoman empire.

Other countries are expected to pass genocide resolutions before the
centenary of the killings in 2015. Many members of the European Union,
which Turkey wishes to join, including France, Germany and Italy,
already recognise the events as genocide. Even in Britain, which Mr
Erdogan’s aides say is “too smart” to get involved, parliament is
expected to debate a genocide bill next month.

The number of illegal Armenians in Turkey is a matter of debate, with
a study conducted last year claiming the figure could be as low as
10,000. Around half slipped into Turkey in 1988 in the aftermath of
the devastating earthquake that hit Armenia. Others are exiles from
Armenia’s ailing post-Soviet economy.

Turkish politicians have in the past threatened to throw out Armenians
in retaliation for international recognition of the genocide but this
is the first time the threat has come from the leader.

His outburst probably had more to do with domestic political pressure
than foreign policy. Having defied domestic opinion to champion a
policy of reconciliation with Armenia, Mr Erdogan finds himself
accused at home of enfeebling Turkey on the international stage.
Elections are due by July next year and Mr Erdogan is fighting a
rearguard action against nationalist parties on the Left and the
Right.

AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTRY: AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA’S JOINT INVOLVEMENT IN NABUCCO PROJECT IS IMPOSSIBLE

Today
s/64363.html
March 18 2010
Azerbaijan

In this situation, that Armenia created, Azerbaijan will never
be involved in regional projects in which Armenia participates,
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Elkhan Polukhov said.

He was commenting on Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian’s statement that
Armenia does not rule out involvement with Nabucco gas pipeline
project.

"Because of the policies which Armenia pursues, Azerbaijan does
not see possibility to cooperate with a country that still holds 20
percent of its territories under occupation," Polukhov said.

"Therefore, Azerbaijan’s and Armenia’s joint participation in the
Nabucco project and supply of Azerbaijan’s energy resources through
this country’s territory is impossible. Azerbaijan will never let
this happen," he said.

ERDOGAN UNDER FIRE AT HOME FOR REMARKS ON ARMENIAN WORKERS

ArmInfo
2010-03-18 16:56:00

ArmInfo. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks about the
possible deportation of illegal Armenian workers in Turkey have
angered civil society organizations despite the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AK Party) attempts to explain that Erdogan did not
intend to expel these workers but only wanted to underline Turkey’s
"magnanimity."

Today;s Zaman writes that Ozturk Turkdogan, the chairman of the Human
Rights Association (IHD), said Erdogan’s remarks could easily be
considered a "threat" and as discrimination. "These remarks could lead
some people to think that to expel people is a 2010 version of forced
migration. This mentality is far from human rights-oriented thinking.

People have the right to work, and this is universal. There are many
Turkish workers all over the world; does it mean that Turkey will
accept their expulsion when there is an international problem?

Secondly, these remarks are discriminatory; there are many workers
in Turkey of different nationalities," he said.

Ceren Ozturk from the immigrant solidarity network said that free
circulation of people is a universal right and Erdogan’s remarks
are not acceptable. "The right to free circulation cannot be used
as a wild card in international relations. Immigrants have to have
equal rights with Turkish citizens because they are producing and
contributing to society," she said.

"Look, there are 170,000 Armenians in my country — 70,000 of them
are my citizens, but we are managing [tolerating] 100,000 of them in
our country. So, what will we do tomorrow? If it is necessary, I will
tell them, ‘Come on, back to your country.’ I will do it. Why? They
are not my citizens. I am not obliged to keep them in my country. I
mean these are [defenders of the Armenian claims of genocide],
their attitude is affecting our sincere attitude in a negative way,
and they are not aware of it," Erdogan told the BBC.

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR ATTENDS SWEARING-IN CEREMONY OF NEWLY-ELECTED CHILEAN PRESIDENT

Noyan Tapan
March 15, 2010

SANTIAGO, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet
on March 10 received the Armenian Ambassador Vladimir Karmirshalian,
who conveyed the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s condolences on
hundreds of deaths caused by the earthquake in Chile, as well as the
support of Armenia’s people and government for the Chilean people
and government.

The RA MFA Press and Information Department reported that on March 11
V. Karmirshalian attended the swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected
President Sebastian Pinera in the city of Valparaiso.

Presidents of several countries, foreign diplomats, and numerous
delegations from various countries were present at the ceremony.

In Santiago, V. Karmirshalian visited the Armenian House, an assembly
place of the Armenian community of Chile. The opportunities of
most active participation of Armenian Chileans in Armenia-Diaspora
cooperation were discussed during the meeting with community members.

news.az, Azerbaijan
March 13 2010

Kazakhstan working on ways of Karabakh settlement
Sat 13 March 2010 | 06:59 GMT Text size:

‘Kazakhstan that is chairing OSCE is working to achieve solution to
the conflict, including Karabakh’ Deputy FM of Kazakhstan Nurlan
Ermekbayev said.

He said the solution to the conflicts would be one of the priorities
of Kazakhstan during its OSCE chairmanship.

‘We are working on the ways to achieve solution to the conflicts,
including Nagorno Karabakh conflict,’ he said.

Asked whether the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building
Measures in Asia was engaged in the settlement of conflicts,
Ermekbayev noted that one of the priorities of the organization was of
military-political character.

‘But no practical work has been done in this sphere yet,’ he said.

APA

TURKISH PM’S SCHEDULED VISIT TO SWEDEN CANCELLED

People’s Daily Online
March 12 2010
China

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s scheduled visit to
Sweden was cancelled following Swedish Parliament passed an Armenia
genocide resolution, an official statement said Thursday.

The statement issued by Prime Ministry Press Center said that Erdogan
was to attend Turkey-Sweden Summit on March 17, but the visit was
cancelled.

Sweden’s parliament on Thursday passed a resolution recognizing the
killing of Armenians and many other ethnic groups in 1915 as genocide.

The 349-seat parliament passed the resolution with a narrow majority,
with 131 yes, 130 no and 88 abstention, according to the Swedish news
agency TT.

Turkish government immediately recalled its ambassador to Sweden home
in protest against the Swedish parliament’s resolution.

The statement said "Turkish government expresses regret and strongly
condemns approval of the resolution in the Swedish parliament."

"Turkish government rejects this decision lacking basis. It is
obvious that the decision was made taking into consideration some
political interests for the elections in Sweden in September 2010,
" the statement said.

On March 4, Turkey temporarily recalled its ambassador to the United
States following a U.S. congressional panel approved a resolution
labeling the incidents of 1915 as "genocide."

Turkey and Armenia have been bogged down in the row over the deaths
of Armenians, and have no diplomatic or economic ties since Armenia
declared its independence in 1991.

Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols last October to normalize
relations, however, parliaments of the two countries have not passed
them yet.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SPOKESPERSON DENIES RUMOURS THAT SARGSAN WAS ILL IN FRANCE

Tert.am
14:14 ~U 11.03.10

RA President press spokesperson Samvel Farmanyan today denied earlier
reports that RA President Serzh Sargsyan experienced health-related
issues during his official visit to France.

"Those reports have no connection whatsoever with reality. The
president concluded his program with a sparkling and warm dinner
meeting with members of the French-Armenian community yesterday
evening," said Farmanyan.

FEDERATION EURO-ARMENIENNE Pour la Justice et la Démocratie
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel/ Fax: +32 2 732 70 27/26
Website :Eafjd [1]

COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE

_Pour diffusion immédiate_
JEUDI 11 MARS 2010

CONTACT : VARTéNIE ECHO

TEL. / FAX. : +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
LE PARLEMENT SUéDOIS RECONNAîT LE GéNOCIDE DES ARMéNIENS
Bruxelles-Stockholm- le 11 mars 2010
A l’initiative du député issu du parti de gauche, M. Hans Linde,
le Parlement suédois a adopté ce jeudi 11 mars 2010 une motion de
résolution reconnaissant le génocide de 1915 des Arméniens, des
Assyriens/Syriens/Chaldéens et des Grecs pontiques. Ainsi, la Suède
devient le 11ème pays européen à s’engager dans une telle
reconnaissance après l’Allemagne, la Belgique, Chypre, la Grèce,
la France, l’Italie, la Lituanie, la Pologne, les Pays-Bas, la
Slovaquie, ainsi que le Parlement européen.

Par ce vote, le Parlement confirme que _la Suède doit reconnaître
le génocide de 1915 des Arméniens, des Assyriens, des Syriaques,
des Chaldéens et des Grecs pontiques ; qu’elle doit agir au sein
de l’UE et de l’ONU pour une reconnaissance internationale ainsi
qu’auprès de la Turquie, afin que cette dernière reconnaisse ces
génocides._
« Nous saluons les Assyro-Chaldéens et les Grecs pontiques, qui
ont été les compagnons d’infortune des Arméniens victimes de
l’entreprise génocidaire de l’Etat turc. Nous félicitons les
parlementaires suédois pour leur courage face aux pressions du lobby
turc» a déclaré Hilda Tchoboian, Présidente de la Fédération
Euro-ArmÃ&#x A9;nienne pour la Justice et la Démocratie
La Fédération Euro-Arménienne indique qu’en dépit des
pressions et menaces du gouvernement turc, une semaine après le vote
survenu dans la Chambre des Représentants des Etats-Unis, cette
reconnaissance met en évidence l’échec de la politique
négationniste de la Turquie.

« La Turquie a joué d’artifices en signant les protocoles avec
l’Arménie dans l’espoir d’enterrer la question du génocide ;
mais sa position est devenue intenable face à la marche inéluctable
de l’histoire pour la vérité » a annoncé Hilda Tchoboian.
La Fédération appelle le gouvernement suédois à appliquer les
décisions de cette résolution parlementaire dans ses relations
bilatérales avec la Turquie, mais également dans sa politique
européenne, en les plaçant au cÅ`ur de sa position officielle dans
le dossier d’intégration européenne de la Turquie.
En annexe :

La motion de résolution 2008/09 :U332
1- La Suède doit reconnaitre le génocide des Arméniens, des
Assyriens, des Syriaques Chaldéens, et Grecs pontiques en 1915
2- La Suède doit agir avec l’ONU et l’Union européenne en
faveur d’une reconnaissance internationale du génocide des
Arméniens, Assyriens, Syriaques, Chaldéens, et Grecs pontiques en
1915
3.-La Suède doit agir afin que la Turquie reconnaisse le génocide
des Arméniens, Assyriens, Syriaques, Chaldéens, et Grecs pontiques
en 1915