Author: Hunanian Jack

100,000 ILLEGAL ARMENIANS IN TURKEY? NOT TRUE, SAYS ABDULLAH GUL

Tert.am
12:16 â~@¢ 19.03.10

The number of illegal Armenians in Turkey as stated by Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is not accurate, said President of
Turkey Abdullah Gul, reports Turkish daily Hurriyet, commenting on
Erdogan’s recent statement that he would deport all illegal Armenians
living in Turkey should the Armenian Diaspora make efforts to have
more parliaments adopt resolutions recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

"The prime minister just wanted to present, on that issue, Turkey’s
positive approach. The real number is not 100,000. It’s less than
that. The prime minister, in an effort to explain that there is no
hatred towards those who work in such a way in Turkey, used that
example," said the Turkish president.

Asked whether he would speak to US President Barack Obama because,
following the US congressional panel approving H.Res.252 recognizing
the Armenian Genocide, the crisis between the US and Turkey continues,
Gul replied: "I’m no longer going to speak to Obama on that issue.

There’s nothing left to say. We’ve said everything… We’ve spoken
about everything… We’ve presented our opinions and our good
intentions."

In his words, decisions such as the adoption of the Armenian Genocide
resolution complicate the normalization procces between Turkey and
Armenia.

"In any case, problems in the Caucasus are our problems. The current
situation benefits neither Turkey nor Armenia nor Azeribajan. We’ll do
everything possible for the establishment of peace in the Caucasus…,"
said Gul.

OSKANIAN SUGGESTS TAKING ABRUPT STEPS

Tert.am
14:50 ~U 19.03.10

The primary issue for Armenia’s leadership is to avoid creating
any situations which may put pressure on the country. But since it
seems avoiding such situations hasn’t worked out, it’s necessary to
consider what should be done in the future, Armenia’s former foreign
minister Vartan Oskanian said in an interview with local Armenian
business daily Capital, while answeringthe question whether Armenia
is pressured on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

In his words, Armenia either has already given an official answer to
the new proposals presented by the OSCE Mink Group co-chairs or will
do so in the near future.

"If the reality is what I think it is, then I suppose Armenia should
rebuff any document unacceptable for us. Any other unclear or dual
answer may have dangerous consequences for us. On the other hand,
it’s necessary to also present a constructive proposal while rebuffing
the negotiated document," said Oskanian.

In his words when the circumstances, the inertia of negotiations
and the perceptions of the co-chairs are not beneficial for Armenia,
it should take immediate steps instead of sitting and waiting to see
how the situation will develop. At the same time, mentions Oskanian,
any change in accentuation and positions must be well-founded.

"We had such changes in ’98 as a result of a coup. It’s more acceptable
when, in case of a coup, you propose something else while not agreeing
with the position of previous authorities. It is more difficult for
current authorities to substantiate any abrupt change in accentuation
and position, but perhaps it is an unavoidable problem," said Oskanian.

ALBERT HUIE OBITUARY

guardian.co.uk
Wednesday 17 March 2010 19.05 GMT

Landscape and portrait artist often described as the father of Jamaican
painting Edward Lucie-Smith

Crop Time, 1955, one of the best-known works by Albert Huie.

Photograph: National Gallery of Jamaica

Albert Huie, who has died aged 89, was often described as the father
of Jamaican painting. Although he produced folkloric genre pieces,
his main concern was with his island’s rich landscape and the physical
beauty of its people.

His appreciation of beauty occasionally got him into trouble. A
locally famous example is his voluptuous nude Miss Mahogany. This
caused an uproar when it was first exhibited in Kingston in 1960,
and a second uproar 40 years later when it featured in Air Jamaica’s
SkyWritings magazine. There was such an outcry that the edition of
the magazine had to be withdrawn.

Albert Huie Huie, who was by then living in Baltimore, Maryland,
was philosophical about the revival of the scandal: "The first time,
I thought the people were backward because nude paintings had been
shown throughout the world for years. I now just think these people
[who complained] are limited."

He had perhaps more reason to feel slightly aggrieved by the way
in which the intellectual elite of his own country had turned away
from the kind of art he practised. In his latter years, the fashion
in Jamaica was for "intuitives" – untutored artists, usually from a
Rastafarian background, whose work resembles that of the voodoo artists
to be found in Haiti. These were thought to be more representative of
local sensibilities and, in particular, to reflect links with African
culture – something that Huie could not claim to do.

He was born into a poor family during colonial rule and grew up in
the town of Falmouth, Trelawny. The only member of his family who
encouraged his ambition to be an artist was his grandmother Sarah. He
used to scribble on her walls and floors with pieces of charcoal taken
from her stove. He moved to Kingston, aged 16, and became a china
painter, although his family wanted him to become a teacher. His
first formal training in art came from the Armenian painter Koren
der Harootian, then living in Jamaica. He was selected for shows of
world art at the New York World’s Fair (where he was a prizewinner)
and the San Francisco Golden Gate exhibition, both in 1939.

Huie joined the circle of the sculptor Edna Manley and, from 1940 to
1944, served as a teaching assistant at the art classes she organised.

In 1943 he exhibited his work at the Institute of Jamaica in Kingston,
his first major solo exhibition and the first solo show given there
to any living Jamaican artist.

In 1944, thanks to a British Council scholarship, Huie went to the
Ontario College of Art in Canada. He later studied aesthetics at the
University of Toronto. Two of his teachers in Canada, JEH MacDonald and
Frank Carmichael, who had been founder members in 1920 of the Group of
Seven, influenced his attitude towards landscape. Later that decade,
when he moved to Britain, he went first to the Leicester College of
Art and then the Camberwell School of Art in south-east London. Here he
studied under Victor Pasmore and Claude Rogers, founder members of the
Euston Road school, which emphasised the close observation of nature.

Later he settled in Canada, before moving to Baltimore. He received a
number of Jamaican honours – the Institute of Jamaica Silver Musgrave
medal (1958), the Gold Musgrave medal (1976), the Order of Distinction
(1983) and promotion to Commander of the Order of Distinction (1992).

One of his images, The Vendor, was also used on a Jamaican postage
stamp.

In addition to Miss Mahogany, his best known images include The
Counting Lesson, a portrait of a Jamaican girl, now on extended
loan to the National Gallery of Jamaica, and Crop Time (1955) in
the National Gallery’s own collection. The Bahamian art historian
Krista Thompson said of The Counting Lesson that it provides "a rare
representational mirror of black Jamaica, allowing black viewers
to attribute to themselves the signs of distinction, prestige and
selfhood formerly reserved for the white colonial elite".

Huie was much loved for his genial personality and was always
celebrated when he returned to Jamaica. He is survived by his wife,
Phyllis, three daughters – Evelyn, Christine and Alicia – and three
grandchildren.

~U Albert Huie, artist, born 31 December 1920; died 31 January 2010

atens-to-expel-100000-armenians-over-us-vote/

Tur kish PM Threatens to Expel 100,000 Armenians Over US Vote
PM: Letting Armenians Stay a ‘Display of Our Peaceful Approach’
by Jason Ditz, March 17, 2010

In an interview yesterday with the BBC, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan sought to underscore just how seriously he views a recent vote
by the US House Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this month, by
threatening to expel some 100,000 Armenian workers from the nation in
retaliation.

The House committee narrowly passed a resolution declaring the Ottoman
era killing of Armenians `genocide,’ leading Turkey to withdraw its
ambassador and sending the issue for future consideration in the full
House.

It is unclear how that vote and the Turkish PM’s threat are connected,
except that they both involve Armenians somehow. Edrogan insisted that
the Armenians are only allowed to remain in Turkey as a `display of
our peaceful approach,’ adding that `we have to get something in
return.’

President Obama, who campaigned during the most recent election in
favor of supporting the resolution, has completely changed his
position, and now vows to do everything in his power to stop the
measure from getting through the House of Representatives.

TURKEY OBSTRUCTING NORMALIZATION PROCESS WITH ARMENIA

Interfax
March 16 2010
Russia

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan has criticized authorities
in Ankara for saying that recognition of the Armenian Genocide is
hampering the Turkish-Armenian reconciliation process.

"Turkey’s groundless claims that Armenian Genocide resolution
currently being debated and adopted in the United States House of
Representatives, the Parliament of Sweden and other countries could
harm the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations is just a shield
aimed at covering up the fact that Turkey itself spares no efforts
to make preconditions that create difficulties and obstacles in the
normalization process," he said.

"The measures being taken by this country call into question the
meaning of the term ‘sensible timeframe’," the Armenian foreign
minister said.

Nalbandyan said he hoped that the Turkish authorities would realize
the gravity of the consequences their continuing policy could entail.

VOLUMES OF EXPORT OF YEREVAN BRANDY COMPANY GROW BY 11%

ArmInfo
2010-03-15 10:42:00

ArmInfo. "Volumes of export of Yerevan Brandy Company grew by 11%",
YBC Executive Director Ara Grigoryan said to ArmInfo at March 14
press- conference dedicated to the official opening of a distillation
workshop in the town of Berd of Tavush region. According to him,
it will succeed to fully recover the volumes of brandy, produced in
the pre- crisis period, in 2012. A. Grigoryan forecasts 15% growth
of production in 2010.

When speaking of diversification of sales markets, the director
said YBC made many attempts in this direction, and some of them
were successful. However, it is still early to say about serious
achievements as regards extension of our presence in the international
market in view of the global financial and economic crisis. Russia
still remains the main sales market for YBC, that according to A.

Grigoryan, gears production to one sales market. The company will
keep on effective working on further diversification of markets for
reduction of the Armenian brandy export share to Russia and development
of new sales markets.

To note, brandy production in Armenia in 2009 reduced by 46%, and 36%
fall of production volumes was fixed just in YBC.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIR BERNARD FASSIER PUBLICIZES ESSENCE OF MADRID PRINCIPLES

APA
March 12 2010
Azerbaijan

OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and Armenian Foreign Minister will meet
in Paris on March 16

Baku. Lachin Sultanova – APA. "Any solution to Nagorno Karabakh
conflict must ensure the temporary status, security of Karabakh and
return of the IDPs to Nagorno Karabakh," OSCE Minsk Group co-chair
Bernard Fassier said at the NATO PA Rose-Roth seminar in Yerevan,
APA reports.

According to the mediator, Madrid principles envisage referendum with
participation of the people who had lived in Nagorno Karabakh before
the war, corridor between Armenia and Karabakh, return of refugees
and establishment of peace in the conflict zone with the help of the
international forces.

Bernard Fassier considers that it is high time to activate the process
of negotiations.

Mentioning that Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with
the mediators in Paris, Fassier said Armenian Foreign Minister will
arrive in Paris on March 16 and similar meeting will be held with him.

TURKEY RECALLS AMBASSADOR AFTER SWEDEN PASSES ‘GENOCIDE’ RESOLUTION
John Signoriello

examiner.com
x-36464-NY-Military-Headlines-Examiner~y2010m3d11- Turkey-recalls-ambassador-after-Sweden-passes-geno cide-resolution
March 12 2010

Turkish riot police outside US embassy in Ankara last wk (AP
Photo)Turkey recalled its ambassador to Sweden today and canceled an
upcoming summit between the countries after the Swedish parliament
branded the World War I killing of Armenians by Ottoman forces
‘genocide’, according to Reuters and a number of other news agencies.

"We strongly condemn this resolution, which is made for political
calculations," Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said, according
to Reuters.

"It does not correspond to the close friendship of our two nations. We
are recalling our ambassador for consultations," Erdogan said, adding
that he was cancelling a Turkey-Sweden summit scheduled for March 17.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a similar resolution last
week that labeled Turkey’s early 20th-century atrocities against the
Armenian people as ‘genocide.’

Minutes after the vote, Turkey withdrew its ambassador to the U.S.

Reuters reports that the Swedish resolution passed by an extremely
narrow margin, with 131 parliamentarians voting in favor and 130
against. Another 88 members of parliament were absent.

The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee vote last week passed by
only one vote (23-22).

U.S. HR 252 states in part:

"The Armenian Genocide was conceived and carried out by the Ottoman
Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulting in the deportation of nearly
2,000,000 Armenians…1,500,000 men, women, and children were killed
and 14,500,000 survivors were expelled from their homes."

Eighteen NY and NJ legislators co-sponsored the resolution, including
NY Reps Charles Rangel and Anthony Weiner. A similar resolution
is pending in the Senate, where NY Senator Charles Schumer is a
co-sponsor.

NY Congressman, Michael McMahon (D-SI/Bklyn), a member of the House
committee, opposed the resolution.

"If HR 252 is passed and Turkey decides to close its border to our
troops in Iraq or remove its $100 million investment in Afghanistan,
our Armed Forces will be forced to take longer, more dangerous routes
to and from Iraq, exposing them to a greater possibility of attack
and longer deployments," Rep. McMahon stated.

Turkey is the critical passageway for our troops to Iraq, he said,
shortening travel time and reducing the risk of an IED attack.

"Furthermore, as a critical Muslim NATO ally and partner in
Afghanistan, we rely on Turkey to protect our troops as part of the
broader Afghan reconstruction effort."

Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George Bush I, Bill Clinton and
George Bush II have all opposed a similar resolution based on similar
arguments, according to Rep. McMahon, while Secretary of Defense
Robert Gates, under both the Bush and Obama Administrations, has
warned against the passage of the resolution.

"If Turkey decides to withdraw its support for the US mission in Iraq
and Afghanistan, I know that my visits to Walter Reed and Arlington
will only increase," Rep McMahon stated. "Even with my profound
sympathy for the families of those who perished during the Ottoman
Empire, I cannot responsibly risk such a possibility."

Rep. McMahon represents the 13th Congressional District, which includes
all of Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn. He faces re-election in
November. Michael Allegretti, a possible GOP opponent, announced he
favored the resolution.

"I urge the members of the House Foreign Relations to stand-up and
recognize the genocide which took place between 1915-1923," Mr.

Allegretti stated."It is unspeakable that one and a half million
Armenians lost their lives in an effort to erase them from their
homeland. Passage of this resolution would be a positive step for
the region."

Rep. McMahon called Allegretti’s position "reckless, irresponsible
and a serious threat to US national security and the safety of our
Armed Forces."

Turkey’s Foreign Minister warned the Obama administration to impede
the resolution or "the picture ahead will not be a positive one,"
according to AFP.

Foreign Minister Davutoglu said the Obama administration had not
put sufficient weight behind efforts to block the vote and called on
Washington to do more to prevent the measure from now going to the full
House. He complained of a lack of ‘strategic vision’ in Washington,
adding that the issue was a matter of ‘honor’ for his country.

According to Reuters, Turkey has signaled that its ambassador to
the United States will not return until the fate of the non-binding
congressional resolution is clear.

Reuters further reported that the administration of President Barack
Obama has vowed to stop the resolution from going further in Congress
in a bid to limit the diplomatic fallout.

Many analysts have pointed out that passage of the resolution comes at
a time the US is seeking Turkey’s support for sanctions against Iran.

FLAP OVER GENOCIDE RESOLUTION STRAINS TURKISH-US TIES

Southeast European Times
March 11 2010

Saying it is a matter of national honour, Ankara voices anger over
a non-binding resolution that describes the WWI-era massacre of
Armenians as genocide.

By Erol Izmirli for Southeast European Times in Istanbul — 11/03/10

Turkish Ambassador to the United States Namik Tan was recalled after
the March 4th vote on the Armenian genocide resolution. [Getty Image]

AAnkara says Turkish Ambassador to the United States Namik Tan will
not be returning to Washington until the future of the so-called
"Armenian genocide" bill becomes known.

By a vote of 23-22, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee approved
the resolution on March 4th, prompting Ankara to recall Tan. The
measure is non-binding and has no actual impact on policy.

Nevertheless, it has affected ties between Ankara and Washington,
two close NATO allies. "The US should not lose a strategic partner as
Turkey because of such an issue," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
told reporters Tuesday (March 9th).

The resolution accuses Turkey "of a crime that it has not committed",
the Turkish government said in its first reaction to the committee
vote.

The measure calls on the Obama administration to ensure that US policy
formally refers to the World War I-era killings of Armenians in the
Ottoman Empire as "genocide", and mandates that President Barack
Obama use the term when he delivers his annual message on the issue
in April — something he avoided doing last year.

While acknowledging that many Armenians perished during the waning
days of the Ottoman Empire, Turkish leaders insist the tragedy was
due to an overall state of anarchy and violence, which also claimed
Turkish lives.

Turkey denies there was any systematic programme to eliminate
Armenians. Turkish citizens who speak of the massacres have been
jailed under a 2005 statute — Article 301 –which outlaws "insults"
to the Turkish nation.

Scholars have put the number of Armenians killed in Turkey around
1915 at more than one million.

The flap comes as a Turkey and neighbouring Armenia are engaged in a
diplomatic process to end decades-old hostility through two protocols
signed in last November. The countries will normalise ties and open
the border following ratification of the protocols by each nation’s
parliament.

Erdogan’s office is planning to consult with President Abdullah Gul
as well as opposition parties — if necessary — to discuss future
steps and formulate a common policy on the issue. Davutoglu described
the US allegations as "a matter of national honour for us".

Armenian-American groups welcomed passage of the resolution, saying
their next objective will be the resolution’s endorsement by the full
US House of Representatives.

"Truth prevailed today, and the cause of genocide affirmation
and prevention has been furthered," said Bryan Ardouny, executive
director of the Armenian Assembly of America, a large Armenian-American
organisation headquartered in Washington.

The Armenian government called the vote an important step forward
for human rights.

Related ArticlesLoading"This is [more] proof of the devotion of the
American people to universal human values and is an important step
towards the prevention of crimes against humanity," Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian said in a statement Friday.

But Turkish officials say the measure will hinder rather than help the
process of rapprochement. "Every decision you take in [this] fashion
has been blocking Turks’ peace with the Armenians. Please review this
issue," Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said after the committee vote.

His ministry has asked US Ambassador to Ankara James Jeffrey to relay
Turkey’s concerns. In short remarks to the press after meeting with
Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Selim Yenel, Jeffrey
said the Obama administration opposed the resolution.

Similar resolutions passed the same committee in 2000, 2005 and 2007,
but none of them reached a House floor vote.

/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2010/03/11/featur e-02

TURKEY RECALLS ENVOY TO SWEDEN OVER ARMENIAN VOTE

Ynetnews
March 11 2010
Israel

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday he has recalled Turkey’s
ambassador to Stockholm over a Swedish parliament vote branding the
World War One killing of Armenians by Ottoman forces as genocide.

"We strongly condemn this resolution, which is made for political
calculations. It does not correspond to the close friendship of our
two nations. We are recalling our ambassador for consultations,"
Erdogan said in a statement on his website. (Reuters)