Author: Kalashian Nyrie

STATEMENT BY THE POLITICAL COALITION

A1Plus.am
22/04/10

JOINT STATEMENT BY THE POLITICAL COUNCILS OF THE PARTIES FORMING THE
POLITICAL COALITION IN THE RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

In the last two years, the RA President has taken consistent steps
toward establishing and developing Turkish-Armenian relations without
preconditions with support from the political majority of the RA
National Assembly.

The US, the Russian Federation, France and Switzerland actively
contributed to the process and many countries of the world gave
a positive response to the initiative, stressing its exceptional
importance for establishing stability in the region and solving
current issues through civilized dialogue.

Armenia’s constructive efforts and the international community’s
expectations clashed with Turkey’s inconsistent and dodging positions,
its ongoing policy on setting preconditions which led the process of
ratifying the Turkey-Armenia Protocols signed on 2009 October 10 in
Zurich in a reasonable timeframe into a labyrinth.

The majority of the RA National Assembly does not accept Turkey’s
announcements, particularly the latest announcements by Prime
Minister Erdogan according to which the Turkish parliament continues
to directly link the ratification of the Turkey-Armenia Protocols with
the settlement of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Taking into account that Turkey’s refusal to meet the commitments
of ratifying the Protocols without preconditions and in a reasonable
timeframe makes it senseless to continue the process of ratification
at the RA National Assembly, the majority deems it necessary to decree
a moratorium and, as an issue of necessity, take the discussion of
the issue out of the agenda of the National Assembly’s four-day
sessions until the Turkish side is ready to continue the process
without preconditions.

REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARMENIA "BARGAVACH HAYASTAN" (PROSPEROUS ARMENIA)
PARTY "ORINATS YERKIR" (COUNTRY OF LAW) PARTY

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO UNITED KINGDOM DELIVERS SPEECH AT ST ANDREWS UNIVERSITY IN SCIENTIFIC FORUM DEDICATED TO CAUCASUS

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 20, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS: An international scientific conference
dedicated to Caucasus was held April 16-17 at St Andrews University
on "Caucasus: perception of freedom and negotiation over possession"
with the participation of the ambassadors of Armenia, Georgia and
Azerbaijan, as well as of experts and scientists arrived from other
countries.

Armenian Foreign Ministry press service told Armenpress that issues
on the conflicts of the region, as well as the relations of Caucasus
and West, political, cultural, language and historical issues were
discussed.

Armenian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Vahe Gabrielyan referred
in his speech to the Armenian identity, to the main challenges the
Armenian foreign policy faces in Artsakh issue, in Armenian-Turkish
relations and in the process of recognition of he Armenian Genocide
of 1915. He particularly noted that the improvement process of
Armenian-Turkish relations cannot be observed in the context of
relations with third countries, and the Armenian leadership and people
can never forget or ignore the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

V. Gabrielyan thoroughly referred to the history of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict and presented the fair struggle of Nagorno Karabakh people
for their rights. Afterward he answered questions regarding Nagorno
Karabakh conflict and regional policy of Armenia.

St Andrews University is one of the first universities of Scotland
and of the United Kingdom and has a high reputation, and its center
for Russian, soviet, Central and Eastern European researches, which
organized this forum collaboratively with the British Academy, has
conducted an event on this theme for the second time.

EXTENSIVE REFORMS TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN RESCUE SYSTEM OF ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 20, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS: Extensive reforms will be implemented
in the rescue system of Armenia. The first step is the working out
of a draft concept of reforms. On those issues the inter-department
commission has summoned today its first session, chaired by Secretary
of the National Security Council Arthur Baghdasaryan.

Press service of the National Security Council told Armenpress that
pointing out the importance of reforms of the rescue service A.
Baghdasaryan noted that the mission of each state is the defense of
the rights of citizens and ensuring of security. In this regard the
reforms of the rescue service are of military significance.

"Only during this year 27 collapses and over 400 fires have taken
place in our country, as a result of which 3 people have been killed,
7 people have received injuries of different degrees, citizens and
juridical persons have experienced an economic damage of millions
of Dollars.

Of course, the rescue service has operatively responded, but our goal
is to form in Armenia such a system of displaying operative support
to citizens, which operates in developed countries.

We intend extensive reforms in the system of rescue service, and I am
sure that in case of their efficient implementation, we can defend
our citizens more efficiently, we may ensure their security, and it
is one of the most important ingredients of ensuring the security of
our country," Arthur Baghdasaryan said. He noted that the initiative
of reforms in the rescue system is conditioned by the international
commitments assumed by the country.

A decision has been adopted at the session to present the draft
concept to ratification within 3 monts.

EURASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK WILL PROVIDE LOANS TO ARMENIAN COMPANIES

Tert.am
16.04.10

Eurasian Development Bank is planning to sign agreements with
Armenia and Belarus to open representations from April-May in the two
countries, bank’s Chairman of the Board Igor Finogenov was reported
as saying, according to a release issued by the bank.

It also said that Armenia became a full member of the bank in April
last year and shortly after its membership acquisition the country
started actively discussing infrastructure projects.

The bank will in the coming 2-3 months discuss the first loan contracts
with Armenian companies.

"Our experience shows that the period of the discussion of the project
– till the signing of the loan contract after the loan holder applies
for the bank – lasts 9-12 months. That is a good indicator given the
complexity and the scale of the projects," mentioned Finogenov.

According to him there will be no limit on the loans, and that the
scales of financing of Armenian companies will depend on the extent
the proposed projects will meet the strategy and risk standards set
by the bank.

LANDSLIDE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN ARMENIA IS STILL GOING ON

ArmInfo
2010-04-15 11:30:00

ArmInfo. The landslide on the interstate highway
Yerevan-Sevan-Ijevan-Georgian border is still going on.

Press-secretary of the Armenian Minister of Transport and Communication
Sousanna Tonoyan told ArmInfo that the landslide destroyed a 150 m
long road section at the 114th kilometer of the highway. Armenian
Minister of Transport and Communication Manouk Vardanyan, who went
to Tavush region to study the situation, instructed the relevant
bodies to conduct preliminary research and present possible variants
of temporary exploitation of the highway and construction of an
alternative road. The results of the research will be submitted
for discussion of the government. At the moment the inter-regional
transport routes are somewhat changed. The Ijevan-Yerevan-Ijevan route
passes via the town of Berd, and the Noyemberyan-Yerevan-Noyemberyan
passes along the road Yerevan-Alaverdi-Yerevan.

AZERBAIJANI STUDENTS IN GEORGIA NOT DIFFERED FROM THEIR COMPATRIOT

NOYAN TAPAN-ARMENIANS TODAY
APRIL 15, 2010
TBILISI

The Association of Azerbaijani Students in Georgia sent a statement
to the Georgian parliament where particularly it’s said that history
should be studied and evaluated by researchers, not parliaments or
government structures. About this it’s reported by

We would like to remind that the Armenian community of Georgia the
Armenian community of Georgia has asked the president and parliament
to consider recognition of the Armenian "genocide" of 1915.

Armenian organizations asked Georgian MPs of Armenian origin to make
a speech at the parliamentary session before 24 April, marked by
Armenians as Genocide Memorial Day, and to call on the parliament
to honour the memory of the innocent victims of 1915-1923. The
initiators of the appeal are NGOs – the Armenian Community of Georgia,
the Armenian Centre of Cooperation in Georgia and the Association of
Armenian Students in Georgia.

TURKISH PM: ARMENIAN RAPPROCHEMENT DEPENDS ON KARABAKH

news.az
April 15 2010
Azerbaijan

Recep Tayyip Erdogan Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeated that the border
between Turkey and Armenia will remain closed until a settlement is
reached on Karabakh.

Erdogan made the remarks to reporters on his arrival in Turkey from
the United States where he attended the Nuclear Security Summit.

‘The occupation of Azerbaijan’s territory is the reason why our border
[with Armenia] was closed in 1993. Now we want that to be fixed and
we are ready to take the step as soon as that happens,’ the prime
minister said.

He said Turkey stood behind the commitments it made in the protocols
with Armenia, signed in October 2009 in Switzerland.

‘We respect the principle of pacta sunt servanda [agreements must be
kept] and are committed to what we signed in Zurich. But no one has
the right to impose their own memories on Turkey, just as Turkey has
never tried do to this [to anyone else],’ Erdogan said.

Asked about Iran’s nuclear program, Erdogan said, ‘A different version
of the Nuclear Security Summit in the USA on 12-13 April will be held
in Iran on 16-17 April. Officials from Turkey will attend the meeting.

On numerous occasions, we have stressed that a democratic and
diplomatic solution is the only way, since anti-democratic attempts
have always led to human tragedies.

‘On the other hand, Turkey is the only country among the member states
of the United Nations Security Council that has a border with Iran.

There have been friendly relations between Turkey and Iran since the
Treaty of Zohab in 1639. Our border is about 380 km. Our trade volume
exceeded $10 billion. Iran is our second biggest supplier of natural
gas after Russia. We cannot leave aside all those relations. Our
friends should realize this.’

Asked whether Kurmanbek Bakiyev, the ousted leader of Kyrgyzstan, had
sought asylum in Turkey, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ‘No such request
has been made. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has held a series of
telephone conversations with US officials about the developments in
Kyrgyzstan. We are ready to do our utmost to find a solution.’

The prime minister also expressed his profound sorrow over the loss
of life in the earthquake in China.

OBAMA URGES TURKEY, ARMENIA TO IMPLEMENT NORMALIZATION DEAL

Hurriyet
April 13 2010
Turkey

U.S. President Barack Obama has urged Turkey and Armenia to put into
effect a stalled deal to normalize their relations.

Obama "urged that both Armenia and Turkey make every effort to advance
the normalization process and achieve legislative ratification of
the protocols of normalization," the White House said late on Monday
after a meeting between the U.S. president and Armenian President Serge
Sarkisian on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in Washington.

"The president commended President Sarkisian for his courageous efforts
to achieve the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey
and encouraged him to fulfill the promise of normalization for the
benefit of the Armenian people," it said in a statement.

Separately, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who represented Turkey
at the summit, also met with Sarkisian to discuss the normalization
process.

Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers signed last October a set
of agreements under which Ankara and Yerevan would set up normal
diplomatic relations and reopen their land border.

But the normalization process is now faltering. The Turkey-Armenia
accord needs to be ratified by the parliaments of the two neighbors
before implementation, and there is still no indication of when both
nations may bring the deal to their parliamentary agendas.

Karabakh problem

The problem that lies at the root of the issue is the unresolved
Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Turkey’s
close friend and ally. Turkey first wants to see progress toward a
solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict before opening its border
with Armenia, and the Armenians are showing no sign of this.

Nagorno-Karabakh, a mostly Armenian-populated enclave inside
Azerbaijan, and parts of Azerbaijan proper have been under Armenian
occupation since a war in the early 1990s. As a result of this war,
Turkey has refused normal diplomatic relations with Yerevan and has
kept the land border with Armenia closed since 1993.

The U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee in early
March also narrowly passed a resolution calling for official U.S.
recognition of claims of World War I-era killings of Armenians in
the Ottoman Empire as genocide.

Turkey strongly reacted against the move by temporarily recalling its
ambassador to Washington and warning that a full House endorsement
of the resolution would hurt bilateral ties in a major and lasting way.

It is not clear yet if or when the bill could come to a full House
floor vote.

During his speech at the nuclear security summit, Erdogan denounced the
"genocide" resolution effort in the U.S. Congress. "We are against a
one-sided interpretation of history," Erdogan said. "History cannot
be written in a parliament or judged by a parliament."

Group’s call

Meanwhile, ANCA, the largest U.S. Armenian group, urged Obama to
qualify the last century’s Armenian killings as "genocide" in his
annual statement on April 24, the day commemorated in the United
States to mark the Armenian deaths.

"We would consider it highly inappropriate for the president of the
United States to have invited the president of Armenia to Washington
only days before April 24th if he had an intention of doing anything
less than fully recognizing the Armenian genocide, fully honoring
his commitment to recognize this crime against humanity," said Aram
Hamparian, the ANCA’s executive director.

"We are looking forward to President Obama keeping faith with his own
words and keeping faith with the relationship he seeks with Armenia
by recognizing the Armenian genocide," Hamparian said.

Turkish officials warn that, if Obama in his April 24 statement
qualifies the Armenian deaths as genocide, then it would be a huge
blow to the U.S.-Turkish relationship and will effectively kill the
normalization process with Armenia.

BOMB ALERT AT YEREVAN SCHOOL 78

Aysor
April 13 2010
Armenia

Today Armenia’s police have received a false bomb alert by telephone.

After receiving at 12pm the call about a bomb in the building of
School 78 in the centre of Yerevan, groups of officials of the
Emergency Rescue Service of Armenia and bomb disposal experts moved
to the place. Police ordered the emergency evacuation of the school
building; however, the research activities showed that there is no
bomb in the school.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email. [email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
April 13, 2010
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

BERMAN SLAMS EFFORT TO BLOCK U.S. HOUSE VOTE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

— Rejects Turkish Caucus Efforts to Deny Armenian Genocide;
Challenges Flawed National Security and Economic Arguments against
Adoption of Resolution

WASHINGTON, DC -Howard Berman, Chairman of the powerful House
Foreign Affairs Committee, today denounced efforts by his
Colleagues in the Turkish Caucus to question the historical truth
of the Armenian Genocide, rejecting the flawed national security
and economic arguments put forth by these legislators to block the
adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.252) by the
full U.S. House of Representatives, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).

"Chairman Berman expertly takes apart each Turkish Caucus excuse to
delay, derail, and ultimately defeat the Armenian Genocide
Resolution," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We look
to the House leadership, first and foremost Speaker Pelosi and
Majority Leader Hoyer, to follow Chairman Berman’s lead in both
scheduling this genocide-prevention measure for a vote and in
working energetically with their colleagues to secure its
adoption."

In a strongly worded response to a Congressional Turkish Caucus
letter urging Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to block floor
consideration of the measure, Chairman Berman took "strong
exception" to their references to the "so-called Armenian Genocide
Resolution," stating that the assertion, "flies in the face of the
overwhelming weight of unimpeachable historical evidence and the
virtually unanimous opinion of genocide scholars."

Chairman Berman also rejected the flawed national security
arguments against the Armenian Genocide Resolution, stating, "I
believe that U.S.-Turkish security relations are founded on mutual
interests and that Turkey is not about to discard the immense
benefits it derives from bilateral security relations for the sake
of ‘punishing’ the US for a non-binding resolution, however much it
may resent that resolution." He went on to argue that the Turkish
response to the passage of previous genocide legislation has been
"limited and short-lived, at most."

The Chairman also disputed the effect of Congressional Genocide
affirmation on Turkey-Armenia relations, arguing that the Turkey-
Armenia Protocols "have been gathering dust in the Turkish
parliament" due to Turkish preconditions on the process.

The Chairman’s letter coincides with bilateral meetings held
between President Barack Obama and Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan, and also between the Armenian President and Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Both foreign leaders are in
Washington DC as part of a major multilateral Nuclear Summit. At a
presentation at George Mason University’s Center for Global Islamic
Studies, Prime Minister Erdogan once again denied the Armenian
Genocide and encouraged the U.S. Congress not to adopt Armenian
Genocide legislation. Meanwhile, across town, at a ceremony
honoring President Woodrow Wilson, celebrated for his commitment to
ensuring that the core territorial and security elements of
Armenia’s historic viability be restored, Armenian President Serzh
Sargisyan made reference to "Wilsonian Armenia" and stressed that
the Turkey-Armenia protocols could not be used to question the
historical truth of the Armenian Genocide.

The full text of Chairman Berman’s letter to his House colleagues
is provided below.

#####
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman’s
Letter to House Colleagues

April 13, 2010

Dear Colleague,

As you may be aware, members of the Turkey caucus are circulating a
sign-on letter to Speaker Pelosi urging that the Armenian Genocide
Resolution (H. Res. 252), recently passed by the Foreign Affairs
Committee, not be brought to the full House for a vote. The
authors argue that passage of the bill by the House would do
"irrevocable harm" to U.S. national security, "derail ongoing
efforts" by Armenia and Turkey to normalize relations, and harm the
U.S. economy by putting American exports to and investment in
Turkey at risk.

I disagree with many points in the letter, but I take particularly
strong exception to the use of the phrase "so-called ‘Armenian
Genocide Resolution’", which casts doubt on the historicity of the
Armenian Genocide. In doing so, it flies in the face of the
overwhelming weight of unimpeachable historical evidence and the
virtually unanimous opinion of genocide scholars. In fact, the man
who coined the term "genocide," Rafael Lemkin, considered the World
War I-era massacres of the Armenians to constitute genocide, and he
cited that genocide as the event that triggered his interest in
genocide.

I also reject the various national-security arguments cited by
opponents of the Armenian Genocide resolution. I believe that US-
Turkish security relations are founded on mutual interests and that
Turkey is not about to discard the immense benefits it derives from
bilateral security relations for the sake of "punishing" the US for
a non-binding resolution, however much it may resent that
resolution. For example, would Turkey risk losing real-time
intelligence on PKK movements in northern Iraq? Highly doubtful.
Moreover, the history of Turkish responses to acknowledgement of
the Armenian Genocide by other governments and parliaments suggests
that negative fall-out would be limited and short-lived, at most.

In addition, I dispute the argument that passing H. Res. 252 would
derail the Turkish-Armenian protocols. The protocols have been
gathering dust in the Turkish parliament since they were signed in
October, and particularly in light of the preconditions established
by the Turkish leadership, there is little likelihood that they
will be ratified any time soon.

Finally, I take issue with the assertion that passing the
resolution would harm the U.S. economy. It strains credulity to
believe that Turkey would reject U.S. investment and stop buying
all U.S. products in the event that the House adopted H. Res. 252.
In a more general sense, I am deeply disturbed by this morally-
blind line of argument, as it could be used to justify inaction on
any number of human rights issues around the world.

Although I don’t accept the arguments of those who anticipate
potential harm to U.S. national security should the House pass the
Armenian Genocide Resolution, I respect those arguments. What I can
neither accept nor respect is any claim, direct or implied, that
one of the greatest crimes of modern history did not happen.

Sincerely,

/s/

HOWARD L. BERMAN
Chairman
Committee on Foreign Affairs