Author: Kamalian Hagop

CLINTON REAFFIRMS OPPOSITION TO GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

Today’s Zaman
March 30 2010
Turkey

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has reiterated that the Obama
administration stands opposed to a resolution on Armenian genocide
claims passed by a US congressional committee earlier this month and
is also against a full House vote on the measure.

Clinton reaffirmed the administration’s position during a one-hour
phone conversation with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Sunday,
Foreign Ministry spokesman Burak Ozugergin said in a statement released
on Monday. The conversation was initiated by the US side, he said,
and mainly focused on the resolution narrowly passed at the US House
Committee on Foreign Affairs on March 4.

The nonbinding resolution calls on President Barack Obama to label the
mass killings of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire as genocide in
the US president’s annual statement on the issue, released on April
24 of every year. Turkey denies the genocide charges and calls for
historians to study the events, which took place a century ago.

Turkey angrily protested the vote and recalled its ambassador in
Washington, D.C., saying it demands more clarification from the US
administration that it is opposed to the resolution. Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan also put on hold a visit to the United States
April 13-14 during which he would have attended a nuclear energy
summit in the US capital.

Davutoglu reiterated that the passage of the resolution created deep
disappointment in the Turkish public and explained openly why the vote
led to such a reaction from the Turkish government, Ozugergin said.

Davutoglu underlined that it was of "critical importance" for the
resolution to not be brought to the House of Representatives for a vote
and that politicians should not make decisions on history, warning
that doing otherwise could damage both Turkish-US ties and historic
efforts between Turkey and Armenia to reconcile their differences.

Speaking after the House committee vote, Clinton said any action
by the US Congress on this issue was not appropriate and that the
administration does not believe "the full Congress will or should
act upon that resolution." But Ankara still resents that the US
administration had not done enough to prevent the vote and is waiting
to see if President Obama will use the word "genocide" in his April
24 message.

Clinton told Davutoglu that she understood the Turkish concerns and
added that US officials hope Erdogan will attend the nuclear summit
in Washington, D.C. In response, Davutoglu said Erdogan would decide
in the coming days whether to attend the meeting or not. More than
40 world leaders are expected at the summit.

Punishing illegal Armenian immigrants?

In an interview with German weekly Der Spiegel, Erdogan reiterated
earlier remarks that Turkey could deport thousands of illegal Armenian
immigrants if the parliaments of foreign countries continue to pass
resolutions endorsing claims of genocide, under pressure from the
Armenian diaspora.

"I talked about what we could do. For years we have tolerated Armenians
without residence permits. All I said was that this does not always
have to be the case. The problem of illegal workers is discussed
openly all over the world, but when someone in Turkey makes such a
statement, people feel troubled. Why?" he asked in the interview for
the journal’s latest issue.

Asked why he wanted to punish Armenians in Turkey for resolutions
adopted elsewhere, he said: "Who says that we hold Armenians
responsible for this? I never said that. … So far, we have not
considered the question of deportation, but if the diaspora continues
to exert pressure, we could imagine ourselves capable of doing that."

TURKISH AMBASSADOR ARRIVES BACK IN SWEDEN

The Local

March 30 2010
Sweden

Turkey’s ambassador to Sweden, Zergun Koruturk, returned to her post
in Stockholm on Tuesday, two weeks after she was recalled over the
Swedish parliament’s recognition of the Ottoman Turk massacre of
Armenians as genocide.

Speaking to reporters before her departure to Stockholm, Zergun
Koruturk said her return became possible after the Swedish government
distanced itself from the parliament’s decision.

"The Swedish government has clearly said that the decision would not
be put into practice," Koruturk was quoted by the Anatolia news agency
as saying.

Ankara still expects Stockholm to take steps to "compensate for this
error," she said. "I hope the Swedish government will do everything
in its power."

Ankara had announced last week that the ambassador would return to
Stockholm soon.

Koruturk was summoned back to Ankara on March 11th after the Swedish
parliament voted by a narrow margin to recognise the Ottoman massacres
of Armenians during World War I as genocide, despite the government’s
advice not to do so.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt later expressed regret
over the parliament’s decision to Ankara, a move which his Turkish
counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan called "very positive".

Foreign Minister Carl Bildt also said that the position of his
government, which supports Turkey’s entry into the European Union,
"remains unchanged".

The Swedish vote came in the footsteps of a March 4th vote by a key US
Congress panel that branded the massacres as genocide, also prompting
Ankara to recall its ambassador there.

Last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu indicated that
he was not yet ready to send his ambassador back to Washington as
the two cases were different.

"The Swedes clearly apologised," he said.

In a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton
at the weekend, Davutoglu urged the US admininstration to block the
bill, saying it was "critical" to bilateral ties.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin were killed in systematic
massacres during World War I as the Ottoman Empire fell apart.

Turkey categorically rejects the genocide label and says between
300,000 and 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks perished in
civil strife during the chaos of war.

Carl Froch: either Abraham is winning brutal knockout or Dirrell
taking a decision in a tactical fight

26.03.2010 15:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Americans, Andre Ward and Allan Green, give
their compatriot, Andre Dirrell, a slight edge to upend unbeaten
Arthur Abraham in a Group Stage 2 bout in the Super Six World Boxing
Classic this Saturday, March 27.

The Europeans — Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler — anticipate a tight
fight, too. However, they aren’t so certain who will prevail in what
will be a fiercely contested, scheduled 12-round match.

Dirrell (18-1, 13 KOs), of Flint, Mich., needs a victory in his `home
game’ to get on the tournament scorecard after coming up on the wrong
end of a hard-fought, disputed 12-round split decision to Froch last
Oct. 17 in Nottingham, England.

Abraham (31-0, 25 KOs), of Germany, has three points after knocking
out Jermain Taylor in the 12th round last Oct. 17, in Berlin, Germany.
The Armenian will be looking to extend his lead atop the Super Six
World Boxing Classic standings as Group Stage 2 action begins.

Froch, who will put his unblemished record and World Boxing Council
(WBC) super middleweight title on the line against Kessler, a former
World Boxing Association (WBA) 168-pound titleholder, in a Group Stage
2 showdown Saturday, April 24, couldn’t pick a winner but is clearly
rooting for Abraham.

`I can’t pick a winner because they’re fighting in the United
States,” said Froch (26-0, 20 KOs). `I see it as a 50-50 fight —
with either Abraham winning by brutal knockout or Dirrell taking a
decision in a tactical fight. Come on Abraham. Catch him sweet!’

Kessler (42-2, 32 KOs), of Denmark, pictures it going either way. `I
think the fight will be a close decision — maybe even a draw,” said
Kessler, who was dethroned by Ward on an 11th-round technical decision
last Nov. 21, in Oakland, Calif.. `Abraham is very confident with his
style and tactics, so I guess we will not see anything new from him.

`Dirrell, on the contrary, seems like a guy who can change tactics and
style based on how the fight develops and who his opponent is. Also,
you have to take into consideration that Dirrell needs a win
desperately. If he loses, he’ll have difficulties advancing in the
group stages. That favors Abraham and his tactics.

`Abraham’s fought in the United States against Edison Miranda and he
can use that experience positively. It is not something new for him
to fight in another part of the world. On the other hand, he’s not in
his safe home, Berlin. It’s going to be interesting to see how much
Dirrell will benefit from his home crowd.

"No matter what, I think that we are in for a great and entertaining fight."

Ward (21-0, 13 KOs), of Oakland, anticipates a determined, career-best
performance from Dirrell.

`As I’ve said, if Dirrell is in tip-top shape and fights a focused,
disciplined fight for 12 rounds, which I believe he will, he’ll be
victorious,” said Ward, who will make his initial defense of the WBA
crown against Taylor’s tournament replacement, `Sweetness’ Allan Green
(29-1, 20 KOs), of Tulsa, Okla., in a Group 2 match, on Saturday, June
19, in Oakland.

`Abraham should be respected. He’s a wily veteran and very strong. But
Dirrell understands that he NEEDS a win. Dirrell is also fighting at
home, which will give him that little extra and could be the
difference in the fight. This is the beauty of boxing. We’ will all
have to tune in to SHOWTIME to see what happens.

`I look for Dirrell to have his coming out party.”

Green envisions an even scrap, but gives the advantage to Dirrell —
if he is healthy after suffering a back injury that forced a contest
slated for March 6 to be pushed back to this Saturday.

`It’s a pick `em fight,” said Green, a winner of six consecutive
starts who’s ranked No. 3 in the World Boxing Organization (WBO), No.
4 in the World Boxing Council (WBC) and No. 7 in the World Boxing
Association (WBA). `Abraham is much stronger, but Dirrell should be
able to outbox him if his back has fully recovered,” boxingscene.com
cited him as saying.

Czech Republic willing to train Armenian military personnel

26.03.2010 15:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Visiting Czech Minister of Defense Martin Bartok met
Friday with his Armenian counterpart Seyran Ohanyan. The talks were
followed by signing of a cooperation agreement.

"Today is a historic day for us, as the military cooperation between
Armenia and the Czech Republic has received a legal basis", Minister
Ohanyan said during a joint press conference.

`The political leadership of Armenia and the Czech Republic attach
particular importance to beginning the cooperation in defense sector.
I am confident that our cooperation has great potential," he said.

Mr. Bartok said for his part that the Czech Republic, as a NATO member
country, is willing to train Armenian military personnel.

Semaine du 26 Mars 2010=09
B.F.C.A
Bureau Français de la Cause Arménienne
En collaboration avec le C.D.C.A

Vous invite à participer à un colloque international sur le thème:
Arménie – Turquie Comment normaliser les relations ?

MERCREDI 14 AVRIL 2010
De 10h à 16h

A la Maison de la Chimie
28, rue Saint Dominique 75007 Paris
Tables rondes

1- Les protocoles arméno-turcs
Enjeux, obstacles et alternatives

2- Reconnaissance internationale du Génocide des Arméniens
Quelles perspectives après les signatures de Zurich ?

Intervenants :

– Dr. Yair AURON
Professeur en histoire- The Open University of Israel

– Dr. Israel CHARNY
Président directeur de l’Institut de recherche sur l’Holocauste et

le génocide à Jérusalem

– Frédéric ENCEL
Géopolitologue, Maître de conférence à l’Institut d’Etudes

Politiques de Paris

– Ali ERTEM
Historien et Président de l’association pour combattre les
génocides,
SKD (Soykirim Karsitlari Dernegi)

– Guiro MANOYAN
Responsable du Bureau Politique et de la Cause Arménienne du Bureau
mondial de la FRA Dachnaktsoutioun

– Dr. Ashot MELKONYAN
Directeur de l’Institut d’Histoire de l’Académie Nationale des

Sciences en Arménie.

– Dogan OZGUDEN
Journaliste, Président de la Fondation « Info Turk »

– Harout SASSOUNIAN
Rédacteur en chef du California Courier

– Dr. Alfred DE ZAYAS
Historien et juriste international

Discours d’ouverture : Mourad PAPAZIAN
Co-Président de la F.R.A Dachnaktsoutioun pour l’Europe
occidentale

Discours de clôture : Charles PAPAZIAN
Président du C.D.C.A

HAYK DEMOYAN: RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS AN INDEPENDENT PROCESS
Alisa Gevorgyan

"Radiolur"
25.03.2010 16:49

Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute Hayk Demoyan never
shared the concerns that the signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols
could stall the process of recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

According to Demoyan, the recent resolutions adopted by the US House
panel and the Swedish Parliament do not only justify his optimism,
but also prove that the recognition of the Armenian genocide is an
independent process, which has its own logic.

Hayk Demoyan predicts that the process of recognition of the Armenian
Genocide will get more active ahead of April 24.

A number of events are scheduled to be held in Armenia on the occasion
of the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. An international
conference will be held in Yerevan April 19-20. On April 22 the
Genocide-Museum will display more than 60 pieces of ancient and
contemporary press, which depict photos and articles telling about
the Armenian massacres.

On April 23 the Museum Institute will present exceptional items,
which reveal new facts about the most tragic page in our history.

3RD STAGE OF RA DEFENSE STRATEGY REVISION WORKS SUMMARIZED

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.03.2010 20:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Wednesday, March 24, Armenian Ministry of Deference
hosted the conference of interdepartmental committee regulating
RA defense strategy revision process. The conference was headed
by committee Co-Chairs, National Security Council secretary Artur
Baghdasaryan and Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan.

3rd stage of RA defense strategy revision works were summarized and
further activities planned. Military planning documents worked out
are to be submitted for passage in near future.

Committee Co-Chairs expressed their satisfaction over the work
conducted in previous months, RA Defense Ministry press service
reported.

Aysor, Armenia
March 20 2010

International Francophonie Days

Today all over the world in the frameworks of the UNO program on
supporting and developing the cultural and linguistic diversity is
celebrated the international day of Francophonie. The program is aimed
at encouraging the equality of English, French, Russian, Spanish,
Chinese and Arabic languages.

The decision on celebrating the day of Francophonie on March 20 was
made by the public relations and information department of the UNO.
The UNO has always kept under its attention the equality of its 6
official languages. There have been organized many events on this
matter since 1946. For this reason they have recognized the 23rd of
April the day of English, March 20 the day of French, June 6 Russian
day, October 12 Spanish day and December 18 day of Arabic. The day of
Chinese has not been confirmed yet.

It was in 1970 on March 20 when in the capital city of Niger was
signed a memorandum according to which was formed the first
intergovernmental organization of Francophonie countries. Today the
international organization unites 54 states and 14 observers which
make around 803, 44 million people of which 200 million speak in
French.

Armenia became a member of the Francophonie international organization
since 2008. According to the statistics there are around 200 thousand
people in our country that know French and there are about 82 thousand
pupils who learn French at schools.

In the frameworks of the Francophonie days the Armenian and foreign
singers will give a gala-concert, there will also be tens of events
which will present the cultural diversities of Frence, Belgium,
Canada, Rumania, Switzerland and other Francophonie countries.

ENVOY’S RECALL ‘DOES NOT HELP’ US-TURKISH RELATIONS

news.az
March 18 2010
Azerbaijan

Philip Gordon A senior State Department official said on Wednesday
that Turkey’s ambassador to the USA should be in Washington to explain
Turkey’s cause.

Philip Gordon, assistant secretary in the State Department’s Bureau of
European and Eurasian Affairs, spoke to reporters prior to a conference
jointly organized by Sabanci University and the Brookings Institute.

Gordon expressed his regret at Ankara’s recall of ambassador Namik
Tan after a US congressional committee’s adoption of a resolution
describing the killings of Armenians in 1915 as ‘genocide’.

He said he would like to see Tan in the US capital, as the Turkish
ambassador’s presence in Washington D.C. would help Turkey explain
its cause.

Gordon said the ambassador’s withdrawal did not contribute to
Turkish-US relations and harmed cooperation between the two countries.

The US official also said that the adoption of the resolution by the
US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs had not been
beneficial for relations either.

Gordon said the US administration had clearly and consistently
expressed its objection to the resolution.

He also said the normalization process between Turkey and Armenia
was the best way to deal with history.

Noting that the process was not happening as quickly as they would
like, Gordon said both countries were committed to the process and
the USA was ready to extend any kind of help.

Asked about Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent
remarks on the status of the 100,000 Armenians living illegally
in Turkey, Gordon referred to Erdogan’s remarks that he was not
threatening to deport them.

Gordon said the USA would like Erdogan to attend the Nuclear Security
Summit in Washington in April.

Gordon also said that Iran’s nuclear program was a major issue
in Turkish-US relations, and therefore, he would like the Turkish
ambassador to be in the US capital to discuss the issue.

US REGRETS TURKISH GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO RECALL ITS AMBASSADOR

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.03.2010 13:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A senior US official has expressed regret over the
Turkish government’s decision to recall its ambassador in a show
of protest against a House committee resolution recognizing the
Armenian Genocide.

"The decision to recall the ambassador is regrettable; we have a policy
of engagement and I hope Turkey has the same policy with the US,"
James B. Steinberg, the No. 2 official at the U.S. State Department,
said Monday in an address to the Atlantic Council, a think tank in
Washington, D.C.

"I think whatever the differences with Congress on this issue, it is
important that we engage and that we talk about these areas," he said.

An infuriated Turkey recalled Ambassador Namik Tan shortly after the
US House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a resolution calling on
President Barack Obama to ensure that US foreign policy reflects a
proper acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide as such.