Author: Karabekian Emil

CONTRADICTIONS OBVIOUS IN ARMENIA-TURKEY PROTOCOLS

Civilitas Foundation
Sunday, 11 October 2009 16:20 |
Turkey

DEMEANING SIGNING FOR DEMEANING PROTOCOLS: On Saturday, October 10,
we witnessed two consequential but sadly conflicting events. One was
the signing of the miscalculated and ill-constructed Armenia-Turkey
protocols, despite great domestic and international concern and
opposition among Armenians. The second was President Sargsyan’s
last-minute address to the Armenian people, issued just hours ahead
of the scheduled signing, the content of which was directly and
unabashedly contradictory to the content of the protocols.

Indeed, so different are the two that it can even be said that
the president’s arguments were the best reasons to reject the
protocols. The address insisted that there are irrefutable realities
and we have undeniable rights; the protocols, on the other hand,
question the first and eliminate the second. Armenia, without
cause and without necessity, conceded its historic rights, both
regarding genocide recognition and what the address so justly called
‘hayrenazrkum’ – a denial and dispossession of our patrimony.

Further, the provision for ratification of the protocols by the
Turkish parliament comes in the context of repeated and forceful
calls by high-level Turkish officials who repeatedly affirm that
ratification hinges on a favorable Karabakh settlement process. Given
this, any Armenian insiste nce of no-linkage between Armenia-Turkey
and Karabakh-Azerbaijan is not credulous.

Given the last-minute scrambling and hesitation in Zurich, it is
difficult to imagine a more demeaning signing or a more demeaning
document. The parties themselves and the representatives of the
world powers, all were present but all remained silent. When such a
‘historic’ moment goes by with none of the sides or the witnesses
able to say anything acceptable or in agreement with the rest, either
about the long-awaited event itself or the content of the documents
being signed – it is difficult to see how this document can provide
the serious basis of trust and respect necessary for stable and
respectful relations between the parties.

YERITSYAN: WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF DOMESTIC PRODUCTS

Aysor.am
Tuesday, October 13

"This initiative comes at the moment when it’s necessary to create
a bigger manufacturing and jobs especially in regional agricultural
sector and agricultural goods recycling," said in regard to nationwide
move "Buy Armenian goods" Armenia’s Minister for Economy Nerses
Yeritsyan.

Recall that "Millennium Challenge – Armenia" foundation holds an
action "Buy Armenian goods" starting on November 1, associated with
Armenian Government.

Mr. Eritsyan told journalists that hearings in Armenian Government
demonstrate that "we shouldn’t limit ourselves to involving in
agricultural sector only, since Armenian products are in other
industries.

"This will become a brilliant example of cooperation which increases
initiative in other spheres."

"Anyway, the events of this kind among people are really very
important, because people should be proud with domestic products,
with fact of using the national-made products and this is a way to
convert products into export.

"Our worldwide sharing of Armenian cognac provides its spreading and
into new markets entering."

This move, believes Minister of Economy, serves as a basis for
discussing the problems, and determining of the actions and activities
to be implemented by Armenia.

PARLIAMENT OF ARMENIA HAS RECEIVED 1248 LETTERS

Aysor.am
Tuesday, October 13

Under Act of Petitions and Complains Consideration, Armenian National
Assembly Department for Legislative Competence releases brief-report
on considered letters, petitions and messages received from citizenry
for current year’s third quarter.

There were received, registered and handed 393 letters to Speaker
of Parliament, 25 letters to Vice Speakers, 283 letters handed to NA
Standing Committees, and 547 letters to NA Factions.

Both of Speaker and Vice Speakers responded to all letters, as well
as representatives of NA Standing Committees and Factions.

The letters address legislative, legal, social, health, educational,
and domestic issues and questions, confirms press office of Armenia’s
National Assembly.

HERITAGE MAY DEMAND AUTHORITIES’ RESIGNATION IN NEAR FUTURE

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.10.2009 19:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The very fact that RA authorities did not demand
serious guarantees from international community that that Turkish
policy will remain unchanged in future led to Turkish side’s attempts
to breach its commitments, Heritage faction leader Stepan Safaryan
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

At that he noted that Protocol signing in Zurich clearly showed that
Armenia and Turkey’s fate was determined by international community
and not the countries themselves.

Safaryan also said that Heritage party’s managing board was planning
to hold discussions on October 11-13, and thereafter declare its
position and further steps depending on political situation. Party
will "very probably raise a question on government’s resignation,"
said Heritage faction leader.

ECONOMIC GROWTH TO COMPRISE 1.2%

0 7:25 pm | October 12, 2009

Economy

2010 Economic growth in Armenia will comprise 1.2%, IMF Executive
Director (France) Ambroise Fayolle stated today.

Armenia’s economy will be restored through government-implemented
money-and-credit and fiscal policy as well as international
financial assistance, registering a minor growth of 1.2%," say IMF
representatives.

In this context, Fayolle noted that Armenia was among states, most
impacted by financial crisis; still they "hope to be mistaken in
forecasts".

IMF forecasts 15% economic downturn in 2009 in Armenia.

"IMF experience in other regions proves opening of border and
regional integration promote economic development in the country,"
he said commenting on possible consequences Armenia will face with
RA-Turkish border opening.

TCA Arshag Dickranian Armenian School
1200 N. Cahuenga Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90038

Tel: 323-461-4377
Fax: 323-323-461-4247
Contact: [email protected]

TCA ARSHAG DICKRANIAN STUDENTS
ELLECT STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICERS

Los Angeles, October 12, 2009 – Thursday, September 25 was Student Council
Election Day at the TCA Arshag Dickranian School.

After weeks of preparation and rigorous campaigning, the students cast
their votes and elected the following slate of six candidates as the
Council’s Executive Committee for the current scholastic year: Alex
Garibyan as President, Hykouhi Shamlyan as Vice President, Anahit
Mestchyan as Secretary, Samson Mgdsyan as Treasurer, Gevork Keshishyan as
Assistant Secretary and Harout Berberian as Assistant Treasurer.

The Student Council at Arshag Dickranian School serves as the link between
students and the school administration and is elected every year by the
students. It is comprised of officers elected from the 11th grade and two
representatives from every class, starting from 6th grade.

The Student Council’s responsibilities include organizing student
activities, tutoring weak students, preparing events and organizing
certain fund raisers.

Located at 1200 North Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, the TCA Arshag
Dickranian Armenian School is a federally tax exempt, Pre-K to 12th
grade private educational institution. For more information visit

Turkish state prepared new speech text
10.10.2009 22:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish side is reported to have prepared a new
speech text which will be delivered after signing of Armenian-Turkish
Protocols. Text has been sent to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton. RA FM Edward Nalbandyan should also get familiarized with it,
Armenian Turkologist, YSU Professor Ruben Melkonyan said, quoting
Turkish media.

Postponement in Protocol signing was caused by Turkish FM Ahmet
Davutoglu’s desire to introduce in Turkish side’s statement a clause
on Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Lebanon Armenians were hoping Protocols won’t be signed
11.10.2009 00:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Up to the very moment of RA-Turkish rapprochement
protocols’ conclusion, Lebanon Armenians believed Armenia will not
sign them, Lebanese MP, Beirut’s Armenian Community representative
Sepuh Kalpakyan told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. `Unfortunately, the
protocols have been signed and Armenian nation is now facing a crucial
moment. Our future is vague and we don’t know what to expect,’ he
said.

Sepuh Kalpakyan added that Lebanon Armenians do not believe RA
government’s assertion on Protocols’ containing no preconditions.
`We’re praying for our apprehensions to prove groundless, so Armenia
will not have to pay high price for normalization of ties with
Turkey.’ According to him, protocol signing was postponed as Armenia
had some last-minute apprehensions. Still, there were forces who acted
as guarantors for protocol signing. `We’ll continue with our
struggle. Protocols’ conclusion is not the end. There’s time left till
ratification and we’ll use every opportunity to prevent Protocols”
ratification,’ Sepuh Kalpakyan stated.

Aysor.am

Sunday,
October 11

Armenia’s Defense Ministry holds week-long training session

Today Armenia’s Defense Ministry starts holding week-long training
session.

The staff including those from regional administrative centers is
involved in process aimed at improving the theoretical and practical
knowledge and skills.

Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan welcomed the participants
pointing that such an event is the first one in country. Mr. Oganyan
mentioned that issue of preparation, trainings, and call procedure are
universal and that trainings will provide not only improving staff’s
skills but creates opportunities for experience sharing.

During the lecture "State preparation and appeal" Defense Minister
Seyran Ohanyan detailed basis of territorial defense, concepts of
recruitment, and focused on the factors and circumstances bearing on
the appeal.

10.10.2009, 20:33
Aysor.am

DENIAL OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO MARK FINAL STAGE OF HEINOUS CRIME

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.10.2009 19:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On October 9, Armenian Scientific Union of Moscow
adopted a statement concerning RA-Turkish Protocols. Document
particularly says that issues on raising Turkish blockade and
establishing diplomatic relations matured long ago. Â"Under
international law, diplomatic ties are established through exchange
of notes not requiring preconditions. Turkish-Armenian Protocols are
already a precondition reflecting Armenia’s compromise and good will.Â"

Authors of document believe that Armenia’s consent to establish
diplomatic ties without condemnation of Armenian Genocide in Turkey and
Western Armenia is the greatest compromise ever seen in history. It
should be born in mind that Genocide denial is the final stage of
the heinous crime.

"Although establishment of diplomatic ties between Armenia and Turkey
is not in any way linked to Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement,
Turkey might have recognized NKR’s independence and established with
it diplomatic ties as sign of trust and good will. That might lead to
progress in conflict settlement. Protocol clauses obliging parties to
respect principles of equality, sovereignty, territorial integrity
and border immunity demand adherence to the principle of peoples’
right to self-determination. Absence of such principle in Protocol
texts seriously contradicts international law.

Regardless the fact that Armenia’s dismemberment in 1921 was the
biggest geo-political catastrophe in world’s civilization, Armenian
authorities demonstrated an act of good will to entire world,
particularly Turkey and its people. Protocol signing does not negate
the international-legal claims of Armenian Republic, Western Armenians
and civilized mankind for achieving condemnation of Armenian Genocide
by Turkey and international community. The fact of Armenian Genocide
in Turkey is not subject to discussion or acknowledgement. It is
necessary to initiate a separate negotiation process b rn Armenia. The
only acting agreement determining the borders of Western Armenia and
several other independent states in region is the 1920 Treaty of Sevres
elaborated by Wilson’s arbitration. Of high importance is the clause
condemning any form of terrorism, violence and radicalism aiming to
intensify fight with Turkish terrorist organizations and posing threat
to Armenia, Turkey and international community. Protocol signing will
be positively assessed in future in case Armenia’s national-state
interests are protected and clearly articulated, ensuring the interests
of western Armenians and western Armenian representative bodies in
exile,Â" says the statement addressed to PanARMENIAN.Net.