Author: Karabekian Emil

ARMENIA FACING DILEMMA AFTER WASHINGTON MEETINGS: SERGEI MINASYAN

Tert.am
17.04.10

There are two possible scenarios for Armenia-Turkey normalization to
develop after the recent meetings in Washington, political scientist
and Deputy Director of the Caucasus Institute Sergei Minasyan said
while talking to Tert.am.

"I do not possess accurate information about the domestic discussions,
but I have the impression that Armenia has faced a dilemma after those
meetings: it will either renounce from the Armenia-Turkey Protocols
or it will continue the process without ratifying the Protocols if
it has been given some guarantees by US and Turkey," said Minasyan.

After the meetings in Washington, according to Minasyan, it is less
probable that the Protocols will be ratified.

"The probability that the Protocols will be ratified is very low
as either one of the sides will withdraw from the process or the two
sides will attempt finding another format for the process to continue,"
explained Minasyan, adding that if the Protocols are not ratified it
does not necessarily mean that the normalization slows down.

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR PROCLAIMS WEEK OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE

Yerkir
15.04.2010 14:13
Yerevan

Yerevan (Yerkir) – California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has
proclaimed the week of April 19 through April 26t as "Days of
Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide."

Below is the text of the proclamation.

It is important to remember the horrors of the past in order to keep
history from repeating itself. The Armenian Genocide was a terrible
breach of human rights and an event that has outraged the world.

Between 1915 and 1923, 1.5 million innocent Armenians lost their lives
at the hands of the Ottoman Empire, and 500,000 more were forced from
their homeland.

The atrocities carried out against the Armenian people were grave
and unimaginable, as they were subjected to deportation, abduction,
torture, starvation and more. And as with any violent conflict,
Armenian women and children suffered the worst abuses. The bulk of the
Armenian population that was displaced from their homes was forced
to escape to neighboring as well as faraway countries. Many fled to
the United States.

Today, California is honored to be home to a vibrant Armenian-American
population, the largest outside the Republic of Armenia. This thriving
community is a proud reminder of survival and determination even in
the face of extreme injustice.

As Americans and Californians, it is our duty to raise awareness
of the Armenian Genocide and to participate in the remembrance and
mourning of the loss of innocent lives.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State
of California, do hereby proclaim April 19-26, 2010, as "Days of
Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide."

AZERBAIJAN FALLS BEHIND BOTH GEORGIA AND ARMENIA IN REGARD TO VOLUME OF DIRECT FOREIGN INVESTMENTS INTO ECONOMICS

Azerbaijan Business Center
April 14 2010

In 2009, Azerbaijan fell behind Georgia and Armenia the second time
during recent history in regard to volume of direct foreign investments
(FDI), although it was the only state from indicated three ones,
where FDI increased.

According to report of Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2010, prepared
by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), in 2009, FDI in Azerbaijani
economics grew from $15 million to $472 million, but the country the
second year in succession turned out to be only the third regarding
their volume in Southern Caucasus. In Georgia, which remained leader,
FDI dropped from $1.5 bn to $765 million, and in Armenia – from $925
million to $700 million. At the same time, Georgian population is
less three times than Azerbaijani one.

Kazakhstan, where FDI dropped from $14.783 billion to $9.526 billion,
is leader as before in the region of the Central Asia with regard to
volume of FDI in economics. Uzbekistan turned out to be the second
(growth from $1 billion to $1.5 billion), the third – Turkmenistan
(growth of $0.82 billion to $1.355 billion).

In compliance with ADO 2010, the small island states of Pacific Ocean,
entering in ADB, cope with living without FDI in general.

BERMAN SLAMS EFFORT TO BLOCK HOUSE VOTE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

armradio.am
15.04.2010 13:22

Howard Berman, Chairman of the powerful House Foreign Affairs
Committee, 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 Sargsyan and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

VERY IMPORTANT VISIT: NALBANDYAN’S BRIEFING IN WASHINGTON

Tert.am
14.04.10

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan has summarized the results
of the meetings in Washington at a briefing with journalists in US.

– It was a very important visit. Recently friendly relations have been
established between Armenia and US. The meetings were important both
in terms of strengthening bilateral relations and discussing regional
and international issues that both sides are concerned about…

– At what stage has the Armenia-Turkey normalization reached after
the Washington meeting?

– Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s meeting with the Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made it possible to have a clear idea
about Turkey’s stance …

– To what extent was the Karabakh issue discussed at the meeting
with Erdogan?

– The Turkish side was trying to hold discussions on the Karabakh
theme, and the response was what it has been so far: Armenia-Turkey
normalization should not be linked to the Karabakh settlement …

First of all Turkey cannot be a mediator in the NK [Nagorno Karabakh]
settlement process. Secondly, Armenia will never make concessions
over the Karabakh issue for the sake of Armenia-Turkey normalization
… If Turkey does not want to fail this process, it should show
very quickly in practice that it is ready to ratify the Protocols
and establish relations.

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIES AZERBAIJANI NEWS AGENCY’S REPORT

Journal of Turkish Weekly
April 13 2010

Turkish Foreign Ministry denied Tuesday a news report by the
Azerbaijani News Agency (APA) regarding an interview with Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on normalization process between Turkey
and Armenia.

Burak Ozugergin, spokesman of Turkish Foreign Ministry, told the AA
that Davutoglu had not given such an interview to APA.

Ozugergin said that remarks, in the APA report, attributed to Davutoglu
were not made by the Turkish foreign minister.

ARMENIAN LOBBY URGES SARGSYAN TO PRESS OBAMA ON GENOCIDE

news.am
April 12 2010
Armenia

On the eve of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to Washington,
for the Nuclear Summit, leading Armenian civic, religious and
social service organizations have called on the Armenian leader to
urge President Barack Obama to honor his pledge to recognize the
Armenian Genocide and reject Turkish government efforts to use the
Turkey-Armenia Protocols to delay international affirmation of this
crime against humanity, reads press release by Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).

According to ANCA, the letter goes on to urge President Sargsyan to
stand by his own words against the misuse of a so-called "historical
commission" to call into question the Armenian Genocide, and also to
directly call upon President Obama and other international leaders
to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

RA President Serzh Sargsyan is scheduled to hold meeting with Turkish
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Suisse : Recours de trois Turcs négationnistes au Tribunal fédéral
SUISSE

samedi10 avril 2010, par Stéphane/armenews

Les trois Turcs condamnés en février dernier à Zurich pour avoir nié
le génocide arménien font recours au Tribunal fédéral. Il y a deux
mois, la Cour suprême zurichoise a confirmé les peines pécuniaires
avec sursis partiel pour discrimination raciale infligées en première
instance.

L’avocat des condamnés a annoncé la décision de ses clients sur les
ondes de la radio alémanique SR DRS. En juin 2007, les trois
ressortissants turcs avaient qualifié le génocide arménien de
"mensonge international" lors d’une manifestation publique à
Winterthour.

En 2008, le Tribunal de district de Winterthour a condamné Ali Mercan,
58 ans, représentant en Europe du Parti des travailleurs turcs, à 150
jours-amende à 30 francs, soit 4500 francs. Les deux organisateurs de
la manifestation ont eux été sanctionnés pour complicité de
discrimination raciale. Leur peine s’élève pour chacun à 120
jours-amende à 30 francs, soit 3600 francs.

Pendant ce procès de première instance, les trois prévenus avaient
déclaré qu’ils étaient prêts "à tout moment" à organiser une nouvelle
manifestation et à y répéter leurs propos. Le jugement en seconde
instance rendu en février dernier a confirmé les sanctions infligées.

Les trois condamnés sont des compagnons politiques de Dogu Perincek,
sanctionné en 2007 par le Tribunal fédéral pour la même raison.
Président du Parti des travailleurs, ce dernier était également invité
à la réunion de Winterthour mais il n’avait pas obtenu de visa pour
s’y rendre.

ERDOGAN SAYS KARABAKH ISSUE TO BE ON TOP IN ALL NEGOTIATIONS WITH ARMENIA

news.az
April 9 2010
Azerbaijan

R.T.Erdogan Some details of Erdogan’s letter to the Azerbaijani
leadership have been disclosed.

"Turkey will not let Azerbaijan stay aside of the ongoing processes.

One of the aim of the visit of our deputy minister Firudin Sinirlioghlu
to Baku is to remove Azerbaijan’s suspicions regarding the recent
negotiations between Ankara and Yerevan", Turkish FM Ahmed Davutoglu
said during the joint news conference with Greek deputy FM Dimitris
Druzas, according to Star newspaper.

According to him, Sinirlioghlu will communicate a personal message
of Premier Erdogan to the Azerbaijani leadership. The message fixes
that the Karabakh issue will be the main issue at all negotiations
between Turkey and Armenia and the borders between Armenia and Turkey
will not open without the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

FORMER HEAD OF VARDENIS BRANCH OF ARDSHININVESTBANK ACCUSED OF MONEY LAUNDERING

ArmInfo
2010-04-09 18:17:00

ArmInfo. The former head of Vardenis branch of Ardshininvestbank CJSC
is accused of money laundering. A relevant criminal case has been
instituted, the press release of the Armenian Prosecutor General’s
Office says. It was found out on the basis of materials provided to
Ardshininvestbank CJSC that according to a preliminary agreement with
expert A.Hambardzumyan, private entrepreneur Kh.Shaboyan and director
of Vasarat LLC, the former head of Vardenis branch of Ardshininvestbank
A.Baghdasaryan issued fictitious loans. In particular, without the
knowledge or consent of the branch borrowers, 396 credit agreements
on purchase of household appliances worth 95 mln 788 thsd AMD and
27616 USD were issued on their names. The specified amounts were
by installments transferred to the accounts of Shaboyan and Vasarat
LLC, afterwards were converted into cash. Shaboyan and Vasarat LLC,
which are the clients of the branch, are engaged in sale of household
appliances.

On the basis of the specified data, a criminal case has been instituted
under Article 179 Part 3 Item 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia and
under Article 190 Part 3 Item 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. The
criminal case has been submitted for preliminary investigation
of the Investigative Department of the National Security Service
under the Armenian Government. Charges have been arraigned against
A.Baghdasaryan, and arrest has been applied as a measure of restraint.

The press service of Ardsininvestbank pointed out that the data on
the activity of the former head of Vardenis branch, as well as on a
similar case with the activity of the former head of Goris branch were
found out by the bank itself and then presented to law-enforcers. "The
relevant structures of the bank attentively follow and in case of the
slightest suspicion study in detail any violations, which are strictly
punished for. We appreciate the cooperation with the law-enforcement
agencies in this matter",- said the press service of the bank.