Author: Karakhanian Suren

EYES ON US CONGRESS

Hurriyet
March 3 2010
Turkey

As if we are watching a rerun of a show… The same stage
(U.S. Congress), the same scenario (the so-called Armenian Genocide
Bill), the same actors (pro-Armenian representatives of the Foreign
Relations Committee) and the same sidekicks (Armenian lobbies and
their toadies)…

The most exciting scene of this never-ending soap opera will be
acted today at Rayburn House, where the Foreign Relations Committee
will convene.

Forty-six members of the committee will discuss House Resolution 252
to decide whether the U.S. administration should adopt the resolution
draft and whether the president of the United States, Barrack Obama,
should openly utter the word "genocide" in a statement he will make
on April 24.

The Armenian side has played its role with success from the beginning.

They have exerted tremendous efforts to pull Armenian-descent
constituents, associations, lobbyists, and representatives to their
turf. They have kept the issue on the agenda until the last minute
on big TV channels.

Turkey has not been so successful. Look, two parliamentary delegations
flew to Washington to convince members of congress otherwise over
the weekend. How could such last-minute travel be effective? Turkey
is trying to be influential by playing the "strategy trump card," as
played before. Recently, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other
officials have warned the U.S. administration and the Congress that if
the bill is approved, Turkish-American relations and the normalization
process between Turkey and Armenia will be seriously harmed.

New troubles

Turkey, however, has some troubles this time, one of which is that the
Obama administration has not yet exerted sufficient effort to stop it.

Perhaps, this will be done at a later stage, if the Committee approves
it and if the bill goes to the House plenary as in the previous years.

Another trouble is that the protocols signed with Armenia have not
been actualized yet. If relations with Yerevan had been normalized,
the likelihood of rejecting this bill could’ve increased.

Other factors can be added, too: The Jewish lobby has withdrawn support
from Turkey, the number of Democrats in Congress has increased and
people engaged in Armenians are in the administration…

Under these circumstances, if the bill is passed, it wouldn’t be a
surprise although, as the former U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Morton
Abramowitz says, President Obama could make some Democrats reject
the bill at the last minute.

Not binding…

What happens if the bill is passed?

Such a decision, without doubt, will infuriate Turkey. The government
will fiercely react and perhaps will review Turkish-American relations
and agreements signed with Yerevan…

However, in order to follow the latest developments consciously,
we have to consider the following two points: 1) The text to be
approves is a resolution draft, not a bill (as mentioned in some
newspapers). Therefore, the decision is not binding.

That is, Mr. President – and the administration – may not have an
urge to implement it.

2) If the draft resolution is adopted in the Foreign Relations
Committee, this is the first stage of the process because it should be
sent to the Congress afterwards. And it will less likely be adopted
in the House plenary. Therefore, if passed, it could be wrong and
early to evaluate this as the "Congress passed the Genocide Bill."

* Mr. Sami Kohen is a columnist for the daily Milliyet in which this
piece appeared Wednesday. It was translated into English by the Daily
News staff.

NO MILITARY CARGOES FOR ARMENIA THROUGH UPPER LARS

news.am
March 4 2010
Armenia

Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze rules out any possibility
of transportation of military cargoes from Armenia through the Upper
Lars checkpoint. The Georgian FM made a relevant statement in response
to Azerbaijan’s concern over the possibility of Russia’s transporting
military cargoes to Armenia through the check point.

"I understand my Azerbaijani counterpart’s concern, but I declare with
all responsibility that no bullet will go through Lars," Gruziya Online
() reported, referring to the Minister.

NEWS.am reminds readers that official Baku has expressed its concern
over the reopening of the Upper Lars check point. Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov stated Azerbaijan will immediately respond
in case Russia transports weapons to Armenia through Georgia.

ARMENIAN OLYMPIANS HAVE BEEN HONORED IN VANCOUVER

hos17010.html
13:17:58 – 02/03/2010

February 28, at S. Vardan Armenian Church in Vancouver a ceremony of
honoring the first Armenian winter Olympians – Kristina Khachatriyn,
Ani-Matilda Serebrakyan, Sergei Mikaelyan and Arsène Nersisyan was
held. The ceremony was attended by about 200 Armenians living in
Vancouver.

TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT IN CRISIS – ARMENIAN ANALYST
Kamala Mammadova

news.az
March 2 2010
Azerbaijan

Alexander Iskandaryan News.Az interviews Alexander Iskandaryan,
Armenian political scientist and director of the Caucasus Institute.

The Armenian parliament submitted the Armenian-Turkish protocols to
parliament, but decided to postpone their discussion. The Turkish
side, in turn, accused Armenia of not being constructive. How do you
evaluate Turkish-Armenian relations? Has the process reached deadlock?

The presidents of Armenia and Turkey have submitted the protocols to
their parliaments and in both cases the discussions are frozen. The
legislative procedures in the two countries are a little different:
the protocols had to undergo consideration in the Constitutional Court
in Armenia. In fact, there is nothing extraordinary about the "freeze",
the problem is complicated, there are many foreign and domestic policy
considerations and it is unrealistic to expect everything to proceed
smoothly in two days.

What further steps will be taken? Will the parliaments of both
countries ratify the protocols?

This depends on very many parameters: on the approval of House
Resolution 252 in the US Congress foreign affairs committee [on
recognizing the Armenian genocide], the dynamics of the ruling party’s
rating in Turkey, the possible change of date in the parliamentary
elections in this country from 2011 to autumn 2010, the parameters of
tacit competition in Gul and Erdogan’s secret cooperation and so on. I
think the process is in crisis though there is a small possibility
of ratification. Meanwhile, the problems mostly lie with Ankara. No
one doubts that the Armenian parliament will ratify the protocols if
the executive authorities have the political will.

What do you expect from 24 April? Will the US president use the term
"genocide" to describe the 1915 events in his traditional speech?

He will do it in any form. He did it last year. Mets Yegern is the
Armenian equivalent of "Holocaust", which is the name of the Armenian
Genocide. I think the possibility of his using the word "genocide" in
English, which is painfully perceived by Turks, is low. The Americans
would hardly benefit from losing the opportunity to put pressure on
Turkey over the issue after 24 April.

What are the current dynamics in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations? Are
achievements on Karabakh possible in the near future?

There have been no dynamics in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations at least
since 2001 if not since 1996. These relations are static rather than
dynamic. There is a dynamic of rhetoric, which is toughened or softened
at different times. This is connected not with Armenian-Azerbaijani
relations but with resistance to attempts by foreign powers to
settle the conflict. Theoretically, both parties want the conflict
to be settled, but their scenarios are so discrepant that they are
incompatible. Meanwhile, the real settlement is only possible if
both sides lose something. As the sides are not ready for this,
the process is turning into the imitation of a settlement. I dare
say that had it not been for the external world, none of the parties
would have conducted any negotiations at all.

What is the role of the superpowers in the Karabakh settlement?

It is significant. The superpowers are a serious part of the balance
of overlapping interests in the region. The more or less expressed
consensus of the superpowers stabilizes the situation in the conflict
area.

What do you think can put an end to the conflict between Armenians
and Azerbaijanis?

Nothing in the political perspective. In the historical perspective
a solution can become possible through changes in the mentality of
the population from a zero-sum-game to other concepts, permitting
the perception of the negotiation process not as a bludgeon but as a
search for compromise. Then the politicians may have carte blanche
to develop a mutually profitable settlement option. Of course,
the chance of such a solution may appear. but the current political
situation does not leave hope for this. Therefore, I have no hopes for
a settlement in the short or medium term. Resistance to resolution
inside the region is stronger than pressure from outside. I do not
believe the discourse of war is serious. If we count out settlement
and war, that leaves us with nothing.

EDWARD NALBANDYAN: STATEMENTS, BEING VOICED IN TURKEY, STRIKE AT ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROCESS

ArmInfo
2010-03-02 12:26:00

ArmInfo. The statements, being voiced in Turkey, strike at the
process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations, Foreign
Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan said today when commenting on
the last statement of Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
at ArmInfo’s request.

"Return to the language of preconditions strikes at the
Armenian-Turkish process. We hope that Turkey will get rid of the
artificial obstacles it creates, and we shall have a chance to move
forward based on the agreements reached", E. Nalbandyan said.

To recall, in view of the forthcoming March 4 voting in the USA
concerning the Armenian Genocide resolution, the Turkish prime
minister said if an incorrect step is made on March 4 or April 24,
the Armenian-Turkish process will fail. He expressed hope that members
of the American Congress will take this nuance into consideration.

TURKS AND ARMENIANS TO REBUILD HISTORIC BRIDGE ON BORDER

Hurriyet
Feb 28 2010
Turkey

Turkey and Armenia are cooperating to reconstruct a 10th-century
bridge on the Arpacay River despite the faltering of the process of
political reconciliation between the two countries.

The Arpacay River establishes the border between Turkey and Armenia;
the ruined bridge that once spanned it had one foot in each country.

The Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey, or TEPAV, initiated
the effort to reconstruct the bridge, which is on the historic Silk
Road. The project is supported by both Turkish President Abdullah
Gul and the Yerevan administration, and is said to be looked upon
favorably by members of the Armenian diaspora as well.

Built by the Armenian Kingdom, the defunct bridge connotes the lack
of economic and political ties between the two countries, but its
reconstruction could symbolize a new era in bilateral relations.

TEPAV President Guven Sak first approached Armenian Prime Minister
Tigran Sarkisian and Deputy Culture Minister Arev Samelyan about
the project. Gul, who has been interested in the effort since he was
first informed about it in February 2009, was briefed on the current
situation Friday following the visit of a TEPAV delegation to Yerevan.

According to TEPAV officials, there is an urgent need to have a set
of creative and genuine confidence-building steps in the relationship
between Turkey and Armenia.

"It is important to strengthen the momentum. The positive impact of
the political reconciliation on society should be reinforced," said
one official from TEPAV, which has also been active in projects to
bring Palestinians and Israelis together. "Symbolic steps will give
visibility to the political will. These steps should increase the
contacts between the two peoples and enable them to open the borders
in their mentalities."

Such steps should also aim at preparing the economic infrastructure
of the South Caucasus, the official added.

Turkey previously restored the Armenian church in Akdamar Lake, near
the eastern city of Van, as well as some of the historical buildings
near Kars. Armenia, however, did not participate in those efforts

SUMGAIT TRAGEDY VICTIMS COMMEMORATED IN ROMANIA

news.am
March 1 2010
Armenia

February 28, memorial service on commemoration of Sumgait victims
was conducted in Armenian church in Bucharest, RA MFA press service
informed NEWS.am.

RA Ambassador to Romania Yeghishe Sargsyan, Priest Yezras Bogdan,
Deputy President of Union of Armenians in Romania and Romanian
Parliament member Varuzhan Pambukchyan delivered speeches.

The participants laid flowers to the memorial in the yard of the
church.

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN: ANKARA ESPERE LE REJET D’UNE RESOLUTION AD HOC PAR LE CONGRES US

RIA Novosti
.html
1 Mars 2010
Russie

Le ministère turc des Affaires étrangères a prévenu lundi les
Etats-Unis que l’adoption par le Congrès américain d’un projet
de résolution reconnaissant le génocide arménien dans l’Empire
ottoman en 1915 porterait atteinte aux relations turco-américaines
et aux efforts visant a normaliser les relations entre la Turquie
et l’Arménie.

"Nous espérons que le projet de résolution sera rejeté", lit-on
dans une déclaration du porte-parole de la diplomatie turque Burak
Ozugergin.

Il a rappelé que malgré les avertissements réitérés d’Ankara,
la commission des affaires internationales du Congrès avait inscrit
le projet de résolution a l’ordre du jour de sa réunion du 4 mars.

"Les membres de la commission doivent comprendre que l’adoption du
projet nuira aux relations entre la Turquie et les Etats-Unis et aux
efforts de normalisation dans le Caucase du sud", a fait savoir le
diplomate, invitant les législateurs américains "a faire preuve de
sens des responsabilités".

La Turquie nie avoir exterminé près 1,5 million d’Arméniens pendant
la Première Guerre mondiale et réagit douloureusement a la critique
de la part de l’Occident.

Le génocide du peuple arménien a été reconnu par de nombreux
pays, dont l’Uruguay, la Russie, la France, l’Italie, l’Allemagne,
les Pays-Bas, la Belgique, la Pologne, la Lituanie, la Slovaquie,
la Suède, la Suisse, la Grèce, Chypre, le Liban, le Canada, le
Venezuela, l’Argentine et 42 Etats des Etats-Unis.

Le massacre a également été reconnu par le Vatican, le Parlement
européen et le Conseil mondial des Eglises.

L’Arménie et la Turquie n’entretiennent pas de relations diplomatiques
bilatérales, et leur frontière commune est fermée depuis 1993 a
l’initiative d’Ankara.

Cette inimitié s’explique, entre autres, par le soutien d’Ankara a
la position azerbaïdjanaise sur le conflit du Haut-Karabakh et par
la réaction violente de la Turquie a la reconnaissance internationale
du génocide arménien.

Le 10 octobre 2009, les chefs de diplomatie arménien et turc Edouard
Nalbandian et Ahmet Davutoglu ont signé a Zurich le Protocole sur
l’établissement des relations diplomatiques et le Protocole sur le
développement des relations bilatérales. Ces documents ont été
soumis pour ratification aux parlements des deux pays.

RALLY STARTED

s17000.html
17:43:49 – 01/03/2010

Today in Yerevan, near Matenadaran, the rally of the Armenian National
Congress started. The leaders of the opposition headed by Levon
Ter-Petrosyan arrived. The number of ralliers is several thousand
and it keeps increasing.

The rally started with one-minute silence honoring the memory of the
victims of March 1. The parents of the victims also held speeches.

According to them, their children were killed by the government.

Though the authors of the March 1 crimes have not been punished,
the parents are not discouraged and are determined to struggle up to
the end.

The Armenian National Congress accepts proposals from citizens in
connection with placing a monument in memory of March 1 victims.

Armenian-Russian innovation center to be established in Armenia

2010-02-26
more/id/592137/lang/en

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26, ARMENPRESS: Armenian-Russian innovation center
will be established in Armenia for coordinating the scientific
potential of the CIS member-countries. Samuel Harutyunyan, Chairman of
the State Committee for Sciences, said at a press conference today and
added that establishing such a center will be considered by CIS
member-states a pilot-project. He expressed hope that the center will
be established in late month and said the project is fully funded –
10% is provided by the Armenian side and 90% by the Russian side.