Author: Khoyetsian Rose

Le Monde, France
4 Mars 2010

Une commission du Congrès américain reconnaît le génocide arménien

LEMONDE.FR avec AFP et Reuters | 04.03.10 | 22h09 ¢ Mis à jour le
05.03.10 | 11h41

La commission des affaires étrangères de la Chambre des représentants
américaine a adopté jeudi 4 mars une résolution qualifiant de génocide
les massacres d’Arméniens par les forces ottomanes au début du XXe
siècle, en dépit des pressions de Barack Obama et d’Ankara.

Les autorités arméniennes se sont félicitées de ce vote, tandis
qu’Ankara a rappelé son ambassadeur à Washington pour consultations, a
annoncé le premier ministre, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Le chef du
gouvernement s’inquiète dans un communiqué des conséquences de cette
décision sur les relations entre Ankara et Washington et sur le
processus de réconciliation avec l’Arménie. La question arménienne a
déjà envenimé par le passé les relations entre Ankara et Washington;
la Turquie, membre de l’OTAN, est un relais essentiel pour les
Etats-Unis dans les dossiers iranien, afghan et israélo-palestinien.

LE TERME DE "GÃ?NOCIDE" EN CAUSE

La résolution, qui parle ouvertement de "génocide arménien" conduit
entre 1915 et 1923 par l’Empire ottoman, a été adoptée par vingt-trois
voix contre vingt-deux. Le texte, qui n’a pas force de loi, appelle le
président américain à "qualifier de façon précise l’extermination
systématique et délibérée de 1 500 000 Arméniens, de génocide". En
d’autres termes, elle enjoint les autorités américaines à utiliser le
terme de "génocide" à chaque fois qu’elles évoqueront le sujet. En
avril dernier, Obama s’était abstenu de l’utiliser, lui préférant
celui d’"atrocités".

Soucieuse d’éviter une crise diplomatique avec la Turquie,
l’administration américaine avait multiplié les efforts ces dernières
heures pour que le Congrès abandonne l’idée de voter cette résolution.
La secrétaire d’Etat, Hillary Clinton, avait ainsi téléphoné mercredi
au président de la commission pour lui expliquer qu’un tel vote
"risquerait de mettre à mal le processus de normalisation des
relations" entre la Turquie et l’Arménie, a fait savoir le
porte-parole du Conseil de la sécurité nationale de la Maison Blanche.
Barack Obama a lui-même appelé dans la même journée son homologue
turc, Adbullah Gül, pour lui demander de ratifier rapidement un
protocole de normalisation des relations signé l’année dernière entre
les deux pays voisins, selon le New York Times.

La Turquie reconnaît le massacre de chrétiens arméniens par les
Ottomans mais nie qu’il ait fait plus de 1,5 million de morts et qu’il
s’agisse d’un génocide, un terme utilisé par un grand nombre
d’historiens occidentaux et de parlements étrangers.

iques/article/2010/03/04/le-senat-americain-reconn ait-le-genocide-armenien_1314686_3222.html#ens_id= 1314685

Congrès US: Une résolution reconnaissant le génocide arménien. Ankara
menace de rappeler son ambassadeur à Washington

Phoenicia (weekly), Montreal
Vendredi 5 Mars 2010

on/No316.pdf

Les présidents Obama et Gul

La Turquie menace de rappeler son ambassadeur à Washington en cas
d’adoption par la Chambre des représentants du Congrès US d’une
résolution reconnaissant le génocide arménien par l’Empire ottoman,
ont rapporté des médias turcs en référence à des sources diplomatiques
locales. Ankara avait averti que l’adoption de ce document nuirait aux
rapports turco-américains ainsi qu’aux efforts visant à normaliser les
relations entre la Turquie et l’Arménie.

La Turquie nie avoir exterminé près 1,5 million d’Arméniens pendant la
Première Guerre mondiale et réagit douloureusement à toute 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.

Selon les médias turcs, le président Abdullah Gül a, dans un entretien
téléphonique avec Barack Obama mercredi, aurait appelé ce dernier à
peser de tout son poids politique pour empêcher l’adoption de la
résolution.

A Washington, une délégation de députés turcs conduite par le
président de la commission des affaires internationales du parlement,
Murat Mercan, cherche à convaincre depuis plusieurs jours les membres
du congrès US de ne pas voter en faveur de la résolution.
«Indépendamment de l’issue du vote, la Turquie ne sera pas perdante»,
a-t-il toutefois estimé dans un entretien télévisé.

In The News, UK
March 5 2010

Turkey recalls US ambassador after ‘genocide’ vote

Friday, 05, Mar 2010 02:03
By Richard James.

Turkey has recalled it ambassador to Washington after a US
congressional panel voted to describe the killing of 1.5 million
Armenians in the first world war as genocide.

Responding to the announcement from the US, Turkey’s prime minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country had been accused of a crime it
did not commit and would be removing its US ambassador from the
country.

The house committee on foreign affairs narrowly approved the
resolution which called on the US president to "characterise the
systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians as
genocide".

The vote came despite a plea by the White House not to pass the
resolution. The resolution will now be sent to the House of
Representatives for official approval.

Concerns have been raised the vote will now seriously undermine
relations between Turkey and the US as well as dialogue between the
former and Armenia.

Rejecting pressure from Barack Obama’s administration over the damage
the vote could have, chairman of the committee, Howard Berman, said in
his opening remarks on Wednesday that while Turkey was a "vital and,
in most respects, a loyal ally of the United States in a volatile
region¦ nothing justifies Turkey’s turning a blind eye to the reality
of the Armenian genocide".

During his campaign for presidency in 2008 Mr Obama pledged to
describe the killings as genocide, but US secretary of state Hillary
Clinton conceded the administration’s opinion had now changed.

Armenia has long campaigned for Turkey to recognise the killings in
1915 of hundreds of thousands of people deported from eastern Anatolia
as genocide, but successive Turkish governments have refused to do so.

turkey-recalls-us-ambassador-after-genocide-vote-$ 1363776.htm

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Meets with Slovenian Officials,
Participates in Cultural Festival

11:31 ¢ 06.03.10

Deputy Foreign Minster of Armenia Karine Ghazinyan and her Slovenian
counterpart Dragoljuba BenÄ?ina held consultations on March 5 in the
Slovenian capital of Ljubljana. The two diplomats discussed several
issues relating to bilateral and multilateral cooperation, regional
and international developments, the Eastern Partnership Program, and
cooperation between Armenia and Slovenia within international
organizations.

While speaking about cooperation between the two countries in such
areas as trade, science and culture, Ghazinyan and BenÄ?ina agreed upon
the importance of revitalizing the political dialogue between Armenia
and Slovenia and realizing unused potential of economic ties.

They also expressed their gratitude for a cultural festival in
Slovenia titled `Armenia Up Close,’ which features exhibits, concerts,
theatre, and lectures running from December 2009 to June 2010.

Karine Ghazinyan placed importance on implementing a provision
outlined in the Eastern Partnership Program that refers to the
`simplification of visa regime and citizens’ free movement in a secure
environment.’ Dragoljuba BenÄ?ina, in turn, said Slovenia was ready to
provide support in this area.

On the same day, the Armenian deputy foreign minister was welcomed by
the Slovenian Secretary State of Culture Stoyan Pelko. Later she was
expected to attend a cultural and historic exhibit titled `Armenian
Tradition between the Secular and the Sacred’ that has opened in
Cankarjev dom Cultural Centre in Ljubljana.

Tert.am

APA, Azerbaijan
March 5 2010

Armenian Youth Federation protests Azerbaijani Consul General’s speech
at Pacific Club in Los Angeles

[ 05 Mar 2010 18:16 ]

Baku ` APA. Consul General of Azerbaijan to Los Angeles Elin
Suleymanov delivered speech at the event organized by the World
Affairs Council, Orange County at the Pacific Club on March 4. He
spoke about the role of Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus, APA reports.
The Consul General informed the participants about the leadership of
Azerbaijan in the region and its balanced and pragmatic foreign policy
founded by Heydar Aliyev and successfully carried out by President
Ilham Aliyev.

US former ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish, representatives of
socio-political quarters, as well as Azerbaijani and Turkish
communities of California attended the event. The Consul General said
Azerbaijan was a tolerant and multi-cultural country, as well as first
secular country in the Muslim world.

Armenian community remaining loyal to its radical traditions held a
non-constructive action outside the Pacific Club in a protest against
the Azerbaijani diplomat’s speech. Armenian Youth Federation, which is
misled by the Armenian radicals and not understanding the realities
even partly, participated in the action. Nearly 100 Armenians used
different methods to prevent the event. They breached public order and
local legislature and attempted to enter the Club to break the event,
but the event was successfully ended.

Armenian Community in Vancouver Honors Olympians

5/armenian-community-in-vancouver-honors-olympians /
By Antranig Dereyan – on March 5, 2010

Armenian Weekly sports correspondent Antranig Dereyan reports from Vancouver.

VANCOUVER, Canada (A.W.) – The 21st Winter Olympic Games came to a close
on Sun., Feb 28. But Team Armenia had to take care of two more things
before they could attend the Closing Ceremony at BC Place: Arsen
Nersisyan’s run in the slalom, and gathering with fellow Armenians at
St. Vartan Church in Vancouver.

Nersisyan was ready and focused at the top of the mountain before his
run, but he was disqualified before his run `because coming out of the
starting gate, my skies parted,’ he told the Armenian Weekly after the
race.

Rule 629 of the International Ski Federation’s rulebook covers
`improper gate movement’ – a vague term, but Nersisyan fit the profile.
It would be an unfortunate end to his Olympic experience, especially
after his fall at the giant slalom a couple of days prior.

Yet, on the night of the Feb. 27, any feelings of frustrations, any
sad faces were turned into feelings of jubilation and smiles, as
Armenians of all ages came to the St. Vartan Church to meet their
team.

`[Armenia’s] participation in the Olympics – which brings all the
nations together, as a place of fellowship, friendship, and
competition – and having a Winter Olympic team in Vancouver makes us
extremely proud. We’re seeing our country grow in many directions,
especially in the sports field,’ said Bishop Bagrat Galstanian,
Primate of the Armenian Church of Canada.

The athletes were mingling with the delegation in the meeting hall,
also known as the eating area and performance space, signing
autographs and having a great time.

On stage, Edward Grigoryan, the St. Vartan community representative,
gave a speech about what the team meant to its people, and showed a
video clip of Armenia’s flag rising during the first days of the
Games.

`The journey getting here wasn’t easy. I live in San Francisco and
ever since I was 5-years-old, I have been skiing,’ said Olympics
alpine skier Ani-Matilda Serebrakian, whose dual citizenship allowed
her to ski for Armenia. `Almost every year, Lake Tahoe is where I ski.
That has been consistent for the last 20 years and all the hard work
finally paid off.’

To be an Olympian is hard, but there is more to it. `One must be
dedicated to their sport,’ added Serebrakian.

Sergey Mikayelyan, the youngest of the group, was busy the entire
night greeting people, signing autographs, and posing for pictures.
When informed that NBC had spoken about him during one of his
cross-country runs, he said with a smile, `I didn’t know, no one told
me after my run or before, but I am glad to hear of it.’

Grigoryan and Keghart Garabedian, the Archpriest of St. Vartan Church,
handed each Olympian a plaque, inscribed with their names, as well as
special presents for the two women of the team.

Then, it was time to head back home and get ready for the Closing Ceremony.

`I’ve been in Vancouver since 1994 and at this church since the very
beginning,’ said churchgoer Artka Dardinian at the Closing Ceremony
the next night, where the Armenian flag was on full display. `To see
our flag at the Vancouver Olympics, the participation made me happy,
for myself and my country, and it was great to see them here, talking
with us.’

On March 1, Team Armenia boarded their planes to return home.

In 2014, the Winter Olympic Games will be held in Sochi, Russia and
Team Armenia will once again be represented – but next time, they’ll be
more prepared and experienced, in the hope of bringing back some
medals.

ARF Blames Protocols For Tight U.S. House Vote on Genocide Bill

By Asbarez Staff on Mar 5th, 2010
cols-for-tight-u-s-house-vote-on-genocide-bill/

Y EREVAN (RFE/RL)-The opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation
blamed on Friday Armenia’s controversial agreements with Turkey for
the difficulty with which pro-Armenian lawmakers pushed their latest
genocide resolution through a U.S. congressional committee.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved the non-binding measures
by 23 votes to 22. The outcome of the vote, which lasted for over 90
minutes, hang in the balance until the last minute. The panel passed
similar resolutions, most recently in 2007, by much wider margins in
the past.

Committee members opposed to the resolution argued, among other
things, that the fence-mending Turkish-Armenian protocols call for the
formation of a joint `subcommission’ that would study the 1915 mass
killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. They also said calling
the massacres a genocide could scuttle Turkish parliamentary
ratification of the protocols.

Armen Rustamian, the chairman of the ARF’s supreme body in Armenia,
said this is the reason why several U.S. congressmen declined to vote
for the genocide bill this time around.

`I think all those who followed the committee debate understood and
saw very well just how these protocols can put the brakes on the
process of international recognition of the Armenian genocide,’
Rustamian told a news conference. `When we had been saying that for
months, many thought that this is just a partisan view.’

Giro Manoyan, the party’s political director, agreed, saying that the
protocols have given opponents of U.S. recognition of the genocide a
new argument.

The ARF has been highly critical of President Serzh Sarkisian’s policy
of rapprochement with Turkey that culminated in the signing of the
protocols last October. Their leaders have repeatedly said that Ankara
will exploit the would-be historical `subcommission’ to deter the
United States and other nations from recognizing the genocide.

Sarkisian and his political allies insist, however that the
Turkish-Armenian rapprochement will not slow the recognition process.

Voice of America
March 5 2010

US Genocide Vote Riles Turkey

A U.S. congressional committee approved a resolution condemning the
1915 slaughter of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide,
rejecting a last-minute Obama administration effort to derail it and
putting a chill on relations with Turkey.

Following the passing of the motion, Ankara’s reaction was swift. Its
ambassador was immediately recalled from Washington, for what is
described as consultations. The Turkish foreign minister Ahmet
Davutoglu was quick to condemn the vote.

"We will not be pressured by these decisions," he said. "It is not for
other parliaments to judge our history. Turkey is capable of dealing
with these issues alone. It is a matter of national honor."

Turkey strongly disputes the charge that it committed genocide against
its Armenian minority in 1915. It says the deaths occurred in a civil
war in which Turks died too. Along with it being a matter of honor,
observers say Ankara fears if the U.S. recognized the genocide it
would open the door to massive compensation claims from descendants of
survivors of the killings living in the United States.

The repercussions of Ankara’s anger over the U.S. vote could
ironically hit Armenia first. Last October the Turkish and Armenian
presidents signed a protocol to normalize relations. Davutoglu warned
those rapprochement efforts could be now in jeopardy.

"The intrusion of all the other parties will set an obstacle for this
normalization process," he said. "I am saying this to the House of
Representatives, whatever involvement you take will harm the big
historical peace of Armenians and Turkey."

Criticism from the Turkish government has also been growing over what
they say was a failure by the White House to lobby against the motion.
In the days running up to vote, Turkish diplomats voiced increasing
frustration over what it called for lack of effort by the White House
to oppose the motion.

The Turkish foreign minister warned that U.S.-Turkish relations have
been damaged. Ankara has repeated warned of consequences to the U.S.
over the passing of the motion.

But it remains unclear whether Ankara would carry out such a threat.
Observers say what may determine such a decision is whether President
Barrack Obama uses his political muscle like his predecessors have
done in the past and stop the motion progressing to a full vote by
the House of Representatives.

news/usa/US-Genocide-Vote-Riles-Turkey-86601672.ht ml

ANKARA WARILY EYES TODAY’S GENOCIDE RESOLUTION VOTE

2010/03/04 | 09:42

world

Today’s upcoming vote in the United State Congress on how to describe
the events of 1915 (House Resolution 252) looms front and center in
many of the nation’s papers and news outlets.

The Wall Street Journal says the vote "is turning into a game of
brinksmanship between the White House and Ankara." It quotes Suat
Kiniklioglu, a legislator and deputy chairman of external affairs for
the ruling Justice and Development Party as saying, "There would be
consequences if the vote passes. Turks find it very offensive to be
equated with Nazis."

In this push and pull process, the White House seems to have faded to
the foreground, a break from previous administrations’ active lobbying
against similar measures. When asked how passage of the resolution
would effect relations with Turkey, State Department spokesman P.J.

Crowley said, "We have a pretty good idea of how everyone feels on
the issue."

For many, the nagging questions remains to what extent the current
Obama administration is using the Genocide issue for political
leverage , like the sword of Damocles over Ankara? This question
takes on more validity given the ongoing ratification process of the
Turkish-Armenian Protocols.

The traditional Turkish response, at least on the whole, is that Ankara
is a strategic partner for the U.S. and that it would be foolish
to damage such a cooperative partnership over events, while tragic,
don’t amount to genocide.

"Turks feel the way these events happened is not well known abroad
and only in a one-sided way," said Ilter Turan, a professor of
political science at Bilgi University in Istanbul. He said a vote to
recognize genocide would likely trigger anti-American demonstrations
and retaliation by the government.

RUBEN VARDANYAN: CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL COMPLEX IN DILIJAN TO BE STARTED IN SPRING 2010

ArmInfo
05.03.2010

ArmInfo. The construction of school complex in Dilijan will be started
in spring 2010, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Troika Dialog,
Chairman of the Board of Ameriabank Ruben Vardanyan said during a
press-conference today.

Vardanyan presented the project in the summer 2009. Prime Minister
of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan approved the initiative and assured that
it would enjoy the Government’s keen attention.

"The consturction of this school is an ambitious and important
project. It is one of the key elements of Armenia’s future success.

The school will met international standards and will be open for
children from Armenia and abroad," Vardanyan said.

According to the initial plan, the school will prepare 550 children
for university. The lessons will given in English by foreign
specialists. The graduates will have sufficient knowledge for studying
in the world’s leading universities.