Author: Khoyetsian Rose

RA GOVERNMENT TO SOLVE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS OF REFUGEE FAMILIES

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 29, 2010 – 11:03 AMT 06:03 GMT

During the April 29 session, the Armenian government adopted a decision
on privatization of residential spaces occupied by persons, who were
forced to migrate from the Azerbaijani Republic from 1988-1992 and
obtained citizenship of the Republic of Armenia.

The decision aims to provide legal guarantees to and solve housing,
social and economic problems of numerous refugee families, which
temporarily reside in dormitories in Yerevan and Abovian.

The government has approved the list of persons, who will be provided
with apartments purchased in an apartment building constructed in
Yerevan. The Government instructed the Armenian Ministry of Urban
Development to implement the apartments’ distribution through a drawing
and, based on its results, to sign deeds of gift (unpaid privatization)
with these persons on behalf of the Republic of Armenia.

DIASPORA POLITICS INEVITABLE IN NATION OF IMMIGRANTS
By Haroon Siddiqui

Toronto Star
e/801811–siddiqui-diaspora-politics-inevitable-in -nation-of-immigrants
April 29 2010
Canada

>From the prevalent negative public discourse on immigrants, one would
think that we want immigration but not immigrants. That obviously
cannot be. Similarly, we cannot have immigrants without their
religions, cultures, customs and memories, political or otherwise.

Yet we keep peddling the myth that immigrants ought to develop amnesia
the moment they land here and cast aside their old country baggage.

Few ever did. Fewer still will, given our global village.

In the past, some immigrants did keep a tactical silence. But even
they nurtured and passed along their heritage to their children.

Witness the attachment of third- and fourth-generation Ukrainian
Canadians to Ukraine. Or the campaign by Armenian Canadians to
have the Turkish killing of Armenians 100 years ago acknowledged as
genocide. Greek Canadians objected to independence for Macedonia. Sikh
Canadians voiced anger about goings-on in India. Tamil Canadians
complained about the Sinhalese war on the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Less noisily, Bangladeshi Canadians have been protesting the
presence in Canada of one of the alleged murderers of the founding
father of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and his family. They
were assassinated in 1975 in Dhaka in a military coup. After a
much-delayed trial, five former soldiers were hanged in January. Six
others convicted are at large. One, Nur Chowdhury, lives in Toronto,
his refugee claim rejected.

Bangladesh wants him extradited. A few dozen Bangladeshi Canadians
marched on Parliament Hill last month demanding that he be deported.

But Canadian policy prohibits sending anyone to a country where he may
face capital punishment. Adding poignancy to the diplomatic request
is that it comes from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, daughter of the
slain leader. She survived the slaughter because she happened to be
out of the country at the time.

Diaspora politics is not confined to immigrants. Witness the Jewish
community’s advocacy for Israel — trying to ban books, plays and
conferences critical of Israel, as well as pressuring governments,
universities and media to muzzle criticism.

It’s the most active lobbying in Canada on behalf of a foreign country
or people. Nothing illegal about it, as a group of Canadians exercises
its rights peacefully, even if at times to justify Israeli wars. The
effort is also the most successful, given the Harper government’s
almost unquestioning support for Israel, in contrast with the Obama
administration, which has decided that some Israeli actions run
counter to American interests.

Canada being a microcosm of the world, it’s only natural that foreign
issues have become domestic issues. Sometimes, they transcend ethnic
communities.

The war on Iraq, initially opposed by Arab Canadians, was vehemently
opposed by a majority of Canadians. The Afghan war is obviously not
just an Afghan Canadian issue. Iranian Canadian protests about the
stolen election in Iran have had resonance among Canadians.

How to distinguish between what’s acceptable diaspora politics and what
is not? The primary dividing line has been between the peaceful and
the violent, the lawful and the unlawful. Another has been the Canadian
national interest, which should not be held hostage to any group.

Public opinion plays a role. Some foreign causes are seen as more
legitimate than others. That’s why groups try to make their cause sound
worthy of support. Some are better at media manipulation and political
organizing, while the less sophisticated and the less powerful take
to the streets. The latter are mostly the newer minorities.

It is these groups that are routinely admonished to "respect our
customs," "conform to our way of life," and "adopt Canadian values."

What those might be beyond the rule of law is rarely defined.

What do we mean when we hector someone to "be Canadian"? Play hockey?

At least watch it, preferably on a couch with a beer in hand? Or,
in Quebec, eat poutine and listen to Céline Dion? What else? If one
can’t catalogue it all, how can we implement it?

Values are forever evolving and are best absorbed voluntarily. So we
have to be conscious that the admonition "Be Canadian" is not a club
that we can use on those we don’t like.

AKKUM: LET’S GIVE ARMENIANS WHAT WE TOOK FROM THEM
Gulisor Akkum

The Armenian Weekly
April 2010 Magazine

"The history of civilization" started in Anatolia, a geographic region
that harbored the riches necessary for "sedentary life." This richness
made it an attractive place throughout history, and resulted in its
being constantly invaded.

However, it never saw a massacre as horrible as the one during World
War I, and never went through such homogenization.

In this war of apportionment between western imperialism and the
Ottoman Empire, the latter committed a social and cultural genocide to
peoples such as the Armenians, Syrians, Alevis, Kurds, Pontic Greeks,
and Yazidis, destroying, in just a few years, all the tangible and
intangible treasures of humanity formed in the past 14,000 years.

Approaching these policies of genocide and deportation from only a
biological and social point of view makes it harder for us to see
the costs for humanity. This event demolished all the scientific and
cultural values in the region, where the foundations of the history
of civilization were laid.

These genocides in Anatolia, the cultural heart of the Middle East,
weren’t confined to it, but caused a historical decline for all
"Oriental communities."

Such a fragmentation in Anatolia almost turned the reconstruction of
the Middle East into a puzzle.

And in this puzzle, Kurds have come very close to finding their real
place within Anatolian unity. Nevertheless, they know that their
place will remain incomplete until the other pieces of the puzzle
find their own places as well.

This awareness has not evolved into a concrete theory within the
Kurdish movement. In connection with this theory, which must be formed
without delay, Kurds can play a crucial role in this puzzle of the
century, provided that the right steps are taken.

The most sensitive point regarding the formation of this theory is
that the puzzle is composed of "organic" pieces, and that therefore
it can be made whole not by rational and crude political calculations,
but by sincerity only.

Kurds must come to terms with their history, remember their brotherhood
with Armenians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Greeks, Alevis, and Yazidis-with
whom they wrote the history of civilization in Anatolia-and recapture
this organic connection with them.

These peoples, who have suffered genocides, are dispersed throughout
the globe. Their eyes and ears are turned toward Turkey, and what
they expect most is sincerity.

A few weeks ago, I thought it might be a good symbol of the Kurds’
sincerity if a house that once belonged to an Armenian in Diyarbakir,
Turkey, were bought and returned to an Armenian in need. I got an
appointment from the Diyarbakir Metropolitan Municipality to talk
about the legality of such a proposal.

Before the appointment, however, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan threatened Armenia by stating that he would deport these
Armenians.

That is why I cancelled my appointment with the municipality. And
now I am making my proposal to those who really count:

"None of these peoples, with whom we share our songs, stories, dances,
and sufferings, is an immigrant on these lands. Let’s give them back
what we took away from them, so that they don’t have to live on their
lands as ‘immigrants!’"

Of course, I don’t expect this proposal to be accepted by Turkey. But
I want those who are sincere about this to gather around the proposal.

ARMENIAN PATIENT GETS FIVE-YEAR RESIDENCE PERMIT

Hurriyet Daily News
April 27 2010
Turkey

Arthur Manukyan, 22, and his mother Hasmik, 45, were granted residence
permits and have applied for citizenship, daily Milliyet reported
Tuesday.

At the request of CHP İzmir deputy Canan Arıtman, the Prime Minister
Recep Tayypip Erdogan consented to giving a residence permit to Arthur
Manukyan, who suffers from "moya moya" sickness and is currently
being treated at the CerrahpaÅ~_a Medical School Hospital.

Hasmik Manukyan said they wanted to be an example for Armenia and
Turkey, Anatolian news agency reported Tuesday, adding that she hoped
both countries could live like sisters and brothers.

"I wish they would open the borders so people can visit each another.

Bad things happened in the past, I wish they had never happened."

Hasmik Manukyan also said she was deeply aggrieved by the flag burnings
on Armenian Remembrance Day.

Arthur Manukyan’s visa expired during his stay in the hospital.

Armenian Patriarch Aram AteÅ~_yan appealed to the authorities on
learning of Arthur’s medical condition, in which there is a blockage
of veins in his brain because his blood does not coagulate properly.

"TURKEY CAN RUN" "BUT CERTAINLY CAN NOT HIDE"
Richard Giragosian

Lragir.am
27/04/10

As yet another April 24th commemoration of the Armenian genocide has
passed, yet another American president has failed to accurately or
honestly invoke the genocide definition for what he has termed the
"Meds Yeghern." Although the dubious distortion of the historical
record was not a surprise, it does represent a disappointment.

The disappointment with President Barack Obama’s words is not only an
insult to the collective memory of Armenians, but is also an insult
to the integrity of American history. There should be no place for
such convenient half-truths or political pandering when it comes
to genocide. Armenians and Americans alike both deserve better,
especially from this American president.

Interestingly, as much as Armenians were again disappointed by the
American president’s statement, Turkish officials were also upset.

Specifically, Turkish officials were not satisfied by Obama’s failure
to correctly refer to the genocide. Turkish anger was triggered by the
president’s other words, where he referred to the genocide as "one
of the worst atrocities of the 20th century" and as "the inhumanity
of 1915."

There was also a degree of apprehension in Turkey as well, as Obama
reiterated that he has "consistently stated" his view of what occurred
in 1915, warning that his "view of that history has not changed,"
fueling fears in Turkey that although he refused to use the genocide
term, it did not necessarily mean that he would not feel free to do
so at some later point.

Yet in many ways, perhaps one of the most revealing lessons from
Armenia’s difficult diplomacy with Turkey has been that Turkey really
only respects strength. This was especially true during the October
2009 signing ceremony of the now infamous "protocols" between Armenia
and Turkey. Even during the ceremony itself, Turkey delayed the signing
for several hours, testing Armenia’s will, fortitude and resolve.

And as Turkey has now demonstrated increasing insincerity and
unreliability regarding its commitments to Armenia, the Armenian
government has finally suspended the process of ratifying the
protocols. Specifically, the Armenian president was compelled to take
action to address Turkey’s unacceptable "language of preconditions."

Armenia’s move was a correct one and represents a prudent response to
the Armenian president’s regretful admission that "for a whole year,
Turkey has done everything to protract time and fail the process."

In the words of Armenia’s first foreign minister, Raffi Hovannisian,
the Armenian decision to suspend the normalization process was "a good
tactic in these conditions," but he did note that "a good strategist
should not let such things happen" in the first place.

Hovannisian further stressed that the protocols are inherently flawed
by the existence of several disturbing preconditions, reflecting a
Turkish attempt to "reject genocide recognition," impose the "de jure
recognition of an illegal de facto border," and the unacceptable and
artificial linkage of the issue of Armenian-Turkish normalization
with the Mountainous Karabagh issue.

In this context, the effort "was an experiment, and that experiment
has failed," Hovannisian noted. He also warned that Armenia remains
in a critical "emergency situation" that can only be surmounted
"either by means of new elections or by essentially new changes,
which presume the presence of political will that is not visible till
now either among the authorities nor in some parts of the opposition."

Clearly, the absence of internal strength can never translate into
any formidable foreign policy.

Thus, in the aftermath of recent events, it has now become clear
that although Turkey may try to run from the issue, it certainly
can not hide from the most basic expectations of a modern nation—-
extending diplomatic relations with Armenia, opening the border that
Turkey itself closed unilaterally, and coming to terms with its legacy
of genocide. At the same time, the international community would do
well to remember that all expectations and burdens remain squarely on
Turkey. Armenia has done all it can and more. Perhaps at this point,
it is time for Armenia to modify its policy, to one demanding and
imposing its own preconditions on Turkey. Maybe only then will Turkey
come to respect a strong Armenian stance.

Karabakh NGO Calls On Diaspora to Step-Up Efforts to Win Republic’s Recognition

Asbarez
Apr 27th, 2010
STEPANAKERT

The NKR Public Council for Foreign and Security Policy, an NGO
operating in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, has called on Armenian
Diaspora organizations to initiate what it considers to be a process
for the international recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

The letter is addressed to the traditional political parties and
lobbying structures of the Armenian Diaspora.

Masis Mayilian, the organization’s president said that recent
precedents in the Balkans and the Caucasus have "shown that such
recognition can serve as a real mechanism to strengthen security in
conflict areas and support stability at relatively little material
cost."

Mayilian’s sentiments were echoed by Gegham Bagdasaryan, a member
of the organization who argued that "Our compatriots abroad have
extensive experience, gained during decades fighting for recognition
of the Armenian Genocide." The time has come, he added, to use that
experience "to safeguard Armenian victories in Artsakh in the framework
of international law."

In the statement, the Public Council said it believes that the
recognition of Karabakh’s independence" even by provincial governments
and local self-government entities" in the Diaspora would serve to
"provide Artsakh with important moral and institutional support."

We present the complete letter below:

Since April 2009, when Armenian-Turkish dialogue gained greater public
prominence, we have been faced with new challenges. The process of
negotiations between Armenia and Turkey and the signing of the two
well-known protocols have caused much debate among Armenians.

Meantime, Turkey’s efforts to link its ratification of protocols to
Armenian territorial concessions in favor of Azerbaijan have added
to tensions in the Caucasus region.

With support of Diaspora Armenian organizations, Western parliaments
have stepped up the process of recognition of the Armenian Genocide
as a form of pressure on the Turkish leadership which is refusing to
fulfill obligations it has assumed as part of the Armenian-Turkish
reconciliation effort.

In response to this pressure, Turkish leaders have declared about
a danger of regional destabilization. Keeping in mind Azerbaijan’s
militaristic designs and the fact that Turkey remains Azerbaijan’s
closest ally, there is little doubt as to where such destabilization
might occur.

In this regard, there is a need to strengthen the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic’s security and thus rule out a danger of another Armenian
Genocide, this time in Eastern Armenia.

NKR Public Council for Foreign and Security Policy believes that
together with recognition of Genocide, Diaspora Armenian organization
should make the issue of international recognition of the Artsakh
Republic a priority direction of their activities. We do not believe
that promotion of "commitment to peaceful resolution of the conflict"
is sufficient.

Having gained substantial experience working with legislative bodies
of various levels around the world, Diaspora organizations are capable
of initiating the process of recognition of NKR by these entities.

ARMENIAN FISH MUST NOT FALL INTO OLIGARCHS’ NET

ArmInfo
2010-04-27 20:07:00

ArmInfo. Fish breeding in Armenia must not become the private domain
of oligarchs, Artsvik Minasyan, Armenian parliamentarian from ARF
Dashnaktsutyun, said in parliament, Tuesday.

"Today the republic’s economy needs to be diversified, that is to say,
it needs development of new spheres. Fish breeding may become one of
these spheres, for which there are big opportunities in Armenia. Over
the past 10 years fish breeding in our country has considerably
grown and currently makes up about 5 thsd tons a year. According to
experts, it is possible to increase this index to 300 thsd. However,
the development of this field needs strict control, as fish breeding
remains one of the few fields, which are not under the oligarchic
system’s control yet. We’ll shortly present a package of proposals
on development of this sphere",- said Minasyan.

At present there are 250-270 fish breeding entities in Armenia. About
5.8 thsd tons of fish worth a total of 8.4 bln AMD were bred and
caught in 2009.

FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA: PARTICIPATION OF TURKEY IN OSCE MG IS RULED OUT

ArmInfo
2010-04-27 12:10:00

ArmInfo. Participation of Turkey in OSCE Minsk Group on the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement is unacceptable for official Yerevan,
Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan said in an interview
with Real Politic programme of Armenia’s Public TV on April 26.

"It is ruled out. Armenian president and foreign minister have multiply
explained that", E. Nalbandyan emphasized.

To recall, in the Karabakh issue Turkey unambiguously comes out from
pro-Azerbaijani positions. The same position conditions freezing of
the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement process.

MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS HELD IN BAKU

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 27, 2010
BAKU

BAKU, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received
on the eve in Baku Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.

His Holiness participates in the two-day summit of the religious
leaders of the world opened on Monday in Baku.

"AzerTag" Azerbaijani news agency reported that at the meeting of
the Azerbaijani President and Catholicos of All Armenians a great
importance was attached to the Baku summit with participation of
religious leaders of different beliefs, as well as the significance
of the forum in strengthening the inter-religious dialogue and in
expansion of contacts between religious leaders was pointed out.

This is the first meeting of the Azerbaijani President with the head
of the Armenian Apostolic Church throughout the history.

MOLDOVAN DELEGATION TO OSCE CALLS FOR LIBERATION OF ERNEST VARDANYAN

Tert.am
15:12 27.04.10

Permanent delegation of the Republic of Moldova to the OSCE addressed
statement to the OSCE Permanent Council Chairman during a council
meeting in relation of the Armenian national journalist Ernest
Vardanyan.

The authors of the statement thanked the "delegation of the United
States for bringing to attention of the permanent council this worrying
case, as well as the European Union for its supportive statement.

"We also thank the OSCE mission to Moldova for issuing a spot report
on the recent arrests in the Transnistrian region. The Moldovan
authorities are deeply concerned about the fate of the journalist
Ernest Vardanyan, who is a citizen of the Republic of Moldova. On the
7th April he was arrested on false charges of "espionage and high
treason." This kind of persecution of a journalist, which strives
to reflect the situation in the region in an objective manner, has
no precedent.

"More than that, in recent weeks the de facto Tiraspol authorities
have intimidated and brought false accusations of high treason against
a number of civil society representatives. A member of local staff
of the OSCE mission has been also put under pressure. We regret very
much these cases," reads the statement.

Further it says that the Moldovan Government is concerned about the
"continuing violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms
and in particular of the universal humanitarian conventions in the
Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova."

"Such counterproductive steps are undermining the efforts aimed at
the re-establishing trust and confidence which are key prerequisites
for resolving the problems of local population. These unfortunate
developments are also harming the constructive endeavors undertaken
by international partners – participants to the 5+2 process. We call
on all member states to join the efforts of the Moldova authorities
in this regard," reads the statement.

Vardanyan was arrested near his home in Tiraspol on April 7 allegedly
by the Transdniestrian state secrete services. He is accused of high
treason and according to Article 271 of the Transdniestrian Criminal
Code he can face 12-20 years in prison.