Author: Nahapetian Boris

ERDOGAN TO SPEAK IN U.S. ON THRESHOLD OF APRIL 24

news.am
Feb 15 2010
Armenia

Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan will arrive in U.S. to attend
the nuclear security summit with participation of UN Security Council
members.

RF President Dmitry Medvedev, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, UK
Prime Minister Gordon Brown will also attend the event organized by
the White House.

According to Turkish Aksam newspaper, along with discussion of Iranian
nuke program, Erdogan’s visit is aimed at delivering a speech on
Armenia-Turkey relations on the threshold of April 24. Premier is
expected to take part in the "Armenia-Turkey relations" conference
organized by Turkish Coalition of America on April 11-14, 2010.

Erdogan’s speech will be of great moment both for Turkey-U.S. and
Armenia-Turkey relations.

TURKEY’S CREDIBILITY AT STAKE
Frank Engel MEP

New Europe

Fe b 14 2010

On 9 February, the Armenian President Mr Serzh Sargsyan made a
remarkable appeal to the President of the Republic of Turkey Mr
Abdullah Gul urging him to conclude rapprochement process between
the two countries. This strong and clear sign of the Armenian will
to continue the process is the last one in this historic development.

Indeed, 10 October 2009 has been a historic day for Turkey and Armenia
that marked the beginning of the normalisation process between the two
countries. Seventeen years after closing the border, Turkey and Armenia
have made a first step towards a rapprochement which all the region
of South Caucasus would benefit from. The signature of the protocols
and the following negotiations for their ratification represent a
historic turning point that will deeply affect the future diplomatic
and strategic balances of the whole region. There is no doubt that the
success of the ongoing rapprochement will engender positive effects
increasing peace and stability in the entire South Caucasus.

In spite of the first positive signals, it seems that the normalisation
process is being hampered by a lack of political commitment and
a clear willingness to distort the protocols’ core principles. It
is time for regional actors and for the international community to
contribute constructively to the ongoing negotiations.

Turkey and Armenia need to continue the ratification of the signed
protocols without setting preconditions, otherwise the window of
opportunity to settle this issue diplomatically might soon be lost for
many years. At the same time, the Armenian government and the Armenian
Diaspora around the world should resist the Turkish government’s new
attempt to link the ratification of the protocols to the international
recognition of the Armenian genocide.

The support shown by the US State Department to the Armenian
Constitutional Court’s ruling on the Armenia-Turkey protocols,
qualifying it as a positive step in the ratification process,
should inspire other decision makers on the international scene
to support steps ahead and push for a prompt ratification of the
agreements. In this regard, we should expect the European Union, as
a now better-equipped international actor and advocate for effective
multilateralism, to have an active role in the process. Thanks to its
strong link with the parties involved and to its growing influence
in the promotion of an effective multilateral system, the EU appears
to be the best-positioned honest-broker and guarantor for the ongoing
process. The European Union has the possibility of playing a key role
in this process showing once more its ability to contribute to conflict
resolutions in the international scenario taking a more proactive
approach and boosting the rapprochement between the two parties. I
hope that all EU Institutions will intervene with all their possible
instruments, including a high-level visit to the region, in order
to urge both sides to ratify the protocols without preconditions and
within a reasonable timeframe, which should not exceed two months.

I firmly believe that by participating in a stronger manner in the
process, the European Union can seize a great opportunity to score
one more success in conflict settlement and the stabilisation of
the region. The winner of all this will be all parties who seek a
tight and profitable cooperation in the region. Let us not forget
that this is the first attempt to find a diplomatic solution for the
longest-standing dispute in the South Caucasus. We are so close.

Nothing should impede this process now. We should hope that all parties
involved will continue the historic endeavour to re-establish ties
between Turkey and Armenia. Populism is certainly not the right tool
to use when making history.

Frank Engel is a Member of the European Parliament from Luxembourg
and a member of the European People’s Party Group

BLESSING OF NEWLYWED COUPLES IN CHURCHES

2/church
12:22 pm | February 12, 2010

Social

On February 14, Armenian Churches celebrate the Feast of the Lord’s
Presentation to the Temple. Tiarn’ndaraj, or Candlemas as it is known
in the West, symbolizes the presentation of the 40 day-old Christ
Child to the Temple in Jerusalem.

The morning of the Feast Day, Divine Liturgy is celebrated in Armenian
Churches throughout the world. Many additional customs have been
inherited from the past, including the blessing of the four corners of
the world in the Andastan Service, the blessing of newlywed couples,
as well as offering prayers for the crops and fertility of the fields.

A1+ tried to find out how many weddings will take place in Yerevan
churches on February 13 and 14. The number of weddings usually doubles
during the feast.

St. Sargis will host 18 weddings on February 13 and 10 on February 14.

15 couples will unite in St. Hovhannes on February 13 and another 5
on February 14. The blessing of 13 newlywed couples will take place
in St. Zoravor on February 13.

RUSSIAN ANALYST: ARMENIAN LEADERS HAVE UTTERED AMBIGUOUS STATEMENTS NUMEROUS TIMES
T. Teymur

Today
523.html
Feb 12 2010
Azerbaijan

Alexei Vlasov, head of expert group at information-analytical center
of the Lomonosov Moscow State University says, given in the South
Caucasus and ongoing negotiations, we should not perceive the words
of Serzh Sargsyan as final and irrevocable.

The expert was commenting on Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s
speech at the Chattam House.

"Statements made by politicians should not be regarded as ultimate
truth especially given situation the Armenian leadership faces (both
in terms of internal processes and foreign trends). I read that the
Armenian President’s statements are "final nail" in the processes
of conflict resolution in South Caucasus, the Armenian-Turkish
rapprochement, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but I remain an optimist
and I think that everything may still be change for an unlimited
number of times," the expert said.

"The Armenian leadership has repeatedly sounded ambiguous phrases and
words, but not everything depends on Yerevan. Much depends on what
impact international mediators will have on settlement of conflicts
in South Caucasus, including Moscow, Washington, Brussels. I stress
again what Armenian President uttered publicly is a final opinion,"
the Russian expert said.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT URGES TURKISH PARLIAMENT TO PASS ACCORD

Hurriyet
Feb 11 2010
Turkey

Armenian President Serge Sarkisian called on Turkish lawmakers to take
the first step toward implementing a stalled accord on normalizing
ties between the two countries.

"The (Armenian) parliament will vote on the protocols if the Turkish
parliament goes ahead first," the Armenian leader told the Chatham
House think tank in London on Wednesday.

"As a leader of the political majority (in Armenia), I guarantee
a positive vote in parliament if the Turkish side votes without
preconditions and within the timeframe," he said, adding that if
Armenia goes first "we risk being in a situation where the (Armenian)
parliament will approve it and Turkey fails to do so."

Ankara has accused Yerevan of trying to set new conditions after
Armenia’s constitutional court said the protocols could not contradict
Yerevan’s official position that the Armenian mass killings constituted
"genocide" – a label Turkey fiercely rejects.

Armenia, for its part, is furious over Ankara’s insistence that
normalizing Turkish-Armenian ties depends on progress in the disputed
Nagorno-Karabakh region between Armenia and Turkey’s ally Azerbaijan.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with
Azerbaijan after ethnic Armenian forces wrested Karabakh from Baku’s
control in a war that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives.

ARTAK DAVTYAN: EVERY DECISION OF NCTR JUSTIFIED

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
11.02.2010 16:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "There are no states in the world that not control
their television. I regret we have not started to severely punish the
channels not corresponding to the criteria," Artak Davtyan, Chairman
of RA NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Youth
and Sports told a press conference on February 11. According to him,
fines for noncompliance with the standards will range from AMD 100
to 500 thousand, and a frequent noncompliance with the law can lead
to losing the broadcasting license by a channel.

The criteria have been compiled by the National Committee of Television
and Radio (NCTR), involving professionals in various fields, and
every decision of the Committee is justified, he said.

According to an expert Anush Setrakyan, the best solution to this
issue would use our fee-based, closed channels. "I think the criteria
cannot solve the problem of comprehensive provincialism, prevailing
on Armenian TV channels," Anush Setrakyan said.

On December 9, 2009 by a secret ballot, the National Assembly of
Armenia elected the members of the National Committee of Television
and Radio for 6 years.

AMD 80 MILLION ALLOCATED FROM ARMENIA’S BUDGET TO IT SPHERE DEVELOPMENT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
11.02.2010 19:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ AMD 80 million was allocated to IT sphere development
from Armenia’s budget.

As the head of the Administration of High and Information Technologies
at RA Economy Ministry Vache Kirakosyan told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter,
also, AMD 200 million will be contributed to construction of technopark
in Gyumri.

NKR PRESIDENT’S CONGRATULATION TO ZORI BALAYAN

armradio.am
10.02.2010 17:36

President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan, senta
congratulatory message to Hero of Artsakh, Knight of "Golden Eagle"
order Zori Balayan on his 75th birthday. The message reads:

"Respected Mr. Balayan,

On behalf of the people and authorities of Artsakh I cordially
congratulate you on the occasion of your 75th birthday.

You are one of those people who are considered to be the pride of
their compatriots, who have served as striking example of dedicating
the whole life to Motherland and people.

In Artsakh we rate high your devotion and allegiance to the ideas
of national liberation movement and inexhaustible efforts directed
to their realization. For purposeful and patriotic activity you have
been awarded the highest title of the Hero of Artsakh.

Your contribution to strengthening and developing ties between the
Motherland and the Diaspora, as well as to patriotic education of the
younger generation is immense. I am confident that the generations
to come will always remember you as a prominent physician, writer,
publicist, social and political figure, and a devoted son of the
Armenian people.

I congratulate you once again on your glorious anniversary and wish
you longevity, inexhaustible energy and success in the realization
of your patriotic undertakings."

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Assembly of America
February 10, 2010
Contact: Press Department
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202-393-3434

SENATOR LIEBERMAN REITERATES IMPORTANCE OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AFFIRMATION

Assembly Welcomes Community Activism and Urges Congress to Adopt the
Armenian Genocide Resolution

Washington, DC – In response to a letter from Harry Keleshian, a
longstanding Armenian Assembly trustee and activist, Senator Joseph
Lieberman (I-CT) stated that the issue of U.S. affirmation of the
Armenian Genocide "cuts to the heart not only of our foreign policy,
but of our morality as a nation."

Lieberman, in describing the "systematic and deliberate campaign of
mass murder perpetrated against the Armenian people," stated that
"even by the bloody standards of the 20th century, the annihilation of
1.5 million Armenians was one of the greatest crimes against humanity
committed in the last hundred years – an evil we have a solemn duty
never to forget."

"As we look to the 95th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide this
April 24, Senator Lieberman provides us with a poignant reminder of
the importance of remembering history, and the need to redouble our
efforts to end the scourge of genocide," stated Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny. "We commend Mr. Keleshian for his steadfast commitment
and support of the Assembly and our work on Capital Hill," added
Ardouny. "With activists like Harry, along with our nationwide State
Chair network, including Connecticut State Chair Sevan Angacian,we
have a great team to help us advance our goals."

In the January 25th letter to Connecticut resident Keleshian, Senator
Lieberman also recalled the extraordinary efforts of Henry Morgenthau,
the U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire at the time of the Armenian
Genocide. Ambassador Morgenthau was the leading force behind
America’s unprecedented humanitarian intervention, and his actions
helped to save countless survivors.

S. Res. 316 was introduced last year by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
and John Ensign (R-NV), and continues to garner support with Senators
Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) as the most recent
cosponsors. The resolution, as Lieberman’s letter so aptly stated,
"describes the history of the genocide in detail and calls on the
President to recognize and commemorate it appropriately." With the
House of Representatives scheduled to consider the Armenian Genocide
in Committee on March 4, the Assembly also urges the U.S. Senate to
take action.

By remembering history and honoring the victims of the Armenian
Genocide, Senator Lieberman hoped to renew America’s commitment "to
the cause of stopping genocide and ethnic violence in our own time."

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

###

NR# 2010-011

CAUCASUS UNDER NO IMMEDIATE THREAT OF ARMED CONFLICT

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.02.2010 13:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Caucasus region is under no immediate threat of
armed conflict, according to military expert Alexander Golts.

"Most obvious reasons behind this are: Armenia’s membership in the
CSTO, which means organization’s serious support in case of war, as
well as better training of Armenian army officers. True, Azerbaijan
has been intensively purchasing weapons recently. Yet what really
matters is fighting capacity, in which, experts say, Armenian army
is superior to Azerbaijan’s," Mr. Golts noted.

As the expert pointed out, the possibility of strong Turkish army’s
interference might pose a serious danger. "Russia, in turn, is
interested in upholding peace in the region, and will take every
effort to prevent such outcome," Caucasian Knot cited him as saying.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out in
1988 as result of the ethnic cleansing the latter launched in the
final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from
1991 to 1994. Since the ceasefire in 1994, sealed by Armenia, NKR and
Azerbaijan, most of Nagorno Karabakh and several regions of Azerbaijan
around it (the security zone) remain under the control of NKR defense
army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the
OSCE Minsk Group up till now.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization, formed under the framework
of the Commonwealth of Independent States, serves as a mutual defense
alliance among Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and
Tajikistan. The Collective Security Treaty (CST) was signed on May
15, 1992 for five-year term, with the possibility of prolongation. On
December 2, 2004 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted
the Resolution to grant the observer status to the Collective Security
Treaty Organization in the General Assembly of the United Nations. The
goal of the Collective Security Treaty Organization is to strengthen
peace and international and regional security and stability and to
ensure collective protection of independence, territorial integrity
and sovereignty of Member States, in the attainment of which Member
States shall give priority to political methods. On February 4, 2009,
the CSTO leaders approved formation of Collective Rapid Reaction Force
(RRF).