Author: Nahapetian Boris

TURKEY, ARMENIA SAY THEY ARE NEAR RESTORING TIES

PR-Inside.com
April 16 2009
YEREVAN

Armenia and Turkey said Thursday they are close to restoring full
relations after 15 years of disagreements over claims of genocide
against Armenians under Ottoman rule.

NATO-member Turkey and Armenia, a former Soviet republic, also hope
to reopen their shared border, closed in 1993 _ a goal encouraged by
the European Union and the United States.

"We could be very close to settling the issue in the near future,"
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said after holding talks
with Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan during a Black Sea economic
conference in Yerevan.

Babacan said Turkish leaders want an "all-encompassing" solution and
"full normalization" of ties, according to comments broadcast by
Turkey’s NTV television after he returned to Ankara.

Both sides said they had made progress during Thursday’s talks. But
neither gave any hints of how they might resolve the key point of
contention _ Armenia’s assertion that the Ottoman-era killings of
Armenians amounted to genocide.

Turkey disputes the claim, saying there was no systematic campaign to
wipe out Armenians, despite estimates that up to 1.5 million Armenians
died in what is widely viewed by scholars as the first genocide of
the 20th century.

The two countries also differ over Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh
region, controlled by Armenia after a six-year war that broke out in
the waning days of the Soviet Union.

Turkey wants its talks with Armenia to proceed in parallel with
negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, an ally of Turkey.

Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mamadkuliyev, also in
Yerevan for the Black Sea conference, said his country was closely
following the talks between Turkey and Armenia.

"Steps to rebuild relations between Armenia and Turkey must be linked
to settling the (Nagorno-Karabakh) conflict," he said.

The U.S. and EU have urged Turkey and Armenia to resolve their
differences.

President Barack Obama _ who seeks Turkey’s support for U.S. military
goals in Iraq and Afghanistan _ is expected to issue a closely
scrutinized statement marking Armenian remembrance day on April 24.

Obama had referred to the "Armenian genocide" during his presidential
campaign, but refrained from using the term during a recent visit to
Turkey, saying only that his views were on the record.

TURKISH SPEAKER SAYS RELATIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN CANNOT BE HARMED

Hurriyet
April 15 2009
Turkey

ISTANBUL – The Turkish parliament speaker said on Wednesday relations
between Ankara and Baku could not be harmed after meeting a group of
female Azerbaijani parliamentarians.

"One million Karabakh people will be displaced and will try to survive,
and we will open the border gate with Armenia. Such a thing cannot
happen," Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan was quoted by the Anatolian
Agency as saying following his meeting with the Azeri parliaments.

Turkey’s border with Yerevan was closed in 1993 over Armenia’s invasion
of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory.

The two countries have no diplomatic relations; however, Ankara and
Yerevan have been engaged in a normalization process that includes
reopening the border, since Gul paid a landmark visit to Armenia
last year to watch a World Cup qualifying football match between the
countries’ national teams.

"Discussing all problems with Armenia, one of which is Karabakh,
does not cause any weakness in Turkish-Azerbaijani relations, and
it does not mean that Turkey is making concessions of its policies
regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh issue," Toptan also said.

He said Turkey’s views were very clear and obvious, and said nobody
knew when those discussions would be completed, or whether or not
they would bear positive results.

Toptan added that Turkey would never give up Azerbaijan, and two
countries should join forces and move forward together.

Occupation must end first

Azerbaijani lawmaker Genire Pasayeva said the border crossing with
Armenia could not be opened before the invasion of Azerbaijani
territories ended.

"We are not telling to keep the borders closed, but we are saying that
Armenia should withdraw from our territories and recognize Turkey’s
territorial integrity," Anatolian Agency also quoted her as saying.

Azeri officials have expressed concern over the prospect of the border
being reopened and some media reports suggested that Baku might even
go one step further in halting the sale of natural gas to Turkey.

Azerbaijan, which has strong cultural and historic ties with Turkey,
says opening the border before the withdrawal of Armenian troops
from the country’s occupied territories would run counter to its
national interests.

In a bid to soothe Azerbaijan’s concerns, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan has said the deadlock over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave must
be resolved before Turkey and Armenia strike a deal.

MECHANISM FOR ISOLATION OF ARMENIA FROM RUSSIA WAS TESTED IN KOSOVO AND SERBIA

WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
April 13, 2009 Monday
Russia

After the final breakup of Yugoslavia, the stake was made on the
inclusion of Albania and Croatia into NATO. Although some Western
experts asked to which extent expansion of the alliance could be
done without any impact on ability of NATO to work, Washington and
Brussels did not have any doubts about the geopolitical component of
expedience of NATO expansion in the Balkans.

The NATO surrounding of Serbia force Belgrade to have complete
capitulation of Washington and Brussels. The limit of the actual
capabilities of Russia and deficit of efficient foreign policy
mechanisms of our country does not contribute to enthusiasm of the
patriotic circles in Serbia.

The Balkan model of isolation, and "digestion" of a country having
centuries of history of friendly relations with Russia by the West
is dangerous because it can be used in Transcaucasia too. Armenia –
strategic ally of Russia – is blocked by Georgia and Azerbaijan that
are oriented at entrance into NATO. Hence Armenia has to look for
closer contacts with NATO. The establishment of diplomatic relations
between Yerevan and Ankara being prepared mostly with mediation of
the US will be the first step in this direction.

WILL GAGIK BEGLARYAN COME TO NORTHERN AVENUE?

A1+
12:13 pm | April 14, 2009

Politics

The Armenian National Congress has appealed to the current mayor
of Yerevan Gagik Beglaryan with the demand to secure the right of
citizens wishing to stroll on Northern Avenue to move freely.

The Congress informs Gagik Beglaryan: "Northern Avenue has been closed
down by several hundred police officers armed with clubs for the past
couple of days. Not only do they prohibit citizens from being there
or taking a stroll, but also move them to other places, break them
into smaller groups, hurt and assault them."

The Congress also informs that during those days, more than a dozen
individuals were illegally arrested and kept in the Kentron police
division.

"You are the current mayor of Yerevan and are responsible for
everything that takes place in the city. The Northern Avenue was
foreseen as a place for taking strolls. Are you aware that police
officers have been depriving citizens of their right to move freely
and stroll there?" as stated in the ANC statement. "You are currently
running for mayor. Is this how you picture city life and is that what
you are trying to implement at Northern Avenue and the neighboring
streets?"

In the end, the ANC informs Gagik Beglaryan that on April 14, citizens
will once again go to Northern Avenue and demands the mayor to secure
their right to stroll and move freely there.

OPENING OF TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDER WOULD BE "INCORRECT" – AZERI SPOKESMAN

Day.Az
April 13 2009
Azerbaijan

We are open and we are pursuing a transparent foreign policy, clearly
outlining all priorities among issues discussed, Azerbaijan’s Foreign
Ministry spokesman Elxan Poluxov has told Day.az.

"Relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey continue to develop
steadily. We are allies and strategic partners and all problems
emerging among us are resolved in the course of work," he noted,
commenting on recent discussions and debates in the light of widespread
reports on the possible opening of the state border and restoration
of diplomatic relations between Ankara and Yerevan.

Answering a question on whether the criticism of the leadership in
Ankara may have a negative impact on Turkish-Azerbaijani relations,
Poluxov stressed that "domestic rhetoric is just domestic rhetoric".

"In any case, Azerbaijan has always expressed and continues to express
its position on specific issues. Our firm position is that we are open
and we are pursuing a transparent foreign policy, clearly outlining
all priorities among issues discussed. In this case, the problem of
the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict is a major priority in our foreign
policy. Azerbaijan’s position on this problem is firm. It has always
been stated everywhere," the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Answering a question on whether any changes in Azerbaijan’s foreign
policy were possible, if the Turkish-Armenian border was opened,
he noted that "an appropriate statement has already been made".

"It has been said that this (the opening of the Turkish-Armenian
border – Day.az) will raise tensions in the region and will be an
incorrect step both strategically and tactically," he stressed.

Interfax, Russia
April 10 2009

Armenia plans to build NPP, railroad to Iran – president

YEREVAN April 10

Armenia has not shelved its plans to build a nuclear power plant in
the country, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said.

"We will continue our effort to build the NPP," Sargsyan told a news
conference on Friday.

Armenia also plans to build a railroad to Iran, the president said.

"If not this year then the next year we will begin building the
railroad. A pipeline through which petrol and diesel fuel will be
delivered from Iran to Armenia is planned to be laid this year. A
joint Armenian-Iranian hydropower plant which will have no competitors
in the region in terms of its capacity is expected to be built,"
Sargsyan said.

Agence France Presse
April 10, 2009 Friday 4:50 PM GMT

Armenian leader hopes Turkish border will reopen soon

YEREVAN, April 10 2009

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian Friday said he hoped the border
with traditional foe Turkey, closed for over a decade, would reopen
before an October football match between their national teams.

"The ball is on Turkey’s side and under the laws of football the ball
cannot stay there indefinitely," Sarkisian said a press conference
marking his first year in office.

"I think that for the next football match between Turkey and Armenia I
will be going to Turkey through an open border, or maybe even before
then," he said.

Long-fraught relations between Armenia and Turkey have been undergoing
a thaw since Turkish President Abdullah Gul attended a football match
in the Armenian capital Yerevan last year, becoming the first Turkish
leader to visit the neighbouring country.

Gul invited Sarkisian to attend the rematch in Turkey in October.

Turkey and Armenia have no formal diplomatic ties and their border has
been closed amid deep differences over World War I massacres of
Armenians under the Ottoman Empire.

Armenia and a number of other countries have called the killings a
genocide, but Turkey rejects the label and disputes the number of
dead.

"We are for the establishment of diplomatic relations with Turkey
without preconditions," Sarkisian said. "We do not set the question of
the recognition of the Armenian genocide as a precondition and we
expect that Turkey also will not raise the issue as a precondition."

During a visit to Turkey this week, US President Barack Obama urged
Turkey and Armenia to "move forward" in talks to establish diplomatic
ties and open their shared border.

mkh-mm/ach

ARMENIANS CRITICIZE, PRAISE OBAMA’S STANCE ON "GENOCIDE"

BBC Monitoring Trans Caucasus Unit
April 8, 2009 Wednesday

US President Barack Obama’s statement on 6 April that he would not
interfere in the dispute over whether the killings of Armenians in
Ottoman Turkey in 1915 constituted genocide has drawn both criticism
and praise in Armenia.

"Obama’s behaviour indicates that he is a knowledgeable and smart
figure. He gave a promise of recognition when he needed to give such
a promise, and now he is explaining why he is not keeping it," the
Lragir website said on 7 April.

"Some experts in Armenia are already voicing opinions on TV that Obama
is not going to recognize the genocide in the interest of the Armenian
people, in order not to harm the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement. I
wonder what the US interest is. Is it in the US interest to recognize
the genocide," a Lragir commentator said.

The opposition daily Haykakan Zhamanak, however, commended Obama,
saying that his aim was to avoid harming the Turkish-Armenian dialogue.

"The US president clearly implied that regardless of what his stance
is, the Armenian-Turkish dialogue is more important now, and it could
stop if he used that word," the paper said. "By not using the word
genocide, Obama is trying to push Turkey to open the border, and this
has seriously hurt Turkey’s ‘brotherly’ relations with Azerbaijan,"
the paper said.

During his speech in Turkish parliament, Obama reportedly said that
Ankara could play a "constructive" role in the resolution of the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Commenting
on this statement, Haykakan Zhamanak said: "While he did not elaborate
on what Ankara’s role is going to be, it is obvious that Washington
intends to give Turkey a crucial role in the Karabakh settlement."

The Armenian newspapers Azg and Hayots Ashkharh quoted Hayk Demoyan,
head of the Armenian Genocide Museum, as saying Armenia and Turkey
are likely to restore diplomatic relations.

"If you refuse to establish diplomatic relations with a neighbour,
you show your hostile attitude towards it. I think that one of the
first steps that Turkey may take even if it is not ready to open
the border would be signing documents on establishing international
relations," Demoyan said.

As for the prospect of Turkey reopening the Armenian border,
Demoyan said: "It doesn’t take an economist to understand that
having a railroad checkpoint that connects us with the world is in
our interest," he said. He added that many countries were interested
in the reopening of the border. "There are stimuli from the European
Union that they want to see the border open. This makes Turkey
uncomfortable because it makes less space for the Turkish leadership
for manoeuvring," he added.

The Aravot daily published an interview with Turkish columnist
Mehtat Melen, who called for a closer relationship with former Soviet
republics in the Caucasus region, including Armenia.

"I have been saying for the past 10 years that we should have closer
relations with the Caucasus," Melen said. Commenting on the genocide
issue, Melen said the drive to secure international recognition of
the 1915 killings as genocide was not in Armenia’s interests.

"I trust the reasonableness of Armenians in Armenia, not Armenians in
the USA. They abuse it, and do it against the Armenians of the Republic
of Armenia and harm our relations," the Turkish columnist said. "You
too live in bad economic conditions like everyone else in the region
because all the economic issues have been left out, including by Mr
Erdogan. Who is winning? Some people who live in the States."

EU OFFICIAL – NUCLEAR ENERGY NOT IN ARMENIA’S INTERESTS
Shushan Stepanyan

hetq.am/en/economy/nuclear-station-2/
2 009/04/08 | 15:39

Important economy

At a press conference Marianne Isler Beguin, Co-president of the
EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, commented, "For a
whole host of reasons I can state that the building of a new nuclear
reactor isn’t the best solution for Armenia’s energy needs."

"There are many reasons why I say this. First, because Armenia is
located in a active seismic zone. Secondly, because uranium and other
energy resource materials aren’t limitless in terms of supply. Then
there’s the important issue of waste materials – where are they to
be stored, to be buried? They are long-lived and pose a continuous
threat to humans. Thus, I would argue that other energy options need
to be looked at," noted Ms. Isler Beguin.

She agreed with the comments of U.S. President Obama that solar
power needs to be given greater attention. "I would urge you to
go visit California and see what technical advice and skills might
be forthcoming."

TRIBUTE TO ‘WILSONIAN ARMENIA’
Zain Shauk

Glendale News Press
09/04/08/politics/gnp-tribute07.txt
April 8 2009
CA

Descendant and library curator speaks about President Woodrow Wilson’s
aim of self-governance.

DOWNTOWN — A tribute to former President Woodrow Wilson drew more
than 50 visitors to the Glendale Public Library to hear about his
role in drawing the borders for an independent Armenian nation.

Wilson’s great-great-grandson, Donald Wilson Bush, and the curator
of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in Staunton, Va., Jarod
Kearney, were on hand Sunday to speak about the late president’s push
for an independent Armenia.

Wilson drew a map of the Armenian territories as part of a peace treaty
in 1920, after the demise of the Ottoman Empire following World War I,
Kearney said.

But within three years, Turkey claimed some of that territory by force,
and the land was included as part of the country in a treaty signed
in 1923, said Michael Sosikian, president of the Defense Council of
Western Armenia, which hosted the event.

Since then, Armenians have been pushing for international recognition
of "Wilsonian Armenia," Sosikian said.

The presence of the two guest speakers was an indication that Armenians
are not alone in pushing for the expanded borders to be realized,
visitors said.

"It’s a validation, if you will," Woodland Hills resident Vatche
Kasparian said.

Wilson’s push for Armenian independence went along with his ideals,
Kearney said.

"Woodrow Wilson was not only a key player in [the Armenians’] process,
but a champion of self-determination," he said.

Wilson believed that people should be able to rule themselves,
a motivating factor behind his drawing of Armenia’s borders and
his efforts to move people around the world from colonialism to
independence and pushing for "a new world order," Kearney said.

The late president was "idealistic" at times, and some of his goals
did not pan out, Bush said, but he was a "visionary."

Bush acknowledged the host organization’s continuing struggle for
an expanded Armenia and opened his remarks with a declaration of
solidarity.

"I am here tonight to support your cause," he said.

He hoped that President Obama would be able to facilitate a dialogue
between Armenia and Turkey to move toward expanding the Christian
nation.

Bush also voiced admiration for the peaceful push for land rights
made by Armenians, even as marginal progress has been made.

"I’ve been watching you closely for the past decade, and I still
don’t know how you do it," he said.