Author: Nahapetian Lilit

THE HEAD OF THE INVESTIGATION GROUP REVEALS THE POLITICAL MOTIVATION
OF SERGE SARGSYAN’S STEP

15:06:40 – 08/05/2009
LRAGIR.AM

On May 8, during the session of the NA parliamentary commission to
study March 1, the head of the investigation group of the case Vahagn
Harutunyan made a very interesting statement on the group set up by
the order of Serge Sargsyan to examine the circumstances of the
murders on March 1. In particular, Vahagn Harutunyan stated that this
group has been set up on political grounds. He also stated that in the
conclusion it is written that Hamlet Tadevosyan died in result of a
bomb exploded in his hands.

He means the conclusion of the fact-finding group, which was sent to
the parliamentary commission to study March 1, and which concerns the
circumstances of Hamlet Tadevosyan’s death. As to the fact finding
group, Vahagn Harutunyan’s statement on its political grounds is a
surprise from the point that the group has been set up for
non-political activities, proceeding of which the members of the group
are neither specialists nor political figures and their work, by the
order of the president, is secret which contradicts the principles of
politics as politics cannot be closed or non-public.

OPENING OF BORDER WITH TURKEY TO URGE ON ARMENIAN ECONOMY

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.05.2009 11:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Two neighbor countries can’t be on loggerheads,
an Armenian official said.

"Opening of the border with Turkey will offer good economic
benefits. Internal market competition will increase, what is
a favorable factor for our consumers," Gagik Minasyan, chairman of
the RA parliamentary committee on financial, budgetary and economic
affairs, told PanARMENIAN.Net.

"I know that many are too skeptic about the issue. But remember how
we opened the border with Iran some 15 years ago," he said.

"It will take time to settle all issues if the border with Turkey
is opened. But it will offer a large number of opportunities,"
Minasyan said.

VIVACELL RENOVATED A VILLAGE SCHOOL

LRAGIR.AM
16:49:37 – 04/05/2009

VivaCell-MTS today announces the completion of the rooftop and complex
renovation of the only secondary school in the village of Geghadir,
Kotayk marz. An ancient village dating back to the 5th century B.C.,
Geghadir is situated 10 km far from Yerevan.

This social investment of VivaCell-MTS in the school of the village
of Geghadir is another large-scale project implemented in the sphere
of assistance to the secondary education in Armenia. Today, a special
event was held in the village in order to celebrate the completion of
refurbishment works and the reconstruction of the rooftop in the school
through generous support provided by VivaCell-MTS in the framework of
the 2008 program of CSR dedicated to the rehabilitation of outdated
infrastructure in the regions of Armenia.

In the framework of the project, 40 new windows and 18 new doors were
installed; and the rooftop was completely renovated (around 900 square
meters). The wall size of 300 square meters was destroyed and fully
rebuild. Walls and ceiling with total area of nearly 3000 square meters
are painted. The teacher’s common room (50 square meters) and toilets
(40 square meters) were tiled. The stairs and the landing were also
coated in basalt, and the columns in ferzit.

"We attach high importance to quality education since we always strive
to contribute to the better future of Armenia. We want children
of Armenia to get good grades in school as today’s well-educated
school-child has the chance to create value for the society
tomorrow. However, it’s not the sole reason we keep on helping
educational institutions. Corporate citizen lives and thinks a day
ahead, and therefore should invest in education to ensure high-quality
education", – noted VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian.

Nearly 500 children are enrolled in the secondary school
of Geghadir. Many of them want to acquire different professions
and become famous and respectable specialists. They wish to get
a university education in the capital city Yerevan. All necessary
conditions are put in place in the secondary school of Geghadir,
which doesn’t differ from similar schools in Yerevan, having all the
opportunities to organize pleasant and comprehensive studying process
and provide quality education.

KAREN SARGSYAN’S FIGURATIVE SCULPTURES EXHIBITED IN NETHERLANDS

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.05.2009 21:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It is hard to define sculpture these days. Artists
continue to make three-dimensional objects, but the range and variety
of materials they employ defy classification. This is enchantingly
evident in a show by the Armenian artist Karen Sargsyan at the Hudson
Valley Center for Contemporary Art. Mr. Sargsyan, 36, makes figurative
sculptures from cut paper. The works in the current show were created
during his stay in Peekskill last fall as the center’s artist in
residence. Depending on how you look at it, the exhibition consists
of either hundreds of individual cut paper sculptures arranged across
the mezzanine gallery or a single installation made up of many parts.

Immediately eye-catching is a figure trailed by a black dog on the
landing outside the show’s entrance. The figure is leaning over the
railing, looking down at the galleries below. Both dog and figure
are intricately constructed from layers of colored paper and are
remarkable for their playfulness and dynamism; from certain angles,
it looks as if the dog is getting ready to bite the man’s bottom.

Dominating the exhibition is the sculpture of an outsize figure sunken
into a collapsed throne with a scepter across his right leg. He is
a king, or at least has the trappings of royalty. To his left is
a kneeling knight, while surrounding him is a group of jesters who
seem to be performing for his entertainment. It is a theatrical scene
reminiscent of baroque paintings of life in princely courts.

Especially interesting about this grouping of figures is the way
in which each of them is engaged in some sort of dramatic gesture,
highly suggestive of movement, yet frozen in space and time. I like
this tension, for it invites deeper contemplation of the symbolism
of the scene. Why is the king sacked out on the floor? Has he been
deposed and is living in exile? Are these additional figures that
surround him all that remain of his once loyal and devoted subjects?

Viewers looking for guidance on how to interpret this installation will
find little relief in the oblique title, "Abroad Understanding." Nor
is there an exhibition catalog or brochure to narrow things down a
little. Still, clues can be found in the work itself. The clothes on
the figures appear frayed, even chewed up or eaten away, suggesting
that the king has been out of power for some time. He and his entourage
are living in exile.

You might also notice that the expressions on the faces of several
of the figures are strained, suggesting feelings of suffering and
pain. That Mr. Sargsyan can convey pathos in paper is indicative
of his tremendous skill with scissors, and no doubt why in 2007 he
won the Netherlands’s prestigious Thieme Art Award, given annually
to a promising young artist, and is being heralded as a rising art
world star.

Mr. Sargsyan, who lives in Amsterdam, originally worked in clay,
later moving to paper. It was a smart decision, for while there are
numerous contemporary artists working with ceramics, no contemporary
international artist that I can think of makes work on this scale
using slivers of cut paper. It helps him stand out from the crowd —
in the same way that colorful Styrofoam sculptures distinguish Folkert
de Jong, another well-known young Dutch artist.

But that is where the comparison ends, for the two artists have
different sources of inspiration. Whereas Mr. de Jong is interested
in political issues and history, Mr. Sargsyan is interested in
theatricality and process.

Littering the floor around Mr. Sargsyan’s figures are bits and pieces
of scrap paper, several preparatory sculptures of human faces and
limbs, along with paper renditions of scissors and a tape dispenser. By
not cleaning up the gallery the artist invites us to see the space
as a studio, as a laboratory for ideas, and the artwork as an active,
changing work in progress.

The artist’s choice of material raises obvious questions about the
durability of his installations, since paper tends to discolor,
sag and even degrade over time, especially when exposed to light and
moisture. But Mr. Sargsyan uses a special kind of heavy-duty archival
paper, much like that used as a support for drawings and paintings. He
believes that with good care, these sculptures can last forever.

"Karen Sargsyan: Abroad Understanding" Hudson Valley Center
for Contemporary Art, 1701 Main Street, Peekskill, through May
24. Information: (914) 788-0100 or hvcca.org.

Amsterdam based artist Karen Sargsyan came to Peekskill in October
2008 as an HVCCA Artist-in-Resident. He worked in the Hat Factory in
Peekskill, home to many local artists and produced a site-specific
sculptural installation for his solo exhibition "Abroad Understanding"
in HVCCA’s mezzanine gallery. Additional work by Sargsyan will also
be included in HVCCA’s 2009 exhibition "DOUBLE DUTCH: Exploring The
Soul of Dutch Art Through the Works of Seven Installation Artists"
opening September 12 -13, 2009.

Karen Sargsyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia in 1973 and currently
lives and works in Amsterdam. He studied at the Rijksakademie van
beeldende kunsten/Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science,
Amsterdam, NL in 2006-2007 and Atelier Winston Huisman, Arnhem,
NL in 1999-2001. In 2007 he received the Thieme Art Award and a
fellowship with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs/DCO/IC, NL
in 2006. Recent 2008 solo exhibitions include ‘The Theory of Art’,
Buro Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, NL, and Suzie Q Projects, Bob van Orsow
Gallery, Zurich, SW. Upcoming 2009 exhibitions include ‘Mad Museum’,
a group exhibition at The Museum of Arts and Design, New York and
‘StressedShelter’ at KW14, s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. Karen is
represented by Galerie Juliette Jongma in Amsterdam.

RENOWNED CONDUCTOR VALERY GERGIEV VISITS YEREVAN
Marianna Gyurjyan

"Radiolur"
04.05.2009 17:40

The "Perspectives of the 21st" 10th International Music Festival in
Yerevan has hosted Moscow’s Easter Festival.

Today the Armenian society has an exceptional opportunity to listen
to the compositions of Vagner, Chaykovski, Shchedrin and Mirzoyan
performed by the Symphonic Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre headed
by Valery Gergiev.

Preceding the concert the renowned conductor will hold an open
rehearsal at the hall of the Yerevan State Conservatory with the
State Youth Orchestra of Armenia. Celebrated ballerina Mya Pisetskaya,
composer Rodion Shchedrin, and pianist Denis Matsuev will be present
at the event.

"Music is not a job for me. Neither do I want to say it’s my life. I
will simply say that if not music, I would do something else. But I
don’t think I would live an interesting life."

In 1981 Valery Gergiev headed the State Philharmonic Orchestra
of Armenia.

"My four-year activity in Armenia was an invaluable trial of great
importance. I made many friends in those years."

Valery Gergiev last visited Yerevan 21 years ago. The aim of the
short visit was to meet the old friends. "I like interesting people,
and I have met many interesting individuals among Armenians," Gergiev
said and added that it is necessary to support the youth. Th is is
the only way towards bright future, he concluded.

LACINER: ARMENIA IS NOT THE VICTIM, IT IS AN OCCUPYING COUNTRY

Today’s Zaman
May 4 2009
Turkey

Laciner: "Due to the lack of criticism and punishment by the
international community, Armenia has continued to make the same
mistakes."

Assoc. Prof. Sedat Laciner evaluated Turkey’s crucial relations
with Armenia and Azerbaijan. Russia’s role in this triangle was
also examined. He explained some important points about Azerbaijan
and Armenia.

Interview with Sedat LACINER by Gulay KILIC

– The issue of improving Turkey-Armenia relations came to the agenda
especially during Obama’s visit to Turkey. What could be Obama’s
contribution to the process of improving relations?

SL: "First of all, I would like to say that the issue of improving
Turkey-Armenia relations and the problems between Turkey and Azerbaijan
on this topic did not begin with Obama’s term and Obama’s visit
to Turkey. The dialog between Turkey and Armenia started a long
time before Obama’s presidency. It has been almost 7-8 months since
Turkey’s President, Abdullah Gul, visited Yerevan. Negotiations began
at the ministerial level before the President’s visit. Turkey and
Armenia tried to increase visits to each other; one of the Armenian
ministers came to Turkey, and one of the Turkish ministers went
to Armenia. During these visits and negotiations, both parties
tried to identify the tasks that they have to do in order to open
the borders. Nothing at all started with Obama; however, he will
accelerate the process of negotiations."

– Armenia has not taken a positive step until today. Do you think
that Armenia will change its hard line? And how will it be possible
to change this attitude?

SL: "The world has blamed Turkey for the closed land borders
until today. Armenia claimed that Turkey and Azerbaijan, as two
Muslim countries, enclosed and tried to annihilate Armenia. The
U.S., Canada, France, and Russia have especially strong Armenian
Diasporas, including influential people in the media, universities,
and politics. At every turn, these people have looked at Armenia
as if it were the victim. However, Armenia is not the victim; on
the contrary, it is an occupying country. Armenia has been holding
a larger region than the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Karabakh is
only one part of the Armenian-occupied territories. Only Azerbaijani
people live in the rest of the Armenian-occupied territories. On the
other hand, the international community did not react to Armenia as
they reacted to Israel and Serbia. Due to this lack of criticism and
punishment by the international community, Armenia has continued to
make the same mistakes. If the U.S. and EU had put at least half as
much pressure on Armenia as they did Turkey, the land border would
already be opened today."

– Is it possible for Russia to break up the improved relations in
the region for its own sake? And what policies will Russia follow?

SL: "Russia considers the Caucasus as its backyard and regards the
region as Russian territory. Thus, Russia does not view Armenia,
Georgia, and Azerbaijan as independent states, but believes they will
one day come under Russian jurisdiction. In this sense, Russia has
divided Georgia in three parts: Ossetia, Abkhazia, and Georgia. It is
claimed that Russia has plans to divide Cevahiti, where the majority
of the Armenian people live. Armenia could never get rid of Russia’s
influence. The Armenian occupation of Karabakh was possible due
to Russia’s military support. It is obvious that Russia influenced
the victory of Kocharyan over Levon Ter-Petrossian in the Armenian
elections. Moreover, Russia already has captured the Armenian economy;
in particular, almost the entire energy sector is in Russian hands.

Azerbaijan is one of the countries attracting Russia’s influence in the
region. Azerbaijan is intensely hostile toward Russia for its support
of Armenia on the Karabakh issue. On the other hand, Azerbaijan is
one of the countries in which Turkish nationalism is very strong. The
languages of the two countries are so similar that people don’t need
a translator. Russia could not block the positive environment between
these two countries because of their close historical, cultural,
and social ties.

However, Baku became frightened when the Georgia-Russia war broke
out because there were some disruptions in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
pipeline. Baku saw that Turkey and the U.S. could not protect Georgia
against Russia. Moreover, Azerbaijan realized that it was too risky
to only depend on the Turkey-Georgia line and that improved relations
with Russia were necessary.

Russia also took advantage of this environment, using
pro-Russian bureaucrats in Azerbaijan to propagandize against
Turkey. Unfortunately, Turkey could not read this process accurately
enough. When the process to normalize Armenia and Turkey relations
began, the anti-Turkish lobby appeared in Azerbaijan. In the last
6-7 months the lobby has become more outspoken in Azerbaijan,
loudly expressing that Turkey had agreed with Armenia and stabbed
Azerbaijan in the back. Pro-Russian groups in Azerbaijan decided
to close all Turkish enterprises, civil society organizations, and
schools in Azerbaijan a few months ago; some Azerbaijani government
officials and governors were also involved in this plot. These secret
decisions will be applied, and Turkish institutions and organizations
will be expelled from Azerbaijan. Moreover, these pro-Russian groups
declared war against the Turkish language of Turkey. They try to limit
Turkish TV series, instead promoting Russian TV programs. Recently,
most of the discomfort emerging in Azerbaijan is based on Russia. In
my opinion, Aliev is in desperate straits because of pressure from
the Russian lobby."

– Do you think that if the relationship between Armenia and the
Armenian Diaspora is breaking off, the process will normalize? Or is
breaking off the relationship a fantasy?

SL: "Armenia is an economically poor country with a population of less
than 3 million. The population of the Armenian Diaspora, however, is
about twice the population of Armenia. Moreover, Diaspora Armenians
are wealthier than the Armenian government. There is an imbalance. We
can say that if Turkey had 140 million abroad in the Turkish Diaspora,
and if they were more economically and intellectually more powerful
than the Turks in Turkey, then Turkish politics would be controlled by
the Turkish Diaspora. Armenia Armenians want to open the land borders
and normalize relations with Turkey as soon as possible. However,
Diaspora Armenians struggle to continue the problems between Turks and
Armenians forever, since the identity of Diaspora Armenians is built
on problems with Turkey. They think that if the problems are removed,
their identity will be assimilated. If the dependence between Armenia
and Diaspora can be broken, problems could be solved quickly, but
this is very difficult. Diaspora Armenians are even able to vote in
Armenian elections. There is an emotional and an irrational dimension
in Armenian politics that is the most difficult point for Turkey. The
emotional dimension depends on Diaspora Armenians. Because of this,
the negotiations between the two countries have been carried out in
secret. If open negotiations continue, the Armenian government might
collapse. Tashnaks especially think that even establishing dialogue
with Turkey is a betrayal to Armenia."

IS ISRAEL GETTING READY FOR THE IRANIAN THREAT?

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.05.2009 20:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Air Force reservists who operate the Arrow and
Patriot missile defense systems have recently begun spending one day
a week on duty to sharpen their skills, amid fears that in a conflict
with Iran, dozens of long-range missiles would be fired at Israel,
The Jerusalem Post has learned. The decision to call up operators
of the Arrow and Patriot systems was made last year by head of the
IAF’s Air Defense Division Brig.-Gen. Daniel Milo. Until then, only
pilots were called up for one day of reserve duty a week following
their discharge from mandatory service.

"We are working hard to be ready for the Iranian threat," a top IAF
officer said. "We are preparing for barrages, split warheads and other
surprises and therefore we need to retain a high operational level by
everyone, including reservists." Soldiers from the Air Defense Division
who are on study leave are also spending one day a week at the unit.

"They come once a week to simulate different scenarios," the officer
explained. The scenarios that are drilled include the firing of large
barrages at Israel from different countries at once, and the need
for the operator to decide which missile to intercept first and at
what stage of its flight.

Arlington Advocate
May 3 2009

New England triptych to honor Alan Hovhaness

Sun May 03, 2009, 06:30 AM EDT

Arlington, Mass. – New England is set to celebrate and to initiate the
100th anniversary of Armenian American composer, Alan Hovhaness.

Memorial events will include the unveiling and dedication of the first
monument to the composer in Arlington, Hovhaness’ hometown, a free
memorial concert at the Arlington Town Hall and a long distance road
running event called "All Men are Brothers."

The run will begin at New Hampshire at Mount Monadnock in New
Hampshire and end at Hovhaness’ boyhood home on Blossom Street.

Pianist Martin Berkofsky who, during his formative years, greatly
benefited from his personal contact and communication with Alan
Hovhaness and is now a recognized champion and interpreter of
Hovhaness’ music, will begin his pilgrimage by climbing Mount
Monadnock, New Hampshire’s 3,125-foot peak.

Hovhaness regarded mountains as meeting places between man and God and
wrote many works, including a symphonic movement "Monadnock," named
after mountains.

The title of the pilgrimage, "All Men are Brothers," is taken from
Hovhaness’ 11th Symphony of that name. Hovhaness wrote, "Let all unite
in peace on our tiny planet."

Berkofsky’s pilgrimage to Mount Monadnock will begin Saturday, May 2
(Sunday, May 3, in the event of rain), and will continue at
approximately 10 miles a day, crossing the New Hampshire border into
Massachusetts along highways 124, 119, 225.

The final miles in Massachusetts will be run on the Minuteman Bike
Path from Bedford through Lexington, and to the Hovhaness family home
at 5 Blossom Street. Arrival at Blossom Street is planned for 4
p.m. on Wednesday, May 13 (Thursday, May 14 in case of rain on May
13.)

At the arrival, Father Arakel Aljalian of St. James Armenian Church in
Watertown, where Hovhaness played the organ for many years, will
speak. A duduk player will perform music of Hovhaness.

The second event of this memorial triptych will take place on Sunday,
May 17 at 2 p.m. when the Alan Hovhaness Memorial will be unveiled and
dedicated at the Jefferson Cutter House.

The conclusion of this Hovhaness triptych will take place at Town Hall
at 3 p.m. in a free, open to public concert directed by Dr. Pasquale
Tassone. Featured performers will include pianists Martin Berkofsky
and Ani Hovsepian. Both Arlington High School ensembles will perform
pieces by Hovhaness as well as other short selections including the
world premiere of "Dzon.’a piece dedicated to Hovhaness entitled `

Berkofsky will be broadcasting from the Alan Hovhaness Special Event
Station, W1H. Inspired by Hovhaness’ love of astronomy, station W1H
will be directing experimental signals to the moon, to be reflected
back to distant points on the earth.

For more information about joining the "All Men are Brothers"
pilgrimage, please contact Berkofsky at 540-788-3356 or
[email protected].

For further information on the dedication of the memorial or the
concert, please contact the Armenian Cultural Foundation at
781-646-3090 or [email protected].

rlington/fun/x1393554650/New-England-triptych-to-h onor-Alan-Hovhaness

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

APRIL 24-30, 2009

HIGHLIGHTS:

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: URBANISM AND ECOLOGY OF YEREVAN

ARMENIA TODAY COORDINATOR ASSAULTED

AMENDMENTS TO BROADCAST LEGISLATION PASSED

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: URBANISM AND ECOLOGY OF YEREVAN

On April 25, another "Press Club" show, dealing with the elections of
Yerevan Council of Elderly on May 31, 2009, went on the air of "Yerkir
Media" TV company. The "Press Club" cycle is produced under Yerevan Press
Club project, supported by the Open Society Institute. The guests of the
program host, YPC President Boris Navasardian were representatives of six
parties and one party bloc who have submitted their lists to the RA Central
Electoral Commission for running in the elections: Mikael Melkumian
("Prosperous Armenia"), Hrachik Vardapetian (Popular Party), Hrachik
Poghosian (Republican Party of Armenia),Vazgen Petrosian (ARF
"Dashnaktsutiun"), Ararat Zurabian (Armenian National Congress), Emil Amyan
(Labor Socialist Party of Armenia), Khachik Harutiunian ("Orinats Yerkir").
Karineh Danielian, Chairwoman of the Association "For Sustainable Human
Development", and architect Gagik Sukhudian took part in the show as
experts. The discussion centered on the urbanism and environment issues of
Yerevan.

The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on Saturday, May
2 at 17.25.

ARMENIA TODAY COORDINATOR ASSAULTED

On April 30, at about 5.00 in Yerevan an assault was made on Argishti
Kivirian, Director of "Bagin" legal company, Coordinator of ARMENIA Today
news agency. As the journalist relatives noted, strangers with bats attacked
Argishti Kivirian on his way home from the office which is located in the
next entrance. The neighbors, awoken from the noise, frightened away the
assaulters, and they escaped. Argishti Kivirian was taken to "Erebuni"
medical center in grave health condition and with multiple injuries, also on
his head. According to the information of RA Police, investigative actions
are started upon the incident.

The same day, on April 30, Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression,
Yerevan Press Club, Internews Media Support NGO, Media Diversity
Institute-Armenia, "Femida" NGO, "Asparez" Journalist’s Club, Vanadzor Press
Club, Transparency International Anticorruption Center, Helsinki Committee
of Armenia, Civil Society Institute and Vanadzor Office of Helsinki Citizens
Assembly released a statement. "The solution of problems through blows and
violence becomes a serious peril for the society", the statement says, in
particular. In the opinion of the eleven NGOs, "the state structures do not
take any effective steps in order to stand up against this peril": "(…)
Those who have assaulted against journalists have not appeared before the
court to this very day." The statement authors called the law enforcement
bodies to clean the crime against Argishti Kivirian as soon as possible and
bring the offenders to account. The NGOs statement also notes that the
relatives of Argishti Kivirian link the incident to his journalistic
activities.

AMENDMENTS TO BROADCAST LEGISLATION PASSED

On April 28, RA National Assembly in the second hearing and finally passed a
package of amendments and supplements to the RA Laws "On Television and
Radio", "Statutes of the RA National Commission on Television and Radio",
"Statutes of the RA National Assembly", "On State Duty". As it has been
reported, the amendments to the broadcast legislation provoked the strong
critics of a number of journalistic associations: Yerevan Press Club,
Internews Media Support NGO, Media Diversity Institute-Armenia, Committee to
Protect Freedom of Expression, "Asparez" Journalist’s Club and Vanadzor
Press Club. On February 3, the professional organizations made a statement
in which the package of amendments was considered to be "nonsense".
Meanwhile, on February 26 it was adopted in the first hearing (see details
in YPC Weekly Newsletter, January 30 – February 5, 2009 and February 20-26,
2009). On April 9, another statement was released. It, particularly, noted
that "despite the few improvements against the previous version of the
package" the document remains to be "far from the demands of the time" (see
details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, April 3-9, 2009).

The journalistic associations have presented their proposals to the National
Assembly specialized standing commission. Nevertheless, despite the
assurances of the amendments authors, none of the proposals were reflected
in the document presented for second hearing. After the final text of the
package is released, the professional organizations are intended to come up
with a statement.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
_____________________________________ _______
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

Hurriyet Daily News
April 29, 2009

Implicit ‘genocide’ threat lies behind Turkey-Armenia breakthrough

ISTANBUL – The threat of a word is behind the breakthrough after
years of diplomatic strife between Turkey and Armenia. President
Obamaâ’s insistence about the alleged genocide convinced Turkey to
sign on to the road map declared just before the annual April 24
address, sources say

Implicit ‘genocide’ threat lies behind Turkey-Armenia breakthrough An
implicit threat by U.S. President Barack Obama to use the word
"genocide" in an annual April 24 address to Armenians, followed by
increasing frankness from diplomats, was pivotal to strong-arming
Turkey and Armenia out of their deadlock.

The muscle behind the highly emotional word was the main diplomatic
stick, the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review has learned from
sources familiar with the marathon negotiations that led up to the
declaration of a road map for opening the Turkish-Armenian border. It
was first used by Obama implicitly in an April 7 meeting with Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an and later U.S. negotiators were
increasingly straightforward as they pushed their clout, sources
said. The word "genocide" is just one divide between the two
societies. Armenians use it to describe mass deaths of their kinsmen
in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire. Many Turks take deep
offense to this and cite conditions in 1915 and civil strife as
reason for the deaths of many members of many ethnic groups and that
it exacted a toll from Muslims as well as Christians.

In the run-up to the April 24 commemoration of the tragedy, which in
recent years has included a presidential address, lobbying efforts by
all sides converged on the White House to seek use of the word or
oppose it. To date, Turks have largely been successful in the annual
ritual. But the dynamics changed with the new Obama presidency
because he had pledged to use the sensitive word during his campaign.
It is now clear that his pledge, and ultimately his nuanced breaking
of it by using the Armenian term for the events, "Meds
Yerghern" (Great Catastrophe), was the key to the tentative
reconciliation.

Just when and how the border will reopen has not been disclosed.
Neither have other details of the accord, made in part with Swiss
mediation, which all sides are now keeping secret.

While the bilateral politics of language are one dimension, another
is the Armeniaâ’s seizure and occupation in 1992 of the Nagorno-
Karabakh region in neighboring Azerbaijan.

Turkey closed its land border to Armenia in 1993 in support of
Azerbaijan, with whom cultural ties include a common language.

The first use of the symbolic word as a pressure point came directly
from President Obama during his April 7 visit. In his talks with
ErdoÄ?an, according to sources, he said Turkey should reach an
understanding with Armenia prior to April 24. The message was not
lost on ErdoÄ?an after Obama departed and talks accelerated.

In subsequent days, serious progress was made but a setback emerged
following Azerbaijanâ’s reaction to a possible deal without progress
on the Nagorno-Karabakh front. Prime Minister ErdoÄ?anâ’s moved to
assuage Azerbaijan with a statement that no deal would be concluded
with Armenia unless it included prospects for resolution of Nagorno-
Karabakh. The specter of a rupture in Turkish-Armenian talks brought
the U.S. administration back into active negotiating.

The deal was concluded on April 22 after lengthy negotiations in both
Yerevan and Ankara, under the mediation of U.S. officials. Matt
Bryza, U.S. assistant secretary of state, conducted 14 hours of
marathon talks with the Armenians in Yerevan while talks in Ankara
were conducted between the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey James Jeffrey
and Foreign Ministry Undersecretary ErtuÄ?rul Apakan.

Withdrawal
In those talks the Turkish side insisted on a reference to Nagorno-
Karabakh. Ankara specifically sought a pledge to withdraw from at
least five of seven regions surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh that Armenia
had occupied in addition to the enclave, to use as a bargain chip.
Armenians refused to bow to U.S. pressure, however, the Turkish side
was asked to accept the deal without reference to the Nagorno-
Karabakh problem. Turkey only swallowed the package after it was made
clear that in the absence of a brokered deal Obama would use the word
"genocide."

Obama did not and that has angered many Armenians, including one
political party that abandoned the coalition government in response.
In Turkey, the alternative phrase, and his further words "one of the
great atrocities of the 20th century," has not gone down well either,
leading some to accuse the president of disingenuousness.

Meanwhile a new set of talks is underway to solve Nagorno-Karabakh.
The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet next week, and
possibly again in June, to discuss the disputed enclave, mediators
said Monday. Diplomatic sources told the Daily News that Armenia
refuses to withdraw from five regions surrounding the enclave unless
there is a complete deal.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Serge Sarkisian will
meet in Prague on May 7, envoys of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe said, according to Reuters. They said they also
hoped to organize a meeting in early June in the Russian city of St.
Petersburg.

Talks in Prague will concentrate on the vote for the final status of
Karabakh as well as the interim status, sources told the Daily News.
Armenians and Azerbaijanis disagree over the methods for the
referendum that will take place on the status of the enclave. Armenia
wants one referendum, whereas Azerbaijan insists on separate
referendums conducted in the two communities.

Ethnic Armenian separatists, backed by Armenia, fought a war in the
1990s to throw off Azerbaijan’s control of the mountain enclave of
Nagorno-Karabakh. An estimated 30,000 people were killed. Azerbaijan
claims nearly 800,000 fled the enclave. A fragile cease-fire is in
force but a peace accord has never been signed.

Affecting efforts
There has been an increase in diplomatic activity since last year’s
war in neighboring Georgia, when Russia repelled a Georgian assault
on the rebel pro-Russian region of South Ossetia. However, there is
uncertainty over how a thaw in relations between Armenia and
Azerbaijanâ’s ally Turkey might affect efforts to resolve the
conflict, reported Reuters.

U.S. envoy Bryza said he expected developments between Turkey and
Armenia to help the mediation efforts. "We believe that these two
processes will develop separately, in parallel with one another,
perhaps at different paces," he said, according to a report by Reuters.

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