Author: Nalbandian Albert

PRESIDENT’S YOUTH PRIZE COMPETITIONS CONCLUDE WITH EXHIBITION OF FINE-ARTS AND FILM FINALISTS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 2, 2010

YEREVAN, APRIL 2, NOYAN TAPAN. On March 30 the Hayastan All-Armenian
Fund held the concluding round of the President’s Youth Prize
competitions, the fine-arts and film competition. The exhibition, which
featured the works of 19 finalists and gave jurors the opportunity
to make their final selections, took place at the main gallery of
the Artists’ Union of Armenia, in Yerevan.

Commenting on the general quality of the paintings, sculptures,
graphics works, photographs, and films displayed at the exhibition,
jury members were unanimous in their judgment that this year’s entries
represented an unprecedented level of originality and sophistication.

"This year marks the tenth anniversary of the President’s Prize
and the sixth anniversary of the President’s Youth Prize," said
Aida Khachikyan, advisor to the executive director of the Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund. "We are extremely pleased that during the past
decade the competitions have enabled 140 outstanding candidates in
various fields of culture and science to receive recognition and gain
public exposure. Of the dozens of talented artists who have won the
President’s Youth Prize, many have gone on to represent Armenia at
prestigious international competitions. They include the acclaimed
singing duo of sisters Inga and Anush Arshakyan, singer Gevorg
Hakobyan, and painter Arshak Sargsyan."

According to the report of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s press
release, the awards ceremony will be held on May 13.

SHAVO ODADJIAN ART PIECE TO BE RELEASED THROUGH WHEN ART IMITATES LIFE

Blabbermouth.net
April 2 2010

SYSTEM OF A DOWN bassist and ACHOZEN visionary Shavo Odadjian
bleeds art.

So in honor of his multi-faceted musical and visual soul, Los
Angeles-based creative firm When Art Imitates Life will release a
limited edition print designed and conceived by the Grammy-winning
multi-platinum musician himself. An idiosyncratic, intelligent and
intimate self-portrait, the piece reflects the many sides of Shavo.

However, Shavo is going to imbue and imprint a part of himself on
every piece by personally augmenting it in subtle way, tweaking it with
acrylic paints, sketching and adding his own designs. Just like Shavo,
each one of the When Art Imitates Life pieces is truly one of a kind.

100 pieces, personally augmented and signed, will be available on When
Art Imitates Life’s official web site ()
on April 22nd, 2010 — Shavo’s birthday. 10 of those pieces are
80×60, while the other 90 are 40×30. Those interested are encouraged
to sign up now for exclusive information about the collection at
whenartimitateslife.com. They will also have the opportunity to own
one in the series before the public.

When Art Imitates Life creative director Cory Danziger comments,
"Shavo’s been doing visual art for years. However, this is really
the first time that fans can own one of his pieces. He was able to
look inward and create something that will make anyone stop, look
and listen. You can get a pretty deep experience with one glance."

Iconic hip hop producer King Tech suggested Shavo for When Art Imitates
Life back in October 2009. Tech initially brought Shavo’s ACHOZEN
partner-in-crime RZA for a vision of the rap legend crossing the
Potomac WU-TANG style, and it seemed fitting that Shavo would serve as
When Art Imitates Life’s next subject after RZA. "I want everybody’s
piece to be unique," says Tech. "When you make an album, you don’t
want it to sound like anyone else’s-this is the same concept. Shavo
came up with something that only he could come up with.

He’s a true individual — he’s a rock head, a hip hop head, he knows
dance music and he even DJs. It’s an intricate and deep piece that
pays homage to every aspect of his creativity."

The piece features various visions of Shavo — from dark to light to
somber to helpful. Bones of the Armenian genocide adorn one half while
Shavo’s personal triumph seeps through the other. Shavo describes the
work best, "Art is different within every human being that lives life.

It’s creation. I wanted the piece to be abstract, but I wanted to
represent everything that’s been on my mind. I usually speak that
or play it musically. Now, I’m giving the same thing without words
or music but visually and conceptually. There are various eyes on
the piece, because they’re the window into the soul. I want it to
represent how a person is multi-faceted and multi-dimensional. No
one thing can represent a soul. We’re more than a day, and we’re more
than a moment. There’s more to us than meets the eye."

There’s more to every piece too because Shavo is a part of each one.

Not only is this a must for his fans but also for art lovers
everywhere. This piece is for everyone.

Shavo concludes, "I don’t look at this as me; I look at it as us. I’m
just representing the human race in this portrait."

blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsit emID=137874

OFFICE OF ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION TO BE OPENED IN YEREVAN CENTER

Noyan Tapan
Apr 1, 2010

YEREVAN, APRIL 1, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 1, RA President Serzh Sargsyan
received a delegation of the Armenian General Benevolent Union led
by Union President Perch Sedrakian. Greeting his compatriots of the
Diaspora he expressed satisfaction that every time they visit Armenia
with a larger and larger staff. "The more active you are the happier
we are," he said expressing readiness to assist and support their
initiatives and programs. S. Sargsyan granted RA citizen’s passport
to AGBU Board of Trustees member Nazar Nazarian and his wife.

S. Sargsyan said he wants the office of one of the pivotal structures
of Diaspora, Armenian General Benevolent Union to be opened in Yerevan
center as soon as possible.

P. Sedrakian, in his turn, said that in the course of time Diaspora’s
organizations should be centralized in Armenia. "Wherever we are our
main place is here," he emphasized.

According to RA President’s Press Office, at the meeting S. Sargsyan
and AGBU representatives touched upon issues of preservation of
Diaspora’s potential, strengthening of the homeland, Diasporan
Armenians’ consolidation around national goals, preservation of the
Armenian spirit.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apost. Church of America and Canada
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Easter Prelacy and Canada
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
Web:

April 1, 2010

EASTER

This Sunday, April 4, is Easter
Christendoms greatest holy day.

PRAISE THE LORD, O JERUSALEM
(Kovya Yeroosaghem Uzder)

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Christ is risen from the dead, alleluia!
Come, O you people, sing unto the Lord, alleluia!
To Him who is risen from the dead, alleluia!
To Him that enlightened the world, alleluia!
PRELATES EASTER MESSAGE
His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan issued his Easter message to the
Faithful last week. With a theme taken from a sharagan, Through the
resurrection of Christ we also become worthy to enter into the
paradise of the Church, the Prelates message focuses on The
ChurchParadise.
The cradle and stage of faith is the Church, he states. The
Church heralds Christs miraculous resurrection and from the Church,
from the mystical body of Christ, the source of faith springs. The
Church, from its founding to today and forever will quench the thirst
of its faithful, like the life-giving water received from Christ.
Christ is always with us through the Church that He founded and
bequeathed to us, and which in the history of the Armenian people
became our citadel of worship, caring and loving mother, nourisher of
souls, refuge of life, and as affirmed by the writer of the sharagan,
paradise.
To read the Prelates entire message in Armenian click here (
4882/goto: elacy/PDF/2010prelateseastermessage-arm.pdf
).
To read the Prelates entire message in English click here (
4882/goto: /news/press-releases/96-pr032310
).

PRELATES HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Archbishop Oshagans Holy Week schedule is as follows:

On Holy Thursday, April 1, His Eminence will perform the Washing of
the Feet ceremony and preside over the Vigil service (Khavaroom) at
St. Illuminators Cathedral, New York City.

On Holy Friday, April 2, His Eminence will celebrate the Order of the
Crucifixion at 12 noon, at St. Illuminators Cathedral, New York City.

On Holy Saturday, April 3, His Eminence will celebrate Easter Eve
services and Divine Liturgy at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New
York.

On Easter, Sunday, April 4, His Eminence will celebrate the Divine
Liturgy and deliver the Sermon at St. Illuminators Cathedral, New
York City.

VICARS HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Bishop Anoushavans Holy Week schedule is as follows:

On Holy Thursday, April 1, His Grace will attend the Washing of the
Feet and Vigil services at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New
Jersey.

On Holy Friday, April 2, His Grace will attend the Order of
Crucifixion at St. Illuminators Cathedral, New York City. In the
evening he will attend the Order of Burial at St. Stephens Church, New
Britain, Connecticut.

On Holy Saturday, April 3, His Grace will attend the Easter Eve
services and Divine Liturgy at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New
York.

On Easter, April 4, His Grace will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at
Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL CONFERENCE
Archbishop Oshagan presided over the conference for the Boards of
Trustees and delegates to the National Representative Assembly of
parishes in the New England area last Saturday. The all day conference
was hosted by Holy Trinity Church, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Hagop Khatchadourian, chairman of the Executive Council
highlighted the objectives of the conference and several presentations
were
made before the beginning of four panels. The panels were: Sunday
School and Armenian School post-graduate youth involvement and
responsibilities; Support Small Parish Programs and Events; Ways and
Means to Attract New Families and Parishioners; Serving in the Spirit
of the By-Laws.
The Prelate and Executive Council extends thanks to Holy Trinity
Church, Rev. Fr. Khatchadour Boghossian, the Board of Trustees, and
the Ladies Guild for their warm hospitality.
Photo: Archbishop Oshagan with the regional conference participants.
VISIT TO HOVNANIAN SCHOOL
Yesterday morning, Wednesday, March 31, Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop
Anoushavan visited the Hovnanian School in New Milford, New
Jersey. They were accompanied by the clergy of the metro area
parishes: Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminators
Cathedral, New York; Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis
Church, Douglaston, New York; and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian, pastor of
Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
They met with the students, administration and faculty of the
School. The Prelate praised the students and expressed his
appreciation for the Hovnanian Schools great achievements in the
education of Armenian students from an early age through to the 8th
grade. He praised the administration and the parents for their
devotion to the School and prayed for their continued success and even
greater achievements.
Photos: The clergy visit the Hovnanian School in New Milford, New
Jersey.

VISIT TO THE ARMENIAN HOME
Following their visit to the Hovnanian School, the clergy visited the
Armenian Home in Emerson, New Jersey, where they visited with the
senior residents and administration. They enjoyed a delicious lunch
together. The Prelate praised the leaders and supporters of the
Armenian Home describing their role as caretakers of elders as a noble
endeavor. He expressed his sincere wishes for the future success of
the Home as it keeps pace with the needs of the community.
Photos: The clergy visit the senior residents and administrators of
the Armenian Home in Emerson, New Jersey.

DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM: MARK YOUR CALENDAR
The 24th annual St. Gregory of Datev Institute Summer Program, for
youth ages 13-18, is scheduled to take place at the St. Mary of
Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, from June 25-July 4,
2010. The program is sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education
Council (AREC). For more information click here (
4882/goto:
).

PILGRIMAGE TO LEBANON AND SYRIA
On the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the
Eastern Prelacys St. Gregory of Datev Institute is organizing a
pilgrimage to Syria and Lebanon, from August 2 to August 16. For more
information click here (
4882/goto: /component/content/article/95-pilgrimage
).

95th ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE
Commemoration of the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
organized by the
Eastern Prelacy with the participation of community organizations
will take place on Saturday,
April 24, 7 pm, at St. Illuminators Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street,
New York City. Keynote speaker Professor Peter Balakian.

VIGEN GUROIAN IN CHRISTIAN CENTURY
The latest edition of Christian Century (March 23, 2010), features an
article by Vigen Guroian, a professor at the University of
Virginia. The article, which is adapted from Dr. Guroians latest book,
The Melody of Faith, published by Eerdmans and scheduled to be
released this month, is entitled The Meaning of Holy Saturday:
Descended into Hell. Through Orthodox liturgy, iconography and
theology he shows the significance of Holy Saturday and suggests that
Holy Saturday may be the most significant of the three days of
Easter. On Holy Saturday, the Lord of Light and Life descends, this
time not from heaven to earth but from earth into the place of
shadows, into the pit of death. There he overcomes darkness with his
uncreated life; overcomes corruptible death with his immortal life.

BIBLE READING
Bible readings for today, Great Thursday, April 1 are as follows:
Morning : John 12:27-43. Office of Penitents: Isaiah 60:20-22; Ezekiel
36:24-31; Hebrews 10:19-31; Luke 7:36-50. Holy Eucharist: Genesis
22:1-18; Isaiah 61:1-7; Acts 1:15-26; Mark 14: 1-26; 1 Corinthians
11:23-32; Matthew 26:17-30. Washing of the Feet: Exodus 30:17-21; 1
Kings 7:38-40; 2 Chronicles 4:2-6; Isaiah 44:2-6; 1 Corinthians
10:1-4; 1 John 4:7-21; John 13:1-11; John 13:12-15. Passion: John
13:16-18:1; John 18:28-19:16.
Now my soul is troubled. And what should I sayFather, save me
from this hour? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this
hour. Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven, I have
glorified it, and I will glorify it again. The crowd standing there
heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, An angel has
spoken to him. Jesus answered, This voice has come for your sake, not
for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this
world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth,
will draw all people to myself. He said this to indicate the kind of
death he was to die. The crowd answered him, We have heard from the
law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you8 say that the Son of
Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man? Jesus said to them, The
light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light,
so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the
darkness, you do no!
t know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the
light, so that you may become children of light.
After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from
them. Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they
did not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word spoken by the
prophet Isaiah:
Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of
the Lord been revealed? And so they could not believe, because Isaiah
also said:
He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that
they might not look with their eyes, and understand with their heart
and turnand I would heal them.
Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke about
him. Nevertheless many, even of the authorities, believed in him. But
because of the Pharisees they did not confess it; for fear that they
would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human glory more
than the glory that comes from God. (John 12: 27-43)

For a listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click here (
4882/goto: elacy/PDF/2010dbr-4.pdf
).

ANNUNCIATION OF THE HOLY VIRGIN MARY
Next Wednesday, April 7, is the Feast of the Annunciation of the
Virgin Mary (Avedoumn Sourp Asdvadzini), which is commemorated nine
months before Christmas on the seventh of April in the Armenian
Liturgical calendar. It is the celebration of the announcement of the
forthcoming birth of Christ to the Virgin Mary as recorded in the
Gospel of Luke. This year this feast day comes after Easter, but it
generally falls during the Lenten season and when it does the altar
curtain is opened on this day for the celebration of the Divine
Liturgy.
One of the Gospel readings on this day (Luke 1:26-38)
demonstrates Marys faithful response and willingness to say yes to God
and fulfill all prophecies by bearing the Son of God. Mary is greeted
with an exalted salutation by the angel Gabriel because in her destiny
to be the mother of Christ, she is the most blessed woman of all
time. This episode is recorded only in Lukes account of the birth of
our Lord.

MONDAY IS MEMORIAL DAY
In keeping with the tradition of the Armenian Church, the day
following each of the five major feast days is Memorial Day, or
Remembrance of the Dead. On this day the faithful visit the graves of
their loved ones to give them the good news of the Resurrection.

Krisdos haryav ee merelots
Orhnyal eh harootyoonn krisdosi
CALENDAR OF EVENTS

April 3 Easter Eve Salmon Dinner at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New
York. Immediately following Easter eve services. Donation: $25. For
reservations or information: 718-224-2275.
April 11 ARS Mayr Chapter presents ZULAL, a cappela trio, at the
Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs, 209-15 Horace Harding Expressway,
Bayside, New York, 4 pm. Donation: $50, $30; $15 for children under
12. Contact Sonia, 917-679-6992; Hasmik, 516-330-5290.
April 17 St. Stephen s Ladies Guild, Watertown, Massachusetts,
presents jazzy evening featuring Sandi Bedrosian jazz ensemble, 6 pm,
church hall. $35 per person. Contact [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]) or Yeretzgin Baljian,
781-209-1915. Reservations only.
April 17 Ladies Guild New England Regional Seminar hosted
Sts. Vartanantz Church (Providence) Ladies Guild and the National
Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG), 9 am. Guest speaker: Shakay
Kizirian. Topic: Survival (A Womans Story). For information: Joyce
Bagdasarian, 401-434-4467 or [email protected].
April 18 ARS Mayr and Erebouni Chapters sponsor Walk-Armenia to
benefit Camp Haiastan. Registration at St. Sarkis Church, 38-65 234th
Street, Douglaston, New York, starts at 12 noon, $25 fee. Walk begins
1 pm. For information 516-330-5290 (Hasmik); 516-739-0805 (Nayda).
April 18 Health Expo 2010, To Your Health, St. Sarkis Church, 38-65
234th St., Douglaston, New York, 1 pm to 6 pm. Free tests, counseling,
information on medical conditions, mini-lectures on current health
issues. For information: Dr. Arthur Kubikian 718-786-3842.
April 24 Commemoration of the 95th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, organized by the Eastern Prelacy with the participation of
community organizations, 7 pm at St. Illuminators Cathedral, New York
City. Keynote speaker: Professor Peter Balakian.
May 1 New York State Theatre Institute presents Silence in a Circular
Rainbow, a staged reading of a play by Herand Markarian at the James
L. Meader Little Theatre, Troy, New York. For information about bus
transportation: Sonia 917-679-6992; Anahid 917-751-4916; Rita
347-991-4759.
May 10 Mothers Day luncheon sponsored by the Prelacy Ladies Guild, New
York Palace, 455 Madison Avenue, New York City. Reception at 12 noon;
lunch at 1 pm.
May 13 to 16 National Representative Assembly hosted by St.
Illuminators Cathedral, New York City, and St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York.
May 13-14 NALG Annual Conference in conjunction with the NRA, Crowne
Plaza, LaGuardia Airport Hotel. For information Mary Derderian,
781-762-4253, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]).
May 22 Divine Liturgy and annual banquet, presided by His Grace Bishop
Anoushavan Tanielian, St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville,
Massachusetts.
May 23 75th Anniversary celebration of Holy Trinity Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts, under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan,
at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Worcester. For information: 508-852-2414.
June 25-July 4 24th annual St. Gregory of Datev Institute Summer
Program for youth ages 13 to 18, at St. Mary of Providence Center,
Elverson, Pennsylvania.
July 17 A Hye Summer Night V, dance hosted by Ladies Guild of
Sts. Vartanantz Church and ARS Ani Chapter, Providence, Rhode Island,
at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Cranston,
Rhode Island. For tickets and information: Joyce Bagdasarian
(401-434-4467) or Joyce Yeremian. (401-354-8770).
August 22 Annual picnic of St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville,
Massachusetts.
October 8-10 The Eastern Prelacys Linked In workshop weekend for young
adults at Holy Virgin Marys Spiritual Vineyard, Charlton,
Massachusetts.

Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacys web
site.
To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to
your address book.
Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please
credit Crossroads as the source.
Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

EXCLUSIVE: THE METAMORPHOSIS OF TURKEY

Public Service
ry.asp?id=13745
March 29 2010
UK

Where is Turkey heading? Is the traditional friend of the EU, NATO
and US turning out to be a foe? Ziya Meral investigates

My dictionary defines metamorphosis as "the process of transformation
from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct
stages." Clearly, the process spoken here is a biological one and
using such a language to analyse a country is laden with problems.

However, the word metamorphosis is the best metaphor I could find
thus far to describe what Turkey is going through.

In some levels, it is clear that Turkey is still aspiring to be a EU
member and most Turks see themselves as Europeans. Yet, at the same
time Turkey has invited Sudan’s notorious Omal al-Bashir to the country
with red carpets, publicly backed Ahmedinejad’s election ‘victory’
and engaged with all the shunned countries and groups like Hamas and
Syria and alienated its traditional allies such as Israel with angry
outbursts. Where is Turkey heading? To the East or the West? Is the
traditional friend of the EU, NATO and US turning out to be a foe?

The domestic scene is equally confusing. Not a week passes before a new
scandal breaks out. Top generals are being arrested and questioned for
alleged attempts to take over the country. Meanwhile, Prime Minister
Erdogan publicly ostracises critical media outlets and forces hefty
tax punishments on unsupportive corporations. A brand new elite is
ruling Turkey, but where is Turkey heading? Is it turning out to
be an Islamist country on a fast-track course to instability and
civil unrest?

All of these are genuine worries and questions, some more valid than
others. It is true that Turkish foreign policy as well as domestic
politics and structures are undergoing substantial changes, but a
closer look reveals a more promising picture.

With the appointment of the foreign minister Davutoglu, the AKP
government has faced the reality that the world has changed and if
Turkey was to survive these turbulent days it had to adopt itself to
a new era. Davutoglu has promoted a ‘zero conflict’ in all of Turkey’s
borders and a diversification and deepening of Turkish relations with
other countries.

This was inevitable. Turkey has increasingly lost confidence in
the EU project because different EU states and bodies continued to
communicate mixed messages on the future of Turkey and EU talks.

Meanwhile, Russian-Georgian conflict throughout 2008/2009 and
Russian-EU tensions over energy convinced Turkey to leave aside its
traditional foreign policy stagnation.

Thus, Turkey took unprecedented attempts to emerge as a negotiator in
the Middle East, to solve never-ending problems with Armenia-Azerbaijan
and Cyprus, and to become a neutral energy route for the lucrative
petrol and gas resources in its neighbourhood. In other words, Turkey
is becoming less ‘ideological’ in its relations but more ‘rational’
with a multi-faceted calculation of its own interests.

The pragmatic shift is also true for domestic political and social
changes. The reason why AKP assumed a majority power in 2002 as
a brand new party was that Turks were fed up with the traditional
political elites of the country. AKP generated record-breaking votes
ever since, even from non-Muslims and liberals, because it has been
the most pro-EU, pro-reform, pro-human rights, pro-democracy and
pro-foreign investment government Turkey has had in this generation.

Yet, the results of the 2009 local elections and current estimates,
which forecast AKP’s votes to be around 33 per cent for the 2011
national elections, show that whenever AKP has stopped its democratic
reforms and EU commitment and lapsed into autocratic attitudes,
it has lost votes.

This reflects the reality of Turkey – a forward looking yet
traditionally conservative society that wants to be in the EU,
yet at the same time feels the need to diversify its relations and
investments; a friendly ally who wants to be close to the West, yet
at the same time wants to be an independent global actor on its own
merits and terms and does not want to be bullied.

Such a Turkey is far from being a foe but of further value for the
EU, US and NATO. In a chaotic region like the Middle East, a vibrant
democracy with a liberal economy and pragmatic foreign policy is only
good news. Turkish presence in Afghanistan and Iraq has played a quiet
but significant stabilising role. In the years to come, a Turkey that
speaks to all of her neighbours will be key for US and EU foreign
policy, with Turkish support on actions towards Iran and co-operation
on alternative energy routes with European countries sine qua non.

Although publicly Turkey was criticised for talking to Hamas,
re-engaging with Syria and seeking to develop economic relations with
Iran, it is now a common attitude that isolating Hamas does not work.

The US is currently upgrading its diplomatic presence in Syria,
and France is way more ahead than Turkey in having its slices of the
Iranian market.

Yet, one must not be naïve. The maturation process of Turkish
democracy is no guarantee that it will turn out to be constructive and
that Turkish interests will align themselves with those of Europe and
the US in each and every turn. Change is a precarious process. That
is why Turkey needs close support from the EU more than ever, if the
EU is still aspiring for stability in Europe and its neighbourhood
and productive engagement with the rest of the world.

Ziya Meral is a London-based Turkish analyst and a PhD candidate at
the University of Cambridge.

17 YEARS OLD GIRL DIED AS A RESULT OF TERRORIST ACT IN MOSCOW SUBWAY

ArmInfo
2010-03-30 13:48:00

ArmInfo. A 17 years old girl Valentina Yeghiazaryan died as a result
of terrorist act in Moscow subway on March 29, Armenia’s Foreign
Ministry press service told ArmInfo.

To recall, a few score of people died as a result of today’s explosions
in two Moscow metro stations Lubyanka and Park of Culture.

Russian special services consider the explosions in Moscow subway as a
well scheduled terrorist attack. A criminal case has been launched and
the specialists examine the records of video cameras from the scenes.

IMF COMPLETES 3RD REVIEW UNDER STAND-BY ARRANGEMENT FOR ARMENIA, APPROVES $73.6 MILLION DISBURSEMENT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
30.03.2010 11:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Executive Board of the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) completed the third review of Armenia’s economic performance
under a program supported by a Stand-By Arrangement (SBA).

The decision enables the immediate release of an amount equivalent
to SDR 48.485 million (about US$73.6 million), bringing total
disbursements so far an amount equivalent to SDR 350.425 million
(about US$532.2 million), the IMF said in a press release.

The Executive Board also approved a request for a waiver of
nonobservance of the end-December 2009 quantitative performance
criterion on the net domestic assets of the Central Bank of Armenia
(CBA).

The 28-month SBA was approved for an amount equivalent to a total of
SDR 368.0 million (about US$558.9 million) on March 6, 2009, with a
total amount of access augmented to an amount equivalent to SDR 533.6
million (about US$810.4 million) on June 22, 2009.

Following the Executive Board’s discussion on Armenia, Mr. Murilo
Portugal, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, stated: "Armenia’s
performance under its Stand-By Arrangement with the Fund has been
strong, and the economic recession appears to have bottomed out, aided
by supportive monetary and fiscal policies. The challenge remains
to support the fragile recovery, address external vulnerabilities,
and advance a credible fiscal consolidation plan over the medium term."

"Fiscal policy aims to continue to support the recovery, while
gradually starting fiscal consolidation in 2010. Social spending will
be protected. The authorities are committed to make good progress on
the reforms in tax policy and administration, as well as on public
expenditure and debt management.

"Monetary policy aims to move from an accommodative to a more neutral
stance, in order to head off potential inflation pressures. The
authorities are committed to a flexible exchange rate regime, and
aim to strengthen the monetary transmission mechanism to enhance the
effectiveness of monetary instruments, as well as improve the central
bank’s communication strategy.

"The financial sector remains sound and well capitalized, and
the authorities have strengthened their crisis preparedness and
contingency planning frameworks. Further reforms will be important
to ensure continued resilience to risks.

"The authorities are committed to pursue broad-based structural
reforms to enhance productive capacity and promote long-term growth
through an open trade regime, an improved business environment,
better governance, and increased market competition in key sectors
of the economy," Mr. Portugal said.

ARMENIA HAS ALREADY IMPLEMENTED THE ‘AMERICAN’ PROGRAM ON RELATIONS WITH TURKEY, AND IT IS HIGH TIME TO DEMAND MONEY AND SECURITY FROM THE USA

ArmInfo
2010-03-30 13:23:00

Interview with Igor Muradyan, one of the initiators and leaders of
the Karabakh Movement of 1988, well-known analyst

President of Armenia has recently visited Syria. What makes that
country and the Near East interesting to Armenia taking into account
Turkey’s interest in relations with Syria?

Recently in the Great Britain I have met with experts engaged in
Turkey’s policy. Engagement of British analytical experts dealing with
Turkey and its policy in the Near East is going at full drive in the
Great Britain, where there are developed analytical communities. This
engagement is very serious and it has been going on for a long time.

The engagement is like a sinusoid, i.e. it depends on the situation.

The Turkish government is currently engaging universities in the Great
Britain. These people protecting Turkish interests were trying to
explain to me that the Arab Near East misses Turkey, that Arabs dream
of Turkey’s return to the region to regulate the relations there. That
is to say, the western brain trusts started using Turkey as extenders
of its regional policy. At the same time there is no big success in
this engagement as these experts are not so much trusted because they
failed to reach the most important level of consultations with their
governments in London and Washington. Turkey is interested in not
only disputing such cute issues as Armenian, Cyprian and the Aegean
one, but also the issues related to long-term range of strategy,
particularly, in the Near East. Moreover, the Arab policy is quite
original as they do not want to leave the borders of their region. In
other regions Arabs have asymmetrical forces as radical groups,
which are very often connected with their governments.

What foreign policy concept does Armenia need in the relations with
the Arab world?

Organization of the Islamic Conference [OIC] is not going to support
Azerbaijan and Turkey in the Karabakh conflict settlement. In such a
situation the course taken by Armenia in its relations with the Arab
world, but which has not been always strictly implemented, remains
very much important. It is – to prevent isolation of our country by
the Islamic world. Because of the fact that our main displeasure in
the Islamic world is connected with the two states closely connected
with Israel and the USA, we did not have great danger earlier. The two
states of OIC – Syria and Iran have always sabotaged adoption of the
anti-Armenian resolution by the OIC. Every time when OIC used to adopt
a resolution on Karabakh, and Turkey together with Azerbaijan failed
to reach their goals, I got an impression that Libya, Saudi Arabia,
Jordan and other influential countries of the Arab world were pleased
with such a position of Syria and Iran. It happened since they also
did not want to turn OIC into a serving organization which serves to
the interests of Turkey and Azerbaijan.

OIC has repeatedly condemned the so-called "occupation of Azerbaijan’s
territories…"

Yes, it condemned, but there are no recommendations of specific
actions, whereas Baku and Ankara insisted just on that. I know that
the initial formula of OIC’s resolutions contained also such points,
but I also know that those points have never been included in the
final formula.

It is clear that such countries of Organization of the Islamic
Conference (OIC) as Indonesia and Morocco do not care for the
situation in the Caucasus, unlike the Crescent countries, which are
not interested in reinforcement of positions of Turkey and Azerbaijan.

One of the leading Lebanese young politicians told me personally that
actually, Lebanon and Syria are anti-Azerbaijani states.

Does it explain their unwillingness to strengthen the positions of
Israel’s partner Turkey in the region?

Well, Turkey and Azerbaijan have not yet got rig of their image of
Israel’s partners. This must be taken into account irrespective of
their claims of the opposite.

Did Erdogan’s attacks on Israel aim to overcome the Arab world’s
non-confidence in Ankara?

Sure! Israeli defense minister has recently paid a visit to Turkey,
and the cooperation in the military-technical sphere between them is
successfully going on as well as delivery of Israeli weapons.

Does Turkey strive to strengthen its positions in the Near East to
become more attractive for Europe as a new promoter of European ideas
in the East?

Ankara really has such a fundamental goal. Against the background of
Ankara’s strivings, the matter concerns not only the Arab world, but
also the whole Middle East, Iran, the Balkans, the Caucasus, Central
Asia, and even some regions in Russia. Turks hope that reinforcement
of their positions in these regions will give them big opportunities
to introduce themselves in Europe as a more influential country,
and this is of much significance. Turkey has already strengthened its
positions and is striving for big success, at the same time, however,
it has no chances to join the European Union.

What is the role of the Armenian Cause in that process?

There will be various impulses around the Armenian Cause also in the
future, as the Armenian Cause is a summary of the Western community’s
actions and interests in pressing and controlling Turkey. Now they
are trying to connect also Russia to this matrix, and I am sure
that Europeans are engaged in that process, first and foremost. When
visiting Istanbul in April 2009 Obama said that Turkey should be in
the European Union, having thereby underlined the USA’s aspirations
to promote Turkey to the European Union. That is to say, Americans
have finally realized that everything is over, and the beginning of
the end started over Bush Jr.’s term in office. Obama is extremely
interested in the regional policy of controlling Turkey. Obama can
resolve this problem only in an alliance with Europeans and recruit
Russia with Sarkozy’s help. In this default conspiracy Europe and
the USA can deliver weapon to Turkey as much as they wish, this will
not change anything but only become an additional tool to restrain
Ankara’s ambitions.

In addition, the USA undoubtedly continues looking for an alternative
to Incirlik. Consequently, it is beneficial and possible for nobody
to close the Armenian Cause.

Is it favorable for the USA to recognize the genocide in such
situation?

The USA will be able to influence Turkey and make it observe the rules
of the game only by recognizing the Armenian Genocide and making the
Armenian Cause open.

However, the USA should not do that hastily since the process is
underway and 43 States have already recognized the Genocide, alongside
with many other organizations. Therefore, the USA has organized this
global show around recognition of the Armenian genocide involving
almost all the leading western mass media. I am sure that a parade of
recognitions is expected in Europe, for everyone is well aware there
that Washington warns them of the threat of 20 million of Turkish
emigrants. Hereby, Europe will create a situation when Turkey will
have nowhere to retreat. "In addition, the Europeans hope that Turkey
will recognize Genocide, which will allow launching its fragmentation.

The project of Turkey’s fragmentation still exists, like the project
of achieving communism till 1980 under N. Khrushchev.

What has the USA gained having initiated the Armenian-Turkish process?

Having initiated the Armenian-Turkish process the USA reached much
as the results of settlement led the relations between Armenia and
Turkey to the disgusting state. Therefore, it is impossible to hope
for intrusion of Turkey to the Caucasus. Moreover, a distance has
appeared between Turkey and Azerbaijan, which the Americans were
dreamed of long ago. In Baku they are well aware that Turks do not
open the border not because of Karabakh but because of the fact that
Ankara is waiting for the assurance from the West to end the Armenian
Cause. As for the West, it demands additional compromises from Turkey
as Turkey’s compromises on Karabakh and the border are not enough.

Worsening of the Armenian-Turkish relations force Russia to make
extra efforts to ensure Armenia’s security, by this casting doubt on
creation of even an illusion of an alliance between Moscow and Ankara.

The USA wants very much Turkey to leave the Middle East region,
but the Turkish-Israeli partnership hinders it. By involving the
Jewish lobby of the USA in the everyday game in a delicate way the
Americans have already driven a wedge between Turkey and Israel. Thus,
an Armenian factor plays a part even where it is hard to imagine. The
most important is that thanks to the Armenian issue an alliance has
been already refused using the Turkish factor against Europe. For this
reason, at present Americans started using it in another way like a
means of unification against general threat in the face of Turkey.

What are the prospects of the NKR against the geopolitical background
you have described?

Neither the USA, nor China or the Arab world and Iran are interested
in weakening Armenia. It is clear to everyone that the Karabakh
conflict settlement on the basis of the Madrid Principles will destroy
Armenia’s sovereignty and make us absolutely incapable of defense. Now
that Armenia has implemented the whole program on relations with
Turkey proposed by Americans, it will be reasonable for us to demand
then to pay for this with ordinary, mutually complementary things –
money and security. In the case of Armenia and Karabakh, security is
determined first and foremost by remoteness of trenches of the first
resistance line from Armenia. That is why Armenia should take this
into account, demanding new security guarantees from Americans. As
regards the prospects of the Karabakh conflict settlement, they
should be considered against the background of appearance of new
non-recognized states, for instance, Kosovo.

news.am, Armenia
March 27 2010

Andrzej Kasprzyk: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict not `frozen’

12:13 / 03/27/2010 The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict cannot be considered
`frozen,’ Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, Personal Representative of the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office, stated in his interview with the OSCE
Magazine.

The situation on the front lines has not changed dramatically since
the cease-fire was agreed. There are unfortunately a number of
casualties each year ‘ approximately 30 (occasionally civilians) ‘ as
a result of shooting incidents on the Line of Contact and the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border. In 2009, the number of fatalities
decreased to 19, almost certainly as a result of the intensity of the
negotiations.

The Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan met six times in 2009.

Confidentiality is crucial to any such process. A certain element of
trust has to be fostered so as to maintain a dialogue between leaders
of countries that technically remain in a state of war with each
other.

`Before an agreement is reached, it would be difficult to put it up
for public discussion, as this could torpedo the process. For that
reason, the leaders have requested that the process be completely
confidential. The extent of what can be disclosed has to be carefully
measured. Above all, one also has to look at the mandate. The
negotiations are mandated to the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. I am a silent
witness. However, I would like to underline that the Presidents of the
Co-Chair countries, when they gathered in L’Aquila for the G8 Summit
in July 2009, disclosed the fundamental elements of the Basic
Principles that are being negotiated. The so called &`L’Aquila
Statement’ outlines the main elements of the talks at the moment,’
Andrzej Kasprzyk said.

With the help and support of the mediators, it is up to the parties to
find a balance between the principles of self-determination and
territorial integrity, Kasprzyk said.

A successful mediator has to be an impartial, balanced and transparent
broker. Anybody with a hidden agenda or one’s own interests involved
will sooner or later be rejected by the parties, he said.

T.P.

Hunan Poghosyan appointed Deputy Chief of Police

armradio.am
27.03.2010 15:40

On March 27 President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on appointing
Hunan Poghosyan to the post of First Deputy Chief of Police adjunct to
the Government of the Republic of Armenia, President’s Press Office
reported.