Author: Nalbandian Eduard

TURKISH MP: ARMENIA-TURKEY PROTOCOLS "DIED" AFTER DECISION BY U.S. CONGRESS HOUSE COMMITTEE

Today
/63879.html
March 12 2010
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
(Parliament), Deputy Chairman of the Republican People’s Party
Shukru Elekdag.

How do you see further development of events following the decision
by the U.S. Congress House Committee on Foreign Relations on the
"Armenian genocide"? You were in Washington and watched the process.

In your opinion, will the U.S. bring this process to the end?

The U.S. leaders are very concerned about the Congress committee
decision. We saw this in the course of our observations in Washington
and from the statements made by President Barack Obama and Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton. They urged the congressmen not to go further in
this matter. They are aware of Turkey’s harsh attitude to this issue.

Moreover, at a time of serious processes around the world, particularly
in the Middle East and at a time when the U.S needs Turkey as an ally,
the committee’s decision caused a shock. The Obama administration
wants to resolve the Armenian-Turkish question not by surgery, but
by therapy. Turkey also wants this. Turkey wants a speedy resolution
to the Armenian issue. Amid such important processes in the world,
Armenian nationalists’ "genocide" and territorial claims look very
meaningless and inappropriate.

Taking advantage of general fuss, Armenian nationalists want to play
their game and achieve something. The U.S. leaders understand that
miserable game of Armenian nationalists could become a serious problem
for America. Bringing the Armenian issue to the fore is disadvantageous
for the Obama administration at a time the U.S. is trying to solve the
Iranian, Iraqi and Afghan problems. The U.S. saw a sharp reaction from
Turkey, and the White House immediately made all necessary. I think
"genocide" claims will recede into the background over time.

Do you mean Barack Obama will not utter the word "genocide" on
April 24?

It must be noted that compared with the Bush administration, the
Obama administration is not so zealously trying to resist "genocide"
decision. The current U.S. administration is in debt to the Armenian
lobby for financial assistance in the election campaign. And a debt
must be repaid. But this debt can cost much because of problems
with Turkey.

So, I do not think that the U.S. is interested in continuing the
process of "genocide". It is hard to predict what will happen on
April 24. To demonstrate his indifference to Turkey’s reaction,
Barack Obama can pronounce the word "genocide" on April 24. But this
means that the process of so-called "genocide" will continue.

After the U.S. House committee’s approval of the Resolution 252, does
Ankara doubt about a need to ratify the Armenian-Turkish protocols?

Turkey should withdraw the protocols from the Turkish Parliament after
this decision. We have recalled our ambassador to the United States.

But this reaction is not enough. We must show that a decision on
the so-called "genocide" is an obstacle to the normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations.

We have previously said we will not sign the protocols until the
Karabakh problem is resolved. The U.S. claimed that the Karabakh
problem has nothing to do with the Armenian-Turkish relations. Now
this decision on the so-called "genocide" is our trump card. We must
say that the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations is impossible
while there is such a slander.

Even during the negotiations on the signing of the Armenian-Turkish
protocols we warned the government that it would not be the key
to solving the problems between Yerevan and Ankara. The Armenian
Constitutional Court decision once again confirmed that we were right.

After this decision we proposed the government to withdraw the
protocols from the parliament. But the government chose to wait.

Then we received a second blow by the U.S. congressional committee
decision. In this situation, the ratification of protocols can lead
to undesirable consequences for Turkey. The Armenian-Turkish protocol
have "died" for us after the U.S. Congress committee’s recent move.

We must remember the promise Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made
in the Azerbaijani parliament in May 2009. He promised the Azerbaijani
people not to ratify the protocols till the Karabakh problem is
resolved. Turkey must keep its word. We see that the Karabakh problem
is not solved, and that Armenia drags out the process. Under these
conditions there is no need to keep the protocols in the Turkish
Parliament. These protocols lost all meaning after March 4.

The United States, which advises us to improve relations with Armenia
and always declares its commitment to democratic values, grossly
violated the very principles of a vote and adopted a decision on the
so-called "genocide." This decision completely ruined the protocol
process.

The media have recently been discussing the Turkish-Russian warming
and bilateral cooperation in the nuclear field. Is it possible that
the U.S. took this step because of dissatisfaction with the process
to put pressure on Turkey?

Turkey has a good relationship with Russia and they are improving. But
cooperation between the two countries in the nuclear field is
irrelevant. I do not think that Russia wants Turkey to become a
nuclear power. On the other hand, the U.S. is seriously concerned
over Iran’s nuclear program and is doing everything necessary to stop
these programs. At that point, Turkey does not want to create another
crisis engaging in a nuclear issue.

But the U.S. has plans to deploy missiles in Turkey. It wanted to
deploy missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic. But
Russia objected, and the States abandoned the idea. Now they have an
idea to deploy missiles in Anatolia. They attribute it to hypothetical
threats from Russia. But, in fact, these missiles are intended for
Iran, but not Russia.

Turkey should not allow the U.S. to use its territory as a springboard
for attacks on Iran. Iran is our closest neighbor and friendly country
for Turkey. I am against U.S. intentions to threaten Turkey’s neighbors
with missiles located in Anatolia or military ships in the Aegean
Sea. Certainly, Turkey will reject U.S. plans to deploy missiles.

Following the decision by U.S. House Congress committee, there were
proposals to close the Incirlik base and withdraw soldiers from
Afghanistan…

It’s too much. To voice our protest, we recalled ambassador to
Washington, reminded the U.S. of a need to return Turkey’s debts and
explained that we can refuse to participate in the Iranian campaign.

This can include also withdrawal of the protocols from the parliament.

I think that this will suffice for today. We cannot use all the cards
at once. In any case, it is not necessary to become enemies with the
United States because of the decision on the so-called "genocide".

Simply, everyone should understand his own mistake.

SITUATION IN KOSOVO INCOMPARABLE WITH NAGORNO-KARABAKH: OSCE CO-CHAIR

news.am
March 12 2010
Armenia

The situation in Kosovo is incomparable with that in Nagorno-Karabakh,
OSCE Minsk Group French Co-Chair Bernard Fassier stated in NATO PA
Rose-Roth seminar in Yerevan, March 12.

Asked why the precedent of Kosovo independence recognition cannot be
applied in case with Karabakh, he pointed out the difference between
the conflicts. "Firstly, Kosovo conflict occurred inside one country,
whereas Karabakh was a conflict in one country-Azerbaijan, where
Nagorno-Karabakh population struggled against Azerbaijan’s central
administration and a conflict between two separate countries-Armenia
and Azerbaijan. According to him, the second difference is the presence
of international forces in Kosovo for years, which is not the case
with Azerbaijan, Armenia and Karabakh.

"Armenians consider Kosovo a precedent which should be applied in
case with Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, however it is not possible. In
the upshot, Karabakh was not recognized by any country, including
Armenia," French diplomat outlined adding that Kosovo independence
made Azerbaijan act more discreetly and display exactingness. This
is so, as Azerbaijan believes if the conflict is solved based on the
principle of nations’ right to self-determination, it might lead to
independence of Karabakh.

HISTORICAL SUBCOMMITTEE – PLATFORM TO DISCUSS THE AFTERMATH OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.03.2010 15:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Throughout the Armenian-Turkish normalization Armenia
has never raised the question of Armenian Genocide as a precondition,
neither ignored the historical fact of the destruction of a 1.5
million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, Armenian deputy foreign
minister Arman Kirakosyan said in Yerevan addressing the 73 Seminar
of NATO Parliamentary Assembly Rose Roth.

"Despite our approach, after the Armenian-Turkish Protocols signed,
Ankara once again started to speak in the language of preconditions,
saying that Turkey could ratify the Protocols within 3 days. So why
is Ankara artificially dragging out their ratification, why is again
raising the Karabakh problem as a precondition?" the deputy foreign
minister asked.

According to him, Armenia has had a progress in the process of
ratification of the Protocols. " We hope that Ankara is honest in this
process and believes in the success of the Armenian-Turkish process,
" deputy foreign minister of Armenia said.

Armenia views the historical sub-committee as a platform to discuss
the aftermath of the genocide, not to examine the very fact of the
genocide, Arman Kirakosyam stressed "The Armenian Genocide is a fact.

Over 3 million Armenians lived in the Ottoman Empire, not in Turkey.

The Ottoman Empire was the country of Armenians and other peoples
living there. The Armenian people were destroyed in the process of
Turkification of the empire and that was a genocide," deputy foreign
minister of Armenia Armen Kirakosyan said.

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic
destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during
and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres, and
deportations involving forced marches under conditions designed to
lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths
reaching 1.5 million.

The date of the onset of the genocide is conventionally held to be
April 24, 1915, the day that Ottoman authorities arrested some 250
Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople.

Thereafter, the Ottoman military uprooted Armenians from their homes
and forced them to march for hundreds of miles, depriving them of
food and water, to the desert of what is now Syria.

To date, twenty countries and 44 U.S. states have officially recognized
the events of the period as genocide, and most genocide scholars
and historians accept this view. The Armenian Genocide has been also
recognized by influential media including The New York Times, BBC,
The Washington Post and The Associated Press.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the
Genocide survivors.

SWEDISH PARLIAMENT RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.03.2010 21:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Swedish Parliament recognized the Armenian
Genocide in Ottoman Empire in 1915 by 131 votes in favor and 130
against, Vahagn Avedyan, head of the Armenian Association of Sweden
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. "The debates lasted more than 5
hours," Avedyan said.

ARMENIA 37TH IN MATERNAL DEATHS DURING PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH: STUDY

tert.am
15:34 ~U 10.03.10

Every minute a mother-to-be from somewhere around the world dies
because they don’t have access to the vital healthcare they need
before and during childbirth.

Focusing on the condition of women in 125 countries, research conducted
by the US-based global humanitarian organization Save the Children has
revealed that pregnant women in the developing world face the same risk
of dying during childbirth today as women in the UK did 100 years ago.

According to a report released by the organization, among the top ten
countries with the lowest number of maternal deaths as a result of
pregnancy or childbirth are (in consecutive order) Sweden, Denmark,
Finland, Norway, Austria, Germany, Australia, Canada and Netherlands.

Great Britain and the US share the 10th place.

Armenia occupies the 37th place in the list.

Among the former Soviet Union countries included in the list are
Belarus (at 16th place), Ukraine (21), and Moldova (24). Russia
and Uzbekistan shared the 27th place followed by Kazakhstan (32)
and Turkmenistan (44). Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan share 52nd place
with Tajikistan at 69th.

Along with Amnesty International, Oxfam, Mumsnet and White Ribbon
Alliance, Save the Children is calling for "a greater global commitment
to the protection of basic rights for mothers and children."

REASSESSING THE GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

Huffington Post
assessing-the-genocide_b_492288.html
March 10 2010

by Alon Ben-Meir. Senior Fellow at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs
Posted: March 9, 2010 05:09 PM

Once again, as has happened every spring for years running, the debate
over whether the ethnic clashes against the Armenians in the break
up of the Ottoman Empire amounted to genocide has made it into the
US political arena for Congress to weigh in. The recent resolution
adopted by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs-to officially
recognize actions against the Armenians in 1915 as genocide committed
by the Ottoman Turks-has less to do with the US government’s pursuit
of historical accuracy, than political theater that has come at a
strikingly inopportune time.

Genocide is a serious label, and requires not only moral authority from
those who use it but a deep comprehension of the historical context
in which these events occurred. Armenians have every right to demand
official inquiries about the terms and conditions in which hundreds of
thousands of their ancestors were killed, but this is not the task of
US Congress, who has neither the moral standing to codify armed clashes
of a century ago without proper inquiry nor the right to be selective
about human rights offenses for political points. Every effort should
be made by President Obama and the remaining House Representatives
to prevent the resolution from reaching the House floor.

Beyond the very serious damage that such a resolution could inflict
on US-Turkish relations, should it pass the full House, congressional
interference at this juncture could severely erode the very moral
argument used justify the resolution. Turkey and Armenia have only
recently concluded two protocols calling for closer ties, open borders,
and most importantly, the creation of a commission to examine the
historical evidence of the tragic events. Not only will this vote
undermine the reconciliation process between Turkey and Armenia, but it
threatens the US-Turkish relationship at a time when Turkey is playing
a critical role aiding the US and the Middle East peace process.

Sadly, this resolution was politicized at the outset, thereby
diminishing much of its moral tenet. Had the purpose been for the US to
champion human rights and officially condemn any large scale atrocities
in times of war, then why was there no debate about massacres in Sudan,
Rwanda, Algeria or the Balkans? The fact that it was supported by a
powerful lobby and sponsored by many members of Congress, including
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the Committee Chairman Howard Berman from
California, and Donald Payne and Albio Sires from New Jersey, each of
whom represent relatively large Armenian constituencies, takes this
debate out of the moral realm and into the political one. Beyond this
matter, Howard Berman and the Foreign Relations Committee failed to
address the pressing issues behind what such a resolution would invite
forth, mainly the land disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the
issue of reparations for descendants of the victims, none of which can
be treated in isolation. However large the political benefit these
members of Congress may garner this election year by pushing this
resolution, it is not in US interests, as the end result will hurt
the Turkish-Armenian reconciliation process and severely undercut
Turkish-US cooperation should it come to fruition. Such a serious
resolution requires the application of the highest moral review and
investigation, not a politically convenient act which is considered
an insult to Turkish identity. If genocide was in fact committed,
it should be left to an international investigative tribunal, not
politicians who need to be reelected every two years.

Turkey has been a loyal friend of the United States for more than
a half century, and continues to support American efforts in Iraq,
Afghanistan and the Arab-Israeli peace process. It is a modern
secular democracy, and has made great strides in remaining open
and progressive. Why then should the United States Congress hold
the descendants of the Ottomans responsible for the deeds of their
fathers perpetrated a century ago? Since Turkey vehemently rejects the
term genocide, what judgment should then be passed, and by whom, that
will not tarnish the present generation of Turks? This generation had
nothing to do with past events and, in fact, condemns the atrocities
committed during that heinous war, regardless of who the perpetrators
were. What then gives the United States’ House of Representatives
the moral authority to pass judgment, when domestic political
interest shamelessly dominates their motives? The argument against
the resolution by the full House should be based on moral grounds,
and the members must not act as judges and jurors when Turkey and
Armenia have agreed to establish their own joint committee to unravel
what in fact happened.

At a time when America still suffers from a lagging global image after
years of hawkish foreign policy and two ongoing wars, the United
States Congress must support what Turkey and Armenia have agreed
to do to resolve their conflict and help facilitate a resolution to
the Nagorno-Karabakh territorial dispute. Even the Jewish lobby, in
the wake of a series of diplomatic rifts between Turkey and Israel,
acted quietly in favor of the Turks, resulting in a close margin in
the vote. As much as Prime Minister Erdogan’s recent statements have
not fared well with the Israeli public, the Israeli diaspora is keen
on maintaining the strategic nature of its relationship with Turkey
as well as Turkey’s relationship with the West.

But more importantly, the Turkish government, who acted out fervently
against the US government following the resolution, must come to grips
with the separation of power in the United States. Both President Obama
and Secretary Clinton have come out strongly against the resolution —
albeit last minute — yet they cannot control the votes or the agenda
of Congress. Under no circumstance should Prime Minister Erdogan cancel
his upcoming visit to the US, as he should use this opportunity to
present his case and prove that Turkey is capable of handling the
disputes with Armenia without US congressional intervention.

It is by no means certain that this misguided resolution taken by
Pelosi and Berman will pass in the full House should it come to a
vote. Furthermore, it is unlikely these sponsors will even bring the
resolution to the floor unless they are certain it has a substantial
chance to pass. This represents a keen opportunity for Democrats
and Republicans alike to find a common area of interest and work in
unison for the best interests of the US, Turkey, and the future of
Turkish-Armenian relations.

ARMENIAN, FRENCH PRESIDENTS DISCUSS BILATERAL RELATIONS IN PARIS

news.am
March 10 2010
Armenia

Following ceremonial meeting at Elysée, RA President Serzh Sargsyan
and French President Nicolas Sarkozy held a private meeting.

Referring to RA Presidential Spokesman Samvel Farmanyan, the NEWS.am
correspondent reported that the meting was held in a friendly
atmosphere.

The sides discussed the present stage of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process, regional security, Armenian-Turkish reconciliation and other
issues of mutual interest. The French leader expressed his appreciation
of his Armenian counterpart’s efforts to establish peace and stability
in the region.

The Armenian and French Presidents exchanged views on further
development of bilateral trade and economic relations, as well as
Armenia-EU cooperation. The Armenian President thanked his French
counterpart for France’s assistance to Armenia in various fields.

The two Presidents pointed out a high level of Armenian-French
dialogue. Exchanging views on regional and international problems is
of importance for further development of Armenian-French relations.

President Sargsyan pointed out that Armenia views France as a friendly
country and a reliable partner in the international arena. The Armenian
leader pointed out the active development of Armenian-French relations
in various fields.

President Sarkozy, in turn, pointed out that the Armenian community in
France is a bridge of friendship between Armenia and France. According
to him, France is and will always be Armenia’s friend.

The sided reached an agreement to continue a high-level dialogue. An
official dinner was held in the Armenian President’s honor.

ADLP LETTER TO H. BERMAN

Aysor
March 9 2010
Armenia

On the occasion of passing the 252 resolution on the Armenian
Genocide Harutyun Arakelyan, the ADLP Leader sent a message to the
US Congressman Berman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The letter reads:

"Dear Mr. Howard L. Berman

As a representative of a pan-Armenian political party existing since
19th century, I express my gratitude for your Armenian-favor policy
of many years.

I express my gratitude to all the Congressmen who voted in favor
of adopting the Armenian Genocide resolution, H. Res. 252 at the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the U.S. Congress on March 4, thus
proving that justice is beyond everything and in this case there
cannot be double standards.

Your inexorability towards Armenian question is of special admiration,
especially considering the fact that you didn’t retreat even being
a member of Turkish-American Friendship Committee.

Now about the main subject of my letter:

In Resolution 252 there is a well-grounded survey of the crimes
committed against the Armenian people by the last government of the
Ottoman Empire registered in the Archival documents of many countries
and testifying to the fact that the actions committed in 1915-1923
against the Armenian people are crimes committed towards mankind.

However, an inaccuracy took place in the resolution which probably
should be ascribed to your assistants or to the Armenian favoring
policy conducting other Congressmen’s assistants, who, preparing
Resolution 252, made use of some doubtful sources distorting the
Armenian history. Otherwise, the expression that Armenians were
deprived of their 2500-year-old cradle would not have been introduced
in the Resolution.

Being far from the desire to begin a historical dispute, I would
merely like to mention that there are numerous evidences by foreign
civilizations that the Armenian Nation lived and created in the
Armenian Highlands for more than 4500 years, therefore it would have
been righteous not to write in the Resolution any chronology concerning
the Armenian Nation, and to mention merely that besides massacres,
loots and plunders, also annihilation of Armenians and depriving them
from their homeland took place.

However, I am well aware that any editorial amendment cannot be
introduced in the Resolution now but I hopefully believe that your
Committee will henceforth make use of merely Armenian Academic
authoritative institutions."

ARMENIAN EXPERT: NO WINDOW YET OBSERVED IN IMPROVEMENT OF RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN RELATIONS

ArmInfo
2010-03-09 20:48:00

ArmInfo. "I do not think that the opening of the Upper Lars check-point
is a window in improvement of political relations between Russia and
Georgia. Unfortunately, these relations are in such a state that in the
current political format I cannot imagine any abrupt improvement",-
said Director of the Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan at
today’s television bridge Yerevan-Tbilisi-Moscow.

He recalled that the Georgian official stance is that the relations
with Russia may improve only after the latter de-occupies the
territories, but it is difficult to imaging that Moscow will do this.

"So I consider improvement of political relations between Russia and
Georgia to be low probable today",- stressed Iskandaryan.

The opening of Upper Lars marks change in the format of the
Russian-Georgian conflict: the political component has been preserved
while the humanitarian, economic and other ones are being removed or
alleviated. There are few conflicts in the world where the conflicting
parties have turned into kind of preserve cans. The vivid examples are
Cyprus and Transdniestria, where the conflicting parties have preserved
humanitarian and economic ties despite continuing political quarrel.

This situation may end in restoration of direct flights between Moscow
and Tbilisi. Today, the situation in Russian-Georgian relations is
almost the same as it was when the check point was closed.

To remind, the Kazbegi-Upper Lars check point on the Russian-Georgian
border has been kept closed for three years. It was closed by Russia
for repair and re-equipment. The check point was reopened Mar 1 2010.

The relevant talks were mediated by Armenia.

VIVACELL-MTS PREPAID SUBSCRIBERS HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE CALLS AT ONLY AMD 2 PER MINUTE

Arminfo
2010-03-09 20:47:00

ArmInfo. VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of "Mobile TeleSystems" OJSC,
is glad to inform about new surprise promotion for prepaid subscribers.

The press-service of the company told ArmInfo that from March 8 to
April 7 by simply sending the *888# request VivaCell-MTS prepaid
subscribers (except subscribers of "Business Control" corporate
package) will get an opportunity to call both prepaid and postpaid
subscribers of VivaCell-MTS at an unbelievably low tariff for
throughout the whole period. Shall the number of the recipient start
with the same digit as the number of the calling party the call will
be charged at only AMD 2 per minute.

For instance, the subscriber of the number (098)707172 can call for AMD
2 per minute to all VivaCell-MTS numbers starting with 7, regardless
of the code. The *888# request costs AMD 222. And if the subscriber
wants to call someone whose phone number starts with another digit
he/she just has to get a new prepaid number with the desired first
digit and talk for only AMD 2 per minute.

VivaCell-MTS (K-Telecom CJSC) is the leading Armenian mobile operator,
providing a wide range of Voice and Data services. Since its launch
on 1st July 2005, in a short period of time VivaCell-MTS has managed
to build a nationwide network and a considerable customer base.

VivaCell-MTS drives the development and offering of innovative mobile
communications products, services and features in the Armenian mobile
communications market.

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS") is the largest mobile phone operator
in Russia and the CIS. Together with its subsidiaries, the Company
services over 97.46 million subscribers. The regions of Russia, as
well as Armenia, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, in
which MTS and its associates and subsidiaries are licensed to provide
GSM services, have a total population of more than 230 million. Since
June 2000, MTS’ Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock
Exchange (ticker symbol MBT).