Author: Nalchajian Markos

BAKO SAHAKYAN: " THE WOMEN OF ARTSAKH ARE FATED TO DEFEND THE MOTHERLAND ON PAR WITH MEN, BUILD FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATE, TAKE AND ACTIVE PART IN ALL SPHERES OF LIFE IN OUR REPUBLIC"

Noyan Tapan
March 9, 2010

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Congratulatory Address of Artsakh
Republic President Bako Sahakyan in connection with the March 8
international woman’s day, in which it is said

"Dear women,

I cordially congratulate you on the beautiful spring holiday of the
International Women’s day.

You deserve to be highly appreciated and honored. Due to your
self-sacrifice, love, wisdom and strength you have kept bright the
fire of family hearth, preserving and developing national values and
traditions, bringing up our rising generation. You are the symbol of
continuity of life and eternity of people.

The women of Artsakh are fated to defend the Motherland on par with
men, build free and independent state, take and active part in all
spheres of life in our Republic.

Dear women, mothers, sisters and daughters, we are endlessly
grateful to you for your kindness and tenderness, warmth and care,
for everything you do every day and every hour.

I congratulate you once again and wish you peace, robust health and
prosperity. Be always happy, beautiful and charming."

TURKISH PM SAYS U.S. VOTE TO ‘GREATLY HARM’ TIES

905.html
08.03.2010

(Thomas Grove, Reuters) – A U.S. resolution that branded as genocide
the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War One will
seriously damage U.S. Turkish relations, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
said on Saturday.

NATO member Turkey, an ally crucial to U.S. interests in Iraq,
Iran, Afghanistan and the Middle East, has expressed its outrage at
Thursday’s non-binding vote in the Foreign Affairs committee of the
U.S. House of Representatives and recalled its envoy to the United
States for consultations.

"The decision of the Foreign Affairs Committee will not hurt Turkey,
but it will greatly harm bilateral relations, interests and vision.

Turkey will not be the one who loses," said Erdogan, speaking at a
summit of Turkish businessmen.

The Obama administration made a last-minute appeal against the
resolution and has vowed to stop the vote, which was broadcast
live on Turkish television, from going further in Congress. A
Democratic leadership aide told Reuters Friday there were no plans
"at this point" to schedule a vote of the full House on the measure,
and a State Department official said this was the administration’s
understanding as well.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, facing questions about the issue
while traveling in Latin America, declared Congress should drop the
matter now. "The Obama administration strongly opposes the resolution
that was passed by only one vote in the House committee and will work
very hard to make sure it does not go to the House floor," she said
in Guatemala City.

Turkey has said the resolution could jeopardize a fragile drive by
Turkey and Armenia to end a century of hostilities and lead to further
instability in the south Caucasus, a region crisscrossed by oil and
gas pipelines to Europe. Turkey’s ambassador to the United States
told journalists upon his return on Saturday it was unclear when he
would head back to Washington following his talks with the president,
prime minister and foreign minister.

"I will return when the time is right … We will have to wait and
see," Namik Tan said. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was quoted in a
media report as saying that the consultations could last "a long time."

The resolution urges Obama to use the term "genocide" when he delivers
his annual message on the Armenian massacres in April. Turkey accepts
that many Christian Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks but denies
that up to 1.5 million died and that it amounted to genocide — a
term employed by many Western historians and some foreign parliaments.

Some analysts fear the vote may alienate Turkey at a time when there
are concerns that its warmer ties with Syria, Iran and Russia, could
herald a shift away from its traditional Western allies. Commentators
had said the bill could affect Washington’s use of the Incirlik air
base in southeast Turkey. Incirlik is vital in logistical support
for U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Turkey is a transit route for U.S. troops going to and from Iraq,
and the country has 1,700 non-combat troops in Afghanistan. Ankara
has also played a key role in Obama’s strategy to get Afghanistan and
Pakistan to work together in fighting al Qaeda and Taliban militants
in their borders and has hosted high-level talks between Pakistan
and Afghanistan.

OSCE MG plans to meet Armenian FM in Paris later this month

06.03.2010 15:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors
Yury Merzlyakov of Russia, Bernard Fassier of France, and Robert
Bradtke of the United States, released the following statement today:

"The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov, the
Russian Federation; Ambassador Bernard Fassier, France; Ambassador
Robert Bradtke, United States met with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov in Paris, where they held a working session. They
assessed the current stage of the negotiations and considered comments
of both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides on the updated Madrid
Principles, which were presented to them by the Co-Chairs in December
2009 and January 2010. The Co-Chairs plan to meet Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian in Paris later this month for a similar
discussion, prior to going to the region."

La Tribune, France
5 Mars 2010

Le «génocide» arménien secoue les relations turco-américaines

Par Moumene Belghoul

Ankara demande à Washington de bloquer une résolution qualifiant de
«génocide» les massacres d’Arméniens sous l’Empire ottoman. Le texte
voté la veille par une commission du Congrès américain pourrait nuire
aux efforts turcs de réconciliation avec l’Arménie, a prévenu Ankara.

L’adoption de la résolution par la commission des affaires étrangères
de la Chambre des représentants prouve que l’administration américaine
«n’a pas suffisamment pesé» pour empêcher ce résultat, a estimé le
chef de la diplomatie turque Davutoglu.
En réaction, la Turquie a rappelé jeudi son ambassadeur à Washington
après le vote en commission de la résolution par 23 voix contre 22. Le
texte, qui n’a pas force de loi, appelle le président américain Ã
«qualifier de façon précise l’extermination systématique et délibérée
de 1 500 000 Arméniens de génocide». La résolution risque surtout de
faire l’objet d’un vote devant la Chambre dans son ensemble. Mais
cette prochaine étape dépend de la direction démocrate de l’assemblée.
Cette dernière ne s’est jusqu’à présent pas engagée à faire adopter la
résolution en séance plénière. Le ministre turc des Affaires
étrangères a refusé de s’exprimer sur d’éventuelles mesures de
rétorsion envisagées par Ankara. La Turquie reste un partenaire
stratégique de Washington et membre de l’OTAN. Ankara a en revanche,
prévenu que le texte ne saurait en aucun cas servir de levier de
pression sur la Turquie dans les efforts de normalisation des
relations avec l’Arménie. En effet, Ankara et Erevan ont signé en
octobre deux protocoles prévoyant l’établissement de relations
diplomatiques et l’ouverture de la frontière entre les deux pays.
Cependant, leurs Parlements respectifs tardent à ratifier ces textes.
Jeudi dernier, le président turc Abdullah Gül avait prévenu que «la
Turquie ne serait pas responsable des conséquences négatives que ce
vote pourrait avoir dans tous les domaines». Le vote a par ailleurs
été accueilli favorablement par l’Arménie. Les Arméniens, représentés
par une importante diaspora aux Etats-Unis redoublent d’activisme.
Objectif : faire reconnaître comme «génocide» les événements entre
1915 et 1917, qui ont vu, selon la version arménienne, la mort de plus
d’un million et demi de personnes. La Turquie admet qu’entre 300 000
et 500 000 personnes ont péri. Non pas à cause d’une campagne
d’extermination mais victimes du chaos après la chute de l’Empire
ottoman. La notion de «génocide» dans le cas arménien continue de
partager.

Le Parlement européen a reconnu le génocide arménien le 18 juin 1987.
Cette question revient lors des débats concernant l’adhésion
éventuelle de la Turquie et la conformité de la politique de l’Ã?tat
turc avec les «valeurs morales» de l’Union.

548.html

Vancouver Sun, BC, Canada
March 6 2010

Turkey urges U.S. to block ‘genocide’ bill or risk ties

By Sibel Utku Bila, Agence France-Presse
March 6, 2010

A furious Turkey warned of damage to its ties with the United States
and protesters descended on the U.S. embassy Friday after a
Congressional panel labelled the Ottoman-era massacre of Armenians
genocide.

Having recalled its ambassador immediately after the resolution was
adopted Thursday, Ankara warned Washington risked a showdown with a
key Muslim ally if the motion advanced to a full vote at the House of
Representatives. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sought to
reassure Ankara by saying that the Obama administration would seek to
block the bill’s passage.

"We will work very hard to make sure it does not go to the House
floor," Clinton told reporters in Guatemala.

Daily Beast
March 6 2010

White House Kills Genocide Bill

In an effort to preserve good relations with Turkey, the Obama
administration has said it will not let Congress pick at old sores. On
Thursday, a House committee narrowly voted in favor of a measure to
brand Turkey’s killing of Armenians during World War I genocide’much
to the outrage of the Turkish government. Now, despite Obama’s
campaign promise, the White House is set to block the bill. Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton said she plans to `work very hard’ to block
this and now feels confident that Congress will not vote on it. Two
years ago, the House Committee on Foreign Relations approved a similar
resolution, but the Bush administration successfully urged the House
not to vote.

em/white-house-kills-genocide-bill/semantics/

States News Service
March 4, 2010 Thursday

CO SPONSORED BY SHERMAN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION PASSES COMMITTEE BY 1 VOTE

WASHINGTON

The following information was released by the office of California
Rep. Brad Sherman:

In a 23 to 22 vote, the House Foreign Relations Committee passed House
Resolution 252, officially recognizing Armenian Genocide.

If we hope to stop future genocides we need to admit to those horrific
acts of the past. When Hitler had to convince his cohorts that the
world would let them get away with it, he turned to them and said, Who
today speaks of the annihilation of the Armenians?, said Sherman. The
last act of any genocide is genocide denial, and the first act of
preventing the next genocide is to acknowledge past acts of genocide.

Congressman Sherman believes it is high time that this measure is
passed by Congress and that the House Foreign Affairs Committees
passage of House Resolution 252 on the Armenia genocide is a first and
major step toward final passage.

Congressman Sherman is an original cosponsor of the legislation, which
acknowledges the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. Since coming to
Congress in 1997, Sherman has co-sponsored every resolution dealing
with the issue of the Armenian Genocide. Video of Shermans remarks in
the House Foreign Affairs Committee is available on his YouTube page,

During World War I and its aftermath, the Ottoman Empire attempted to
destroy the Armenian population of Eastern Anatolia. Congressman
Sherman wants Congress to remember this tragic event and formally
acknowledge that the Armenian Genocide is a fact. Unfortunately, there
are many who deny that this first genocide of the 20th Century
actually took place.

Congressman Brad Sherman is the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade. He has served
Californias San Fernando Valley in Congress since 1997.

L’Express, France
4 Mars 2010

Une commission du Congrès reconnaît "le génocide arménien"
Par AFP, publié le 04/03/2010 à 23:24 – mis à jour le 04/03/2010 à 23:33

WASHINGTON РUne commission du Congr̬s am̩ricain a reconnu jeudi le
"génocide" des Arméniens commis sous l’Empire ottoman, ignorant les
mises en garde de la secrétaire d’Etat Hillary Clinton et d’Ankara qui
a immédiatement rappelé son ambassadeur en poste à Washington.

Une commission du Congrès américain a reconnu jeudi le "génocide" des
Arméniens commis sous l’Empire ottoman, ignorant les mises en garde de
la secrétaire d’Etat Hillary Clinton et d’Ankara qui a immédiatement
rappelé son ambassadeur en poste à Washington.

Par 23 voix contre 22, la commission des Affaires étrangères de la
Chambre des représentants a adopté une résolution qui qualifie de
"génocide arménien" les massacres commis entre 1915 et 1923.

Le texte qui n’a pas force de loi, appelle le président américain Ã
"qualifier de façon précise de génocide l’extermination systématique
et délibérée de 1.500.000 Arméniens".

Le président de la commission, Howard Berman, a estimé que "rien ne
justifie que la Turquie ignore la réalité du génocide arménien".

Ce vote intervient après que Mme Clinton, citée par le porte-parole du
Conseil de sécurité nationale (NSC) Michael Hammer, eut averti que
l’adoption de cette résolution "pourrait dresser des obstacles devant
la normalisation des relations" entre la Turquie et l’Arménie.

Les Etats-Unis sont favorables à "une reconnaissance entière, franche
et juste des faits liés aux événements historiques de 1915", avait
indiqué juste avant le vote le porte-parole du département d’Etat,
Philip Crowley. "Nous nous inquiétons de l’impact possible (de la
résolution) sur les pays affectés", avait-il ajouté.

La résolution peut désormais faire l’objet d’un vote devant la Chambre
dans son ensemble. Mais cette prochaine étape dépend de la direction
démocrate de l’assemblée, qui ne s’est jusqu’à présent pas engagée Ã
faire adopter la résolution en séance plénière.

Dans les minutes qui ont suivi le vote, la Turquie a rappelé son
ambassadeur aux Etats-Unis "pour consultations".

"Nous condamnons cette résolution qui accuse la nation turque d’un
crime qu’elle n’a pas commis", a déclaré le gouvernement turc dans un
communiqué. "A la suite de cet incident, notre ambassadeur Ã
Washington, Namik Tan, a été rappelé à Ankara pour consultations".

Ankara avait multiplié les pressions pour empêcher le vote d’une telle
résolution. Le président turc Abdullah Gül a téléphoné mercredi soir Ã
son homologue américain Barack Obama à ce sujet, tandis que le
ministre des Affaires étrangères Ahmet Davutoglu pressait les
parlementaires américains de voter "non" à la résolution.

La question d’un "génocide" arménien est un champ de mines diplomatique.

Les Arméniens, représentés par une importante diaspora aux Etats-Unis,
font pression pour que soient reconnus comme "génocide" les massacres
et déportations qui, entre 1915 et 1917, ont tué selon eux plus d’un
million et demi d’entre eux.

La Turquie reconnaît qu’entre 300.000 et 500.000 personnes ont péri,
non pas victimes d’une campagne d’extermination mais selon elle dans
le chaos des dernières années de l’Empire ottoman.

Elle récuse la notion de "génocide" reconnue par la France, le Canada
ou le Parlement européen.

M. Obama, qui avait promis lors de sa campagne électorale la
reconnaissance du "génocide" arménien, a renoncé à employer ce terme
peu après son élection, alors que les Etats-Unis soutiennent les
efforts de normalisation en cours entre la Turquie et l’Arménie pour
l’ouverture de la frontière commune et l’établissement de relations
diplomatiques.

ctualites/1/usa-une-commission-du-congres-reconnai t-le-genocide-armenien_853070.html

APA, Azerbaijan
March 5 2010

Closure of US military base in Turkey and recall of Turkish soldiers
from Afghanistan can be brought to agenda

[ 05 Mar 2010 15:37 ]

Baku ` APA. `Soon after the decision of the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs our government gave a proper assessment to it. It has been
confirmed once more how parliaments’ decisions on historical events
may result. Such a view in the U.S. Congress is very disappointing. It
is seen how those who voted for the resolution are aware of these
events,’ Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said at the press
conference in Ankara, APA reports quoting Haberturk. Touching on the
happenings of 1915 the minister mentioned that there was a chaos at
that time.
`1915 means migration for Armenians. For us it means Canakkale. Two
million of our compatriots migrated from the Balkans, there was
migration from the Caucasus. There was a great chaos. We have always
shared this grief and approached it from human aspect, not in terms of
politics. We regard Armenians, with whom we lived together for ten
centuries, as friends,’ he said.

To the question `Can the discussion of the Incirlik base, recall of
the Turkish soldiers from Afghanistan be brought to the agenda?’ the
minister said:
`We will discuss this issue after our ambassador arrives. We will also
hold discussions in the Cabinet of Ministers. We may also meet with
President, leaders of the opposition parties. This is the matter of
national pride for us.’

Ahmet Davutoglu underlined that the decision would influence both
Turkey-US and Turkey-Armenia relations.
`We do not want crisis in our relations with America every spring,’ he said.

Xinhua, China
March 5 2010

U.S. "genocide" resolution casts shadow over Turkey- Armenia
normalization process

ANKARA, March 5 (Xinhua) — A U.S. congressional panel’s decision on
Thursday to recognize the killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as
"genocide" has riled Turkey and cast a shadow over the ongoing
normalization process between Turkey and Armenia.

The U.S. move not only risked slowing down but also could completely
jeopardize the Turkish-Armenian peace process, Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters Friday.

He criticized the U.S. administration for not showing enough strength
in handling the issue and urged the White House to make more efforts
to prevent acts that could hamper the normalization process between
Turkey and Armenia, local newspaper Hurriyet Daily News reported on
its website.

Turkey temporarily recalled its ambassador to the United States for
consultations on Thursday minutes after the U.S. House of
Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee approved a resolution to
label the massive deaths of Armenians under Ottoman rule during World
War I as "genocide."

The ambassador will return to Ankara to discuss Turkey’s possible
reactions to the resolution and measures to be taken regarding its
relations with the United States, Davutoglu was quoted by the
semi-official Anatolia news agency as saying at a press conference.

Turkey and Armenia have been bogged down in the row over the deaths of
Armenians and have no diplomatic or economic ties since Armenia
declared its independence in 1991.

In October, the two countries signed historic deals on normalizing
ties and reopening their borders after decades of hostilities. The
agreements need to be ratified by both countries’ parliaments before
taking effect.

Those who argued that the adoption of the U.S. resolution would
pressurize the Turkish Parliament to approve the protocols were dead
wrong, said Davutoglu.

"Turkey did not make foreign policy decisions under pressure," he was
quoted by Anatolia as saying.

Turkish Prime Ministry on Thursday condemned the House panel’s move
and expressed concerns that the non-binding resolution could damage
Turkish-U.S. relations and efforts to normalize relations between
Turkey and Armenia.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said in a statement Friday
"Turkey will not be responsible for negative outcomes of this voting."

Davutoglu on Friday reiterated Turkey’s goal to normalize relations
with Armenia but urged for a clear stance from the U.S. on the
process.

"The question to America is simple: ‘Do you or do you not support the
peace process between Turkey and Armenia?’" Davutoglu was quoted by
Hurriyet Daily News as saying. "Because if you don’ t, then come out
and say it, so we can align our policy accordingly."

He urged U.S. President Barack Obama "not to perpetuate or exaggerate
this crisis" in April, when Obama is expected to make a speech to the
American Armenian community.

In last year’s speech, Obama avoided using the term "genocide" when
describing the Armenians’ deaths and welcomed Turkish- Armenian peace
talks.

The U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday called Howard
Berman, chairman of House Committee on Foreign Affairs, arguing a vote
on the "genocide" resolution could harm Turkish- Armenian peace
efforts, according to the White House. However, Berman pressed ahead
with the vote and the resolution was passed by a 23-22 margin.

A similar resolution was adopted by the same panel in 2007 but was not
brought to the House because of opposition from former President
George W. Bush.

A predominantly Muslim country, Turkey is a NATO member and viewed as
a key U.S. ally in issues in the Middle East.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian hailed the approval of the
resolution in a statement released Friday, saying it was an important
step towards the prevention of crimes against humanity.

Armenians say more than 1.5 million Armenians were killed in a
systematic genocide in the hands of the Ottomans during World War I.

Turkey argues the death toll is exaggerated and insists the Armenians
were victims of widespread chaos and governmental breakdown as the
Ottoman Empire collapsed in the years before modern Turkey was born in
1923.

orld/2010-03/05/c_13198949.htm