Author: Tambiyan Samvel

U.S. REPRESENTATIVES RENEW DRIVE FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION: INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

ArmInfo
2009-03-18 14:36:00

ArmInfo. Legislation calling on the U.S. President to properly
recognize the Armenian Genocide was introduced oday in the U.S. House
of Representatives, two weeks before President’s Obama’s April 5th
trip to Turkey and roughly a month before the White House’s annual
April 24th commemoration of this crime against humanity, reported
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The measure, H.Res.252, is spearheaded by lead sponsors, Adam Schiff
(D-CA) and George Radanovich (R-CA) and Congressional Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), and cosponsored
by over 70 House colleagues. The resolution is identical to the
one introduced in both the House and Senate in the 110th Congress,
which was adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, over
intense pressure from the Turkish Government and Bush Administration,
and publicly endorsed by then-candidate for President Barack Obama,
his Vice President Joe Biden, and current Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton.

"Armenians in the U.S. and around the world thank Adam Schiff, George
Radanovich, Frank Pallone and Mark Kirk for leading Congressional
efforts toward U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide," said Aram
Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "The election of Barack
Obama, who has spoken repeatedly, forcefully, and with great clarity
about the need for American recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
marked a truly welcome break from the flawed policies of the past on
this score. We look, in the coming days and weeks, for the President
to honor his pledge, to fully support this legislation, and to raise
the discourse in Washington, DC on the Armenian Genocide from level
of Turkey’s threats and denials up to the level of the core moral
and humanitarian values of the America people."

In the days leading up to the introduction of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution, Representatives Schiff, Radanovich, Pallone and Kirk
sent a letter to President Obama urging him to end the complicity
of past Administrations in Turkey’s genocide denial by properly
characterizing the Armenian Genocide. That sentiment was reiterated
by the International Association of Genocide Scholars, in a March
7th letter sent to President Obama.

The resolution comes six-weeks prior to April 24th, the worldwide
commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. U.S. Presidents have marked the
annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923 by the Ottoman
Turkish government every year since 1994, though have refrained from
the proper characterization of this crime under threats and pressure
from the Turkish government.

"There is going to be heavy focus on encouraging President Obama to
make a strong statement of recognition on April 24, because it will
be important in setting the tone of the discussions on the Armenian
Genocide Resolution in Congress," Rep. Schiff told Armenian Weekly
Editor Khatchig Mouradian earlier today. "The Turkish lobby will
be spending millions – like they did in past years. They will also
argue that the recognition of the genocide will cut off reconciliation
between Armenia and Turkey, and that this is not the right time. The
truth is, after 94 years, if this is not the right time, I don’t know
when that right time can be."

Rep. Radanovich concurred, noting, "President Obama made a clear
promise to the Armenian community during his campaign and to do
anything short of properly recognizing the Armenian genocide as such
would be a direct slap in the face to Armenians around the world." In a
statement issued earlier today, he went on to note that "The Armenian
constituents in my district have been staunch advocates of the truth
and to them I promise not to give up this fight."

As Members of Congress prepared to introduce the Armenian Genocide
Resolution, thousands of Armenian American activists contacted their
legislators through phone, mail and the ANCA WebFax system urging
them to become early cosponsors of the legislation.

The Armenian Genocide legislation is expected to the referred to the
House Foreign Affairs Committee.

ANKARA REASSURES BAKU OF SUPPORT

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.03.2009 18:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Opening of Armenian-Turkish border wont harm
Bakus’ interests. Turkey will not undertake steps that would cause
damage to Azerbaijan’s interests," Khulusi Kilich , the Ambassador
of Turkey to Azerbaijan told a press conference on Thursday. "The
announcements on negative effect the opening of borders will have on
Azeri-Turkish relations are Media propaganda, serving the interests
of certain structures and organizations. Turkey hasn’t altered its
policy towards Azerbaijan," Trend News cited the Ambassador as saying.

A day before the Ambassador stated that the opening of the
Turkish-Armenia is not a subject for discussions. "Despite negotiations
between Turkey and Armenia, it’s too early to speak about any final
decisions."

Earlier Turkish Sabah circulated the following information: "Yerevan
and Ankara agreed on stabilization of relations. Negotiations
results will be announced in April, followed by the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border."

ICRC REPRESENTATIVES VISIT THREE ARMENIAN SERVICEMEN HELD CAPTIVE IN AZERBAIJAN

APA
March 17 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Kamala Guliyeva – APA. On March 12 officers of Azerbaijani
representation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
visited three soldiers of Armenian army, who crossed the territory
controlled by Azerbaijani Armed Forces near the line of contact, in
Minakhorlu village of Agjabadi region on the night of February 27-28,
spokesperson for ICRC representation in Azerbaijan Gulnaz Guliyeva
told APA.

Guliyeva said ICRC representatives monitored the captives’ detention
conditions and had one-on-one meeting with each Armenian. As regards
the negotiations on handing over the captives, Guliyeva said such
kind of negotiations were carried out by ICRC confidentially.

Three soldiers of Armenian army – Grant Markosyan, Alik Tevosyan and
Artur Sarkisian crossed the part of the line of contact controlled by
Azerbaijani Armed Forces on the night of February 27-28. The Armenian
soldiers said they had done it because of the condition of the army
and lack of food.

OBAMA WAVERS ON PLEDGE TO DECLARE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.03.2009 18:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Obama administration is hesitating on a
promised presidential declaration that Armenians were the victims of
genocide in the early 20th century, fearful of alienating Turkey when
U.S. officials badly want its help.

President Obama and other top administration officials pledged during
the presidential campaign to officially designate the 1915 killings of
Armenians by the Ottoman Turks as genocide. Many Armenian Americans,
who are descendants of the victims and survivors, have long sought
such a declaration.

But the administration also has been soliciting Ankara’s help on
Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and other security issues amid Turkish warnings
that an official U.S. statement would imperil Turkey’s assistance.

Administration officials are considering postponing a presidential
statement, citing progress toward a thaw in relations between Turkey
and neighboring Armenia. Further signs of warming — such as talk
of reopening border crossings — would strengthen arguments that a
U.S. statement could imperil the progress.

"At this moment, our focus is on how, moving forward, the United States
can help Armenia and Turkey work together to come to terms with the
past," said Michael Hammer, a spokesman for the National Security
Council. He said the administration was "encouraged" by improvements
in relations and believed it was "important that the countries have
an open and honest dialogue about the past."

Armenian Americans and their supporters, however, say policies that
avoid offending Turkey merely advance Ankara’s denial of brutal
periods in its history.

An estimated 1.5 million Armenians were victims of planned killings
by the Ottoman Turks as the empire was dissolving during World War I,
an episode historians have concluded was a genocide. But Turkey and
some of its supporters contend that the deaths resulted from civil
war and unrest and that their numbers were exaggerated.

American presidents have long sought to avoid calling the killings
a genocide, fearing repercussions from a NATO ally that is acutely
sensitive to the charge. In 2007, the Bush administration argued for
a delay in a congressional genocide resolution, saying that Turkish
assistance was needed for the safety of U.S. troops in Iraq.

For Obama, the controversy comes at an especially sensitive time. He
is visiting Turkey on April 5, and his views on the issue will command
worldwide attention. Armenian Americans, meanwhile, have been pushing
for a White House declaration on April 24, the annual remembrance
day. Congressional supporters are also planning to reintroduce the
genocide resolution soon.

Obama’s visit to Turkey has become risky for the administration,
said Mark Parris, a former U.S. ambassador to Turkey. "Plopping the
president down over there really does raise the stakes," said Parris,
now co-director of the Brookings Institution’s program on Turkey. "Now
it can’t be overlooked. . . . It could carry costs to his credibility."

Obama declared repeatedly during his campaign that the killings were
genocide. Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary
Rodham Clinton are on record with similar positions.

But the Obama administration would like to use Turkey as part of the
military supply line for Afghanistan. It also would like more help
regarding Iraq, Iran’s nuclear program, Russia and Mideast peace.

Relations between Turkey and Armenia began warming noticeably in
September, when Turkish President Abdullah Gul became the first Turkish
leader to visit Armenia. The countries are considering opening borders
and embassies, initiating economic cooperation and establishing a
historical commission.

But Parris said further openings to Armenia would carry domestic
risks for Turkish leaders, who could be reluctant to do so if they
thought Obama would declare a genocide on April 24.

Congressional supporters of the genocide resolution expressed
frustration about the latest resistance.

"The argument that some are making now is only the latest incarnation
of the same old tired refrain: that we should recognize the genocide
— just not this year," said Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank), one of
the sponsors of the resolution.

Another advocate, Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), said that
though the strength of Turkey’s cautions was declining, Turks remained
influential with lawmakers who believed a halt in Ankara’s aid could
hurt U.S. troops. Sherman called it "their ugly ace in the hole."

Aram Hamparian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee
of America, remained optimistic. Obama "is a man of his word and has
been crystal clear on the issue," The Los Angeles Times cited him
as saying.

But Turks remain uneasy. Ali Babacan, the Turkish foreign minister,
warned in a TV interview last week that Obama’s visit didn’t preclude
a genocide declaration.

"The Turks fully understand that the danger of the [genocide]
resolution is not going away," said Bulent Aliriza, director of the
Turkey Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

FAMOUS GEORGI ISAHAKYAN VISITED YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Panorama.am
20:19 17/03/2009

Armenian famous conductor Georgi Isahakyan, who is currently in
Armenia to stage "Almast" opera by Alexander Spendiaryan, had a meeting
with the students. "I am happy to be in my home land again. I am an
Armenia in my roots and soul, and I could not ignore this chance of
visiting the University. Besides, the University is something special
and sweet for me, because my father and mother taught here," said the
conductor. Georgi Isahakan told the students about his life, shared
some biographical details and then remembered about his creative work
and the path he passed. G. Isahakyan was born and got education in
Yerevan. The conductor has staged numerous world wide famous operas
during his career – "Anush" (A. Tigranyan), "Three Faces of Love"
(S. Prokofev), "Pikovaya Dama" (P. Chaikovski), "Othello" (G. Verdi),
"Bohemia" (G. Puccini), etc.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER VISITS GOLD-PROCESSING FACTORY IN MASIS

ARKA
March 17, 2009

YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. On Tuesday, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan visited a gold-processing factory in Masis to see the capacity
of this new factory launched by ASSAT Ltd and labor conditions here,
governmental press office reports.

Director General of ASSAT Aram Osikyan told the premier that the
company established in 1999 is engaged in mineral deposit exploration
for building copper, gold and other ore enriching factories in Armenia.

Masis gold factory has 20 employees and will create additional 15 or
20 jobs soon with minimal salary of AMD 150,000.

PM Sargsyan told journalists that unlike mining industry that faces
serious problems amid the global crisis, jewelry industry gets new
opportunities.

He views the well-equipped and up-to-date Masis factory as one of
successful initiatives.

The premier stressed the importance of those enterprises specialized on
domestic raw materials and said an arrangement is already up with the
Yerevan jewelry factory on the purchase of this factory’s products.

NEW DATA FROM YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY ILLUMINATE RESEARCH IN SENSOR RESEARCH

Journal of Technology & Science
March 15, 2009

According to recent research published in the IEEE Sensors Journal,
"Hydrogen sensor working at room and 40 degrees C temperatures made
of porous silicon covered by the TiO (2-x) or ZnO < Al > thin Him
was realized. Porous silicon layer was formed by electrochemical
anodization on a p- and n-type Si surface."

"Thereafter, n-type TiO2-x, and ZnO < Al > thin films were deposited
onto the porous silicon surface by electron-beam evaporation and
magnetron sputtering, respectively. Platinum catalytic layer and An
electric contacts were for further measurements deposited onto obtained
structures by ion-beam sputtering. The sensitivity of manufactured
structures to 1000-5000 ppm of hydrogen, propane-butane mixture,
and humidity wits studied. Sensitivity or obtained structures
was determined as ratio of the resistivity of structures in the
presence of investigated gas to that in air. Results of sensitivity
measurements showed that it is possible to realize a hydrogen
nanosensor, resistivity of which can be decreased up to 2.5 times at
room temperature and four times at 40 degrees C for the Pt/TiO2-x/PS
structure, as well as two times for the Pt/ZnO < Al >/PS structure
at 40 degrees C at 5000 ppm hydrogen concentration, respectively,"
wrote V. Aroutiounian and colleagues, Yerevan State University.

The researchers concluded: "Both structures have the recovery and
response time of approximately 20 s and rather high durability and
selectivity to hydrogen gas."

Aroutiounian and colleagues published their study in IEEE Sensors
Journal (Hydrogen Sensor Made of Porous Silicon and Covered by TiO2-x
or ZnO <Al> Thin Film. IEEE Sensors Journal, 2009;9(1-2):9-12).

For additional information, contact V. Aroutiounian, Yerevan State
University, Dept. of Physics Semicond & Microelect, Yerevan 0025,
Armenia.

The publisher’s contact information for the IEEE Sensors Journal is:
IEEE-Institute Electrical Electronics Engineers Inc., 445 Hoes Lane,
Piscataway, NJ 08855, USA.

PERSPECTIVE OF COUNTRY AND ITS POPULATION IS IN VILLAGE

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
March 13, 2009

On March 11, the Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan was the guest
of inhabitants of Togh and Toumi villages (Hadrout region). Annual
accounts of community heads Alexaner Shaboyan and Edik Mosiyan became
a reason for the questions, causing the villagers’ anxiety and approach
of the Government towards them be made public.

Works, carried out in Togh during the last year were much: the
most notable of it was repair of school building at the expense of
state means. It is anticipated that the school of Togh will become
sub regional sporting and cultural center and in this view the first
step to be taken here is solution of transportation problem: a minibus
carries musical teachers from Stepanakert and pupils from neighboring
villages in Togh.

Inhabitans’ requests for the Premier’s assistance were varied, for
example: one woman asked for a holiday at least for one of her two
sons being on military service in the army, as it is a hot period
for agricultural works and there is a shortage of working hands at
home; a resettler Silva Margaryan’s family had been renting a house
for more than a decade and at last it will have its own shelter. Ara
Haroutyunyan promised, and charged the head of village administration
with a task to solve the problem.

According to the community head’s words the most sizable assistance
of the state was in the sphere of agriculture. In Togh 6 mln drams
for autumn sowing, 52 tones of fertilizers, about 3 mln drams for
fallowing were received. 400 hectares of land were sowed and an
average crop capacity received formed 25 centners from a hectare. This
year also inhabitants of Togh started their work with the like
anticipation. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister was dissatisfied with
the approach revealed towards the other agricultural branches. In the
village, which has 730 inhabitants, there is only 268 cattle stock
and 1000 wings of bird. The villagers also had expressed their view
point: for example, they complained of having no veterinary surgeon,
and having difficulties with purchases.

In Toumi the villagers spoke out not only about storage of dairy
products, but about pig farming recommencement. The threat of hog
cholera isn’t still over. For resumption of works the authorities
are waiting for the specialists’ conclusion.

Cattle breeding is the second large-scale programme subject to the
state’s assistance, and already by the end of 2009 cattle breeding
crediting will start, the Premier announced. The state had started with
grain production and had set a demand to a villager to cultivate the
land conforming to the rules of agriculture with the aim to increase
the crop capacity of the fields, which finally is to villagers’
good. In the world being in food stuff famine, these two programmes
have to provide our food’s security, especially when we have great
opportunities for exporting ecologically clean products. Thus
perspective of the country and its population is in the village.

Well-being in such villages like Togh and Toumi means that the state
will be able to assist to other settlements, where creation of the
most primitive vital conditions is an issue of the day, and there
were responding to this view point.

About suggestions of the Toumi inhabitants: troubles of a villager
will be facilitated in case in the sub region there will be an office
for people don’t go to the regional center to dea with tax service or
bodies of cadastre of immovable property and notaries. The village
will get an ambulance car, fuel, a car for accomplishment works,
the road section of Hogher will be reconstructed before harvesting
will start,-the Prime Minister promised, but as to the gasification
of the village, it will be made other way.

For the prosperity of the sub region large-scale perspectives will
be opened by the development of tourism. In Togh the Prime Minister
informed that it is forteseen to restore palaces of meliks’ meetings,
in Toumi he had visited the former school building which was a wealthy
man Abraham Atabekyan’s house and now is a standing evidence of the
village’s and its inhabitants’ history of the last century.

ARMENIAN EX-PRESIDENT TO RUN FOR CAPITAL’S MAYOR

Mediamax
March 16 2009
Armenia

Yerevan, 16 March: Armenia’s ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosyan and the
[opposition] Armenian National Congress [ANC] he leads will take part
in the mayoral election in Yerevan due on 31 May.

The decision was taken at a sitting of the ANC’s political council
on 15 March, Mediamax quoted the ANC’s report as saying.

Ter-Petrosyan will head the list of ANC candidates.

With its another decision, political forces comprising the ANC
entrusted its central office to consider the [opposition] Heritage
party’s proposal for taking part in the election with a single list
of candidates and instructed it to start official negotiations.

Elections to the Yerevan council of elders and of mayor of Yerevan
will be held on 31 May.

The parties comprising the ruling coalition decided to run in the
elections separately. Incumbent mayor Gagik Beglaryan heads the list
of candidates from the Republican Party, whereas Health Minister
Harutyun Kushkyan heads the Prosperous Armenia party list.

ANC EYES YEREVAN MAYOR ELECTION AS SECOND ROUND OF PRESIDENTIAL RACE

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.03.2009 18:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Armenian National Movement views Mayoral elections
as the second round of presidential elections," Armenian National
Congress coordinator Levon Zurabyan stated, calling on Yerevan
citizens to actively participate in Mayoral elections. The victory
of our candidate will become the victory for the whole Armenian
National Movement.

According to him, on Mar 15. 18 affiliate ANC parties made a joint
decision to nominate Levon Ter-Petrosyan for Yerevan Mayor, as
current elections are crucial for the opposition. "More than a half
of Armenian population and political and economical resources are
concentrated in Yerevan. If the opposition wins, the struggle against
corrupted political and economical system will enter a new phase,"
Zurabyan emphasized.

"RA National Party Leader Stepan Demirchyan came second in candidates
list, and the names of other candidates are still under consideration
to be finalized within a few days," ANC Press Secretary Arman Musinyan
reported.

When questioned by PanARMENIAN.Net whether the opposition will
change election tactics of last year in case the candidate loses
the elections, Arman Musinyan replied, "Our tactics will not be
changed. We’ll fight for democracy and constitutional rights till
the end. The Armenian society won’t forgive the authorities for
new violence."