Author: Tashjian Arbi

ARMENIA-TURKEY PROTOCOLS SEVERELY CRITICIZED AT HOME

Hurriyet Daily News
Sept 1 2009
Turkey

Members of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, and
Republican People’s Party, or CHP, voice their unhappiness with the
government’s move to restore diplomatic relations with Armenia

Photo is an archive image.

Turkey’s opposition parties have reacted harshly to a joint statement
saying that two protocols will be inked in six weeks to restore
diplomatic relations and improve bilateral relations with Armenia.

Even if the government signs the protocols, it is impossible to
implement them without parliamentary ratification.

Republican People’s Party, or CHP, vice president and retired
ambassador Onur Oymen said Armenia has not sufficiently changed its
policy nor implemented the necessary pre-conditions to allow such a
reconciliation. "Does Armenia officially confirm that it will withdraw
from Nagorno-Karabakh?" he asked Tuesday.

"Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan assured in a speech at
the Azerbaijani parliament that the Turkey-Armenia border would
not be opened until the Karabakh conflict is solved," Oymen said,
referring to the longstanding territorial dispute between Turkey’s
neighbors. "However, now you even declare a timetable for opening
the border. How can you convince the Azerbaijanis?"

Saying that Turkey does whatever the United States asks, even at the
cost of losing its credibility and reliability, Oymen added: "It is
incoherent politics and harms the reliability of the country. Armenia
has promised nothing in response to this protocol and so what Turkey
does will be a one-sided concession."

Deniz BölukbaÅ~_ı, a retired ambassador and deputy from the
Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, also severely criticized the
government policy. "These protocols are like a red carpet to welcome
[Armenian President Serge] Sarkisian, who reiterated his intention
not to come to Turkey until a move was made to open the border,"
BölukbaÅ~_Ä&#xB 1; said in an interview with Hurriyet’s Web site.

Noting that the contents of the protocols do not meet Turkey’s
expectations, the MHP representative added: "Armenian constitutional
law considers eastern Turkey as part of Armenian land. There is
no item in the protocols to confirm that Armenia has given up this
approach. Armenia neither promises to withdraw from Nagorno-Karabakh
nor to resolve the problems with Turkey. So it is a one-sided step."

A. PETROSYAN EXTENDS CONDOLENCES ON EDWARD KENNEDY’S DEATH

Aysor
Aug 31 2009
Armenia

Today a Condolence Book was opened at the US Embassy in Yerevan
connected with the death of Senator Edward Kennedy, reports the
RA NA public relations department. Vice-Speaker of the National
Assembly Arevik Petrosyan visited the US Embassy to leave a note in
the Condolence Book.

"On behalf of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, we
extend our deep condolences to the American people and the Kennedy
family on the death of an outstanding representative of the Democratic
Party, experienced Senator an a sincere friend of the Armenian people
Edward Kennedy. His memory will remain bright in our hearts."

JOINT ARMENIA-TURKEY-SWITZERLAND AUGUST 31 PRESS RELEASE

2009/09 /01 | 00:28

Politics

Below is the joint statement signed by Armenia, Turkey and mediator
Switzerland regarding the start of talks leading to the establishment
of diplomatic relations between Yerevan and Ankara. The text appears
in the RoA Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey have agreed to
start their internal political consultations on the two protocols –
the "Protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations" and the
"Protocol on the development of bilateral relations" – which have
been initiated in the course of their efforts under Swiss mediation.

The two Protocols provide for a framework for the normalization of
their bilateral relations within a reasonable timeframe. The political
consultations will be completed within six weeks, following which
the two Protocols will be signed and submitted to the respective
Parliaments for the ratification on each side. Both sides will make
their best efforts for the timely progression of the ratification in
line with their constitutional and legal procedures.

The normalization of bilateral relations will contribute to the
regional peace and stability. The Republic of Armenia and the Republic
of Turkey are committed are pursuing their joint efforts with the
assistance of Switzerland.

FELIX’S HOUSE GOT BURNT

x-khachatryan
06:25 pm | August 31, 2009

Society

Armenian television anchorman Felix Khachatryan has been deprived
of his property in a result of a fire in his house on Atoyan Street,
Yerevan.

According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, a fire broke out
in house 91 on Atoyan Street at 11.21, August 30.

The 150-square-meter roof of the house belonging to Mr. Khachatryan
burnt down in the result.

Felix Khachatryan informed A1+ that five water carriers had been used
to extinguish the fire but all in vain.

The property burnt to ashes. The anchorman says the fire was caused
by a short circuit.

TURKISH, ARMENIAN PRESS PLAY DOWN TIES

BBC NEWS
urope/8231876.stm
2009/09/01 11:57:36 GMT

The decision by Turkey and Armenia to establish diplomatic relations
after centuries of hostilities has been given a lukewarm reception
by press commentators in both countries.

Only two Turkish newspapers were noted to have commented on the issue
and both largely welcome the move, but remain sceptical over whether
it will result in anything without consensus from neighbouring nations.

Similarly, only two Armenian opposition dailies commented on the
statement, both highlighting further conditions that they feel need
to be met before the agreement can be fully welcomed. One of the
Armenian dailies expressed stronger objection to the agreement,
citing Turkey’s ongoing denial of genocide against Armenians.

SEMIH IDIZ IN TURKEY’S MILLIYET

Turkey and Armenia have taken a bold step and decided to establish
diplomatic relations. This is the message given by yesterday’s
statement simultaneously made in Ankara, Yerevan and Bern… It is
assumed that this consensus which has been reached through Swiss
mediation will be met by reactions in the nationalist circles in
both Armenia and Turkey. And it is not known in the current phase
what kind of a preparation Ankara has made in order to convince Baku
[Azerbaijan].

ERDAL SAFAK IN TURKEY’S SABAH

An important detail: the six-week period will expire two days
before the national football match to be played between Turkey and
Armenia. Our impression is that in case the Armenian President, Serge
Sarkisian, who has made his visit to Turkey for the match conditional
upon the "opening of the [Turkish-Armenian] border", continues to
resist, it is strongly possible that the process may be frozen.

EDITORIAL IN ARMENIA’S HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK

Serge Sarkisian cannot but fulfil his promises: To go to Turkey…,
to sign a big agreement on the Nagorno Karabakh issue, and to wait
for Turkey finally to fulfil its promise to open its border.

EDITORIAL IN ARMENIA’S ZHAMANAK

Serge Sarkisian may go to Turkey on 14 October to watch the scheduled
Armenia-Turkey football match, in order to ensure the continuation
of the Armenian-Turkish talks and to prevent them from being aborted,
at any cost.

Taking into consideration Turkey’s policy of denying the Armenian
genocide, Armenia is to some extent justifying Turkey’s behaviour
in the genocide issue. The point is that the issue of the genocide
is a national demand, which should not be made an axis of state
policy. State policy should never be carried out at the price of
national feelings, and moreover, it should not contribute to defying
those feelings.

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44.5% OF CONSTRUCTION PAID FOR BY POPULATION IN ARMENIA IN JAN-JUL

ARKA
Sep 1, 2009

YEREVAN, September 1. /ARKA/. In January-July 44.5% of the overall
volume of construction works were paid for by the population in
Armenia.

The RA National Statistical Service reported that the volume of
the construction paid for by population totaled 79.2 billion drams
in the reporting period, including about 75 billion drams for
shell-and-core-works.

Most part of the construction works – 39.3% (70bn drams) – were paid
for by organizations, an 18.2% decline as compared with the level of
January-July 2008.

Total volume of capital construction paid for from various sources
amounted to 177.9 billion drams.

According to the statistical information, a 55.5% recession was
recorded in construction field in the period as compared to the level
of January-July last year. Volume of construction paid for by the
population reduced by 71.3% as compared with the same period of last
year. ($1=374.89drams).

ROAD POLICE TO CONDUCT "ATTENTION CHILDREN!" EVENT SEPTEMBER 1-10

ARMENPRESS
Aug 31, 2009

YEREVAN, AUGUST 31, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Road Police will conduct
"Attention Children!" event September 1-10 directed toward ensuring
secure and save traffic near all the educational establishments of the
republic. At a press conference today head of the Armenian Road Police
Margar Ohanyan said that every year this event is being conducted
and gradually the number of accidents during these days is reducing.

Last year during September 1-10 4 road accidents occurred without
victims.

M. Ohanyan said this year as of today 1208 road accidents occurred
killing 207 people, injuring 1709. Last year during the same period
1340 accidents occurred taking lives of 247, injuring 1955.

New York Times
Aug 30 2009

A Song Contest Becomes a Hot Spot in Feud Between Countries

By ERIC PFANNER
Published: August 30, 2009

The simmering conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has entered a
new theater: the Eurovision Song Contest.

The talent show, in which television audiences help select a winner
from among dozens of European national champions, is supposed to be
apolitical. Voters are barred from supporting their country’s
representatives in the competition, which is organized by the European
Broadcasting Union, a group of public television companies.

But some Azerbaijanis who took impartiality to impressive lengths,
voting for the Armenian entry in the 2009 final in May, reportedly
were called in to the Azerbaijani National Security Ministry.

`They were trying to put psychological pressure on me, saying things
like, `You have no sense of ethnic pride; how come you voted for
Armenia?” one of them, Rovshan Nasirli, told Radio Free Europe. `They
made me write out an explanation, and then they let me go.’

Previously, the Armenians had raised tensions by slipping images of a
memorial in Nagorno-Karabakh, the enclave at the center of the dispute
between the countries, into the video presentation that introduced
their representative in a preliminary round.

Ictimai, the Azerbaijani public television company, said last week
that it had been assured that `no one was invited to or interrogated
at the Ministry of National Security with regard to the 2009
Eurovision Song Contest.’

`Therefore, all reports on this issue in the media are groundless and
continuing them does not follow any logic,’ Ictimai said in a
statement.

But the European Broadcasting Union said Friday that it would examine
the matter further at a meeting in September in Oslo. `Any breach of
privacy regarding voting, or interrogation of individuals, is totally
unacceptable,’ Jean Réveillon, director general of the
broadcasting union, said in a statement.

/television/31iht-eurovision.html?hpw

Armenian-Georgian border demarcation puzzle still unresolved
29.08.2009 15:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Inhabitants of Armenian village of Bavra (Shirak
region) can, in the near future, proceed with their agricultural work
on the lands where we prohibited entrance of Georgian frontier
troops. Two days ago, RA Vice Premier convened a working discussion
over the recent incident on border, Koryun Sunbulyan, community
governor of Bavra village told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. `During the
meeting, I was informed that Georgian Co-Chair of Armenian-Georgian
demarcation committee was removed from post. Thereafter, the Georgian
side invaded the village, violating the agreement,’ Head of rural
community said.

Georgian side, according to him, argued the decision by the 1947
agreement which stipulates that certain land plots belong to
Georgia. `But under the 1927 agreement, our village belongs to
Armenia. Besides, in early 1990s, village inhabitants were given
ownership certificates entitling them to use those lands as their
property,’ Sumbulyan stated.

DECISION OF US FEDERAL APPEALS COURT – DEFEAT FOR ALL MANKIND

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.08.2009 13:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ US Federal Appeals Court’s decision prohibiting
decedents of Armenian Genocide victims to sue foreign insurance
companies for unpaid claims is a disgrace, Arpi Vardanyan, AAA Regional
Director for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, told a press conference in
Yerevan. "Even though US Administration has not officially recognized
the fact of Armenian Genocide, that doesn’t mean separate states in
America have not condemned and acknowledged such atrocity against
humankind. George Bush and Barack Obama have not pronounced the phrase
‘Armenian Genocide’, but President Ronald Reagan did recognize the
fact. Schoolchildren in US are taught about the first genocide of the
XX century, and 43 states have applied to US Administration with a
claim to declare April 24 an Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day," AA
Regional Director stated, adding that those facts were not reflected in
Appellate Court’s decision which focused only on one side of reality.

"I don’t know to what extent Turkish lobby affected the decision,
but one thing I can say for sure: such decision cannot be viewed
as Turkish organizations’ victory and Armenian lobby’s defeat,"
Arpi Vardanyan said. A decision prohibiting descendents of Genocide
victims to sue insurance companies is a defeat for all mankind,
she finds. "Denial policy by world’s governments today will lead to
negation of other Genocides tomorrow," AAA regional Director stressed.

On August 20, US Federal Court ruled that descendents of Armenian
Genocide victims cannot sue foreign insurance companies for unpaid
claims since US Government doesn’t officially recognize that an
Armenian Genocide occurred.