Author: Tashjian Arbi

THE TURKISH DELEGATE CRITICIZES AZERBAIJAN’S BEHAVIOR

Aysor
April 9 2010
Armenia

We denounce all forms of hostility fed by militaristic ambitions
and structures among nations in the region. This is one of the main
points of the FIDH which was accepted hours ago in the 37th summit
of the FIDH by the Armenian and Turkish delegates.

Do the Turkish include in the above mentioned point also the hostile
and warlike statements of Azerbaijan?

Yavuz Alatas the member of International Federation of Human Rights
(FIDH), who is in Armenia today and who has made the joint declaration
mentioned that it is more than 40 years that he protects the human
rights, and then he added: "If Azerbaijan makes warlike statements
we condemn also Azerbaijan."

But Alatas also mentioned that the border quarrels and the land
demands have caused the human rights violations in the region.

"Our words are directed to Armenia too: it has put the borders under
discussion and it can become a cause for the war, and it is an issue
to be criticized. We also condemn Turkey for losing so big sum of
money for getting more arms. We prefer those means to be used for
better goals," the Turkish delegate said.

US-ARMENIAN-TURKISH NEGOTIATIONS TO BE INEFFECTIVE – ANALYST

news.az
April 5 2010
Azerbaijan

Vafa Guluzade Political scientist Vafa Guluzade has commented on
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Washington.

"Erdogan’s visit to Washington will not change anything in the process
of the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement or the resolution of the Karabakh
conflict. I remember the 2000 meeting of our national leader Heydar
Aliyev with the then president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan under
Bush’s mediation in Key West. Has that meeting changed anything?

Therefore, I do not believe in the effectiveness of this meeting
of Erdogan, Obama and Sargsyan, political scientist Vafa Guluzade
told 1news.az.

"I am already sick and tired of saying that Armenia is no one, it
does not define the agenda in all these issues. Sargsyan will say
this in open to Erdogan and Obama for them not to bother him. Obama
will again start to persuade Erdogan to open borders with Armenia
promising to talk to the co-chairs regarding the soonest resolution
of the Karabakh conflict. But Erdogan will say that he promised to
Azerbaijan and to his public that he will not open borders without
the resolution of this conflict. Thus, this round of talks will also
be ineffective", Guluzade said.

LEVON TER-PETROSYAN MET FIDH PRESIDENT

news.am
April 5 2010
Armenia

RA former President, leader of oppositional Armenian National Congress
(ANC) Levon Ter-Petrosyan met with President of International
Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) Souhayr Belhassen.

Ter-Petrosyan presented deplorable situation with democracy and human
rights in Armenia, total dependence of judicial system, that serves
as a punishment tool in the hands of RA authorities, particularly
with political prisoners, ANC head office informed NEWS.am.

According to him, if FIDH congress these days does not say its
fundamental stance on the matter, it will disappoint dramatically
the society and will be a significant pledge for RA authorities,
inciting them to toughen political pressure and prosecutions.

ANC representatives Levon Zurabyan and Avetis Avagyan also attended
the meeting.

TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO US RETURNS TO WASHINGTON

APA
April 2 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA. Turkish PM Rajab Tayyip Erdogan said he would participate
at the meeting on nuclear problem in the US, APA reports citing
CNN Turk.

Erdogan decided to take part at the meeting which would be hosted by
US President Barack Obama: "I will visit Washington. There are a lot
of issues which should be discussed".

The Prime Minister noted that Turkish ambassador to US Namik Tan
would return to his post in that country too.

Note that after the adoption of the bill on the so-called "Armenian
genocide" at U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign
Affairs, Turkey has recalled its ambassador from that country. Erdogan
had said at the time that he would not have attended the meeting in
the U.S.

AZERBAIJANI FM RECEIVES FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MPS

Trend
April 1 2010
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov received MPs of French
National Assembly Christian Bataille and Roland Blum, Azerbaijani
Foreign Ministry reported.

The main topic of discussion at the meeting was the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Elmar Mammadyarov
said that Armenia occupied Azerbaijani territories and roughly
violates international legal norms and principles, and stressed
the need firstly to eliminate the results of the occupation. The
minister emphasized the step-by-step settlement of the conflict: the
withdrawal of Armenian forces from occupied Azerbaijani territories,
the establishment normal conditions for living in these areas,
open communication, return of IDPs to their homes and in the end –
the determination of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The lasting peace and security in the region can be ensured only on
the basis of these principles of the settlement," – Mammadyarov said.

French MPs expressed confidence in resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the near future and the importance of
increasing international efforts in this direction.

PRIME MINISTER OF ARMENIA: TAX AUTHORITIES IN ARMENIA TOP TARGET FOR Q1 2010 BY 8.3%

ArmInfo
2010-04-01 14:01:00

ArmInfo. Real tax revenues for Q1 2010 amounted to 126.733 billion
drams by operative data versus envisaged 117 million drams, Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan told the government on Thursday.

He said that social payments totaled 22 billion drams and real
revenues amounted to 26 billion drams. It is very important that
payment of salaries in both state and private sectors grew 5.8% in
average for Q1 2010, the prime minister said. "The results of the Q1
2010 showed that anti-crisis measures taken by the government in 2009
had a positive impact on economy, " the prime minister said.

By official statistics, GDP growth for Jan-Feb 2010 exceeded the
government expectations two times thanks to expansionary monetary and
tax policies. (The National Statistical Service of Armenia reported
a 3.1% GDP growth for Jan-Feb 2010 that amounted to 321650 million
drams). The prime minister said that exports grew 53% and imports –
16%. Export grew as industry and particularly the mining sector grew
45%, processing industry grew 9% and the construction rates doubled.

Cutting industry grew 39%, jewelry – 25% and pharmaceutics – 16%.

These sectors ensured export growth, Tigran Sargsyan said.

TIGRAN SARGSYAN: THE CRISIS PREVENTION MEASURES HAVE GIVEN POSITIVE RESULTS
Hasmik Dilanyan

"Radiolur"
01.04.2010 17:57

The crisis prevention program of the government gave its positive
results, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said during the Government
sitting today.

Tigran Sargsyan stated that due to the extensive tax-budgetary and
monetary-credit policy, in the first quarter of2 010, GDP index 2.5
times exceeded the index, planned by the government for the given
period.

According to him, following the results of the first quarter, tax
proceeds to the state budget made 126bln AMD instead of the planned
117bln AMD, and the social payments reached 26bln AMD instead of the
planned 22bln AMD.

The Prime Minister informed that in the accounting period, the salary
in the country increased by 5.8%. Tigran Sargsian stated that in the
first quarter, the increase in exports and imports made about 53%
and 16% respectively.

"We managed to increase export volume due to growth in industry.

Mining raw materials industry increased 45%, the processing industry –
9%, the production of construction materials doubled. Diamond and gold
industry demonstrated high speeds of growth, and all these sectors
were the ones to improve the situation in export", Prime Minister of
Armenia stated.

Tigran Sargsian started that inflation is still the most problematic
issue. "We have entered a stage of quite high inflation speeds and
this is conditioned by the extensive tax-budgetary policy, which,
on one hand stimulates economic growth, on the other hand creates
inflationary pressures," the Prime Minister noted. He said, however,
that the government and the Central Bank of Armenia possess certain
tools to deter inflationary pressures.

TURKISH CITIZENS ADVISE ANKARA TO FOLLOW SERBIA’S EXAMPLE AND APOLOGIZE TO ARMENIANS

Tert.am
16:46 ~U 01.04.10

Some people in Turkey believe that Ankara should follow Serbia’s
example (as it retains to the Srebrenica massacre) and apologize to
Armenians for the Armenian Genocide so that Turkey can become a full
member of the European Union.

Earlier this week, Serbia’s parliament passed a landmark resolution
offering an apology for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre – the worst
incident of the Bosnian War – but stopped short of calling it genocide.

In an interview with Turkish paper Haberturk, columnist Soli Ozel, who
specializes in international relations, said that since Serbia was on
the path toward EU membership, it was necessary to implement measures
addressing those accusations of genocide directed at the country.

"That is, that decision is directly related to EU membership. Serbian
authorities, though it was a difficult decision, made it, while facing
harsh criticism and counter-reaction from nationalists … But as
for what concerns Turkey, on the issue of the Armenian Genocide,
it has not yet reached that point. But it will be easier for Turkey
from now on to take such initiatives. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry needs
to work on that issue," said Ozel.

Maya Arakon, a professor of Turkey’s Yeditepe University, in turn,
told Haberturk that with that apology Serbia is trying to whitewash
its history in accordance with EU standards, as its aim is to be a
member of the EU.

"We too, having before us the Armenian Genocide issue, can take
such an initiative… For the EU, such an apology means progress in
democracy… As we know, we are surrounded by the Armenian Genocide
issue on all four sides. Following Serbia’s example, Turkey can
also apologize, without qualifying the 1915 events as genocide,"
said Arakon, adding that it would strengthen Turkey’s positions in
the domain of foreign policy.

TURKISH STREET TO BE NAMED AFTER ARMENIAN ARCHITECT

Tert.am
15:01 ~U 31.03.10

One of the streets in the province of Mardin in Turkey will be named
after Lole Serkiz Gizo, an architect of Armenian origin, said Mardin
regional governor Hasan Duruer, reports Turkish daily Radikal.

According to Duruer, the Armenian architect’s work can be seen in
nearly all the streets of Mardin.

"You can come across architect Lole’s work everywhere in Mardin. As
a symbol of our devotion, we’ve decided to name of Mardin’s streets
after him. Lole Serkiz Gizo is Mardin’s Sinan [a well-known Ottoman
architect]," said Duruer.

LIVING TOGETHER IN PEACE

Indiana Daily Student
March 31 2010
IN

Ali Sarihan is a graduate student in the School of Public and
Environmental Affairs and a native of Turkey.

When a person kills anybody, the murderer should be punished by
authority because of the crime. It is necessary for a peaceful and
just society that people know committing a crime will lead to some
sanctions. However, if the crime includes some unclear aspects,
nobody should be punished without clarifying all aspects of the crime.

Moreover, without clarifying unclear points, nobody should be accused.

Doing that is a big mistake, and the mistake might cause other
mistakes.

For decades, the Armenian diaspora has demanded that Turkey acknowledge
the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of Ottoman Turks
between 1915 and 1922, that Turkey give soil to Armenia from the
eastern part of Turkey and that Turkey pay indemnity to Armenia for
the unacceptable behavior. In fact, even though they know the claims
are unacceptable for Turkey and that Turkey will never accept the
claims, they continue to make the claims insistently.

Turkey will not accept since it denies responsibility for the genocide.

Turkey claims Armenians lived happily and in safety under Ottoman rule
until World War I but alleges that while the Ottomans were fighting
the Allied Powers (including Russia), the Armenians helped Russia in
order to establish their country in the eastern part of Turkey. Turkey
further claims Armenians killed thousands of innocent Turks in the
process and that the guilt lies with the Armenians.

There is a deadlock between Turkey and Armenia since both nations
think the opposite side is absolutely guilty.

Why do we hate each other when living as brother and sister is
possible?

Armenia has many problems, particularly economic and social problems.

I do not blame Turkey for the poor conditions because Armenia has been
accusing Turkey as a murderer despite its need of Turkey’s friendship;
the Armenian diaspora continues to make accusations despite Armenia’s
problems. The diaspora should try to solve Armenians’ problems instead
of improving its position among Armenians.

On the other hand, Turkey should not punish all Armenians due to the
actions of the diaspora. Turkey should help Armenia for Armenians’
welfare. However, this does not mean accepting any and all accusations.

Overall, all Turks and Armenians should try to better understand each
other. They should not accuse each other. They should live without
any bias and accusation.

Historians should research the events of the late 1910s and early
1920s to determine what happened. Although Armenians and Turks killed
each other, our ancestors’ actions should not prevent progress.

Since the two nations are not currently attacking each other, they
are innocent. This is not to dismiss the history between the two
peoples but to emphasize current generations’ welfare.

I believe Armenians and Turks desire to live together as brothers and
as sisters. Ancestors’ mistakes should not prevent current generations’
relations from improving.

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