Author: Topchian Jane

ARMENIA WILL BENEFIT A GREAT DEAL FROM ITS PARTICIPATION AT EXPO 2010

/ARKA/
April 23, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, April 23. /ARKA/. Armenia will benefit a great deal from its
participation in EXPO 2010 Shanghai China, a deputy economy minister
Ara Petrosian said today. He said some 100 million people are expected
to visit the EXPO.

Shanghai Expo 2010 promotes the motto "Better City, Better Life" and
Armenia is attending the expo displaying its concept of the City of
World which he said reflects the image of Armenian people and its
constructive and creative mindset.

He said the EXPO will provide Armenian businessmen with a platform to
showcase their products and services. The Armenian pavilion will have
a special sector for conducting business stalks.

Robert Harutyunian, director general of the Armenian Development
Agency (ADA) said exhibitions of this scale is a good opportunity for
any country to present its economic, scientific and cultural
potential.

He said Armenia is one of 13 countries which were allowed to have an
on-line presentation of their pavilions and the only country allowed
to update it permanently.

The Armenian government released a total of 170 million Drams last and
this year for preparing the country for the EXPO. The government of
China has released a $680,000 grant to Armenia, Robert Harutyunian
said.

The EXPO opens on May 1. ‘Armenia will present its project of the City
of the World, which is a place where likeminded people come together
to create the architecture and conditions of life in the City of
Tomorrow. It is a city where people will live a harmonious, respectful
and spiritual life and will build sustainable economies,’ Robert
Harutyunian said.

ARA HAKOBYAN APPOINTED ARMENIA’S AMBASSADOR TO SRI LANKA

armradio.am
23.04.2010 13:18

On April 22 President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on releasing
Ashot Kocharyan from the duties of Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Democratic Socialist
Republic of Sri Lanka.

According to another presidential decree, Armenia’s Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of India Ara Hakobyan
was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the
Republic of Armenia to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
(seat in New Delhi).

WASHINGTON HOPES ARMENIA-TURKEY RAPPROCHEMENT TO CONTINUE. JAMES JEFFREY

Tert.am
23.04.10

The United States is hopeful that Armenia and Turkey will continue
the normalization further, and that it is up to Yerevan and Ankara
to end their differences, US Ambassador to Turkey James Jeffrey was
quoted by Turkish HaberTurk agency as saying.

It comes hours after the Armenian President issued a decree suspending
the ratification of the Armenia-Turkey Protocols following his
televised address to Armenians across the world.

Earlier on the same day of April 22 the Armenian parliamentary ruling
coalition issued a statement proposing to remove the ratification
issue from parliament’s agenda.

AZERBAIJANI OFFICIAL: ARMENIA IGNORES INTERNATIONALL INSTITUTIONS’ RESOLUTIONS ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Today
olitics/66543.html
April 22 2010
Azerbaijan

Armenia that has occupied Azerbaijani territory ignores international
organizations’ decisions and resolutions on the Nagorno-Karabakh,
Azerbaijani Parliamentary Speaker Ogtay Asadov said at a meeting with
the Indonesian delegation headed by Deputy Chairman of the House of
Representatives of Indonesia Anung Vibo on April 21.

"The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a painful problem for a developing
Azerbaijan. Armenia, being the aggressor, continues to ignore
international organizations’ decisions and resolutions on the issue.

We stand for a solution to the problem within international legal
norms," Asadov said.

Asadov praised Indonesia’s support for the right position of Azerbaijan
in the discussions of this problem within international organizations.

"The meeting also noted that so far the two countries have signed five
documents and more than 20 documents are under development. Azerbaijan
considers it important to develop relations with this country in
politics, economy, culture and humanitarian relations. The sides
noted extensive development potential in the economic field between
the rich oil and gas fields of Azerbaijan and Indonesia," the press
service reported.

Asadov said the inter-parliamentary relations play a special role in
the development of cooperation between the two states.

"Working groups on inter-parliamentary relations with 70 countries
around the world operate in the Azerbaijani parliament. There is
also a group for cooperation with the Indonesian legislature. Our
deputies met in international institutions, to exchange experiences
and information," he added.

Noting the importance of the meetings, Vibo said that his country had
a serious interest in cooperation with Azerbaijan in various spheres.

He said Indonesia that once suffered from separatism, well aware of
Azerbaijan’s problem related to the Nagorno-Karabakh, and supports
the position of the country and territorial integrity in unambiguous
manner.

The sides exchanged views on issues of inter-parliamentary relations,
prospects of cooperation in economic, cultural and humanitarian
spheres, solutions to regional conflicts and other issues of mutual
interest.

GENOCIDE CONFERENCE IN ANKARA CANCELLED

Armenian Weekly Staff
Thu, Apr 22 2010

ANKARA, Turkey (A.W.)-A symposium on the Armenian Genocide titled "1915
Within Its Pre- and Post-Historical Periods: Denial and Confrontation,"
which was to be held in Ankara, was cancelled on April 21 after facing
political and bureaucratic hurdles.

Organized by the Ankara Freedom to Thought Initiative (AFTI), the
symposium was not only going to address history, but explore issues
like the confiscation of Armenian property and reparations.

Confirmed participants included Ragip Zarakolu (publisher), Recep
Marasli (author of The Armenian National Democratic Movement and 1915
Genocide), Sait Cetinoglu (activist and writer), David Gaunt (genocide
scholar, author of Massacres, Resistance, Protectors: Muslim-Christian
Relations in Eastern Anatolia During World War I), Henry Theriault
(professor of philosophy, Worcester State University), Baskin Oran
(author, professor of political science at Ankara University; one of
the initiators of the apology campaign of Turkish intellectuals),
and Khatchig Mouradian (doctoral student in Holocaust and genocide
studies, Clark University; editor, the Armenian Weekly).

Theriault and Mouradian were scheduled to speak about Genocide
recognition and reparations.

YEREVAN MUST RELY OF ARMENIAN PEOPLE’S WISDOM, EXPERT SAYS

news.am
April 21 2010
Armenia

In the complicated geopolitical situation Armenia has found itself in,
official Yerevan must find ways out relying on the Armenian people’s
wisdom, Vladimir Zharikhin, Deputy Director of the Institute of the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) stated during a Yerevan-Moscow
space bridge on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide in Ottoman Turkey.

In making decisions the Armenian authorities must consider the
Armenian citizens’ interests, as the Diaspora often "absolutizes"
its approaches to numerous issues to the detriment of the country
they are not nationals of. The expert stressed that constructive
approaches to numerous foreign policy issues create preconditions
for the further development of Armenian statehood.

As regards the reasons for Turkey’s unwillingness to admit the
Armenian Genocide, Zharikhin pointed out that official Ankara is thus
trying to secure itself against possible material and territorial
responsibility. "Turkey is afraid of the precedent, the recognition of
the Jewish Holocaust, but, probably, an international commission has
to be formed to settle the issues in case Turkey admits the Armenian
Genocide, laying emphasis on the fact that the admission of the
Holocaust and further consequences for Germany should be considered
an exception, without serving as a precedent for many similar cases,"
Zharikhin said.

ANOC MOURNS JUAN ANTONIO SAMARANCH’S DEATH

Panorama.am
22/04/2010

Panorama.am has already reported that the former International Olympic
Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch died Wednesday at the age
of 89 at a Barcelona hospital from a cardiorespiratory arrest.

In 1966 Juan Antonio Samaranch became IOC member and in 1980, 3 days
before the Olympic in Moscow, he became IOC President.

In 1994 IOC delegation chaired by Juan Antonio Samaranch arrived
in Armenia. They visited Tsaghkadzor’s Olympic sport complex, got
acquainted with the sport buildings. Samaranch was deeply inspired by
what he had seen as he declared that he understood what the secret
of Armenian and Soviet sportsmen was. Samaranch granted financial
support for the reconstruction of Tsaghkadzor’s sport complex.

ANOC will pay tribute to Juan Antonio Samaranch and will always
remember him.

Every cook has a version of this dish

Sheryl Julian April 19, 2010

Tabouli is made all over the Middle East and in other countries surrounding
it. It’s hard to imagine that a dish that combines about six ingredients
could have so many variations. The most well known version is a bulgur salad
tossed with lemon juice, olive oil, fresh tomatoes, and lots of parsley. But
that’s not the only recipe. Other cooks think of tabouli as a parsley salad
with only enough bulgur to hold it together.

Over the weekend, I stopped by Sevan Bakery in Watertown, one of my favorite
Middle Eastern markets, to buy bulgur. First I asked what bag to buy for
tabouli and the answer was: "Number 1." The grain looked very fine indeed.
Then I asked about the correct proportions of water to grain.

"Water?" asked the clerk.

"Yes, how much water do you use to soak the bulgur?"

"None," came the reply. "Use the juice from the tomatoes."

A revelation! At home, I peeled and chopped a large hothouse tomato and
tossed it and all of the juices with the bulgur, scallions, lemon juice,
olive oil, and lots of parsley. My version came out with equal parts bulgur
and parsley, though initially I thought it would have more parsley.
Obviously I’m a novice at this. I let it sit in the refrigerator for half a
day. It’s delicious. The fresh tomato juice permeates the grain. There’s
enough lemon to give it a little bite. Next time I’ll add even more parsley
because I love the bright taste of the fresh herb. Even with so few
ingredients, I think it takes practice.

Tabouli
Serves 4

1 large tomato, peeled and finely chopped
1/3 cup fine bulgur
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 cups fresh parsley leaves, coarsely chopped

1. In a bowl, combine the tomato, bulgur, lemon juice, olive oil, salt,
pepper, and parsley. Stir well.
2. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or for up to 2 days.

Sheryl Julian

© Copyright
Globe Newspaper Company
April 21, 2010

ISRAEL ‘MORALLY UNDERMINES ITS OWN CREDIBILITY BY DENYING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’

Tert.am
21.04.10

In a recent article the Publisher of The California Courier Harut
Sassounian refers to an international symposium on "Armenia-Turkey:
How to Normalize Relations,’ that was held in Paris on April 14.

"Given the recent heated exchanges between Israeli and Turkish
officials and the upcoming discussion on the Armenian Genocide in the
Knesset on April 28, the audience paid particular attention to Prof.

Auron’s bold and candid remarks. He has been, for many years, a staunch
supporter of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and a strong
critic of its denial by the Israeli government," writes Sassounian.

In his words Prof. Auron started his presentation by quoting from an
article written in 1918 by Shmuel Talkowsky, the secretary of Chaim
Weitzmann, who later became the first president of Israel. Talkowsky
deplored the "martyrdom" of Armenians and suggested that "a free and
happy Armenia, a free and happy Arabia, and a free and happy Jewish
Palestine are the three pillars on which will rest the future peace
and welfare of the Middle East.

"Dr. Auron expressed his regret that the policy of the State of Israel
today is far from the principles enunciated by Talkowsky in 1918.

Criticizing Israel’s opposition to the acknowledgment of the Armenian
Genocide, Prof. Auron listed the following specific anti-Armenian
actions: ‘In 1978, a film on the Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem was
banned from being screened. In 1982, the Israeli Government intervened
in an international Congress on the subject of the Shoah and Genocide,
pressing the organizers to eliminate lectures on the Armenian
Genocide. In 1989, Israel was involved in preventing mention of the
Armenian Genocide in an American calendar. In one way or another,
Israel and Jews were involved in the debate in the United States also
in 1985, 1987, 1989, 2000, 2007, and 2010. In 1990, the showing of
‘Armenian Journey,’ a TV film produced in the U.S., was banned’,"
writes Sassounian.

"Prof. Auron further related that on April 24, 2000, when Yossi
Sarid, Israel’s Minister of Education, suggested the inclusion of
the Armenian Genocide in high school curricula, Israel’s government
rejected the idea. Reminding his audience that Israel’s Ambassador to
Armenia Rivka Cohen made similar denialist remarks in February 2002,
Prof. Auron considered these statements "as Israel’s escalation from
passive to active denial, from moderate denial to hard-line denial."

He said that an Armenian friend "rightly" told him: "I do not know
of any enlightened politician in a democratic state that has ever
made remarks such as these; you, the Jews, of all people!"

Sassounian writes further that Prof. Auron also spoke about discussions
held in the Israeli Parliament on the Armenian Genocide in 2007, 2008,
and 2009. Each time, the Israeli government opposed this issue. He
expected a similar rejection later this month when the issue is raised
in Knesset once again.

"Prof. Auron specifically pointed out the double-standard practiced by
Israel: "The State of Israel continues to struggle against Holocaust
denial on one hand, but participates in the denial of another
genocide on the other. This most likely will damage the struggle
against Holocaust denial in the future. One might view this attitude
as a moral failure. We have to remember that moral claims can have
influence only if they are consistent…. Everyone would agree that
Israel has no right to bargain with the memory of the Holocaust. But,
even more, it has no right – by no means, in any circumstance, and
much less so than any other country – to bargain with the memory of
another victim group. And yet Israel did just that with the Armenian
Genocide. Israel is contributing to the process of genocide denial
and by doing so, it also betrays the memory and the legacy of the
Holocaust," Sassounian quotes Prof Auron as saying.

Further Sassounian recalls that the Armenian Genocide has been
almost universally acknowledged by dozens of countries, international
organizations and prominent scholars, and that Armenians do not need
to beg Israel to recognize it.

"By denying the Armenian Genocide, Israel morally undermines its own
credibility and standing in the world!," concludes Sassounian.

IRAN’S MEDIATION NOT BENEFICIAL FOR ARMENIA: SARUKHANYAN

Tert.am
21.04.10

Iran’s mediation in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement is not beneficial
for Armenia, Iranologist and Deputy Director of Noravanq Foundation,
Sevak Sarukhanyan, said at a press conference today.

"We would not like to withdraw from the Minsk Group. That change
is beneficial for Azerbaijan which wants to see the process fail,"
said the expert, adding that if Armenia agrees to Iran’s mediation in
the framework of the Minsk Group that will be a precedent for others’
inclusion, and that Turkey might take advantage of the situation.

Sarukhanyan is not positive about Tehran’s proposal to organize a
tripartite meeting between the Armenian, Azerbaijani and Iranian
foreign ministers either, as it would not be an optimal solution to
agree to Iran’s proposal by respecting its regional role.

"Essentially Armenia does not need a new mediator," concluded
Sarukhanyan.