Author: Torgomian Varazdat

Radio Liberty ~ azatutyun.am
March 26 2010

EU Tightens Visa Rules For Armenians

Armenia — Consuls of EU member states holds a news conference in
Yerevan, 26 March 2010.

26.03.2010
Karine Kalantarian, Tatevik Lazarian

European diplomats in Yerevan presented on Friday details of new,
stricter visa rules for citizens of Armenia and other countries
planning to travel to the European Union.

Under the rules effective from April 5, consular services of EU
countries making up the Schengen zone will not consider visa
applications from those Armenians whose passports were issued more
than ten years ago and/or will expire less than three months after
their planned return home.

Armenian passports are normally valid for ten years. However, a police
authority issuing them can extend their validity by five years with a
special stamp, sparing passport holders the need to apply and wait for
a new travel document.

Frederic Grapin, France’s consul-general in Yerevan, acknowledged that
the Schengen zone countries have decided to stop accepting such
passports because of the Armenian authorities’ failure to introduce
new passports containing biometric data this year.

Speaking at a joint news conference with fellow consular officials
from Germany and several other EU states, Grapin also announced that
Armenians seeking to enter the Schengen zone will have to sign special
statements in which they will pledge not to overstay their visas. He
said that such documents would be used by EU immigration authorities
in possible legal action against visitors refusing to return home.

Another rule announced by the diplomats will obligate the EU
consulates in Armenia to explain, in writing, reasons for turning down
visa applications. `This change will help to improve the transparency
of the process of issuing visas to Armenian travelers and citizens,’
said Grapin.

Armenian nationals seeking Schengen visas already need to submit a
long list of documents, including information on their employment,
monthly income and bank accounts. The French consulate also requires
passports and, if applicable, death certificates of applicants’ family
members along with their translated copies certified by notaries.

These requirements will be toughened further despite Armenia’s
inclusion in the EU’s Eastern Partnership program that offers six
former Soviet republics closer ties with the bloc in return for
political and economic reforms. EU officials have said before that one
of the concrete results of the scheme will be the liberalization of
visa rules for partnership countries.

The strict visa rules are the result of large-scale illegal
immigration to the EU from Armenia and other ex-Soviet republics that
followed the break-up of the Soviet Union. Tens of thousands of
Armenians are believed to reside illegally in France, Germany and
other European countries.

In an annual report released on Friday, the office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said more than 6,000
Armenian citizens, the vast majority of them living in the EU, asked
for a political asylum last year. Most of them claim to be victims of
politically motivated government repression. Others say they were
harassed by the Armenian authorities because of their non-traditional
religious beliefs and sexual orientation.

EU immigration bodies frequently ask Armenian human rights groups to
assess the credibility of such claims. `I have been working with
Belgium’s immigration service for many years,’ said Mikael Danielian
of the Armenian Helsinki Association. `I also receive similar
inquiries from the United States, Germany and Norway.’

Danielian agreed that most of the asylum requests are unsubstantiated.
`Political figures, sexual minorities and Jehovah’s Witnesses are
indeed harassed, but they don’t leave Armenia,’ he told RFE/RL’s
Armenian service. `Jehovah’s Witnesses are in prison, sexual
minorities are trying to find a way of integrating into the society,
while the opposition, as you know, is fighting.’

Just how so many illegal immigrants managed to receive EU visas in the
first place is another question. There has long been a widespread view
in Armenia that just about anyone can buy a Schengen visa with a
lavish kickback paid to a consular official through local
intermediaries. EU missions there have always denied that.

4864.html

MASS ARRESTS IN TURKEY IN FOOTBALL MATCH-FIXING PROBE

Tert.am
09:40 ~U 25.03.10

Turkish police have arrested 46 people in connection with a Europe-wide
football match-fixing scandal which first broke in Germany four months
ago, reports BBC News.

The arrests were made in 26 towns and cities across the country. Among
those detained are a number of well-known players and coaches.

German investigators believe some 200 matches in 11 countries were
fixed by players and referees. They also believe gamblers have made
at least 10 million euros on this.

These are the first suspects to be taken into custody in Turkey,
where football has a passionate following. Among those detained are
a number of well-known players and coaches, including Arif Erdem,
one of Turkey’s most renowned international stars until his retirement
five years ago. He has since been the assistant coach for the Turkish
premier league club Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor.

It is unclear what charges the suspects might face, but they are
being investigated by the smuggling and organized-crime department
of the police.

Allegations of match-fixing have swirled around Turkish football for
years, but as there is no law against it and arrests are rare.

However, the investigation in Germany of what is thought to be Europe’s
biggest ever match-fixing racket has pushed Turkish prosecutors to
go after those they believe have been rigging league games here.

Some 30 matches are believed to have been fixed in Turkey.

AUSCHWITZ IS THE DER ZOR OF THE JEWS,’ SAYS SARKISIAN

Asbarez
2%80%98auschwitz-is-the-der-zor-of-the-jews%e2%80% 99-says-sarkisian/
Mar 24th, 2010

YEREVAN-"Auschwitz is the Der Zor of the Jews," said President
Serzh Sarkisian in a speech delivered Wednesday at the historic mass
grave-site of Armenian Genocide victims, adding that the details of
the atrocities that took place at Der Zor were well known even to those
"who publicly deny the veracity of the [Armenian] Genocide."

Sarkisian also made an apparent reference to recent comments by,
among others, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that a so-called
"historic commission," as cited in the Armenia-Turkey protocols,
will be tasked to address the Genocide issue. Sarkisian provided
perspective by saying that "It is inappropriate to cite some commission
of historians, since the Armenia-Turkey protocols task the creation
of a mere governmental sub-commission on historic matters. I assume
everyone understands what it means and what the differences are."

He then blasted the use of the Armenian-Turkey normalization process
as a justification for not recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian president went on to urge all those who are discussing
the Armenian Genocide and its recognition to "remember this desert,
remember the ruined fate of millions and this ancient people deprived
of their homeland."

"What has brought me here is the greatest pain of my nation-the
first genocide of the 20th Century and the greatest disgrace of the
civilized world. The stigma of that shame, even in the 21st century,
stains those who have turned the denial of obvious facts into their
policy, have turned into a bargaining chip and into a norm of their
behavior and lifestyle," said Sarkisian.

Armenians in Der Zor, Sarkisian said, were doomed to lose their life
"in accordance with the state orchestrated and meticulously developed
plan of extermination."

"The most horrifying acts of the tragedy took place in the desert
of Der Zor. It is neither possible to describe the specifics of the
tragedy in a language known to humankind, nor will I attempt it,
since those details are well-known even to those who publicly deny
the veracity of the Genocide," said Sarkisian.

"Quite often historians and journalists correctly compare De Zor with
Auschwitz saying that ‘Der Zor is the Auschwitz of the Armenians.’ I
think the chronology of events forces us to formulate the facts in a
different manner: ‘Auschwitz is the Deir ez Zor of the Jews.’ Merely
a generation later humanity witnessed the De Zor of the Jews," said
Sarkisian. "Today, as the President of the Republic of Armenia, the
homeland of all Armenians, I am here to ask: ‘Where and when will
our Nuremberg [trials] be held?"

Despite the Genocide and all that has happened, Sarkisian said
Armenian stands ready to normalize relations with the republic of
Turkey. "We are ready to have open borders and economic relations;
we are ready to take steps toward building confidence between the
people of Armenia and Turkey; we are ready to bring closer the two
societies by breaking stereotypes and myths that have nothing to do
with reality and have developed throughout decades in the absence of
any meaningful relations," he said.

"We do this sincerely since we believe that neighboring people
have no alternative but to coexist and develop, and, at least as a
start, through the implementation of what has been proposed and is
still on the table," the Armenian leader added. "The signing of the
Armenian-Turkish protocols presented us with an historic opportunity
that should have its logical conclusion."

"However, we do not accept the manner in which the Armenian-Turkish
dialogue is being used as reasoning to refrain from recognizing the
Armenian Genocide. It is inappropriate to cite some commission of
historians, since the Armenia-Turkey protocols task the creation of a
mere governmental sub-commission on historic matters. I assume everyone
understands what it means and what the differences are," he said.

TURKEY: PEACE HOPES VOICED AT SPRING FESTIVAL
Nichole Sobecki

ilsociety/articles/eav032410.shtml
3/24/10

A helicopter circled over a field on the outskirts of the southeastern
Turkish city of Diyarbakir as tens of thousands of Kurds gathered for
a mass meeting to celebrate the spring festival Norouz. The center
stage featured protests and dancing, while families on the outskirts
of the gathering picnicked and caught up with friends who had traveled
far to celebrate the holiday.

Norouz, the Kurdish New Year, has long been associated with friction,
political demonstrations and even violent rallies in support of the
Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, a Kurdish separatist movement that
is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European
Union and Turkish government.

While the festivities this year were monitored by a massive police
presence across the mainly Kurdish southeast, the celebrations passed
without any reports of significant violence. Norouz is also celebrated
throughout Central Asia and Iran.

"I hope these Norouz celebrations become a reason for peace," said
Seydi Ahmedoglu, dressed in the Kurdish colors of green, yellow and
red. "More freedom is a must for the unity of Turkey."

The Kurdish population makes up about 20 percent of Turkey’s total
population of 74 million and Kurds have been pressing for more rights
since the foundation of the Turkish state. Those efforts have often
turned violent. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

For many years, Norouz was treated with official disregard in
Turkey, mainly because the holiday was seen by Turkish leaders as
having an underlying political meaning for the country’s restive
Kurdish minority. But with the peaceful culmination of this year’s
celebrations, many in Turkey are breathing a sigh of relief.

Last August, the government embarked on a much-heralded dialogue
with the Kurds. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan expanded
Kurdish cultural rights and boldly agreed to meet with members of
the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP). [For background see
the Eurasia Insight archive].

The closure of the DTP by Turkey’s highest court this past December,
however, effectively slammed the door shut on this much-heralded
"acilim," or opening. Ever since, tensions have been on the rise,
as Kurds have agitated for concessions, and security conditions have
deteriorated in Kurdish-majority areas in neighboring Iran and Iraq.

While the Norouz celebrations featured children dressed up as mini-PKK
fighters, and signs of support for jailed PKK chief Abdullah Ocalan
could be seen, some of the speeches made told a different story for
the future of Kurdish-Turkish relations.

"It is now time for us to extend an olive branch to each other," said
Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir, a prominent member of the pro-Kurdish
Peace and Democracy Party (BDP). "It is now time not for a bullet,
but for an olive branch to bridge guerilla and soldier."

Editor’s Note: Nichole Sobecki is a freelance journalist based in
Istanbul who covers Turkish affairs for EurasiaNet.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT VISITS UMAYYAD MOSQUE

SANA – Syrian Arab News Agency
.htm
March 23 2010

Damascus, (SANA)-Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and his wife
visited on Tuesday the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.

Minister of Islamic Endowments Awkaf (religious affairs) Mohammad
Abdusattar al-Sayyid and Minister of Presidential Affairs Mansour
Azzam accompanied the Armenian president.

President Sargsyan and his wife listened to an explanation about of
the Mosque and its historical phases before touring it.

Manal Ismael/M.O.

KARINE GHAZINYAN MET WITH VALERI IVANOV

Aysor
March 24 2010
Armenia

On March 24 the deputy of the minister of the RA MFA Karine Ghazinyan
had a meeting with the delegation headed by the deputy minister Valeri
Ivanov the Vice Speaker of the Belarus Parliament. The Belarusian
delegation was accompanied by the Belarusian ambassador to Armenia
Stepan Sukhorenko.

As the information and public relations department informs the deputy
of the Foreign Minister Ghazinyan attached importance to the Armenian
Belarusian bilateral relations.

The interlocutors mentioned about the necessity of promoting the
bilateral business ties and stressed that favorable intergovernmental
relations are created. During the meeting were discussed issues
on cooperation with international organizations and the EU Eastern
Partnership Initiation.

‘WHERE IS OUR NUREMBERG?’ ASKS SERZH SARGSYAN IN DEIR EZ-ZOR

Tert.am
17:44 ~U 24.03.10

Armenian President Serzh Sargysan, while on a three-day official visit
to Syria, issued an address while in the Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor.

The statement, translated and released by the RA presidential office,
reads, in part, as follows:

"Your Eminencies, "Ladies and Gentlemen,

"I am here today since I could not but be here. It is the greatest
grief of my nation that has brought me here, the grief of the first
genocide of the 20th century and the greatest disgrace of the civilized
humanity. Up to this moment, in the 21st century, the stigma of that
disgrace still remains on the foreheads of all those who have turned
the denial of the evident facts into their policy, turned it into
their bargaining chip and into their lifestyle and norm of behavior.

"In the desert of Deir ez-Zor the most monstrous acts of the
tragedy had taken place, and it is neither possible to articulate
the particulars of that tragedy in the language of human beings,
nor am I going do that since these particulars are well-known even
to those who publicly deny the veracity of the Genocide. Bereft of
home and property, bereft of children and parents, bereft of health
and the last hope, and finally bereft of the most important – their
homeland, these people were doomed to lose the last thing they had –
their life in accordance with the state orchestrated and meticulously
developed plan of extermination.

"Quite often historians and journalists soundly compare Deir ez-Zor
with Auschwitz saying that ‘Deir ez Zor is the Auschwitz of the
Armenians.’ I think that the chronology forces us to formulate the
facts in a reverse way: ‘Auschwitz is the Deir ez-Zor of the Jews.’
Only a generation later the humanity witnessed the Deir ez-Zor of
the Jews. Today, as the President of the Republic of Armenia, the
homeland of all Armenians, I am here to ask: ‘Where and when will be
held our Nuremberg?’"

MP VARTKES MAHDESSIAN TO SPONSOR ANNUAL VISITS OF NAREG GRADUATES TO ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
March 24, 2010

NICOSIA, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN-ARMENIANS TODAY. A unique opportunity
for all graduates of Nareg schools is a reality as of this year, by
the kind support of Armenian MP Vartkes Mahdessian, in cooperation
with the government of the Republic of Armenia. Starting from the
summer of 2010, graduates of Nareg Schools will visit Armenia for
two weeks every summer. According to pupils will
visit Armenia with Vartkes Mahdessian covering all the costs of their
air tickets and visas, and the government of the Republic of Armenia
(will) covers the costs of food, accommodation, as well as visits to
historical sites.

TURKEY’S STANCE ‘HELPS’ ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

azatutyun.am
content/article/1991683.html
March 23 2010

Syria — President Bashar al-Assad meetswith his Armenian counterpart
Serzh Sarkisian in Damascus, 22Mar2010 23.03.2010

Turkey’s reluctance to unconditionally normalize relations with
Armenia is only facilitating a broader international recognition
of the Armenian genocide, President Serzh Sarkisian suggested in a
newspaper interview published on Tuesday.

Sarkisian spoke to the Syrian daily "Al Watan" during an official
visit to Syria that began on Monday. He was asked, in particular,
to comment on a resolution recognizing the 1915 mass killings of
Armenians by Ottoman Turks as genocide that was adopted by a U.S.

congressional committee on March 4.

"One thing is obvious to me," he replied. "The longer the process of
normalizing our relations [with Turkey] lasts, the larger the number
of states adopting such resolutions may become."

It was a clear reference to Ankara’s failure to ratify the
Turkish-Armenian normalization protocols signed in October. Turkish
leaders link the ratification with a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict that would satisfy Azerbaijan. They also say that the
genocide resolutions adopted by the U.S. House Foreign Affairs
Committee as well as Sweden’s parliament this month have further
complicated Turkish-Armenian reconciliation.

By contrast, Yerevan has welcome both resolutions. "I don’t find right
attempts to link that [normalization] process with the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide by other countries," Sarkisian told "Al Watan."

Sarkisian, who held talks with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad
in Damascus, is scheduled to visit the northeastern city of Deir
ez-Zor on Wednesday. The eponymous desert surrounding it was the
final destination point of hundreds of thousands of Ottoman Armenians
forced out of their homes in 1915-1918. The Armenian community in
Syria built there a memorial complex dedicated to them in 1990.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Sarkisian on Monday, Assad
offered Syria’s help in establishing cordial relations between Armenia
and Turkey for the sake of regional security and stability. "Syria
is ready to play a role… for the establishment of Turkish-Armenian
relations that can ensure normal stability and security in the region,"
he said, according to AFP news agency.

"I think… officials in Armenia have given us their full confidence,
which is why we are starting immediate steps, especially since
President Sarkissian encouraged us" to do so, he said. Assad also
praised Yerevan’s decision to normalise its relations with Turkey
despite "many difficulties."

CONFERENCE ON "THE ISSUE OF PRESERVATION OF THE QUALITIES OF THE ARMENIAN IDENTITY IN MIXED MARRIAGES" TO BE CONDUCTED IN YEREVAN

534/lang/en
2010-03-23
YEREVAN

A conference on "The issue of preservation of the qualities of the
Armenian identity in mixed marriages" will be conducted April 25-26
in Yerevan on the initiative of the Armenian Diaspora Ministry.

Head of the Repatriation and Research Department Arman Yeghiazaryan
told Armenpress that all those who are engaged in the study of the
Armenian identity and mixed marriages or appear to be representatives
of families formed as a result of mixed marriages can take part
in the conference. Nearly 30 reports are intended to be present at
the conference.

Issues on preservation of the Armenian identity in mixed marriages,
as well as circumstances endangering the identity and opportunities
of their prevention will be discussed.