Author: Tumanian Talar

STATMENT BY ARF-DASHNAKTSUTYUN

ARMENIAN REVOLUTIONARY FEDERATION
23 April 2009

The pivotal issue on Armenia’s political and state agenda in recent
months has been the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

The ARF-Dashnaktsutyun has declared time and again, that
good-neighborly relations between the two countries can only be
established after the recognition by Turkey of the Armenian Genocide
and the restoration of the rights of the Armenian people.

The lifting of the blockade and the establishment of diplomatic
relations, without preconditions, can only serve as first steps
on this path. It is absolutely unacceptable for us that relations
with Turkey be normalized at the expense of Armenia’s sovereignty,
the viability of its existence, or the national and state rights of
future Armenian generations.

Deeply committed to these principles, we find unacceptable and condemn
the signing, by Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of the April
22 joint statement with Turkey.

The statement comes on the eve of the commemoration, on April 24,
of the greatest tragedy of the Armenian people. The leaders of Turkey
have recently made anti-Armenian announcements in general and on the
Artsakh issue in particular, and have restated preconditions for the
normalization of relations. The release of the statement at this time
and in these circumstances is a blow to the interests of Armenia and
the Armenian people.

Not ing that this process implies a negative change in the direction
of Armenia’s foreign policy, the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun will, in the
coming days, discuss the expediency of its continued participation
in the governing coalition.

PRESS RELEASE

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Vice President

April 23, 2009

Readout of Vice President Biden¿¿s Call with Armenian President Sargsian

The Vice President spoke today with Armenian President Sargsian and
welcomed Armenia and Turkey¿¿s statement regarding their commitment to
normalize their relations. The Vice President applauded President
Sargsian¿¿s leadership, and underscored the Administration¿¿s firm
support for both Armenia and Turkey in this process.

RUSSIA CONCERNED ABOUT ARMENIA’S PARTICIPATION IN NATO EXERCISES IN VAIN: LOCAL EXPERT

ArmInfo
2009-04-23 16:26:00

ArmInfo. Russia is concerned about Armenia’s participation in NATO
exercises in vain. Armenian turcologist, Candidate of Science,
Philology, Ruben Melkonyan told ArmInfo. ‘Armenia is an independent
state and decides independently what to do>, Melkonyan said. The
current level of cooperation with the NATO will not lead to fundamental
changes in the country’s foreign policy’, he said. Commenting on
the rumors on an agreement signed between Russian and Azerbaijani
Presidents providing for sale weapons to Azerbaijan, Melkonyan said:
Azerbaijani press has already disseminated rumors on transfer of
weapons by Russia to Armenia for 800 million dollars. This reports
aroused big mess in Azerbaijan. Studying the recent events in the
background of these rumors, it is rather possible that Russia wants
to deprive Azerbaijan from arguments.

THOUSANDS REPRESENTATIVES OF ARMENIAN DIASPORA OF LOS ANGELES TO HOLD A PROTEST ACTION IN FRONT TURKISH CONSULATE

ArmInfo
2009-04-22 13:47:00

Thousands representatives of Armenian Diaspora of Los Angeles will
hold a protest action in front Turkish Consulate on 24 April.

As Armenian Youth Federation told ArmInfo, the given action also
has a purpose of drawing US President Barack Obama’s attention who
promised to recognize Armenian genocide.

HAYASTAN FUND RENOVATES ST.VIRGIN MEDICAL CENTER OBSTETRICS DEPARTMENT

LRAGIR.AM
15:44:05 – 21/04/2009

Hayastan All-Armenian Fund has launched reconstruction of the
obstetrics department of the Yerevan St.Virgin Medical Center
south-western branch: a new delivery facility will be built while the
three current ones will be renovated. The initiative is sponsored by
the Hayastan Fund Great Britain Affiliate.

Within the project, the department will undergo full renovation:
the walls and floors will be tiled, sewage, electricity and water
supply systems will be reconstructed, new doors and windows will be
installed; each room will be provided with a sanitation unit, as well
as hot water and oxygen supply centralized systems will be built.

The medical center, which dates back to 1992, is a three-storey
building. It serves about 1800 patients annually. According to
the chief physician and head of the hospital Nikolay Dallakyan,
the community has seen a significant increase in residents in the
last few years, and the overall project including construction of
the fourth delivery facility is welcome news.

The Hayastan Fund had implemented two other projects in St.Virgin
Medical center: through the sponsorship of the benefactor Hakop
Girtlian, the general pediatric department of the hospital underwent
renovation in 2003, while the neurosurgery department, which serves
the whole republic, was restored in 2006.

Hayastan All Armenian Fund

ARMENIAN NATIONAL ARCHIVE POSSESSES 12,000 DOCUMENTS ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Alisa Gevorgyan

"Radiolur"
21.04.2009 14:59

12,000 documents on the Armenian Genocide are kept in the National
Archive of Armenia. Director of the Armenian National Archive Amatuni
Virabyan said to reporters today that in reality their number is much
larger, and their registration still continues.

According to Amatuni Virabyan, four types of documents are kept in
the Archive. The first group includes the articles from Tbilisi based
"Mshak" newspaper of 1916.

The next group includes the documents the church possessed. Since
there was no statehood then, but there was the church that had
substituted the state for centuries, the Catholicos f All Armenians
was receiving letters from different sites of the world. The letters
provide information about the massacre of the Armenian population of
the Ottoman Empire, about the number of victims and emigrants.

There are also documents, in which the corresponding services of the
Russian Army report about the occupied territories, the annihilation of
Armenian citizens, destruction of Armenian villages and other details.

At last, the Armenian National Archive possesses the documents of
the two Armenian delegations participating in the Paris Conference
following World War I. They present information about the material
and human losses Turkey inflicted.

"Many documents have been=2 0brought from the archives of European
countries. The existence of such documents in European Archives
can be explained by the fact that on those years their diplomatic
representatives launched activity in Turkey," Amatuni Virabyan
stressed.

Some of the documents kept in the Armenian National Archive have been
copied and provided to the newly established Armenian Genocide Museum
of the US.

There are many documents on display at the Armenian Genocide
Museum-Institute.

ARF VOWS TO PREVENT DISRESPECT OF TURKISH FLAG ON APRIL 24

Today’s Zaman
April 16 2009
Turkey

Giro Manoyan, political director of the nationalist Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF, also known as the Dashnak Party), has
expressed support for the recent rapprochement between Turkey and
Armenia, while pledging that he would not allow any disrespect for
the Turkish flag during upcoming demonstrations in Armenia on April 24.

Officials of the two countries have inched closer to an agreement that
would pave the way for normalization of relations after 16 years of
estrangement. Sources in Yerevan who are close to the talks say the
final deal is likely to be declared in a third country, most probably
Switzerland, which has reportedly hosted closed-door negotiations
since 2007.

"I promise that no such thing will take place this time," Manoyan said
yesterday, when reminded by Today’s Zaman of the fact that Turkish
flags were burned last April 24 by members of the youth branch of the
ARF. "Of course, if we can keep control [over the demonstrators],"
he added.

Last year, the Turkish Foreign Ministry reacted harshly to a Turkish
flag being trodden upon during an official demonstration in Yerevan
on April 24 commemorating the tragic World War I-era events that
Armenians claim amount to genocide. News reports showed pictures of
the demonstration, during which a Turkish flag was laid on the ground
and participants of the commemoration stamped on it.

"With the meaning that it carries, the Turkish flag symbolizes freedom
and all the fundamental values and beliefs of the Turkish nation. The
flag is accepted as synonymous with our nation’s existence. The
importance attributed by the Turkish nation to these values and its
flag is widely known. In this regard, the related news reports led
to great sadness, upset and indignation in our society," the Foreign
Ministry spokesperson said at the time in a written statement.

Manoyan also voiced his eagerness for having the border between
Armenia and Turkey reopened.

"Not only Armenia, but both parties will win if the border is
opened," Manoyan told Today’s Zaman, while underlining that neither
party should set preconditions for being able to reach an eventual
normalization. "Negotiations will be cut if the resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan is set as a
precondition," Manoyan added.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA INFORMS IRANIAN ARMENIANS ABOUT THE PROCESS OF NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS WITH TURKEY

ArmInfo
2009-04-15 13:53:00

ArmInfo. ‘Armenia is ready to establish natural relations with Turkey
without preconditions’, president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said at
the meeting with representatives of the Armenian community of Iran,
the presidential press service told ArmInfo.

According to S. Sargsyan, Turkey was not ready for that so
far. ‘However, prerequisites are presently created for the way out of
the developed situation under which two neighbouring countries have
even no diplomatic relations, the Armenian president said and added:
‘I should emphasize once again that establishment of relations with
Turkey does not mean putting the fact of the Armenian Genocide in
doubt’ .

AZERBAIJAN DOESN’T EYE TURKEY AS FOREIGN COUNTRY

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.04.2009 11:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan base on
emotions more than on logic, a Turkish expert said.

"Azerbaijan doesn’t eye Turkey as foreign country," director of the
Turkish Center for International Relations and Strategic Analysis
(TURKSAM). "It has great respect for Turkey and expects a similar
attitude. But unfortunately, Turkey can’t find the right approach
to Azerbaijan."

"Opening of the border is a sensitive issue and the Turkish government
should carry out a thorough analysis of advantages and disadvantages
of this move. However, opening of the border with Armenia doesn’t
mean full normalization of relations, since Armenia doesn’t give
up its claims of genocide. On the other part, it would be unwise
to lose Azerbaijan’s respect and support," Mr. Ogan said, Sunday’s
Zaman reported.

Armenia interested in developing relations with Cuba

armradio.am
11.04.2009 13:36

The newly appointed Ambassador of Cuba to Armenia, Juan Valdés
Figueroa, presented his credentials to President Serzh Sargsyan.

Congratulating the Ambassador on assuming office, the President
emphasized Armenia’s willingness to develop relations with Cuba.
According to Serzh Sargsyan, despite the distance between the two
countries, it is possible to find lines of mutually beneficial
cooperation. In this respect he attached importance to investigating
each other’s capacities and forming a necessary legal field for
cooperation.

Ambassador Juan Valdés Figueroa said during his tenure in office he
would double the efforts towards establishment of business ties between
the two countries.