Author: Tvankchian Parkev

TURKISH LEADERS TO DISCUSS NAGORNO-KARABAKH PROBLEM WITH RF PRESIDENT

news.am
April 26 2010
Armenia

The Turkish leaders intend to discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh problem
with RF President Dmitry Medvedev during his visit to Ankara scheduled
for this May, stated Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

He pointed out that the Turkish views the problem as its own, and it
will remain on the agenda. Turkey is against the status quo being
preserved in the Caucasus, Davutoglu said. He pointed out that the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict being unsettled is not in the region’s
interests.

The Turkish FM outlines the immediate aims Turkey has set itself.

Among them are reconciliation with Armenia, settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, re-opening of the Armenian-Azerbaijani and
Armenian-Turkish borders. Turks and Armenians have lived together for
centuries and wherever they meet they will learn to share their pain
and common history and will be living together. This is a peaceful
future for the two peoples, Davutoglu said.

It should be noted Turkey has repeatedly stated that the settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a vital prerequisite for its
normalization of relations with Armenia. It was official Anakra’s
destructive position, including its linking the Armenian-Turkish
reconciliation to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, that forced Armenia’s
ruling coalition to remove the Armenian-Turkish protocols from the
RA Parliament’s agenda. RA President Serzh Sargsyan addressed the
nation and announced the suspension of the ratification process.

SERZH SARGSYAN ALSO HELPED OBAMA TO AVOID THE TERM GENOCIDE: VLADIMIR KARAPETYAN

Tert.am
26.04.10

US President Barack Obama’s address this year did not differ greatly
from those made by other US presidents, though there were some
formulations in that address which are encouraging and express US’s
approach over the Armenian nation, a representative of the Armenian
National Congress (HAK) Vladimir Karapetyan said upon Tert.am’s
request to comment on Obama’s wording in his April 24 address.

With regard to Obama’s avoidance of the term Genocide, in Karapetyan’s
opinion, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan also contributed to it
with the foreign policy he carries out.

"By agreeing to create a historian’s commission with Turkey,
Serzh Sargsyan gave the US administration a chance to state that
there is a change in the situation which enables Barak Obama not
to deliver on his clear promise given previously, by pointing to
the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation process and the historian’s
commission," said Karapetyan.

"Even as we confront the inhumanity of 1915, we also are inspired by
the remarkable spirit of the Armenian people. While nothing can bring
back those who were killed in the Meds Yeghern, the contributions
that Armenians have made around the world over the last ninety-five
years stand as a testament to the strength, tenacity and courage of
the Armenian people. The indomitable spirit of the Armenian people
is a lasting triumph over those who set out to destroy them. Many
Armenians came to the United States as survivors of the horrors
of 1915. Over the generations Americans of Armenian descent have
richened our communities, spurred our economy, and strengthened
our democracy. The strong traditions and culture of Armenians also
became the foundation of a new republic which has become a part of
the community of nations, partnering with the world community to
build a better future," Obama had said in his address.

LYUDMILA SARGSYAN NOT SURPRISED WITH RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Panorama.am
16:32 26/04/2010

The Chairwoman of Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP) Lyudmila
Sargsyan said at news conference today that they haven’t been surprised
since it was even obviously expected. It’s even wanted to be linked
with President’s address but it’s wrong.

"It was clear that the U.S. Government’s disposition over this issue
wasn’t yet changed. It’s a big political process run by the U.S.

Administration. Turkey is America’s biggest strategic partner and
manages to have its influence on USA using different tools," he said.

Republican member Artak Zaqaryan said that U.S. President’s April 24
address covered all those elements that are described as Genocide by
the international convention of genocide.

"Obama has referred to all those factors being careful with genocide
term," Zaqaryan said.

OBAMA RECOGNIZED THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, SAYS TURKISH OPPOSITION

Tert.am
26.04.10

US President Barack Obama used the term Meds Yeghern in his April 24
commemoration speech which in Armenian is equal to the expression
Armenian Genocide, said Onur Oymen, Deputy Chairman of the Turkish
largest oppositional Republican People’s Party, quoted by CNNTurk.

Oymen also said that Obama’s statement was unacceptable for them.

"The term Meds Yeghern in Armenian is equal to the term Armenian
Genocide. Obama considers the 1915 events as Genocide. He speaks in
his address about massacres, atrocities. For that reason his statement
is unacceptable for us," said Onur Oymen.

Hurriyet, Turkey
April 25 2010

Turkish PM, Foreign Ministry at odds over Obama statement

Sunday, April 25, 2010
ANKARA / YEREVAN – Daily News with wires

Armenian President Serge Sarkisian (R), his wife, Rita, and the
Catholicos of All Armenians, Garegin II (L), attend the ceremony
marking the 95th anniversary of the 1915 events. AFP photo.

Despite avoiding the word `genocide’ in describing the events of 1915
during his Saturday commemoration statement, U.S. President Barack
Obama’s wording still riled the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

However, while the Foreign Ministry was upset at Obama’s terming of
the World War I events as `one of the worst atrocities’ in history,
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an issued a positive statement
afterward, displaying a slight rift between the Foreign Ministry and
the Prime Ministry.

Instead of `genocide,’ Obama used `Meds Yeghern,’ which in Armenian
means `The Great Catastrophe.’

`Regretfully, it is a statement reflecting a one-sided and mistaken
political view,’ the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written
statement on Saturday. `Subjective memories are the biggest enemy of
historical truths. No nation can impose its own memory on others.’

In Yerevan, the Armenian capital, people filled the streets the 95th
anniversary of the 1915 events, with some young demonstrators burning
a Turkish flag.

It is "a devastating chapter in the history of the Armenian people and
we must keep its memory alive in honor of those who were murdered and
so that we do not repeat the grave mistakes of the past," Obama said
in his April 24 statement, commemorating the Armenian Remembrance Day.
"On this solemn day of remembrance, we pause to recall that 95 years
ago one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century began."

Criticizing the involvement of any third country, the Turkish Foreign
Ministry said, `Third countries have no right or authority to decide
on Turkish-Armenian relations by resorting to political moves.’

Obama, who promised to recognize the `genocide’ during his electoral
campaign, also said, "I have consistently stated my own view of what
occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed."

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an welcomed Obama’s comments, saying
the U.S. leader `took Turkey’s concerns into consideration.’ However,
Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu said the speech was "unacceptable.’

`Turkish-American relations need to be free from such reservations,’
the minister said. `If we are going to share pain for humanitarian
reasons, then we would expect respect for our own pain as well.’

Opposition criticism

Deniz Baykal, the leader of the main opposition Republican People’s
Party, or CHP, criticized ErdoÄ?an for contradicting the Foreign
Ministry. `Turkey voices one reaction in solidarity. Mr. Prime
Minister should advocate for his country, not for what Obama said,’
Baykal told reporters Sunday.

Namık Tan, Turkey’s ambassador to Washington, was also unhappy. `We
will not accept whatever Obama says because it is only a political
statement without any scientific base,’ Tan told Turkish demonstrators
meeting outside the embassy on Sunday.

`We reject any imposition but are ready to establish a joint
historical committee to investigate what happened,’ he said.

The Turkish Coalition of America said Obama’s statement did not
address "the equally tragic loss of even more Muslim lives in that
turbulent period of Ottoman history."

`Where does the ethnic cleansing of Ottoman Turks from the Balkans,
Eastern Turkey and the Caucasus ` with 5 million lost and 5.5 million
refugees ` come on the president’s list of ‘worst atrocities of the
20th century?"’ asked G. Lincoln McCurdy, chief of the coalition.

Rallying against Turkey

In Yerevan, demonstrations against Turkey started Friday evening, as
thousands of people participated in commemorations. In addition to the
flag burning, many also shouted slogans against the country.

On Saturday morning, some avenues were closed to traffic and thousands
of people flooded to the Genocide Memorial, leaving flowers at the
site.

Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, Hasmig
Kalustyan, 44, one of the demonstrators, said his family was
originally from the eastern province of ElazıÄ? and that many of his
family were killed in 1915, while the survivors fled to Beirut and
then moved to Toronto.

Kalustyan said he moved back to Yerevan five years ago. `I have no
enmity against Turkey and I support Turkey and Armenia establishing a
dialogue,’ he said. `All we want from Turkey is the acknowledgement of
genocide and the sharing of our pain and misery.’

Armenia claims that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed shortly
after World War I under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Yerevan
insists the events constitute a genocide, yet Turkey fiercely rejects
this, saying the death toll is inflated and were a result of civil
unrest during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire as Armenians took up
arms for independence in eastern Anatolia.

NKR PRESIDENT ISSUES STATEMENT COMMEMORATING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 24, 2010 – 11:21 AMT 06:21 GMT

On April 24, President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan issued
a statement in commemoration of the 95th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, reported the Central Information Department of the Office
of the Artsakh Republic President.

The statement says:

"Dear compatriots, 95 years ago a monstrous and unprecedented crime,
the Armenian Genocide, was committed. It was the first genocide
of the 20th century; millions of Armenians fall a victim to this,
thousands of Armenian churches and monasteries, schools and colleges
were plundered, a unique civilization was destroyed. The Armenian
nation was deprived from the great part of its historical Motherland
and spread all over the world.

For our people, these 95 years have been the years of struggle and
creation, survival and restoration of historical justice. However,
we have not been alone in this struggle; the progressive mankind
has been standing side by side with us. We are grateful to all those
who gave a helping hand and shelter to the refugee Armenians having
escaped from slaughter.

Many countries have recognized and condemned the Genocide. It
is important both for us and the whole mankind because in this way
future massacres could be prevented and excluded. Impunity is an evil
in itself generating new crimes. The Holocaust masterminded by the
Nazis, Armenian pogroms in Sumgait and Baku and a number of other
crimes are just a few testimonies of that.

Today, be bow our heads to the memory of innocent victims of the
Genocide. The best way to immortalize their memory is to build
independent and powerful statehood, to further strengthen the
Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora trinity realizing nationwide programs and
goals. Every single Armenian must do everything possible to make our
Motherland powerful and invincible, flourishing and prosperous."

TURKEY WILL HARDLY BECOME CO-CHAIR OF THE OSCE MG

ArmInfo
2010-04-23 13:17:00

ArmInfo. It is hardly possible that Turkey will be involved in the
list of the OSCE MG co-chairs on Karabakh settlement, political expert
Aleksandr Iskandaryan told journalists today.

‘There are several grounded obstacles for that, one of which is the
fact that Armenia does not to see Turkey as an intermediary state
on Karabakh settlement. Moreover, participation of Turkey in the
Karabakh process contradicts the logic of the process, since Turkey
is an interested party to the conflict’ – he said.

YEREVAN BRANDY COMPANY ACTIVELY COOPERATES WITH GRAPE GROWERS AND CONTROLS THE QUALITY OF GRAPE ON A PERMANENT BASIS

ArmInfo
2010-04-23 17:26:00

ArmInfo. In 2009 Yerevan Brandy Company (YBC) procured 31,600 tons
of grape – much more than a year before. A few days ago the company
finished distilling the grape and has produced 3.83mln liters of
brandy spirit as a result, YBC Executive Director Ara Grigoryan said
during his meeting with the governors and heads of rural communities
of Ararat and Armavir regions today.

The sides discussed last year’s procurement activities and this year’s
plans as well as cooperation prospects.

Presently, YBC is providing farmers with European high-quality
fertilizers and pesticides as well as with specialized consultations.

Earlier, the company provided them with spraying devices. This is one
of the key elements of YBC’s cooperation with partner farmers. This
cooperation allows the company to control the quality of grape before
it is procured and to help farmers to solve harvest-related problems.

In the near future the company is planning to meet with grape
growers from Armavir, Ararat and Tavush regions. Some 70 farmers
will be granted certificates of honor for close compliance with their
contractual obligations.

Yerevan Brandy Company was privatized by Pernod Ricard (France)
in May 1998.

TIGRAN JRBASHYAN: CURRENT GROWTH RATES OF ARMENIAN GDP TO BE MAINTAINED IN FIRST HALF YEAR AND TO DECELERATE IN SECOND HALF YEAR

ArmInfo
23.04.2010

ArmInfo. The current growth rates of Armenian GDP will be maintained
in the first half year 2010 and will decelerate in second half year,
Development Manager of Ameriabank Tigran Jrbashyan said during a
press-conference today.

According to his forecast, by the end of 2010 the economic growth level
in Armenia will be higher than the one forecasted by the government,
but no lower than the current one. Jrbashyan pointed out that under
the current conditions inflation will seriously pressurize GDP. "In
the first half year the inflationary pressure will be more than over
the second half year, taking into account the fact that starting
late summer and early autumn inflationary pressure will be declining,
which, in its turn, may lead to the Central Bank’s dampening of the
monetary policy",-he stressed.

Jrbashyan thinks that the stiffening of the CBA monetary policy was a
well-timed response to the inflationary pressure. For the time being
the banks are reacting inadequately to the inflationary pressure.

However, in the next quarters the reduction of the interest rates
will be coordinated and inflation will be curbed. In late Q2-early
Q3 2010 the CB may soften its monetary-credit policy and will stop
raising the rate of refinancing. In the last months, in response
to the CB’s toughening policy, the banks have been forced to reduce
their interest rates.

According to the preliminary report of the National Statistical
Service of Armenia, in Jan-Mar 2010 as compared with Jan-Mar 2009
Armenia’s GDP grew by 5.5%. In Mar 2010 as compared with Feb 2010 it
grew by 43.1%. In Mar 2010 there was 0.8% inflation, in Jan-Mar 2010 –
2.9%. According to the national budget of Armenia, in 2010 Armenia’s
GDP will grow by 1.2%. Apr 13 the Central Bank of Armenia raised the
rate of refinancing from 6.5% to 7%.

THE BUENOS AIRES CITY LEGISLATURE CALLS ON TURKEY TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 23, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS: An official from the press
and information department of RA Foreign Affairs Ministry told
Armenpress that the Legislative Assembly of Buenos Aires Sovereign
City unanimously passed a bill, according to which the Buenos Aires
City Legislature, honoring the memory of the victims of the Armenian
Genocide, calls on the international community and especially Turkey to
recognize the first genocide of the 20th century as a historical truth.

The bill, aimed at preventing further crimes against humanity, was
passed at the April 22 plenary session, held within the frames of
‘The Day of Tolerance and Honor among Peoples’ on the 95th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide.