THE ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME USED ITS RIGHT TO APPLY TO THE ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT WITH QUESTIONS
ARMENPRESS
Dec 9, 2009
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian parliament for the first
time used its right, registered by the changes in the "NA Regulations",
applying to the Armenian government with questions.
Armenian NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan stated that the government was
forwarded questions by the ARF and Orintas Yerkir factions and today
they will be discussed.
ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN RECEIVED TODAY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE IMF ARMENIAN OFFICE NINKE OMES ON ENDING HER MISSION IN ARMENIA
ARMENPRESS
Dec 9, 2009
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan received today representative of the IMF Armenian office
Ninke Omes on the occasion of ending her mission in Armenia and newly
appointed representative Giermo Tolosa.
Governmental press service told Armenpress that the prime minister on
behalf of the Armenian government thanked Ninke Omes for the effective
work in our country, spoke with Giermo Tolosa who before passing to
his current mission worked in the newly-formed markets of the IMF
strategy, policy and researches department.
The interlocutors exchanged thoughts over issues aroused as a result
of financial-economic crisis. Armenian Prime Minister spoke about the
efforts exerted by the Armenian government, its impact on Armenia’s
economy. The head of the government expressed hope that the work
with the new IMF representative will be as effective as with the
previous one.
Ninke Omes expressed gratitude for assessing her activity and assured
that IMF will continue supporting the reforms taking place in Armenia.
U.S. AND TURKISH LEADERS DISCUSS ARMENIA-TURKISH RELATIONS AND KARABAKH PROCESS
ArmInfo
2009-12-08 12:49:00
ArmInfo. US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan met in Washington on Monday and discussed the Armenian-
Turkish relations and the Karabakh peace process.
Official website of the White House reported Obama as saying: "I also
congratulated the Prime Minister on some courageous steps that he
has taken around the issue of normalizing Turkish/Armenian relations,
and encouraged him to continue to move forward along this path."
For his part, the Turkish prime minister said: "We have also
discussed relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which is of great
importance. This is important in the context of Turkish-Armenian
relations. We have discussed the Minsk Group and what the Minsk
Group can do — the United States, Russia, and France — to add more
impetus to that process. I can say that to have more impetus in the
Minsk process is going to have a very positive impact on the overall
process, because the normalization process between Turkey and Armenia
is very much related to these issues. As the administration in Turkey,
we are determined to move forward in this area."
REMARKS BY OBAMA AND ERDOGAN AFTER MEETING ON DECEMBER 7
Asbarez
Dec 7th, 2009
Below is the transcript of the remarks made by President Obama and
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan following their meeting
on Dec. 7 in D.C. The sections related to Turkey-Armenia relations
are bolded.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: I want to extend the warmest of welcomes to Prime
Minister Erdogan. I’m glad that I, personally, and the American
people have a chance to reciprocate the wonderful hospitality that
was extended to me when I visited Turkey in April.
As I said when I had the great honor of addressing the Turkish
Parliament in Ankara, I am strongly committed to creating the best
possible relationship between Turkey and the United States.
Turkey is a NATO ally, which means that we are pledged to defend each
other. There are strong ties between our countries as a consequence
of the Turkish American community that has been established here. We
have had the opportunity to work together during this recent financial
crisis, given Turkey’s role as a member of the G20. And given Turkey’s
history as a secular democratic state that respects the rule of law,
but is also a majority Muslim nation, it plays a critical role I think
in helping to shape mutual understanding and stability and peace not
only in its neighborhood but around the world.
During the course of our discussions here, we’ve had the opportunity
to survey a wide range of issues that both the United States and
Turkey are concerned about. I thanked Prime Minister Erdogan and the
Turkish people for their outstanding contributions to stabilizing
Afghanistan. We discussed our joint role in helping Iraq achieve the
kind of independence and prosperity that I think has been advanced as a
consequence of the election law finally being passed over the weekend.
We discussed issues of regional peace, and I indicated to the Prime
Minister how important it is to resolve the issue of Iran’s nuclear
capacity in a way that allows Iran to pursue peaceful nuclear energy
but provides assurances that it will abide by international rules
and norms, and I believe that Turkey can be an important player in
trying to move Iran in that direction.
And we discussed the continuing role that we can play as NATO allies
in strengthening Turkey’s profile within NATO and coordinating more
effectively on critical issues like missile defense.
I also congratulated the Prime Minister on some courageous steps
that he has taken around the issue of normalizing Turkish/Armenian
relations, and encouraged him to continue to move forward along
this path.
We reaffirmed the shared commitment to defeat terrorist activity
regardless of where it occurs. I expressed condolences to the Prime
Minister and the Turkish people for the recent terrorist attack
that was taken there and pledged U.S. support in trying to bring the
perpetrators of this violence to justice.
And finally, I complimented the Prime Minister for the steps that
he’s taken, often very difficult steps, in reintegrating religious
minorities and ethnic minorities within Turkey into the democratic
and political process, and indicated to him that we want to be as
supportive as possible in further steps that he can take, for example,
assuring the continuation of the Halki Seminary and addressing the
vital needs of continuing the ecumenical patriarchy within Turkey.
Over all, just to summarize, I am incredibly optimistic about the
prospect of stronger and stronger ties between the United States
and Turkey that will be based not only on our NATO relationship,
our military-to-military relationship, our strategic relationship,
but also increasing economic ties.
And one of the concrete outcomes of this trip is to follow through on
discussions that I had with both Prime Minister Erdogan and President
Gul in Turkey to stand up a strategic working group around economic
issues and improving commercial ties. That will be launched with
the participation of Secretary of Commerce Locke and our U.S. Trade
Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk, along with Turkish counterparts.
And we think that there is enormous potential for us to grow trade
and commercial ties between the two countries.
Turkey is a great country. It is growing in influence around the
world. And I am pleased that America can call Turkey a friend, and
I’m pleased that I’m able to call Prime Minister Erdogan personally
a friend. I’m grateful for his trip here and look forward to many
years of collaboration with him to observe both the prosperity of
the American people and the Turkish people.
Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN: (As translated.) Thank you very much. I’m very
grateful for the hospitality that both myself and my delegation have
been shown since our arrival here. And I would like to once again
express my thanks for that hospitality.
The fact that the President visited Turkey on his first overseas trip
and that he described and characterized Turkish-U.S. relations as a
model partnership has been very important for us politically and in
the process that we all look forward to in the future as well. And
important steps are now being taken in order to continue to build
on our bilateral relations so as to give greater meaning to the term
"model partnership."
Of course, there are many sides to the development of this relationship
– be it in the economic area, in the areas of science, art, technology,
political areas and military areas.
We have also appointed two people from our side to act as counterparts
in order to liaise with their American counterparts to continue on
this process. Those two people are the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Ali
Babacan; and the Minister of State responsible for economic affairs,
Mr. Zafer Caglayan on the Turkish side. I do believe that this group
is going to work to take the Turkish-American relations forward,
not just in the economic area, but in all areas in general.
We, of course, have – we take joint steps on regional issues. This
is in the Middle East, in Iraq, with respect to the Iranian nuclear
program. We continue to have joint activity in Afghanistan, and the
Turkish armed forces have taken over the command of the forces there
for a third time with the additional support that we have sent to
Afghanistan in the last couple of months. And there are steps that we
have taken with respect to training activity and other activities in
the context of provisional reconstruction teams, and we continue on
that. We’ve had an opportunity to continue discussing those issues
during our visit here.
Another important area, of course, is energy. Turkey is a transit
country for energy issues. And the agreement has been signed for
Nabucco and we are ready to take some important steps with respect
to Nabucco.
We continue to talk with Azerbaijan. I do believe that positive
progress will be made in this area. In addition to Azerbaijan, of
course, there is the importance of companies like Statoil, Total,
and British Petroleum and others.
We have also discussed relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia,
which is of great importance. This is important in the context of
Turkish-Armenian relations. We have discussed the Minsk Group and what
the Minsk Group can do – the United States, Russia, and France – to
add more impetus to that process. I can say that to have more impetus
in the Minsk process is going to have a very positive impact on the
overall process, because the normalization process between Turkey and
Armenia is very much related to these issues. As the administration
in Turkey, we are determined to move forward in this area.
Another important issue with respect for us in Turkey is the fight
against terrorism. And there was a statement that was made in this
very room on the 5th of November 2007, which was very important in
that context, because at the time we had declared the separatist
terrorist organization as the common enemy of the United States,
Turkey, and Iraq, because terrorism is the enemy of all mankind.
Our sensitivity and response to terrorism is what we have displayed
when the twin towers were hit here in the United States. Wherever a
terrorist attack takes place our reaction is always the same, because
terrorism does not have a religion – a homeland. They have no homeland,
no religion whatsoever.
We have also had opportunity to discuss what we can do jointly in
the region with regard to nuclear programs. We as Turkey stand ready
to do whatever we can to ensure a diplomatic solution to the nuclear
issue in our region. And we stand ready as Turkey to do whatever we
can do with respect to relations between Israel and the Palestinians,
and Israel and Syria, because I do believe that, first and foremost,
the United States, too, has important responsibility in trying to
achieve global peace.
And we, too, must lend all kinds of support that we can in our regions
and – in our respective regions and in the world in general in trying
to achieve global peace, because this is not the time to make enemies,
it’s the time to make friends. And I believe that we must move hand
in hand towards a bright future.
Thank you once again.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you.
All right, where’s Ben Feller? There you are.
QUESTION: Thank you sir. I’d like to ask you briefly about a domestic
issue, that being the economy, heading to your speech tomorrow. Do
you support the use of federal bailout money to fund job creation
programs? Is that an appropriate use of that money? Is that something
that you plan to support tomorrow?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: You know, Ben, it would be a mistake for me to step
on my speech tomorrow by giving you the headline today.
QUESTION: Not that big a mistake. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT OBAMA: But let me speak generally about what we’ve seen. On
Friday we got the best jobs report that we’ve gotten in a very long
time. And it significantly beat expectations. At minimum, it showed
that for all practical purposes, we’ve stopped losing jobs. And
that’s consistent with the fact that in the third quarter we saw the
economy grow.
My first job when I came into office was to make sure that we got
the financial crisis under control and that we tried to limit the
devastating effects that it was having on the real economy. We have
had a very tough year, and we’ve lost millions of jobs. But at least
now we are moving in the right direction.
What my speech tomorrow will focus on is the fact that having gotten
the financial crisis under control. Having finally moved into positive
territory when it comes to economic growth, our biggest challenge now
is making sure that job growth matches up with economic growth. And
what we’ve seen is, is that companies shed jobs very quickly, partly
induced by the panic of what was happening on Wall Street, and they
are still tentative about hiring back all those people who were laid
off. Also what we’re seeing is some long-term trends where companies
are becoming so efficient in terms of productivity that they may feel
that they can produce the same amount of goods or services without
as many employees.
So those present some particular challenges, given the fact that
we lost over 3 million jobs just in the first quarter of this year
before any of the steps we took had a chance to take effect.
With respect to TARP specifically, I think you saw stories today
and you’ve seen stories over the last several weeks that TARP has
turned out to be much cheaper than we had expected, although not
cheap. It means that some of that money can be devoted to deficit
reduction. And the question is are there selective approaches that
are consistent with the original goals of TARP – for example, making
sure that small businesses are still getting lending – that would be
appropriate in accelerating job growth?
And I will be addressing that tomorrow. But I do think that, although
we’ve stabilized the financial system, one of the problems that
we’re still seeing all the time – and I heard about it when it was in
Allentown just this past week – was the fact that small businesses and
some medium-sized businesses are still feeling a huge credit crunch.
They cannot get the loans that they need to make capital investments
that would allow them to then expand employment. And so that’s a
particular area where we might be able to make a difference.
Is there somebody in the Turkish delegation that wants to call on
a reporter?
QUESTION: Mr. President, is there any new and concrete U.S. action
plan for disarmament and the elimination of the PKK terror organization
in northern Iraq? Thank you, sir.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, what the Prime Minister and I have discussed
is coordinating closely in dealing with the problem of the PKK. We
have stated before and I have reaffirmed since I came into office
that the United States considers PKK a terrorist organization, and
that the threat that it poses not only in Turkey but also in Iraq
is one that is of deep concern. And as NATO allies, we are bound to
help each other defend our territories. More broadly, I think that
it is important for us to have a consistent position with respect to
terrorism wherever it takes place.
So we discussed how we can coordinate militarily. I will tell you
that with respect to the issue of the PKK, I think that the steps
that the Prime Minister has taken in being inclusive towards the
Kurdish community in Turkey is very helpful, because one of the
things we understand is, is that terrorism cannot just be dealt with
militarily; there is also social and political components to it that
have to be recognized.
With respect to Iraq, I think the degree to which the Kurdish
population within Iraq feels effectively represented within the
central government in Baghdad, to the extent that we can resolve some
long-term pressing issues like Kirkuk, the more I think that Kurds
will recognize that their interests are not in supporting any kind of
military activity but rather in working through conflicts politically,
in a way that allows everybody to be prosperous. And that’s the kind
of process that we would encourage.
Okay? Thank you very much, everybody. Happy holidays.
Khachatourian: Obama Hails Protocols as Erdogan Presents Ultimatum
By Ara Khachatourian
12/06/khachatourian-obama-hails-protocols-as-erdog an-presents-ultimatum/
December 6, 2009
President Barack Obama hailed the Armenia-Turkey protocols and pledged
US support for the process as Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erodagan, on the eve of his meeting with the president, issued an
ultimatum to the White House saying that normalization process could
not move forward without an end to the Karabakh conflict.
`We have announced to U.S. representatives since the beginning that if
you want to resolve the Turkish Armenian issue you should also resolve
the Karabakh conflict. Otherwise, you will fail to resolve either,’
Erdogan told the Azeri ANS TV ahead of his scheduled meeting on
December 7 with Obama at the White House.
`This is because the Turkish-Armenian issue and the Nagorno-Karabakh
problem are interrelated. I told this to Barack Obama and Dmitry
Medvedev, to which they replied: `We will accelerate this question,”
claimed Erdogan adding that `if the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is
settled, the Turkish-Armenian problem will also be finally resolved.’
Meanwhile in Washington, Obama, in response to a letter addressed to
him by a group of Armenian organizations supporting the protocols,
among them the Armenian Assembly of America, the AGBU and the Diocese,
voiced his `vigorous’ support for the protocols, but again fell short
of characterizing the events of 1915 as `genocide.’
`I agree that normalization between Armenia and Turkey should move
forward without preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe. On
October 10, Secretary Clinton represented the United States at the
historic signing of the protocols providing a framework for
normalization. We continue to support Armenia and Turkey as they move
ahead to fulfill the promise of normalization,’ said Obama.
`Regarding the past, I deeply appreciate your views on what is one of
the great atrocities of the 20th century. As I said in my Remembrance
Day message, my view of that history has not changed. My interest
remains the achievement of a full, frank, and just acknowledgement of
the facts. I believe that the best way to advance that goal is for the
Armenian and Turkish people to address the facts of the past as part
of their efforts to move forward. We will continue to vigorously
support the normalization effort in the months ahead,’ added Obama.
`Prime Minister Erdogan – having succeeded in using the Ankara-inspired
Protocols to enlist the cooperation of yet another U.S. Administration
into its campaign to block recognition of the Armenian Genocide – is now
coming to Washington to cement his gains and further press his
advantage,’ said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
`High on his agenda, it seems, will be showcasing Turkey’s public
disregard for President Obama’s twin priorities for Armenia-Turkey
normalization, namely that they be established without preconditions
and within a reasonable time-frame. Today, more than seven months
after our President’s speech in Ankara – during which he broke his
pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide – it’s patently clear that
Turkey has in fact imposed preconditions, will not act in a reasonable
time-frame, and, more broadly, views this entire process as simply a
way to extend U.S. complicity in Turkey’s denials from one April 24th
to the next,’ added Hamparian.
Erdogan, whose government unequivocally rejected a US call for troops
to Afghanistan, travels to the US with the intention to address the
Karabakh conflict within the context of the Armenia-Turkey protocols,
ignoring Obama’s own clearly-stated view that the Armenia-Turkey talks
should proceed without preconditions.
At the same time, the White House has chosen to selectively respond to
Armenian-American community concerns, choosing to address only those
voices that represent a clear minority in support of the US-backed
protocols.
KTLA TV, CA
Dec 6 2009
Fmr Assemblyman Arrested for Running Down Parking Attendant at USC Game
KTLA News
7:37 AM PST, December 6, 2009
Walter Karabian
LOS ANGELES — A prominent attorney and former Democratic Assemblyman
arrested for allegedly running over a parking attendant with his car
before Saturday’s USC football game at the Coliseum, was free on bail
Sunday.
Walter Karabian, 71, was arrested around 12:30 p.m. Saturday on
suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.
He was released about 8:30 p.m. on $30,000 bail, a sheriff’s deputy said.
Public Safety officers at Exposition Park, who arrested Karabian, did
not release details of the incident or the condition of the female
attendant.
The attendant was taken to a nearby hospital.
Karabian, an active member of the Armenian-American community,
graduated from USC with a degree in law and was elected to the
Assembly in 1966, at the age of 28, where he served four terms.
At age 33, he became the Assembly’s youngest majority leader in history.
In 1875, he and a USC classmate, John Karns, created Karns & Karabian Law Firm.
ian-arrested,0,7705937.story
Western Prelacy Board of Regents composition announced
05.12.2009 15:04 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian and
the Executive Council of the Western Prelacy announced the appointment
of a new Board of Regents, which oversees the administration of the
Prelacy-affiliated Armenian schools.
The newly appointed Board of Regents consists of the following
members: Mark Guedikian, Chris Keosian, Sossi Hovsepian, Liza
Gaboudian, Maggie Sarkuni, Vergine Jarakian, Houri
Aslanian-Keuroghlian, Charlotte Sassounian and Jeannine Topalian.
Russian MFA makes statement timed to completion of START terms
04.12.2009 20:00 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Validity of the signed on July 31, 1991 Treaty
between the USSR and the USA on the Reduction and Limitation of
Strategic Offensive Arms (START Treaty – Strategic Arms Reduction
Treaty) expires on December 4, 2009.
Russia has exercised the rights and responsibilities borne by the
Treaty as a state – successor to the USSR. According to the statement
Russian Foreign Ministry, the treaty has played a vital role in
ensuring international peace, security and strategic stability. START
has greatly strengthened the regime of nuclear non-proliferation and
gave significant impetus to disarmament, becoming a tangible and
consistent step towards a world free of nuclear weapons.
"Russia and the United States fully complied with their obligations
under the Treaty. In total, since the end of the Cold War, Russia has
more than twice reduced the number of strategic warheads, eliminating
more than 3,000 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and
submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), some 1500 launchers of
ICBMs and SLBMs as well as more than 45 atomic submarines and more
than 65 heavy bombers.
Implementation of the START Treaty would have been impossible without
efforts of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine in accordance with the
Protocol to the Treaty, signed on May 23, 1992 in Lisbon.
Intensive work to prepare for the signing of a full-length two-way
legally binding treaty on measures for further reduction and
limitation of strategic offensive arms is nearing its completion.
The future treaty should become another milestone in the disarmament
and nonproliferation, mark transition to a higher level of interaction
between Russia and the United States, reaffirm the common goals of the
two countries in the promotion of mutual and global security. Russia
calls on all States and, above all, states possessing nuclear
arsenals, to join its ongoing cooperation with U.S. efforts in
disarmament," the statement of RF Foreign Ministry stressed.
EPILOGUE TO ATHENS MEETING BETWEEN AZERBAIJANI, ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS
By Nurani
Today
Dec 4 2009
Azerbaijan
The region is summarizing the outcome of the Athens talks following the
latest round of Karabakh negotiations. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
are trying to demonstrate a habitual optimism, which frankly speaking
one finds hard to believe on the backdrop of Yerevan’s belligerent
statements and intransigence during talks. What the ministers talked
about in Athens is unknown. But one thing is clear. A document on
the resolution of the Karabakh conflict was not discussed in Greece.
Here is a good response to the optimistic assumption that a
breakthrough in negotiations will allegedly take place next weekend.
Negotiations have stalled again thanks to Armenia. There is no need
to remind readers that the failure of the Karabakh negotiations
inhibits the resolution of the conflict in the South Caucasus as well
as Armenian-Turkish reconciliation.
Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward
Nalbandian also met in Athens. Experts have no doubt whatsoever
that progress should not be expected in terms of Turkey-Armenia
reconciliation without real progress in resolving the Karabakh
conflict.
Why is Armenia hurting the negotiations yet again? Is the country
employing "cunning tactics" to win the current situation and force
abrupt shifts unbeknownst to the rest of the players?
Today, even non-specialists know about the true alignment of forces in
the talks. Armenia still occupies 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory.
It is obvious to many that it is not Armenia that is setting the
terms in the negotiations. The maximum that can be achieved through
such escapades is "to slow down the talks."
It would be better to leave the option of "cunning tactics" and
"superdiplomacy" for a table talk with a bottle of Armenian cognac. It
is not suitable for a serious analysis for the simple reason that
dragging out the talks does not meet Armenia’s interests.
It is an understatement to say that the balance of regional forces is
not changing in Armenia’s favor. Yerevan is simply unable to set the
terms of the negotiations at a time of a record economic recession
and disastrous emigration – an "oil syndrome" without oil – when at
least one-third (half the families according to their sources) of
the families in Armenia depend on funds from abroad as their primary
source of income. It would be inappropriate to even hope for swift
changes for the better.
To create conditions for a little bit of normal development,
Armenia needs to normalize relations not even with Turkey, but with
Azerbaijan. However, the recent statement that "we will not surrender
Karabakh."
Also, there is no need to say seriously that Armenia has some sort
of secret and support.
Then it becomes clear that the "Saber Dance" arranged by Serge
Sargsyan is designed exclusively for the Armenian audience. Thus,
Armenian leaders are trying to convince everyone that they take a
"super tough position" and they are ready to defend the idea of
"Miatsum" and are resolute to do so to the very end.
It has become increasingly difficult to avoid criticism toward the
ruling team. The Armenian president knows very well that he won
the elections in spring 2008 solely due to falsification and direct
pressure on voters and this undermines his trust.
In short, the Armenian president is under pressure from outside
pushing for a compromise on the backdrop of the country’s "crushing"
economy. The opposition does not retreat either. This makes one
show two positions – one for the outside world and another for the
domestic audience.
However, it seems Yerevan will not wait long. Armenia seems to adhere
to a much simpler principle – "days and nights will hold on." The
country’s officials plan to implement a corruption scheme to the
end and then catch the "last flight" and take "what has been looted"
with them when it is high time. Of course, it all depends where they
will run away to since the diaspora is unlikely to meet with open arms.
Suffice it to recall how police dispersed a rally of Paris Armenians
who blamed Serzh Azatovich of betrayal, and how they stepped on his
portrait at a rally in Los Angeles. So, it seems "cunning tactics"
indeed exist. However, they do not belong to the country as a whole,
but rather a "Karabakh clan," which currently holds power.
Azatovich seems to have failed to take into account one thing while
designing a scheme under the principle "days and nights will hold on."
Until recently, the ongoing occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani
lands and the problem of refugees were a "headache" only for
Azerbaijan, while with few exceptions it was just a violation of a
ceasefire and regular trips by the Minsk Group mediators for the rest
of the world. Since the situation has now changed and the stakes have
increased immeasurably, the world deals with the Karabakh conflict
more seriously.
Experts argue that much will depend on the outcome of Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Erdogan’s upcoming visit to the U.S. The head of the
Turkish government has promised in talks with Obama that he is not
going just to speak about the Karabakh issue, but also to demand real
efforts to resolve the situation.
In the meanwhile, Armenia does not even hope the U.S. will push Turkey
to normalize relations with Armenia at any cost. Washington is not
going to risk the Turkish-Azerbaijani partnership not to mention
the fact that Obama and Erdogan have something to talk about –
relations between Turkey and Iran, with which the U.S is obviously
concerned and the "Kurdish factor" in Iraq. Armenia is not a factor
for which Washington will risk ruining relations with Turkey and
Azerbaijan. But it is possible that Armenia will have to make a real
compromise regardless of the domestic political situation.
KARABAKH ISSUE WAS NOT DISCUSSED AT NALBANDYAN-DAVUTOGLU MEETING
ArmInfo
2009-12-02 13:37:00
ArmInfo. The issue of Nagorno Karabakh settlement was not discussed
during the meeting of Armenian and Turkish Foreign Ministers
Edward Nalbandyan and Ahmet Davutoglu, Head of Mass Media Relations
Department of Armenia’s Foreign Ministry press service Tigran Balayan
told AtmInfo.
To recall, a half-an-hour meeting of the Armenian and Turkish
foreign ministers was held in Athens within the frames of OSCE FMC
on invitation of the Turkish party. According to the Turkish sources,
the parties touched on the Karabakh conflict settlement issue during
the meeting.