Author: Varosian Antranik

RUSSIA SAYS BACKS TURKEY-ARMENIA NORMALIZATION

May 12 2010
Turkey

The Russian president extended on Wednesday support to normalization
of Turkish-Armenian relations.

Wednesday, 12 May 2010 14:44

The Russian president extended on Wednesday support to normalization
of Turkish-Armenian relations.

Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia was monitoring the
process carefully, and wished that the process that had gained momentum
with protocol signed between Turkey and Armenia would continue.

"I hope parties will reach an agreement," Medvedev told a joint press
conference with Turkish President Abdullah Gul in Ankara.

Medvedev said the normalization would contribute to regional stability,
improve economic relations and raise living standards.

"We support this process, we will make use of our resources, but the
concerned parties will make the (final) decision," he said.

On Karabakh dispute, Medvedev said it was a challenging issue but
not the sole issue in the Caucasus.

Medvedev said promising steps had been taken recently for settlement
of Karabakh controversy, and there had been a number of developments
but that did not mean a compromise on all matters.

The Russian president said he had recommended Russia’s mediation
to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh
Sargsian, organized negotiations in Russia and such initiatives
would continue.

Medvedev said significant progress had been made recently, however
nobody should be contented with that progress.

Russia and Turkey were also interested in the stability of the
Caucasus, Medvedev said.

Medvedev said two countries were working to solve the Karabakh dispute,
and Russia would continue the process and consultations with Turkey.

16 YEARS PASSED SINCE ARMISTICE IN NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT ZONE

ArmInfo
2010-05-12 14:20:00

ArmInfo. 16 years have passed since armistice in the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict zone.

Armistice was reached under mediation of Russia. Meeting of the
parliamentary structures of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh
was completed a week before that, on May 5, 1994, in Bishkek where a
Bishkek Protocol was signed urging to cease fire in Karabakh on May
9 night.

Earlier, OSCE Minsk Group, on the proposal of Russia, suggested
all the parties to the conflict on July 3, 1992, to stop military
actions for 30 days, and on August 5, 1992 – for 60 days in order
to use this time for negotiations on complete ceasefire. Agreements
on several short-term ceasefires and other limitations of military
actions were signed in 1993 under mediation of Russia. On February
18, 1994, Defense ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan,
as well as representative of the Nagorno Karabakh self- defense
army command agreed a number of measures on cessation of military
actions, including troop withdrawal from the contact line. However,
an uncompromising attitude of the parties doomed them to sign a Russian
draft agreement in form of appeal to Moscow separately: in Baku on May
9, Yerevan – on May 10 and Stepanakert – May 11. it took effect just
at midnight on May 12. It is followed in general since then, though
skirmishes and other incidents often take place on the contact line
because one of the parties refused to withdraw troops. In view of the
armistice specifics (without withdrawal of troops, neutral observers
and peacekeeping forces), an "agreement on ceasefire strengthening"
was signed by the three parties on February 4, 1995, under aegis of
OSCE. However, it is not fulfilled.

RUSSIA URGES ACTIVE US ROLE IN MIDEAST
SELCAN HACAOGLU

(AP)
12/05/10

ANKARA, Turkey – Russian President Dmitry Medvedev urged the United
States on Wednesday to actively work to achieve peace in the Mideast
with the support of other nations, saying there is a human tragedy
in Gaza.

His comment appeared to indicate Moscow’s willingness to become an
active Middle East mediator. On Tuesday, during a visit to Syria,
Medvedev said Israeli-Arab tensions threaten to draw the Middle East
into a new catastrophe, adding Moscow’s weight to a diplomatic push
to ease antagonism between Israel and Syria.

"The United States must be active and other nations must contribute,"
Medvedev told a joint news conference in Ankara with Turkish President
Abdullah Gul.

Washington recently launched U.S.-mediated peace talks between Israel
and the Palestinians, but signs of trouble already have emerged. On
Monday, Israel said it doesn’t intend to halt construction of
Jewish housing in east Jerusalem. The Palestinians accused Israel of
undermining trust and urged President Barack Obama to intervene.

Obama supports establishing an independent Palestinian state alongside
Israel.

Medvedev said no one should be excluded from the Mideast peace
process, a clear reference to Khaled Mashaal, the exiled leader of
the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is shunned as a terrorist
organization by the U.S. and European Union nations.

Medvedev met Mashaal in Damascus on Tuesday. Hamas rules in the
Gaza Strip, one of the territories that would one day be part of a
Palestinian state.

"We have to include all conflicting parties and not exclude anyone
from this process," Medvedev said.

The Russian president said countries that are not close to the region
also have "responsibilities" to work for peace in the entire Mideast.

"We are facing a human tragedy in Gaza, so that there is need for
more efforts, even though we can’t solve all problems," Medvedev said.

Gul said the Mideast conflict is the source of "unrest" in many parts
of the world and must be stopped.

Medvedev also said Iran must "adopt a constructive approach in some
way," as the U.S. and its allies rally for new U.N. sanctions against
Tehran regarding its nuclear program. Iran has denied charges that
it is secretly building nuclear weapons.

"The Mideast must be a region cleared from nuclear weapons," Medvedev
said. "The use of nuclear weapons in the region would be a disaster."

Medvedev said Russia would hold talks with Iran and Israel on the
issue.

On Tuesday, Russia urged Israel to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation
Treaty and open up its long-established but unannounced nuclear
arsenal to the U.N. monitoring agency.

Israel’s officially unacknowledged arsenal of perhaps 80 nuclear
weapons is the only such stockpile in the Mideast.

Later Wednesday, Turkey and Russia were to sign a series of cooperation
agreements in trade and tourism, including the lifting of entry visas
in a bid to further bring the former Cold War era rivals closer.

Medvedev and Gul vowed to triple the bilateral trade volume to around
US$100 billion in the next five years.

Turkey, a U.S. ally, served as NATO’s foremost base during the Cold
War but has seen its relations rapidly develop with Russia since the
fall of the Soviet Union.

Gul said several new energy projects are on the agenda, including a
pipeline that could pump Russian oil from Turkey’s Black Sea coast to
the Mediterranean and construction of its first nuclear power plant
with Russian help.

Medvedev, meanwhile, supported reconciliation efforts between Turkey
and Armenia while acknowledging that "it is a difficult issue."

Turkey wants Armenian troops to be withdrawn from Nagorno-Karabakh,
an Armenian-occupied enclave in Azerbaijan, to restore diplomatic
relations with Armenia and open the joint border which Turkey shut
down in 1993 to protest Armenia’s war with neighboring Azerbaijan.

Turks share ethnic and religious bonds with Azeris.

Associated Press Writer Suzan Fraser in Ankara contributed to this
report.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Monday, May 10, 2010

AGBU Cairo’s Wadi Camp Promotes Regional Friendships

AGBU Cairo’s Wadi camp saw its largest enrollment in its second year
when 57 teens from Egypt, Syria and Lebanon took part in the five-day
February session, reaching a milestone of multinational participation.

Campers from Cairo and Alexandria were joined by 17 others from AGBU-AYA
Aleppo, Syria, and AGBU-AYA Beirut, Lebanon. The teens played sports,
games, attended lectures, and held lively debates. They went on a tour
of the pyramids and a visit to the Egyptian Museum. The activities
brought campers together on many different levels so that they could
exchange ideas and make lifelong friendships.

During multiple activities oriented around Armenian heritage, the
campers were able to expand their understanding of their ethnic history
with support from camp leaders. Campers from Syria and Lebanon became
acquainted with the Cairene Armenian community through interactions with
local campers and a reception at HMEM Nubar Cairo club.

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian program, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.

For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit

Mémoire restaurée

REVUE DE PRESSE

dimanche9 mai 2010, par Stéphane/armenews

Le maire Guy Étienne, en présence de Philippe Lavaud (président du
Grand-Angoulême), de Jean Mardikian, représentant de la communauté
arménienne et de Bénédicte Goichon qui a réalisé la stèle), a
commémoré le 95e anniversaire (24 avril 1915) du début de la
persécution des Arméniens par les Turcs dans un discours de
circonstance : « Je salue, au nom de tous les citoyens de Fléac, la
communauté arménienne du Grand-Angoulême. Vous êtes évidemment des
Français, mais aussi les descendants – la deuxième et la troisième
génération – de ceux qui, il y a près de cent ans, ont fui leur
province d’Arménie en Turquie. »

« Un exemple »

« Les Français de souche, comme on dit, sont mauvais en géographie ;
ils ne savent pas trop où se trouve cette Arménie d’où vos anciens
sont venus, mais ils savent que c’est à la suite d’une effroyable
tragédie que la République, et je suis fier qu’elle ait accompli cet
acte indispensable, a reconnu depuis 2001, comme un génocide. À
l’heure où la France se débat avec les problèmes qui peuvent se poser
avec certaines communautés et débat avec plus ou moins d’habileté et
de bonheur sur la nationalité, vous êtes l’exemple d’un peuple qui a
su, sans renier ses origines, se fondre sans aucune difficulté dans le
peuple et la République. En lui donnant un grand nombre de
personnalités comme Édouard Balladur, Missak Manoukian, Jean Carzou,
Charles Gérard et Robert Guédiguian, Alice Sapritch et Henri Verneuil,
Michel Legrand et Charles Aznavour, les Djorkaeff et les Yachvili. »

Un symbole

L’édile a poursuivi son allocution en rappelant que « chacun d’eux
dans sa sphère et à son niveau illustre la richesse harmonieuse de
ceux qui vivent dans un pays qui est désormais le leur sans oublier la
culture, les collines et les fleuves lointains d’où leurs pères sont
venus. D’autant que désormais, ils peuvent s’adosser à l’histoire,
rétablie dans sa vérité et la prendre à témoin de leur dignité et de
leur honneur ».

Pour symboliser cette amitié, Fléac, il y a quelques années, a dédié
aux 1 500 000 Arméniens victimes du premier génocide du XXe siècle,
une sculpture installée près de ce puits et de cet olivier : un double
symbole de vie et de paix.

En ce 95e anniversaire, Fléac a tenu à rappeler à la communauté
arménienne que l’avenir se prépare ensemble et « que cette
commémoration confirme la Charente et la commune comme un espace
d’accueil, de générosité et de tolérance ».

Fléac · Philippe Lavaud · Angoulême · Charente

Sud Ouest

Les archéologues Arméniens sur le site de Louxor

ARCHEOLOGIE

dimanche9 mai 2010, par Krikor Amirzayan/armenews

Le 6 mai, Armen Melkonian l’Ambassadeur d’Arménie en Egypte a
rencontré Zahi Hawass, le très célèbre égyptologue, secrétaire général
du Conseil suprême des antiquités égyptiennes. Zahi Hawass a félicité
le diplomate arménien pour l’aide précieuse du département
d’Archéologie de l’Académie des Sciences d’Arménie. Les archéologues
Arméniens travaillent depuis 2007 sur le site de Louxor sur les
recherches de la mise à jour des restes du pharaon Amenhotep III.

Lors de la rencontre avec l’Ambassadeur d’Arménie, Z. Hawass a
également félicité l’égyptologue Hourig Sourouzian et l’architecte
Naïri Hampikian pour leur excellent travail sur le site. Un accord
arméno-égyptien portant sur la collaboration en matière de recherches
fut signé.

Simon Yessayan « la frontière de l’Arménie ira jusqu’au fleuve Koura
si l’Azerbaïdjan déclenche une guerre »

ARMENIE-AZERBAÏDJAN

dimanche9 mai 2010, par Krikor Amirzayan/armenews

« Sans la victoire lors de la Guerre Patriotique, le peuple arménien
aurait disparu ! Cette victoire était décisive pour nous les Arméniens
» affirma hier le Président du conseil des vétérans de guerre
d’Arménie, Simon Yessayan lors d’une conférence de presse à Erévan. S.
Yessayan a par ailleurs affirmé que le mois de mai avait une
signification toute particulière pour les Arméniens. « Sans la
victoire de la Seconde guerre mondiale, il n’y aurait pas eu la
libération de Chouchi » fait aussitôt la parallèle S. Yessayan. Il a
estimé que les quelque 3 600 vétérans de guerre recensés aujourd’hui
en Arménie ont besoin d’avantage du soutien de l’Etat dans leurs soins
et leurs pensions.

Revenant sur les déclarations guerrières de l’Azerbaïdjan, S. Yessayan
a dit « ces derniers temps l’Azerbaïdjan parle beaucoup trop souvent
de la guerre, mais je dois vous dire que l’armée arménienne est plus
forte, et plusieurs fois plus forte que celle du temps de ses
victoires face à l’Azerbaïdjan (…) notre armée peut répliquer à tout
moment à une éventuelle attaque azérie (…) mais nous, les Arméniens
ne souhaitons pas la guerre car chaque guerre procure des victimes,
mais si l’Azerbaïdjan essaie de la déclencher, nous sommes convaincus
que la frontière de l’Arménie ira jusqu’au fleuve Koura ».

Arto Tuncboyaciyan et Yachar Kurt sur scène pour Hrant Dink

CHANSON

samedi8 mai 2010, par Krikor Amirzayan/armenews

Aujourd’hui aux Etats-Unis un concert devrait réunir le chanteur et
star du rock turc Yachar Kurt -qui a découvert récemment qu’il était
d’origine arménienne- et Arto Tuncboyaciyan et le groupe de l’Armenian
Navy Band. Le concert organisé par une association tuco-américaine «
lune et étoiles » est dédié à la mémoire de hrant Dink, le rédacteur
d’« Agos » assassiné à Istanbul en janvier 2007.

ARTSAKH’S PRESIDENT CONFERS MEDALS, AWARDS ON VICTORY AND LIBERATION DAY

Panorama.am
18:23 07/05/2010

Society

On 6 May in connection with the Victory Day, the Day of the NKR Defence
Army and 18th anniversary of the Liberation of Shoushi President of
the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan signed several decrees.

According to the central information department of Artsakh President’s
Office, for personal bravery shown during the defence of the Motherland
24 individuals, 9 of them posthumously, were awarded with the Medal
"For Courage".

For successful performance of combat missions, raising combat readiness
of the forces as well as courage shown while defending state borders
313 individuals, 7 of them posthumously were awarded with the Medal
"For Service in Battle".

For personal bravery shown during the battles for the liberation of
Shoushi 38 individuals, 1 of them posthumously, were awarded with
the Medal "For Liberation of Shoushi".

For services shown to the Artsakh Republic chairman of the "Cron
Press" publishing house Robert Hovhannisyan was awarded with the
"Gratitude" medal.

For services shown to the development of health care in the Artsakh
Republic the "Gratitude" medal was awarded to:

Ara Babloyan, Doctor of Medicine, Professor, chairman of the permanent
commission on the issues of health care, maternity and childhood of
the Armenian National Assembly, chairman of the Armenian association
of child surgeons.

Derenik Doumanyan, Doctor of Medicine, Professor, manager of the
Armenian National Institute of Health Care, member of the Public
Council.

On the same day the President also signed decrees of handing in
valuable gifts.

BP IS GETTING MORE POLITICAL
by Dan Eggen

The Washington Post
May 6, 2010 Thursday

Suburban Edition

John Browne, the former chief executive of energy giant BP, used
to brag about his company’s relative lack of political involvement,
saying the London-based conglomerate purposely shied away from spending
too much on lobbying and campaign contributions.

But since Tony Hayward took over as CEO in 2007, BP has increased its
spending on U.S. politics, a move that may help the firm weather the
political storm over its devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The company has mobilized a massive Washington lobbying campaign over
the past week in response to the worsening crisis, dispatching senior
executives to meet with Obama administration officials and members
of Congress, while Hayward and other executives make frequent media
appearances to defend BP’s performance.

The onslaught underscores the expanding political role of BP, which
has spent nearly $20 million on Washington lobbying since January 2009
and now ranks second only to ConocoPhilips within the powerful oil and
gas industry, according to lobbying disclosure data. Its list of hired
lobbyists reads like a Who’s Who of the profession, from Democratic
powerhouse Tony Podesta to former Reagan aide Kenneth Duberstein.

The company’s political action committee has also stepped up its
contributions to lawmakers of both parties, particularly to key
representatives of oil-dependent states such as Louisiana and Alaska.

Unlike most other oil companies, BP also shifted some of its donations
to Democrats as the party gained control of Congress, though it still
gives the most to Republicans. (Barack Obama’s presidential campaign
did not accept corporate donations, but received about $77,000 from
BP employees.)

BP America, the company’s U.S. affiliate, has a special "external
advisory council" that includes former House majority leader Thomas A.

Daschle (D-S.D.); two former GOP senators, Warren Rudman (N.H.) and
Alan K. Simpson (Wyo.); Christine Todd Whitman, an Environmental
Protection Agency administrator under George W. Bush; and Jamie S.

Gorelick, a deputy attorney general during Bill Clinton’s
administration, according to BP records. Leon Panetta, President
Obama’s CIA director, also served on the council before taking his
intelligence post.

A BP spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on the firm’s
political activities in Washington.

Athan Manuel, director of the Sierra Club’s Lands Protection Program,
said BP’s more aggressive lobbying efforts in recent years have been
a disappointment to environmental groups, which were heartened by
the company’s earlier pledges to move "beyond petroleum" and into
alternative forms of energy.

"They seem to have returned to a more traditional oil-company
approach," Manuel said. "They’ve decided to become just as active as
Exxon or anyone else."

One major recipient of donations from BP is Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.),
who has taken more than $15,000 in PAC contributions and thousands
more from BP employees, according to data from the nonpartisan Center
for Responsive Politics. Landrieu said at a hearing earlier this
year that the risks of offshore drilling were "minimal," and since
the spill has urged caution in moving to curtail the practice.

Landrieu told MSNBC on Wednesday that she has received donations
from environmentalists and oil companies. "I’m very proud to actually
receive money from both sides of this debate, because they, I believe,
understand that I’m as honest a broker as I can be here," she said. "I
am not a handmaiden to the oil industry."

Advocacy for Turks Turkish American groups were outraged when a
House committee voted this year to label an Ottoman-era slaughter of
Armenians as "genocide," complaining that they had been out-lobbied
by the other side. Now activists have started a new advocacy group
aimed at publicizing the views of ethnic Turks in the United States.

The project, dubbed Ten Thousand Turks, is being spearheaded by the
Turkish Coalition USA Political Action Committee, which has given
federal candidates more than $270,000 since 2007. The group aims to
sign up 10,000 members by October.

G. Lincoln McCurdy, the PAC’s treasurer, said Turkish Americans’
views have "not been heard collectively in great numbers. . . . We
intend to change that, and start a new chapter of Turkish American
activism in American politics and civic life."