Author: Vasilian Manouk

Philip J. Crowley: US wants to see Armenia and Turkey ratify the protocols

armradio.am
17.04.2010 13:13

`We’re supporting the Minsk process regarding Azerbaijan and
Nagorno-Karabakh,’ Philip J. Crowley, Assistant Secretary of State
said at the Daily Press Briefing.

As to the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations,
Philip J. Crowley said `the process has stalled from last fall when
Armenia and Turkey signed protocols on normalization.’

`We want to see Turkey and Armenia ratify those protocols, normalize
relations, open borders. That has significant benefits for both
countries. And we continue to work with both to see if we can find the
right formula, the right timing to see ratification and the benefits
that come with ratification,’ Crowley said.

`We continue to work to see how we can – I mean, there are things that
both countries have committed to do. There are difficult processes
working with their respective parliaments. We have the same experience
in this country where the Executive Branch can make a commitment that
has to work with Congress in terms of implementing that or getting
ratification of that. We know this is a difficult process. We know it
involves emotion on both sides, risk on both sides, and we will
continue to work constructively with Armenia and Turkey to try to see
this process through,’ Assistant Secretary said.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
APril 17 2010

Berman condemns House colleagues over questioning `genocide’

The chair of a US congressional committee that last month branded the
killings of Anatolian Armenians during World War I as genocide has
sent a letter to fellow Democratic members of Congress for questioning
the veracity of the alleged Armenian genocide, Armenian media have
reported.

In a `dear colleague’ letter circulating since April 6, Reps. Gerry E.
Connolly, a Democrat from Virginia, and Steve Cohen, a Democrat
representing Tennessee, urged Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of
California, not to act on what they termed the `so-called Armenian
Genocide Resolution,’ The Armenian Reporter, an English-language news
portal said in its report on Thursday, noting that Reps. Connolly and
Cohen are members of the Turkey caucus.

`I disagree with many points in the [Connolly-Cohen] letter, but I
take particularly strong exception to the use of the phrase `so-called
Armenian Genocide Resolution,’ which casts doubt on the historicity of
the Armenian Genocide,’ Berman was quoted as saying in his response
letter.

Berman also ruled out arguments that a resolution affirming the US
record on the genocide would lead Turkey to retaliate against US
national security interests or would undermine long-running efforts to
normalize Armenia-Turkey relations.

`The protocols have been gathering dust in the Turkish Parliament
since they were signed [by Armenia and Turkey] in October. In light of
the preconditions established by the Turkish leadership, there is
little likelihood that they will be ratified any time soon,’ Berman
said, referring to the two protocols signed by Armenia and Turkey in
October for normalization of their relations. In order to come into
force, the protocols have to be ratified by the parliaments of the two
countries.

17 April 2010, Saturday

TODAY’S ZAMAN ANKARA

AZERBAIJAN QUESTIONS US ROLE IN KARABAKH PEACE TALKS

Voice of America
April 15 2010

Azerbaijan is publicly questioning the neutrality of U.S. mediators
engaged in negotiations to end the bitter and once violent standoff
over a breakaway Armenian enclave inside Azerbaijan.

Ali Hasanov, a top political advisor to President Ilham Aliyev, says
the Baku government is not happy with U.S. efforts to broker a peace
agreement ending the long-standing conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Hassan spoke Wednesday in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku. He said U.S.
negotiators are seen in his country as influenced by what he called
the Armenian lobby.

U.S. officials have not commented on the accusation.

Backed by the Yerevan government, ethnic Armenians seized control
of Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan in the early 1990s. The conflict
has claimed 35,000 lives and left more than 1 million others homeless.

The United States, France and Russia comprise the so-called Minsk
Group, which is trying to negotiate a peace settlement.

Although major fighting subsided after a 1994 cease-fire, Armenia and
Azerbaijan continue to accuse each other of violating the pact. There
are regular reports of sniper fire in and near the enclave.

HEAD OF ARMENIAN POLICE CONFERRED RANK OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL

ArmInfo
2010-04-15 11:18:00

ArmInfo. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on April
10 on conferring the rank of lieutenant general on RA Police Chief
Alik Sargsyan.

As the Armenian president’s press service reports, by another
presidential decree, RA Police deputy Chief Hunan Poghosyan, RA Police
representative to the Armenian Embassy in Russia Yuri Manukyan and
Head of the RA Police criminal investigation department Hovhannes
Tamamyan were conferred the rank of major general

ARMENIA’S ECONOMY NEEDS IMPROVEMENTS AT MICROLEVEL

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 15, 2010 – 14:48 AMT 09:48 GMT

Commenting on strengthening of control over major taxpayers, Armenian
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said that along with the macroeconomic
growth, Armenia’s economy should be improved also at microlevel.

"We do not facilitate the economic micro-environment through increasing
the number of inspections, we only incite discontent of tens of
thousands businessmen with the government, which does not keep its
promises," the Prime Minister said during the April 15 session of
the government.

He added that Armenia’s economic growth is secured due to competent
macroeconomic policy pursued by the government.

Mr. Sargsyan noted that personal relations between representatives
of tax services and businessmen should be minimized in the framework
of reforms implemented by the government.

"The results of inspections carried out by tax bodies in 2008-2009 show
that their number has not decreased for small and medium businesses,
from which major part of complaints is received, as large businesses
can resist inspections," he said.

Mr. Sargsyan added that the total number of inspections increased
by 82% in 2009, while the additional funds obtained through them
decreased by 25%, and these figures "raise concern."

The Prime Minister stressed that there are some deviations in the
figures, specifically, the number of inspections at large businesses
increased by 30% in 2009, at taxpaying companies with AMD 58mln annual
turnover – by 70%, at other companies – by 250%, while the additional
funds gained as a result of inspections reduced by 2-3 times.

EDWARD NALBANDIAN: TURKEY CANNOT BE A MEDIATOR IN THE KARABAKH SETTLEMENT PROCESS

armradio.am
14.04.2010 18:43

"It was a very important visit. The meetings were important both in
terms of strengthening bilateral relations and discussing regional
and international issues both sides are concerned about," Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said, summing up the results of the
meetings in Washington on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit.

"President Sargsyan’s meetings with President Obama and Secretary
Clinton provided an opportunity to continue the constructive dialogue
and the discussions on the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations and the Karabakh conflict settlement," Nalbandian said.

Commenting on Armenian President’s meeting with Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Minister Nalbandian said the meeting "made it
possible to have a clear idea about Turkey’s stance."

Asked whether Karabakh was touched upon during Armenian-Turkish talks,
Nalbandian stated: "The Turkish side was trying to hold discussions
on Karabakh, but we answered that Armenia-Turkey normalization could
not be linked to the Karabakh settlement. I don’t think there are
any reasons to discuss the Karabakh issue with Turkey. First of all
Turkey cannot be a mediator in the Nagorno Karabakh settlement process.

Secondly, Armenia will never make concessions over the Karabakh issue
for the sake of Armenia-Turkey normalization. Tying the two issues
will harm both processes."

"If Turkey does not want to fail this process, it should show very
quickly in practice that it is ready to ratify the Protocols and
establish relations," Nalbandian said.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

APRIL 9-15, 2010

HIGHLIGHTS:

MEDIA MONITORING OF ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI RELATIONS

A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE CASE ON THE INCIDENT IN FRONT OF RA PROCURACY

PARLIAMENTARY HEARINGS ON DRAFT LAWS DECRIMINALIZING LIBEL AND INSULT

TAX OFFICERS DEMAND LIABILITY REPAYMENT BY "GALA" TV COMPANY

MEDIA MONITORING OF ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI RELATIONS

The book "Armenian-Azerbaijani Relations in Media of Armenia and Azerbaijan"
is placed on YPC website, or home.ypc.am in "Studies" section (in
English, in Russian). The book presents the findings of monitoring 16 media
in Armenia and Azerbaijan during three months in 2008-2009. The research is
illustrative of the level of attention of media studied towards various
aspects of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, including the influence that the
protocols, signed between Turkey and Armenia on October 10, 2009, had on
them, the degree of accuracy of the information on these relations and on
developments in the neighboring country, as well as the presence and the
frequency of hatespeech elements in the newspaper and TV pieces. The
research was administered by Yerevan Press Club and "Yeni Nesil" Journalists
Union of Azerbaijan under the project "Unbiased Coverage of
Armenian-Azerbaijani Relations in Media", implemented by Eurasia Partnership
Foundation with the support of UK Foreign Commonwealth Office.

A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE CASE ON THE INCIDENT IN FRONT OF RA PROCURACY

On April 13 the investigator of Kentron Police Department of Yerevan
informed the free lance journalist Gagik Shamshian about the withdrawal of
the investigation on the case of the incident, which took place on February
24, 2010 in front of the RA Procuracy building. The case was dismissed in
the absence of corpus delicti in the actions. Besides, Gagik Shamshian was
told that with regard to the same incident criminal proceedings on charges
of false denunciation were instituted against him. As it has been reported,
on February 24 before the beginning of the session of the RA Procuracy
Collegium a dispute occurred between Gagik Shamshian, who was shooting in
the street, and investigator of the General Investigative Department of the
Police. Later, while providing medical assistant to the journalist, it
turned out that his eardrum was injured. Criminal proceedings on Articles
164 ("Impeding the legitimate professional activities of journalist") and
118 ("Beating") of the RA Criminal Code were instituted (see details in YPC
Weekly Newsletter, February 19-25, 2010).

PARLIAMENTARY HEARINGS ON DRAFT LAWS DECRIMINALIZING LIBEL AND INSULT

On April 9 in RA National Assembly hearings on draft laws decriminalizing
libel and insult, as well as introducing the institute of moral loss
compensation, were held. As it has been reported, the drafts were initiated
by NA deputies Hovhannes Margarian ("Orinats Yerkir" party), Ruben Gevorgian
("Prosperous Armenia" party) and Hovhannes Sahakian (Republican Party of
Armenia). The package of draft laws "On Introducing Amendments and
Supplements to the RA Civil Code", "On Introducing Amendments to the RA
Criminal Code" and "On Introducing an Amendment to the RA Criminal Procedure
Code" was adopted in first hearing on March 18 (see YPC Weekly Newsletter,
March 12-18, 2010).

The representatives of journalistic community, who were present at the
parliamentary hearings, voiced a number of key observations regarding the
document. According to YPC President Boris Navasardian, the package has to
be reconsidered in first hearing, for some structural changes should be
introduced to it.

For implementing the recommendations a working group, staffed by
representatives of journalistic associations, including YPC, was formed
under the NA Standing Commission on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and
Sport Issues.

TAX OFFICERS DEMAND LIABILITY REPAYMENT BY "GALA" TV COMPANY

On April 8 "GALA" TV company of Gyumri released a statement, noting that
State Revenue Committee by the RA Government demanded the founder of the TV
company, "CHAP" LLC, to repay income tax for 2008 and the delinquency charge
of a total of 822,000 AMD (more than $ 2,000). The owner of "CHAP" LLC Vahan
Khachatrian refuses to fulfill the demands of the tax inspection, as in 2008
the TV company worked in wane and did not have a single advertiser within 8
months, the statement emphasizes. As it has been reported, the tax audit at
"CHAP" and the consecutive litigations started as soon as, on October 22,
2007, Vahan Khachatrian announced about the attempts of various power
agencies to exert pressure on "GALA" (see details in "On Freedom of Speech
in Armenia" report for 2008 on YPC web-site or home.ypc.am in
"Studies" section).

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

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[email protected]

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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
_____________________________________ _______
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
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STATE DEPARTMENT: CRITICAL TIME FOR ARMENIA TURKEY NORMALIZATION
Armen Hareyan

HULIQ
department-critical-time-armenia-turkey-normalizat ion
APril 13 2010
SC

U.S. State Department’s spokesperson Philip Crowley says this is
a critical time period to implement the protocols that Armenia and
Turkey have signed last year. Armenian and Turkish delegations are
attending the Nuclear Stability Summit in Washington D.C. and held
a meeting yesterday let by the president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan
and the Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Crowley said Secretary Clinton had a meeting with the foreign minister
of Turkey Davutoglu today and they discussed the Turkey-Armenia
normalization and NATO’s relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina. Crowly
said the meeting was very positive and went over 45 minutes. There may
be a second meeting between the two either this evening or tomorrow.

Analysis does not exclude the the participation of the foreign minister
of Armenia Mr. Nalbandyan in this meeting. The United States, Russia
and EU strongly support the normalization of relations between Armenia
and Turkey. Turkey so far has dragged the ratification of the two
signed protocols to normalize its relations with neighbor Armenia in
its parliament conditioning it with its relations with Azerbaijan.

In the meantime the foreign ministers of Armenia and Turkey Mr. Edward
Nalbandyan and Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu continued yesterday’s dialogue
that took place at the meeting between the president of Armenia Serzh
Sargsyan and Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the
lunch hosted by the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the
participants of the Nuclear Summit in Washington D.C.

The working lunch was hosted in the honor of the foreign ministers
attending the nuclear summit yesterday and today in Washington. During
the lunch the foreign ministers of Armenia and turkey had a
conversation focusing it on yesterday’s discussion that took place
between Erdogan and Sargsyan.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF NEW YORK BASED NEWSPAPER SPEAKS ABOUT WHAT OBAMA, ERDOGAN AND SARGSYAN DISCUSSED IN WASHINGTON

Today
s/66018.html
April 13 2010
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with editor-in-chief of the New York-based
Russian-language "Noviy Rubezh" ("New Frontier") newspaper Nobert
Yevdayev.

Armenian President and Turkish Prime Minister and later Armenian and
U.S. Presidents met in Washington yesterday as part of the Nuclear
Security Summit. However, no significant statements followed…

First and foremost, I note that Barack Obama has no task to spoil
relations with Turkey and he may have a in a private conversation made
it possible for Erdogan to change attitude towards Iran’s nuclear
program, which is no less important in the relations between the
two countries.

Of course, all three parties discussed the state of the
Armenian-Turkish relations, but as far as we know, there were only
discussions.

As a person, being directly in the epicenter of events, in your
opinion, why did the U.S. Congress committee adopt the "Armenian
genocide" resolution?

Committee on Foreign Affairs of the U.S. House of Representatives
adopted resolution 23 to 22 votes labelling events in the Ottoman
Empire in 1915-1917 as "genocide". It was passed with a minimum margin
of votes. Adoption of a resolution is only personal opinion of a group
of congressmen, who produce expert doctrine of recommendatory nature
for the whole of the lower house of Congress.

One reason for adopting such a resolution was that some of these
members, being strongly politicized, listen to the voice of Armenian
lobbyists. Sponsors of the resolution Congressmen Adam Schiff and
George Radanovich represent the California State and, to some extent,
depend on the votes of the Armenians, constituting the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA), a large diaspora community
in California.

Another no less important reason is that the latest statements voiced
by Turkish PM Erdogan against Israel sparked a negative attitude of
some undecided congressmen who supported Israel, which outweighed the
bowl in favor of the resolution. In this case, the history was turned
into an instrument of policy blocking an opportunity to reveal truth.

The ideal way to disclose the truth is to be guided by impartial
research. For this purpose a commission consisting of independent
scientists should be set up, it should be provided with all the
archival materials by the both sides. Their authoritative scientific
opinion could be included in resolution of any country that is
interested in solving this problem.

How did the Azerbaijani and Turkish Diaspora act immediately after
the decision of the congressional committee? Were there any protests,
events, actions, etc.?

The Azerbaijani Diaspora organizations, together with their Turkish
counterparts, sent letters of protest to U.S. President Barack Obama,
State Department, personally senators and members of the House of
Representatives immediately after the resolution was adopted.

On April 15, 16, 17 Azerbaijan Association together with the Turkish
community will hold a joint conference on topical problems of the
South Caucasus and Turkey in New York, Columbia University. One of
the panels will be devoted to decision of the U.S. Congress Committee
to recognize the "Armenian genocide".

They also plan to hold the largest protest against the Congress
committee resolution at Times Square in the heart of New York on
April 24. President of the Azerbaijan Association of the USA (ASA)
Tomris Azeri will deliver a long speech on this issue. Posters will
be installed and film on the events of 1915 will be displayed in
large screens.

Do you share the opinion that Armenia lost from the spoiled relation
with Turkey most of all?

I think that opening the border with Turkey should not be linked with
the decision of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the U.S. Congress
recommending to recognize the "Armenian genocide".

Regarding resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, Turkey’s
solidarity with Azerbaijan in liberation of Armenian-occupied lands
is linked to the free movement of citizens, not only between countries
but also within one country.

What is Russia’s stance on this issue?

Russia is looking for points of convergence with Turkey, but does not
want to force things to the detriment of relations with Armenia. It
will be rather cautious and neutral.

How do you see resolution to the Karabakh conflict in a short-term
period?

Unfortunately, each new elected president of Armenia does not want to
be first who would make concessions in the Karabakh conflict. In this
case we can only hope to enhance and strengthen the work to attract
sympathy from other countries, including public diplomacy in this
matter in favor of Azerbaijan, as well as wisdom of the negotiators,
who must find a solution that would satisfy both countries.

ICRC REPRESENTATIVE REFRAINS FROM COMMENTING ON STATE OF ARMENIAN SOLDIERS IN AZERI CAPTIVITY

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 13, 2010 – 17:17 AMT 12:17 GMT

Currently, one Azerbaijani POW and one civilian are kept in Armenia
while there are six Armenian captives and an Armenian family in
Azerbaijan, ICRC Communication Coordinator in Armenia Ashot Astabatyan
told a press conference in Yerevan.

According to Mr. Astabatyan, ICRC representatives in Azerbaijan visit
Armenian captives, who are provided with the opportunity to contact
their family members. "International Committee of the Red Cross does
not deal with the destiny of the Armenian family, who crossed the
border, as neither their relatives nor state bodies have addressed
the ICRC with this problem," noted he.

He also refrained from answering the question whether the Azerbaijani
side violates the Armenian captives’ rights envisaged by the Geneva
Convention.

Commenting on the situation with missing persons, Mr. Astabatyan
noted that the Red Cross has been dealing with problems of missing
persons since its foundation in Armenia in 1992. "We have dealt on the
issue through three stages in 1995, 1997 and 2004. We have submitted
information about the missing persons to the Armenian leadership
during each stage," he said.

He added that the total number of missing persons makes 4565,
including 401 people from Armenia, 457 – from Karabakh, 3657 – from
Azerbaijan and 10 foreigners. "ICRC in Armenia has collected a data
base regarding 323 persons, who are missing from Armenia. It contains
photos and personal data about these people. Similar work is carried
out in NKR and Azerbaijan," he said.