Author: Virabian Jhanna

GEORGIA’S AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA SAYS REOPENING OF UPPER LARS IMPORTANT FOR ARMENIA

ARKA
March 11, 2010

YEREVAN, March 11, /ARKA/. Georgia’s ambassador to Armenia, Grigol
Tabatadze, said today the reopening of a key border crossing Upper Lars
on Georgian-Russian border has a very important economic importance
for Armenia.

‘The reopening does not represent any financial interest for Georgia
because under our legislation transit is not taxed,’ he said, adding
that the border is open for movement of any type of vehicle, people
and animals.

The Upper Lars is the only overland conduits to the outside world
for Armenian businessman. The Upper Lars border crossing was closed
by Moscow in June 2006 for repair.

PRESS RELEASE
Assembly
March 11, 2010
Contact: Press Department
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA VISITS UTAH CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION

Congressman Matheson Pledges to Join Armenian Caucus

Salt Lake City, UT – With attention focused on the House Foreign
Affairs Committee vote on the Armenian Genocide resolution, the
Armenian Assembly of America’s (Assembly) Western Region office
continued its outreach in the weeks and days leading up to the vote.

In addition to ongoing efforts with the Members of the California
delegation, Western Region Director Yeghig Keshishian travelled to
Utah for district meetings with Congressmen Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Rob
Bishop (R-UT) and Jim Matheson (D-UT) to discuss H. Res. 252, the
Armenian Genocide resolution, as well as the importance of the
U.S.-Armenia relationship.

During the meeting with Rep. Matheson, the Assembly team, lead by
Keshishian, thanked the Congressman for his steadfast support as Mr.
Matheson is currently the only member from the Utah Congressional
delegation who has cosponsored the Armenian Genocide resolution.

Rep. Matheson pledged to join the Armenian Caucus as an added sign of
support. While Congressman Bishop is not yet a cosponsor of the
Armenian Genocide resolution, he is a Member of the Armenian Caucus.
Keshishian met with Rep. Bishop to enlist his support of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution.

In the face of the relentless campaign to deny the incontrovertible
fact of the Armenian Genocide, and the proud chapter of America’s
humanitarian intervention to save the survivors, Keshishian reiterated
the importance to properly recognize this crime against humanity to
help prevent future genocides.

Keshishian stressed the moral importance behind seeing this resolution
passed during his visit with Congressman Chaffetz earlier in the week.
Rep. Chaffetz is no stranger to Armenian issues, having served as
Campaign Manager and later as Chief of Staff for former Utah Governor,
now U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, Jr. In the aftermath of the
devastating 1988 earthquake in Armenia, Huntsman Sr. became a leading
international advocate on behalf of the people of Armenia, providing
food relief to over 500,000 Armenians left homeless from the tragedy.
Over the years the Huntsman family has donated nearly $20 million in
relief and assistance to the Republic of Armenia; and, in 2007, the
Huntsman family established 13 scholarships for students from Armenia
to attend Utah State University over a four-year period.

The Assembly continues to work closely with members of the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, in not only expanding Caucus
membership, but also cosponsorship of H. Res. 252.

Accompanying Keshishian to the district meetings were representatives
from the Armenian Hyrenik Youth Organization (AHYO) Board – including,
Karine Sargsian and former Assembly Yerevan Interns Natalie Torosyan
and Zaven Sargsian. "AHYO is grateful to the Armenian Assembly and
Yeghig Keshishian for his recent visit to Utah. We share the same
level of importance in raising awareness of Armenian issues in Utah,
believing that our joint efforts will lead to tangible benefits for
the Diaspora," stated Sargsian.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

###

NR# 2010-20

Photo Caption 1, L-R: Zaven Sargsian, Karine Sargsian, Rep. Jim
Matheson (D-UT), Yeghig Keshishian

Photo Caption 2, L-R: Yeghig Keshishian, Natalie Torosyan, Rep. Jason
Chaffetz (R-UT), Zaven Sargsian

NATO ROSE-ROTH SEMINAR OPENED IN YEREVAN

news.am
March 11 2010
Armenia

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly attaches high importance to Armenia
and the entire region, Loic Bouvard, the former President of the
North Atlantic Parliamentary Assembly and French Parliament member
stated at the NATO PA Rose-Roth Seminar in Yerevan.

He maintained that conflicts impede regional development. In this
context, Mr. Bouvard pointed out that the NATO PA will contribute
to settling of regional conflicts, including the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

Speaking of the Armenian-Turkish ties, Bouvard welcomed the two
nations’ efforts to normalize the relations. He voiced hope that
all the obstacles will be removed, adding that history is not to be
consigned to oblivion. "I hope the nations will find the strength to
admit their history," Bouvard said.

He stressed that the Rose-Roth seminar in Yerevan allows for a
dialogue between the countries of the region. Although, unlike Georgia,
Armenia is not seeking NATO membership, yet it is a crucial partner,
the official stated.

A 3-day "Regional processes in the South Caucasus: Challenges,
Opportunities, Prospects" NATO PA Rose-Roth seminar opened in Yerevan
on March 11.

SARKOZY RECOIT LE PRESIDENT ARMENIEN SARKISSIAN

Sympatico
http://nouvelles.sympatico.c a/Monde/ContentPosting_CP_monde?newsitemid=1024519 28&feedname=CP-MONDE&show=False&number =0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&a mp;abc=abc&date=True
10 Mars 2010
Canada

PARIS РLe pr̩sident francais Nicolas Sarkozy et son homologue
arménien Serge Sarkissian ont évoqué mercredi les efforts
pour le règlement du conflit du Haut Karabakh et la relation
turco-arménienne, lors d’un déjeuner de travail a l’Elysée, a-t-on
appris auprès de la présidence.

En ce qui concerne le conflit lié a l’occupation arménienne
depuis 1993 en Azerbaïdjan, le président francais a fait part a son
homologue de sa "préoccupation face a l’essoufflement de la dynamique
positive engagée il y a 18 mois", estimant que chacun doit faire les
"efforts et les compromis nécessaires", a fait savoir l’Elysée.

MM. Sarkozy et Sarkissian sont aussi revenus sur le protocole d’accord
entre la Turquie et l’Arménie, signé en octobre dernier. Le
président a invité les deux pays a "ne pas laisser passer cette
occasion historique".

Par ailleurs, les deux chefs d’Etat ont également abordé la relation
entre la France et l’Arménie, souhaitant approfondir les relations
économiques mais aussi la coopération dans le domaine de la formation
et de l’enseignement. L’idée de visites d’Etat croisées a été
évoquÃ&# xA9;e et le principe en a été accepté par les deux présidents,
précise l’Elysée.

JANSEM AND TONINO GUERRA AWARDED ORDERS OF HONOR

armradio.am
10.03.2010 16:39

President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on awarding an Order of Honor
to French Armenian artist Hovhannes Mirijan Semerjyan (Jansem) for his
significant contribution to the reinforcement of the Armenian-French
cultural ties and on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

According to another presidential decree, cinematographer Tonino Guerra
was also awarded an Order of Honor for his great contribution to the
reinforcement of the Armenian-Italian cultural ties, his great role
in world cinematography and on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

RENOWNED ARTIST JANSEM AWARDED WITH ARMENIAN ORDER OF GLORY

news.am
March 10 2010
Armenia

RA President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on awarding renowned
artist Hovhannes Semerjyan (Jean Jansem) with Order of Glory for
his contribution to expansion of Armenia-France cultural ties on his
90th anniversary.

Under another decree, popular Italian screenwriter Tonino Guerra was
awarded with Order of Glory for his contribution to the development
of Armenian-Italian cultural relations.

March 9, RA President Serzh Sargsyan visited the Matignon gallery and
familiarized himself with works by renowned French artist of Armenian
origin Jean Jansem, who was accompanying the Armenian leader.

Jean Jansem said he always comes to Armenia with sinking heart and
is proud of being Armenian. He also noted that is very concerned that
his sons and grandsons do not speak Armenian.

In response, RA President said that Armenian is the one who is Armenian
in spirit. And for spreading Armenian abroad, the Ministry of Diaspora
was established.

As NEWS.am reported previously, the Armenian delegation led by RA
President Serzh Sargsyan arrived for a 3-day official visit to France.

The delegation includes RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Minister
of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, and Chairman of the Armenia-France
parliamentary friendship group Ara Babloyan.

On March 10, at Elysée, the Armenian leader is to hold a meeting
with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy. The sides will discuss
Armenian-French cooperation, international and regional problems.

TURKEY, ANGRY AT U.S., PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR IRAN
By Patrick Goodenough

CNSNews.com
s/article/62473
March 9 2010

Leftist Turks protest against the United States in Istanbul, Turkey,
on Friday, March 5, 2010, a day after a U.S. congressional committee
approved a resolution branding the World War I-era killing of Armenians
a genocide. The banner says Turkey should boot the U.S.

military from the Incirlik military base in southern Turkey. (AP
Photo/Ibrahim Usta)(CNSNews.com) – As the Obama administration
scrambles to contain the diplomatic fallout with Turkey over the
"Armenian genocide" resolution in the U.S. Congress, Turkey’s tilt
towards Iran continues largely unnoticed.

Turkey’s "formerly Islamist" president, Abdullah Gul, in a weekend
telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart called for a
deepening of bilateral relations and voiced support for Iran in
international forums. Turkey is non-permanent member of the U.N.

Security Council, the most important international body to have Iran
on its current agenda.

The encounter was virtually ignored by media outside of Turkey
and Iran.

Iran’s Fars news agency said Gul told President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
"that the two countries would defend each other’s positions at
international forums, and emphasized the importance of tightening
the relations between them and of consulting on regional and security
matters."

Ahmadinejad praised Ankara’s policies and "strong and progressive"
bilateral ties. He said that "regional and global developments
are changing in favor of Iran and Turkey," Turkey’s Dunya Gazetesi
newspaper reported.

President Barack Obama holds a town hall meeting in Istanbul, Turkey,
on Tuesday, April 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)The phone
call came three days after Gul and President Obama spoke on the phone,
on the eve of a vote in the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee on
a resolution condemning as "genocide" the mass killings of Armenians
in the Ottoman Empire early last century.

The resolution passed by a single vote, Turkey withdrew its ambassador
in protest, and the administration has vowed to prevent it from going
to the House floor.

Obama has been at pains to strengthen ties with Turkey, a longstanding
NATO ally, including it on the itinerary for his first presidential
trip outside North America last April, and welcoming Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a personal friend when meeting with the Turk
at the Oval Office in December.

Yet under Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) ally,
Gul, Turkey’s policies regarding Iran are increasingly at odds with
those of Washington. Turkish and Iranian leaders have paid reciprocal
visits and Erdogan has referred to Ahmadinejad as his "friend."

As the Obama administration works with allies to win support for
a new U.N. Security Council Iran sanctions resolution, it faces
resistance not just from China, but also from Turkey and several
other non-permanent council members.

Last November, Turkey declined to support a resolution at the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) censuring Iran for its
uranium enrichment activities, choosing instead to abstain.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses lawmakers in
Ankara on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009. (AP Photo)Gul’s conversation with
Ahmadinejad came on the eve of a visit to the region by Vice President
Joe Biden, with Iran high on the agenda.

While the U.S., Israel and others suspect that Iran’s nuclear program
is a cover for attempts to develop an atomic weapons capability,
Turkey says it supports Tehran’s position that the program is for
peaceful purposes only.

Amid a growing trading relationship, the two nations have also
signed agreements and protocols on energy investment, including joint
exploration and production of natural gas reserves in Iran. Erdogan
is pushing, against U.S. wishes, for Iran to be included in a key
pipeline project that aims to bringing Caspian natural gas to Western
markets via Turkey and bypassing Russia.

Iran and Turkey have long histories of animosity, underscored when
the Islamic revolution of 1979 widened the gap between fundamentalist
Iran and traditionally Muslim but secular Turkey.

The warming of tie over the past year or so has coincided with Ankara’s
increasingly outspoken stance on the Israel-Arab conflict.

Under Erdogan, Turkey has shifted from being a key mediator between
Israel and its neighbors – notably Syria – to becoming one of Israel’s
most ardent regional critics.

In a weekend interview with a Saudi newspaper Al Wattan, Erdogan
expressed his support for the Palestinians, whether they were
members of Mahmoud Abbas’ West Bank-based Fatah faction or Hamas,
the Iranian-backed terrorist group ruling Gaza.

"I love my brothers in Fatah and my brothers in Hamas wherever they
are," the paper quoted the Turkish prime minister as saying, urging
the rival factions to unite because division was only in the interests
of their "enemies."

Despite their AKP having Islamist roots, both Erdogan and Gul insist
that it is committed to a secular state.

The government recently launched a crackdown on the fervently secular
military, accusing dozens of commanders of links to an alleged
coup plot.

JOAO SOARES TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA

Aysor
March 9 2010
Armenia

On March 10 at the evening the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly delegation
headed by President Joao Soares will arrive at Armenia.

The information and public relations department of the NA informs
that meetings will be held with the RA President Serzh Sargsyan,
RA NA chairman Hovik Abrahamyan, NKR NA chairman Ashot Ghulyan and
FM Edward Nalbandian. The delegation will be received also by the
Karekin II Catholicos of all Armenians.

The delegation will put a wreath on the memorial of the victims of
the Armenian Genocide in 1915. On March 11 the President of the OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly Joao Soares will partake in the NATO seminar
of PA Rose-Roth.

ARMMONO FESTIVAL OPENS WITH SOLO PERFORMANCE OF GENNADY KHAZANOV

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.03.2010 17:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armmono International Theater Festival will open on
March 17 with one man show of Gennady Khazanov "I remember". 18 shows
from Russia, France, Switzerland, Poland, Serbia and Armenia will be
performed in the frames of the seven-day festival, PR manager of the
festival Vlad Mouradyan said.

Official opening of "Armmono will be held in the Sport-Concert Complex
after Karen Demirchyan.

French Theater, Moscow Theater after Vakhtangov will take part in the
festival, famous actress Olga Kuzina (joint Russian-Armenian project),
Aram Hovhannisyan, Karine Janjughazyan, Aren Vatyan are involved.

Armmono International Theater Festival is held under the auspices of
the Armenia’s NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan with the assistance of the
Ministry of Culture and the Theatre Workers’ Union of Armenia. For
the first time the festival was held on 24 September 2003.

Agence France Presse
March 6, 2010 Saturday 11:39 AM GMT

Turkish PM says US genocide vote a ‘parody’

ANKARA, March 6 2010

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Saturday slammed as a
"parody" a US Congress panel’s resolution branding the Ottoman-era
massacre of Armenians as genocide and warned it would harm countries
concerned.

Thursday’s approval of the resolution at the US House Foreign Affairs
Committee was the product of "erroneous policies" and "will not bind
us," Erdogan said in televised remarks.

Turkey will "not be deterred by such a comedy, a parody, a fait
accompli," he said in a speech to a businessmen’s group in Istanbul.

"Let me say quite clearly that this resolution will not harm us. But
it will damage bilateral relations between countries, their interests
and their visions for the future. We will not be the losers," he
added.

An infuriated Turkey recalled its ambassador to Washington after the
committee narrowly approved the text on Thursday, opening the door for
a vote at the full House of Representatives.

The non-binding resolution calls on President Barack Obama to ensure
that US foreign policy reflects an understanding of the "genocide" and
to label the mass killings as such in his annual statement on the
issue.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin were killed during World
War I as the Ottoman Empire fell apart, a label that Turkey
categorically rejects.