Author: Zakarian Garnik

YOUTH TEAM OF ARMENIAN JUDO LEAVING FOR WORLD CUP IN PARIS

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2009 18:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Grigor Ivanyan (w/c under 55 kg), Tigran Varosyan
(60 kg) and Artem Baghdasaryan (under 73 kg) will represent Armenia
at the World Cup in Judo under the direction of the team coach Tigran
Babayan. As the Armenian national team coach told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter, he hopes Armenian athletes will earn medals in this
championship.

"At the moment we have three athletes who are able to provide the
country at a tournament like the World Cup. We will leave for France
to take part in the championship on October 20," Mr. Babayan said.

OBAMA’S NOBEL GESTURES
by James Stonebridge

Gair Rhydd
Oct 16, 2009

After Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, James Stonebridge
looks at US foreign policy. Did he deserve it?

Upon receiving the Nobel Peace Prize last week, Barack Obama modestly
stated that he was ‘surprised and deeply humbled’ to have been awarded
the honour. As for the rest of the world, reaction to the news ranged
from endorsement to outright bewilderment. For those aligned with the
latter view, the question on their lips was, ‘what has he actually
done for world peace?’.

In his statement, President Obama was keen to play down any right to
the award, instead preferring to cite it as ‘a call to action’. For
many of his opponents though, there is growing criticism of a
government that is said to do plenty of ‘calling’, but very little
‘acting’.

The Prize is based upon a desire and commitment to reduce global
animosity. But has the direction on foreign policy taken by the
President deviated in any way from the Republican administration
prior to him?

In Afghanistan, Obama is thought to be considering the greater use of
political methods in order to end the conflict. Democrat officials,
such as the White House Press Secretary Robert Gibb, have been talking
of the potential re-integration of the Taliban into Afghan politics,
with the aim of drawing them away from the battlefield.

Gibb recently stated that discussions with moderate members of the
Taliban could be a possibility, since they are ‘not in the same group’
as the terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda. The conflict in the region
is unrelenting though, and there are no signs as yet that President
Obama has made anymore progress than President Bush did in ending
the war and securing peace.

Then there is Iran, and its insatiable quest to obtain nuclear
weapons. Obama was very active at the recent G20 summit in trying
to persuade others, in particular China and Russia, into adopting a
tougher stance against Iran. Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State,
wil into Moscow as part of her European tour in order to press the
Russians into threatening sanctions.

Obama has stressed that he is keen to engage in talks with the
Iranians, stating that to continue their nuclear programme is to take a
long stroll in the global political wilderness. The President’s stance
has led to a degree of co-operation with Iran, who is now apparently
open to talks, as well as foreign nuclear inspections. The emphasis
upon dialogue is a deviation from the harder line previously taken
by President Bush, who was keener on using the ‘stick’.

A triumph of US foreign policy has been the recent agreement between
Armenia and Turkey, which entails the opening up of their joint
border for the first time since 1993. This is a significant coup
for Hillary Clinton, who brokered the deal on the behalf of her
government. Clinton has also been in Northern Ireland on her European
tour, which emphasises Obama’s commitment for the US to continue to
act as an intermediary between Republicans and Unionists. This is a
familiar role for the US.

The foreign policy achievements of the new President have been few
since he took office in January and he has yet to adopt any substantial
changes to US tactics.

There is a reason for this however; he simply has not had the chance to
change anything yet. It is consequently unsurprising that the decision
of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee is seen by many people as being
inexplicable. Furthermore, Obama’s modesty is believable, and you
can imagine that he perhaps would have preferred to have accepted the
award a few years down the line, having achieved tangible world peace.

7 VERDICTS ON MONEY LAUNDERING ARTICLE RETURNED AS OF OCTOBER 2009

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2009 15:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ So far, there have been 7 verdicts on Money
Laundering article, of which 1 was returned in 2006 and 6 (still being
processed) – in 2006, Head of CBA Financial Monitoring Center Daniel
Azatyan told a news conference in Yerevan.

Financial Monitoring Center was established in 2005. Its functions
are aimed at combating money laundering and terrorism funding.

As of October 1, it has 417 financial and 639 non-financial accounting
organizations.

EU MANIVAL Committee has approved the report on the third stage of
fight against money laundering and terrorism funding.

MANIVAL Committee is a specialized agency making mutual assessment
of systems on combating money laundering and terrorism funding in EU
member states. Armenia has been a Committee member since 2006.

ASTARJIAN: NON ILLEGITIMI CARBORUNDUM
By Henry D. Astarjian

14/astarjian-non-illegitimi-carborundum/
October 14, 2009

That is as far as my Latin goes. Non Illegitimi Carborundum: Don’t
let the bastards get to you!

Just minutes ago I watched on the tube the Turkish and the Armenian
comic legends, sitting side by side with their grim faces dripping
pungent sweat, affixing their signatures to deceptive documents:
The Turk on a document of victory, and the Armenian on a document of
surrender. Post-signature, Turkish foreign minister Ahmed Davutoglu
sported a silly grin, further stretching his mustache, eager to shake
hands with his counterpart, while the Armenian foreign minister,
sensing defeat of historic proportion, had a somber masked face. For
eight million Armenians it was a moment that "…will live in infamy"
(Roosevelt).

There was a three and a half hour delay in the signing
ceremony. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was on her
way to the University of Zurich, learned about the disagreement and
returned to her hotel.

What caused the delay was a planned post-signing Turkish statement,
which our shrewd negotiating team had discovered at the last
minute. Hillary then convinced both parties to refrain from making
post-signing statements. And congratulations, the protocols were
signed.

Who won is not even a matter of speculation. The protocol reminded me
of an old story that tells about a partnership between a farmer and a
bear who decided to farm together. The farmer convinced the bear to
keep what grows above the ground, and give him what is under. The
bear agreed. So, they planted wheat. The next time, the bear,
feeling cheated, asked for what grows above ground, so the farmer
planted carrots.

This is the sum total of Armenia’s relationship with Turkey defined by
this protocol: Amateur Armenian diplomacy midgets trying to challenge
a 500-year-old Turkish diplomatic giant-and survive. Barring that
inequity, the Armenian delegation was negotiating from a position
of weakness. They did not have the support of the Armenian nation,
which would have given them potency and greatness.

The people of Armenia, indeed the Armenian nation, do not want
compromises on the genocide issue. These protocols do.

The people of Armenia do not want to subject Karabagh to the will of
the Azeris and Turkey. These protocols do.

The people of Armenia do not want to affix the border of their country
as it is now. The protocols do.

The government of Armenia, defying the will of its people, indeed the
entire Armenian nation, is affixing its signature in lieu of opening
the borders. The borders are already open. Armenia, even Karabagh,
is full of Turkish goods. The hottest, best-selling item in Yerevan
are Turkish CDs of Turkish songs. The invasion of a commercial
and cultural Turkey has already taken place in Yerevan. How would
opening the borders, at this high price, change the equation? What
are Armenia’s gains?

Present at Zurich’s protocol signing were Clinton, Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Ivanov, and the European Union’s Javier Solana, all
representing supreme powers. Their presence indicated the importance of
Armenia in the struggle for control of the region. With this agreement,
Armenia will be in line with the United States, effectively expelling
Russian forces. It will also dismember Iran from its main supporter
Russia. Mission accomplished. Additional analysis on the geopolitical
implications of this protocol will be addressed in the future.

At the expense of saying, "Didn’t I say so?" What we have been
cautioning about has already become a reality: This morning, barely
24 hours after the signing of the protocols, and much to my delight,
Prime Minister Recep Tayipp Erdogan departed from the text and sprit
of the agreement by announcing that "the border with Armenia will
not be open, unless the Karabagh issue is solved." It did not take
long for the Turkish government show its true colors. This has to be
a lesson for the Armenian government. Maybe, just maybe, they can can
the issue in parliament, thus starting a new phase with the diasporan
Armenians, who are so terribly worried about Karabagh and disgusted
with the arrogance of the government of Armenia. Maybe, just maybe,
this will teach them a lesson about dealing with the Turkish diplomacy,
whose agreements give us what is above ground once, and under ground
another time.

It should have been evident to the Armenians that their interlocutors
represent a chauvinist, neo-fascist government, which is untrustworthy
at best. That their hatred of Armenians is inherent and centuries-old,
that the modern, secular, and democratic Turkey of Kemal Ataturk has
augmented the individual Turk’s brutal and cruel attitude towards
its minorities. That their hero, the father of their country,
Ataturk, beheaded thousands of Kurds for speaking Kurdish. That
successive Turkish Kemalist governments ran prisons in Diyarbakir
where Kurdish political inmates were made to eat human excrements,
and have truncheons shoved up their asses while other inmates licked it
(see Gunaysu, Armenian Weekly, Oct. 17, 2009). Bastards!

"Bastardhood" is not just violation of human rights the way it is
practiced in Turkey. It can also befit political conduct. And no one
can surpass Turkish diplomacy in such conduct!

What they have done to the Kurdish nation is almost equal to what they
have done to the Armenian nation. The genocide is a living testimonial
to this. Unless and until Turkey recognizes the genocide, there should
be no reconciliation.

In the meantime, my fellow Armenians, Non Illegitimi Carborundum!

PROTOCOL SIGNING CEREMONY PROVED THE DOCUMENTS TO BE FULL OF CONTRADICTIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.10.2009 17:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA-Turkish Protocols symbolizing the official
start of diplomatic relations between the countries were concluded
in indecisive and non-reassuring atmosphere, ex -RA Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan stated, noting that protocol signing ceremony was
held in "dead silence".

"The "historical" event did not end with statements on either
long-awaited event or Protocols’ contents. Protocol signing ceremony
proved the documents to be full of contradictions," Vardan Oskanyan
said, noting that though Protocols raised hopes, they cannot serve
as a basis for establishment of stable relations between RA and Turkey.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT DUE TO LEAVE FOR TURKEY TODAY

Panorama.am
11:41 14/10/2009

At the invitation of Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul, Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan is due to leave for Turkey today to watch
Turkey-Armenia football match in Bursa Ataturk Stadium Wednesday
evening. Remind that the President had announced two days ago he
"sees no basis not to accept Turkey’s President’s invitation."

This is the final match of the Armenian National Football team in
the frames of the World Cup 2010 qualifying tour, to play against
Turkey’s team in Bursa Ataturk stadium.

By now the two teams have had only one meeting. The match was due in
Yerevan, September, 6, 2008, when Turkey’s team scored 2:0 against
Armenians.

This is the seventh match of Turkey’s National Football team in Bursa
stadium. In the previous 6 matches the team has celebrated 2 victories,
2 matches ended in draw and at 2 others the team lost. So, the meeting
with the Armenian team will disrupt the balance, irrespective of the
match outcome.

‘BATTLE OF THE FLAGS’ IN BURSA CONTINUES

Tert.am
14:44 14.10.09

The "Battle of the Flags" continues in Bursa today. During the
pre-match morning FIFA-organized delegations meeting, the FIFA
commissioner requested that no flags whatsoever be allowed into
the stadium.

As reported by Tert.am’s correspondent from Bursa, the FIFA
commissioner noted that the organization is even prepared to send
a formal letter to Bursa’s city hall and to the Turkish Football
Federation, since this is a match which is taking place under FIFA’s
patronage and FIFA is the one who makes decisions in this regard.

It’s important to note, however, that already one can see a few
Azerbaijani flags strung from trees near the stadium. There is the
impression that, in the city, this topic is deliberately getting
heated.

PRESS RELEASE
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Governmental Buiding 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Hasmik Grigoryan
Tel: +(3741) 56 01 06 ext. 105
Fax: +(3741) 52 15 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

15 October, 2009

Hayastan All-Armenian Fund establishes affiliate in Greece

Number of worldwide affiliates grows to 17

Yerevan, October 15, 2009 – Greece has become home to the Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund’s newest local committee. On October 6, the fund’s Greek
affiliate was officially launched when its founding assembly convened in
Athens. With this latest addition, the fund now boasts 17 affiliates in 15
countries.

Participants of the founding assembly included Vahram Kazhoyan, former
ambassador of Armenia in Greece, representatives of Armenian political
parties, and other Greek-Armenian community leaders. Hrach Hovhannisyan,
advisor to the executive director of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund,
familiarized attendees with the particulars of the fund’s organizational
structure, current programs, and methodology. Also discussed were various
fundraising measures and mechanisms as well as the coordination of the Greek
affiliate’s day-to-day activities. Subsequently the attendees examined the
new affiliate’s scope of upcoming activities and determined the relevant
next steps.

Meeting participants were further familiarized with the fund’s objectives as
they watched a documentary film on Shushi. The reconstruction and
development of Shushi, along with the ongoing development of rural
communities in Armenia and Artsakh, are at the heart of the fund’s current
goals. The Shushi documentary will have its public debut on November 26,
during the Telethon 2009 broadcast.
"I salute the Greek-Armenian community for joining the worldwide ranks of
the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund," said Hrach Hovhannisyan in his remarks at
the founding meeting. "Due to historical circumstances, today we Armenians
live and work in various countries of the world, yet we’re united by our
overarching mission to develop our homeland and help it become prosperous."

The founding assembly unanimously elected Vatche Der-Garabedian as chair of
the Greek affiliate. Der-Garabedian is an ophthalmologist and a highly
respected member of the Greek-Armenian community. The assembly also elected
Vahan Bzdikian and Bedros Kassardjian as deputy chairs.

Plans for the establishment of the Greek affiliate have been underway since
April of this year, when the fund’s executive director, Ara Vardanyan, who
at that time was acting executive director, met with prominent members of
the Greek-Armenian community and discussed the possibility of founding a
local affiliate.

ARMENIA AND TURKEY SIGN PEACE DEAL
By Delphine Strauss in Ankara

FT
October 11 2009 16:52

Turkey and Armenia signed accords aimed at ending a century of
hostility on Saturday, but only after a nail-biting delay that showed
how difficult it could still be to turn promises on paper into reality.

Foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward Nalbandian finally
emerged to sign protocols setting a timetable for the two countries
to restore diplomatic relations and open their shared border – after
agreeing neither would make any statement.

After a handshake, punctuated by smiles only from Turkey’s
Mr Davutoglu, the two men received hugs and congratulations from
onlookers including Bernard Kouchner, French foreign minister, the
European Union’s Javier Solana and Russia’s Sergei Lavrov.

By mending ties, Turkey stands to gain influence in the Caucasus,
smooth its path to EU membership – and lessen the perennial threat of
US legislators recognising Ottoman massacres of up to 1.5m Armenians
in 1915 as genocide.

Armenia would also gain through trade links with a large economy
closely tied to the EU if Turkey reopens the border it closed in 1994
to support its ally Azerbaijan in a conflict with Armenia over the
disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

But Armenians’ anger at Turkey’s denial that the 1915 killings were
genocide, and Turks’ anger at Armenia’s co ntinued occupation of Azeri
territory, mean each government faces big obstacles to ratifying and
implementing the agreement – even though each should technically be
able to win a parliamentary vote.

"We are sending the protocols to parliament, but to ratify these our
parliament will certainly watch what is happening in the matter of
Azerbaijan and Armenia," Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish prime minister,
told his party on Sunday. "Turkey cannot take a positive step towards
Armenia unless Armenia withdraws from Azeri land."

Azerbaijan has frequently hinted that it could reconsider oil and
gas sales to Turkey if Ankara mends ties with Yerevan before any
solution to the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh. The foreign ministry
in Baku said in a statement on Sunday that the agreement was against
its national interests and "cast a shadow over fraternal relations"
with Turkey, which are based on close ethnic ties.

The protocols make no mention of Nagorno-Karabakh, and Armenia protests
that there should be no linkage between the two issues. Although
Russian diplomats said talks between the Armenian and Azeri presidents
last Thursday were "constructive", Ilham Aliyev, Azeri president,
later told state television there had been no progress.

The EU and United Nations welcomed the agreement’s signature, as did
Russia, but Armenian diaspora organizations condemning it included
the Armenian National20Committee of America, who claimed it "proves,
sadly, that genocide pays."

"BUY ARMENIAN PRODUCTS", CAMPAIGN TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN ON NOV. 1- DEC. 30

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
13.10.2009 17:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On November 1-December 30, Yerevan will host "Buy
Armenian Products" national campaign within the frames of "From Water
to Market" program.

Campaign aims to increase consumer demand for local products both in
Armenian and foreign markets.

It is planned to conduct press conferences and advertisement campaigns
in supermarkets, screen video rolls on Armenian TV channels and
organize sampling of Armenian food products.

Main sponsor of the event is "Millennium Challenges" foundation.