Armenian News
Hürriyet, Turkey
Feb 7 2009
Turkish FM holds productive talks with Armenian counterpart, president
Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali Babacan held productive talks with his
Armenian counterpart and president on the sidelines of the 45th Munich
Security Conference on Saturday, a Turkish official said.
"Babacan met with his Armenian counterpart (Eduard) Nalbandian. Later,
he paid a visit of courtesy to President (Serzh) Sargsyan. They were
quite productive talks. These talks aim at normalizing the relations
between Turkey and Armenia," Burak Ozugergin, spokesman for the
Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was quoted by Anatolian Agency as
saying.
He said Babacan also came together with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden
and held bilateral talks with his German, Finnish and Estonian
counterparts.
Babacan last week met Nalbandian on the sidelines of the annual
meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, and said there has
been an ongoing process between Turkey and Armenia, who have no
diplomatic relations. He added that when a tangible outcome is
achieved it would be announced.
The two countries have no diplomatic relations and their border has
been closed for more than a decade, as Armenia presses the
international community with the backing of the diaspora to admit the
so-called "genocide" claims instead of accepting Turkey's call to
investigate the allegations, and over Armenia's invasion of 20 percent
territory of Azerbaijan.
A warmer period began in relations when Turkish President Abdullah Gul
paid a landmark visit to Yerevan in September to watch a World Cup
qualifying football match between the two countries on the invitation
of Sargsyan. The two countries have been holding contacts at the
ministerial level since.
Babacan will proceed to the Azerbaijani capital of Baku from Germany,
adding he would meet Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and President
Ilham Aliyev there on Monday.
Feb 7 2009
Turkish FM holds productive talks with Armenian counterpart, president
Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali Babacan held productive talks with his
Armenian counterpart and president on the sidelines of the 45th Munich
Security Conference on Saturday, a Turkish official said.
"Babacan met with his Armenian counterpart (Eduard) Nalbandian. Later,
he paid a visit of courtesy to President (Serzh) Sargsyan. They were
quite productive talks. These talks aim at normalizing the relations
between Turkey and Armenia," Burak Ozugergin, spokesman for the
Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was quoted by Anatolian Agency as
saying.
He said Babacan also came together with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden
and held bilateral talks with his German, Finnish and Estonian
counterparts.
Babacan last week met Nalbandian on the sidelines of the annual
meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, and said there has
been an ongoing process between Turkey and Armenia, who have no
diplomatic relations. He added that when a tangible outcome is
achieved it would be announced.
The two countries have no diplomatic relations and their border has
been closed for more than a decade, as Armenia presses the
international community with the backing of the diaspora to admit the
so-called "genocide" claims instead of accepting Turkey's call to
investigate the allegations, and over Armenia's invasion of 20 percent
territory of Azerbaijan.
A warmer period began in relations when Turkish President Abdullah Gul
paid a landmark visit to Yerevan in September to watch a World Cup
qualifying football match between the two countries on the invitation
of Sargsyan. The two countries have been holding contacts at the
ministerial level since.
Babacan will proceed to the Azerbaijani capital of Baku from Germany,
adding he would meet Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and President
Ilham Aliyev there on Monday.
[following inserted to show how political the Turkish administration is]
Hürriyet, Turkey
Feb 7 2009
Weighing 'non' on French NATO bid
ANKARA - With France seen to be pouring cold water on Turkey's EU bid,
NATO members are anxiously looking to see to what degree Turkey uses
its veto trump as leverage.
As many in NATO look to see Turkey's reaction to France's
announcement that France wanted to rejoin the organization's military
arm, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said Friday that Turkey was
evaluating the decision.
More than four decades after quitting NATO's military wing, France
wants back in the fold. But as all decisions are made unanimously in
NATO, all eyes have turned on Turkey, which holds a right to
veto. Critics have said how Ankara reacts will be important,
considering the French blow to the country's accession negotiations
with the European Union. Paris objects to the opening of five policy
chapters in Turkish-EU talks.
"What's important is when and how the decision will be implemented by
NATO," Babacan told reporters at Ankara's EsenboÄ?a airport
before departing for Munich, where he was to attend a security
conference.
Babacan said France was already an active member of the transatlantic
alliance and involved in some NATO operations, such as the operation
in Afghanistan. He said the issue had both legal and political
elements but that the political aspect was dominant.
"We are making an assessment of this. What's important is the NATO
alliance remains strong as an international organization, but I
believe the decision process over the French application will be
discussed in the coming days," he said. Meanwhile French Prime
Minister François Fillon appealed to Ankara in search of an
appropriate time for a visit, learned the Hürriyet Daily News &
Economic Review. Although the timing of the request coincides with
the debate on the French return to NATO's military wing, the sources
recalled that such a visit was long-planned and cannot be ultimately
linked to the NATO Summit that will take place April 3 and 4.
Irked by what it saw as a dominant role of the United States in NATO,
France pulled out of the NATO military wing in 1966. France's Le Monde
newspaper covered the issue and said Ankara was holding an important
card, referring to Turkey's veto power.
Babacan said NATO was considering the French decision. "But a large
portion of NATO member states are looking on this
positively. Processes are important here. I am sure the French will
submit the modalities on their return as soon as possible."Turkey has
resisted efforts by the European Union and NATO to cooperate more
closely, complaining that EU-member Greek Cyprus Ä? with whom it
has a longstanding dispute over the divided island Ä? is
blocking its bid for closer EU ties leading to membership.
Babacan, who will be in Munich between Feb. 6 and 8, will participate
in the Security Policies Conference and hold bilateral meetings on the
sidelines of the conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian."The timing of the meeting with the Armenian foreign
minister has been confirmed," he said. The two also met at the World
Economic Forum in Davos last week.
Babacan will visit Azerbaijan on Monday for talks with his
counterpart, Elmar Memmedyarov, and President Ilham Aliyev, according
to the ministry.
Fresno Bee, CA
Feb 7 2009
Armenian museum mired in conflict
Donor, nonprofit battle over genocide center.
Friday, Feb. 06, 2009
By Michael Doyle / Bee Washington Bureau E-Mail
WASHINGTON -- Another nasty fight is brewing around the Armenian
genocide, but this time it has nothing to do with diplomacy. It's all
about money and control of a museum.
For years, plans have been in the works for the Armenian Genocide
Museum of America just two blocks from the White House. That alone
might be enough to make diplomats cringe. Turkey -- a key U.S. ally --
regards the mere suggestion of genocide as an affront to its national
identity.
But this fight pits Armenian-Americans against one another. At issue
is a roughly $15 million pledge to help buy the four-story National
Bank of Washington building and four adjacent pieces of property.
Now the man behind the donation -- retired millionaire businessman
Gerard Cafesjian -- is trying to get his money back, saying he doesn't
like how the project has proceeded.
The nonprofit organization behind the museum, meanwhile, says
Cafesjian has been trying to meddle with its project.
Each side has sued the other.
The dispute has been anything but diplomatic, and it shows no signs of
abating. On Friday, attorneys for the warring parties met again in a
District of Columbia courtroom.
"The clients are very hostile to each other right now," attorney
Arnold Rosenfeld told a federal judge last year, a court transcript
shows.
Rosenfeld represents the Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial Inc.,
which wants to build what it describes as "the premier institution in
the United States dedicated to educating American and international
audiences about the Armenian Genocide."
The museum potentially has high appeal in the San Joaquin Valley and
other regions with large Armenian-American populations. It's been
discussed since the mid-1990s, and planners say they want the
35,000-square-foot facility open before 2011.
Judge is 'very irritated'
Armenian genocide discussions often provoke political disputes,
including denials from Turkish officials and discomfort within the
U.S. State Department. When completed, the museum will commemorate the
events between 1915 and 1923, when by some estimates upward of 1.5
million Armenians died during the final years of the Ottoman Empire
before Turkey was founded.
The competing lawsuits now resemble a bad divorce, as mutual rancor
feeds on itself and prior intimacies become potential vulnerabilities.
"I must say, I'm very irritated," U.S. District Judge Colleen
Kollar-Kotelly warned lawyers in August, a court transcript
shows. "These cases are not a good use of judicial resources and,
frankly, probably not of your client's resources, either."
On Thursday, in a ruling that keeps the lawsuits alive, Kollar-Kotelly
nonetheless characterized them as "very unfortunate."
"If you're disputing about money, it's going to become bitter," said
Barlow Der Mugrdechian, coordinator of the Armenian Studies Program at
California State University, Fresno.
Der Mugrdechian speculated that the legal dispute may have slowed
progress and undermined the proposed museum's public visibility in the
Valley. He said many people still haven't yet heard of the proposal,
though he predicted many would support it once they did.
Architects already are designing the project for 14th and G streets in
downtown Washington. The city's Historic Preservation Review Board
last year gave conceptual approval to use of the 83-year-old National
Bank of Washington building.
The Armenian Assembly of America initiated the museum planning and in
2003 secured an agreement with Cafesjian and the Cafesjian Family
Foundation.
Feb 7 2009
Armenian museum mired in conflict
Donor, nonprofit battle over genocide center.
Friday, Feb. 06, 2009
By Michael Doyle / Bee Washington Bureau E-Mail
WASHINGTON -- Another nasty fight is brewing around the Armenian
genocide, but this time it has nothing to do with diplomacy. It's all
about money and control of a museum.
For years, plans have been in the works for the Armenian Genocide
Museum of America just two blocks from the White House. That alone
might be enough to make diplomats cringe. Turkey -- a key U.S. ally --
regards the mere suggestion of genocide as an affront to its national
identity.
But this fight pits Armenian-Americans against one another. At issue
is a roughly $15 million pledge to help buy the four-story National
Bank of Washington building and four adjacent pieces of property.
Now the man behind the donation -- retired millionaire businessman
Gerard Cafesjian -- is trying to get his money back, saying he doesn't
like how the project has proceeded.
The nonprofit organization behind the museum, meanwhile, says
Cafesjian has been trying to meddle with its project.
Each side has sued the other.
The dispute has been anything but diplomatic, and it shows no signs of
abating. On Friday, attorneys for the warring parties met again in a
District of Columbia courtroom.
"The clients are very hostile to each other right now," attorney
Arnold Rosenfeld told a federal judge last year, a court transcript
shows.
Rosenfeld represents the Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial Inc.,
which wants to build what it describes as "the premier institution in
the United States dedicated to educating American and international
audiences about the Armenian Genocide."
The museum potentially has high appeal in the San Joaquin Valley and
other regions with large Armenian-American populations. It's been
discussed since the mid-1990s, and planners say they want the
35,000-square-foot facility open before 2011.
Judge is 'very irritated'
Armenian genocide discussions often provoke political disputes,
including denials from Turkish officials and discomfort within the
U.S. State Department. When completed, the museum will commemorate the
events between 1915 and 1923, when by some estimates upward of 1.5
million Armenians died during the final years of the Ottoman Empire
before Turkey was founded.
The competing lawsuits now resemble a bad divorce, as mutual rancor
feeds on itself and prior intimacies become potential vulnerabilities.
"I must say, I'm very irritated," U.S. District Judge Colleen
Kollar-Kotelly warned lawyers in August, a court transcript
shows. "These cases are not a good use of judicial resources and,
frankly, probably not of your client's resources, either."
On Thursday, in a ruling that keeps the lawsuits alive, Kollar-Kotelly
nonetheless characterized them as "very unfortunate."
"If you're disputing about money, it's going to become bitter," said
Barlow Der Mugrdechian, coordinator of the Armenian Studies Program at
California State University, Fresno.
Der Mugrdechian speculated that the legal dispute may have slowed
progress and undermined the proposed museum's public visibility in the
Valley. He said many people still haven't yet heard of the proposal,
though he predicted many would support it once they did.
Architects already are designing the project for 14th and G streets in
downtown Washington. The city's Historic Preservation Review Board
last year gave conceptual approval to use of the 83-year-old National
Bank of Washington building.
The Armenian Assembly of America initiated the museum planning and in
2003 secured an agreement with Cafesjian and the Cafesjian Family
Foundation.
6.3% unemployment in Armenia last year
YEREVAN, February 6. /ARKA/. The RA Statistical Service reports 6.3%
unemployment in Armenia last year against 7% in 2007.
Last December the RA State Employment Agency officially registered
90,200 jobseekers, with 77,000 of them being unemployed. The
unemployment status was granted to 74,700 people.
By the end of last December, 56,400 unemployed women had been
officially registered in Armenia ` 62.5%.
By the end of last year, Armenia's economically active population
reached 1,194,600, with 1,119,700 of them being employed.
By the end of last December, 16,600 people had been on the dole against
15,100 at the end of December 2007, the average monthly amount being
14,280 AMD (12,643 AMD at the end of December 2007).
By the end of last December, the officially registered demand for labor
force was 668 vacancies (115 unemployed people per vacancy). `
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
YEREVAN, February 6. /ARKA/. The RA Statistical Service reports 6.3%
unemployment in Armenia last year against 7% in 2007.
Last December the RA State Employment Agency officially registered
90,200 jobseekers, with 77,000 of them being unemployed. The
unemployment status was granted to 74,700 people.
By the end of last December, 56,400 unemployed women had been
officially registered in Armenia ` 62.5%.
By the end of last year, Armenia's economically active population
reached 1,194,600, with 1,119,700 of them being employed.
By the end of last December, 16,600 people had been on the dole against
15,100 at the end of December 2007, the average monthly amount being
14,280 AMD (12,643 AMD at the end of December 2007).
By the end of last December, the officially registered demand for labor
force was 668 vacancies (115 unemployed people per vacancy). `
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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