Sargsyan in the spotlight‏

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TURKEY-ARMENIA PEACE UNDER THREAT AMID MUTUAL ACCUSATIONS

Agence France Presse - 12 February - A historic deal to normalise ties between Turkey and Armenia is under risk of collapsing as the two neighbours blame each other for blocking the reconciliation process whose future also depends on Washington and Moscow, analysts say.

After months of Swiss mediation, Ankara and Yerevan signed two protocols in October to establish diplomatic ties and reopen their shared border, in a major step towards ending decades of hostility stemming from World War I-era massacres of Armenians under Ottoman Turks. The protocols must now be ratified by both countries' Parliaments, but the process has stalled for the past five months with the two countries accusing each other of trying to modify the landmark deals. "The deal is on the brink of collapse unless the Parliaments of Turkey and Armenia ratify the agreement", said David Philips, a US regional specialist in an opinion piece for the Boston Globe. The reconciliation process hit the rocks following a January ruling by the Armenian Constitutional Court which upheld the legality of the protocols but said they could not contradict Yerevan's official position that the 1915-1917 mass killings of Armenians was genocide -- a label fiercely rejected by Ankara. An angry Turkey immediately accused Armenia of trying to re-write and set new conditions on the deals, while Yerevan charged Ankara with blocking the process and warned that the rapprochement was under threat of collapse. Upping the ante, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said on Wednesday in London that the Armenian Parliament would vote on the protocols if the Turkish Parliament went ahead with the ballot. In a written message to Sargsyan on Thursday, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Ankara was determined to work toward reconciliation "as long as the aims and obligations of both countries are preserved". Turkey fears that the Armenian court ruling has shaken the foundation of the protocols and dealt a big blow to a planned independent commission to study the World War I mass killings of Armenians, because it effectively dictates what the result should be. It is also wary of the court's reference to "western Armenia", which some in Turkey see as Armenian claims on eastern Turkey. Philips also fears that the rapprochement could be threatened by a possible recognition of the killings as genocide by the US Congress on April 24, the day on which Armenians commemorate the killings. Left alone by its ally, Turkey would "feel justified to abandon the protocols", Philips said. Yerevan, on the other hand, has accused Ankara of setting preconditions to the protocols by linking normalising of Turkish-Armenian ties to progress between Armenia and neighbouring Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute -- a link that Yerevan rejects. "The Turkish government will not put the protocols before the assembly before there is a step forward from Armenia on Nagorno-Karabakh", said Mehmet Ali Birand, a political commentator writing in the English-language Hurriyet Daily News. "They (Ankara) are not expecting a complete solution of the dispute but what they want is the beginning of an Armenian withdrawal from certain positions in Nagorno-Karabakh", he added. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict dates from the early 1990s, when ethnic Armenian forces backed by Yerevan seized the region from Azerbaijan in a war that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives. In a show of solidarity with Azerbaijan, Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993, dealing a heavy economic blow on the impoverished nation. Since 1992, a group headed by France, the United States and Russia -- Armenia's close ally -- have been mediating to find a solution, but to no avail.

SARGSYAN WARNS AZERIS ON ARMENIAN ARMY DAY

Source: Asbarez - YEREVAN (Combined Sources) - In a thinly veiled warning to Azerbaijan, President Serzh Sargsyan said on Thursday that a military assault on Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh would trigger "serious counterattacks" with strong elements of surprise. Sargsyan and his leading political opponents praised the Armenian Armed Forces as the country marked the 18th anniversary of their official establishment. They visited the Yerablur military cemetery in Yerevan to pay their respects to Armenians killed in the 1991-1994 Karabakh liberation struggle. "Today the Armenian army is the iron guarantee that ensures our survival and development and is a sobering deterrent against any hot-headed adventure", Sargsyan said in a written address to the nation dedicated to what is a public holiday called Army Day. "The author of any provocation must definitely expect serious counterattacks and big surprises from the Armenian army", he said. "Failure to realize that is at least naivety". Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian, who is a prominent war veteran, issued a similar warning earlier this week. He said Armenian forces have significantly beefed up defense fortifications around Karabakh in recent years and are prepared for renewed fighting regularly threatened by Azerbaijan. Sargsyan visited Yerablur together with other Armenian leaders to lay a wreath at the tomb of Armenia's first Defense Minister, the late Vazgen Sargsyan. He also used the occasion to decorate and promote several senior army officers. "Today you are awarded for your achievements, and it's thanks to your achievements that our country becomes stronger both politically and psychologically", he said during the award ceremony. "With these awards our country and people express their appreciation and gratitude to those, who devotedly serve the Republic of Armenia, who have devoted their lives to the mission of defending and maintaining peace in our country". In his written remarks, Sargsyan had underscored the army's pivotal role in maintaining the balance of peace in the region. "The prevention of war is the greatest victory for any normal country that respects the rights of nations and states, and the Armenian officers and soldiers are doing it effectively", he said. Prime Minister, Tigran Sargsyan, echoed the President's sentiments. "Each of us is visiting Yerablur with pride because we have a victorious army", he said. "We must do everything to have a strong army that is a reliable guarantor of the security of our state and the Armenian people". "The borders of our Motherland are peaceful today, and our people create their free life in Armenia and Artsakh thanks to the devoted service of our brave soldiers and commanders", he said, praising the army as the "pride of our people".

SARGSYAN 'ABSOLUTELY' WANTS OBAMA TO RECOGNISE GENOCIDE Guarantees Ratification of Protocols if Turkey Does So First

YEREVAN (Armenian Weekly) - In an interview with the Al Jazeera New Network conducted on Feb. 12, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said he “absolutely” wants President Barack Obama to recognise the Armenian Genocide. Answering a question about Obama’s campaign pledge to recognise the Armenian Genocide, Sargsyan said Obama had followed up on his pledge but “not to the extent he had promised before he became the president. But he stated unequivocally that he hasn’t changed his mind.” Responding to a question follow-up question on whether Sargsyan wants Obama to use the word “genocide” in reference to 1915, Sargsyan said, “Absolutely.” Speaking about the protocols, Sargsyan said it is the Turkish side that is stalling the process, noting that “as the leader of the political force which currently holds parliamentary majority, I rule out any possibility of the Armenian Parliament not ratifying the protocols if they are ratified by the Turks without preconditions.” During the interview, Sargsyan reiterated that Russia and Armenia are “strategic partners” and that the Armenian American community serves as a bridge for good relations with the U.S. To view the interview click here Below is the full text of the interview.

EURO PARLIAMENT CALLS ON TURKEY TO IMMEDIATELY WITHDRAW TROOPS FROM CYPRUS

ArmInfo - 12 February - European lawmakers on Wednesday endorsed a resolution that called on Turkey to withdraw its troops from Cyprus. As the Turkish media report, EU authorities urged to take specific measures for successful completion of negotiations on Cyprus settlement, otherwise, it may have serious consequences for negotiations on Turkey's joining EU. However, Turkish State Minister & Chief Negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis said this resolution is unacceptable for Turkey. "Turkey does not have a plan or opinion to withdraw troops from the island. Turkish troops in the island assume a very important task to restore peace there. EU process is important for Turkey, however, it is not so important to sacrifice Cyprus", the Minister said.

ARMENIA SENDS EVA RIVAS TO EUROVISION 2010

On Sunday night, the Armenian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest was held. Nine acts competed and the jury and the SMS voters decided that Eva Rivas will represent the country in Moscow with the song Apricot stone written by A. Martirosyan and Karen Kavaleryan. During an interview to an Armenian TV channel, Eva and her producer revealed that the song Apricot Stone calls for peace and love all over the world. It is also supposed to symbolise the Armenian Diaspora, as Eva lives in Russia, but misses Armenia since she lives abroad. Eva has an Armenian and Greek background. Lyricist Karen Kavaleryan is already well-known to the Eurovision Song Contest community. He co-wrote the lyrics for the Russian entries in 2002 (Northern girl, 10th place) and 2006 (Never let you go, 2nd place) and wrote the Belarusian lyrics in 2007 (Work your magic, 6th place), the Armenian lyrics in 2007 (Anytime you need, 8th place), the Georgian lyrics in 2008 (Peace will come, 11th place) and the Ukrainian lyrics in 2008 as well (Shady lady, 2nd place).

GIBRAHAYER'S PSYCHIC HOTLINE CORRECTLY FORECASTS WINNER

EVA RIVAS: GIBRAHAYER'S CHOICE FOR ARMENIA

(from last week's issue) - Simon Aynedjian for Gibrahayer e-magazine - We doubt there will be a contest this Sunday for the selection of the song that will represent Armenia in this year's Eurovision Song Contest on 2010, not because the rest of the songs are not worthy, but simply because Eva Rivas has got it all. Voice, the lyrics, the music, the moves and the looks. All it takes is to listen to her entry (click here) with which Armenia can hope for another Eurovision presence, much bigger than her wings. And why not, with all the ingredients in her plate Eva Rivas should not only make it through the Armenian selection between the ten songs on Sunday, but do very well once there. Gibrahayer's choice and forecast for Armenia's ambassador to this year's Eurovision song contest 2010 is clear. Eva Rivas with the song "Apricot Stone" . Lyrics: Garen Gavaleryan Music: Armen Mardirosyan