Wednesday 29 April 2009

PLEASE NOTE - A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

Please take time to look back at the archive...and leave a comment if you wish to do so, I will remind you that any derogatory remark will be a reflection upon you. Of course your views are very important and this is a platform from which you can air them, but I EXPECT a professional level of communication, respect and common courtesy. Remember we are all human!
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Looking Beyond Recognition of the Genocide of the Armenians

D. Abrahamian's Speech at the Remembrance Day (Video in Armenian)
http://keghart.com/node/436
"Dr. Dikran Abrahamian was the guest speaker. After an analysis of the present day circumstances hindering the ongoing efforts of Hay Tad - Armenian Cause - he underlined the importance of expanding its scope beyond recognition of the Genocide of the Armenians by various countries. He proposed to call 24th of April ÕŠÕ¡Õ°Õ¡Õ¶Õ»Õ¡Õ¿Õ«Ö€Õ¸Ö‚Õ©Õ¥Õ¡Õ¶ Õ•Ö€ - Day of Demand - in addition to Day of Remembrance."
Remembrance Day in Memory of the Martyrs (Includes video clips of Ms. Melissa Bhagat's speech & Nairi Choir)
By Reporter, 26 April 2009
http://keghart.com/node/427
On Saturday, 25th of April, a ceremonial assembly gathered at Magaros Artinian Hall of the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church. The highlight of the day was the presence of Ms. Melissa Bhagat, a senior regional advisor for Minister of citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism. Her brief, but singularly potent speech was punctuated with spontaneous applauses and expressions of gratitude. She presented The Right Honourable Stephen Harper's statement and Honourable Jason Kenney's letter addressed to the Armenian community.
Et Tu Obama? Letter from a Former Admirer
By Harut Sassounian, Publisher, The California Courier, 29 April 2009
http://keghart.com/node/445
Mr. President, how could you! Your candidacy was a breath of fresh air. You stood for change. You made wonderful promises and the Armenian-American
community put its trust in you.
The Liar Must Be Punished!
http://keghart.com/node/429
By Avedis Kevorkian, Philadelphia, PA USA, 25 April 2009
Once again, America has a Liar in the White House.
Aris Babikian on TVO - An interview about the Genocide, 24 April 2009
http://keghart.com/node/435
Obama's Offering (A poem)
By Alan Whitehorn, Kingston, Ontario, April 2009
http://keghart.com/node/434
"We, the undersigned, strongly condemn the agreement reached between Turkey and Armenia on the eve of the 94th Anniversary of the Genocide of the Armenians. Carried with haste and absolute absence of transparency, it raises grave concerns. As it stands, it serves only the interests of the authorities in Armenia. They shamelessly caved in to foreign pressures and interests, thus compromising Armenia's security and the aspirations of all Armenians."
If you agree with the content, please visit http://keghart.com/node/420 and endorse it by clicking on the icon.

You may find other interesting articles at www.keghart.com Please take a moment to have your say on the available polls at: www.keghart.com/polls Recipients who are getting Keghart.com update for the first time may check Mission? at the top of the right corner of the website beside Contact Us or click http://www.keghart.com/node/164

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Tuesday 28 April 2009

Miracle in Cairo

FATHER FRANK’S RANTS

Rant Number 347 28 April 2009

Miracle in Cairo

‘Out of Egypt I have called My Son’ Hosea 11:1

Easter Sunday in Cairo, Egypt. Late at night in my comfy flat, watching an old black and white movie on a French TV channel. About the life of Bernadette Soubirous. The young girl blessed with 18 apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, near Lourdes - today a famous place of pilgrimage. I went to sleep contented, pleased about Bernadette and her delightful, miraculous story. Little I imagined…

The facts are these. I was in Cairo for a three week crash course in Arabic. At the worthy Sibawayh Centre, a school named after a celebrated Imam and grammarian. Week-ends were devoted to exploring the famed city, Umm ad Dunya, ‘the Mother of the World’. One evening last week I was heading back home from downtown in a battered taxi. Somewhere – God knows where, it looked like any poor area – we passed by some women standing by the roadside. A curve made the car slow down a bit. Somewhat apart from the others, a figure stood out. She wore a simple, long dark cloak, similar to the wide-sleeved jalabiyya worn by many Egyptian men. In her arms, close to her face, she held a small child.

No, she was not a vision. She was real. As real as my burly, unshaven taxi driver. A tall, slender, graceful silhouette. Oval face amazingly beautiful. Her mien a combination of dignity, melancholy and, yes, royalty. Remarkably, she returned and followed my gaze. Egyptians women do not normally do that. A foreign-looking, vertiginously tall chap like me naturally gets noticed but Egyptians are not starerers. Women especially look away from a male stranger. Not her. She did not avert her eyes. Unostentatiously, naturally, sadly, while holding her child lovingly to her cheek, her eyes and mine became intertwined. She was like a living Madonna stepped out of a Coptic icon…no, forget that, a false comparison. Most icons are stylised, non-naturalistic, and hieratic. Their characters are not like anyone you would ever meet in the real world. Instead, the woman I saw was enchantingly human. Yet more than that. At the same time, she was other-worldly. And regal. She held herself like a film star, a princess or a queen. But there also, I felt sure, something infinitely vulnerable, an imploration, a request, a beggar-like demand in her stupendous dark eyes.

Alas, the taxi speeded up and the woman was gone. Yet… could I ever forget her? She has been haunting me ever since.

‘Perhaps… just a prostitute’ some devil later whispered into my ear. ‘With a child? Impossible!’ I answered. One of my teachers at Sibawayh, to whom I related the experience, agreed. Not possible. Who, what was she then?

‘Have you considered whether the Blessed Virgin and Her Son might have appeared to you?’ Father Longin, a Byzantine monk passing through Cairo, gravely put to me. Think me unhinged, arrogant, silly, whatever, I have indeed wondered about that.

…behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, take the young child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.’ Thus St Matthew’s Gospel records. And Joseph obeyed. The carpenter, his young wife and child set out from Bethlehem on their foreordained journey. God had willed that Egypt should give refuge to the Saviour who was to bring the Good News of peace and brotherly love to humanity. The Bible is silent as to the particulars of the Holy Family’s sojourn in the land of the pyramids but, providentially, the Virgin Mary later appeared to St Theophilus, a Patriarch of Alexandria, and gave him much information. Today the Coptic Church preserves a rich oral tradition of prodigies and wonders concomitant with the presence of a Heavenly Child in the towns and villages of Egypt 2000 years ago. The district of Old Cairo or Fustat is among the places that gave asylum to the three humble refugees. As idols bowed down and crumbled before Mary’s Son, an enraged pagan prince sought to kill him. The Holy Family then found refuge in a cave, over which stands today the Church of St Sergius & St Bacchus. I thought it appropriate to go and pray there. Ignoring the tourists and their flash photography, I knelt at a side shrine dedicated to some obscure martyr saint. I am a Protestant but I still know how to pray Hail Mary. So I did, again and again, innumerable times. Then I got up, lit a candle and left. Outside a turbaned old man spoke to me in rapid Arabic. I hadn’t a clue but suddenly it felt as if the Virgin was answering my prayers through him. I became convinced I understood his words: ‘You have found the answer to the riddle of your life here in Egypt. The land blessed by the presence of Mary and her Son. The beautiful woman you saw by the roadside was indeed the Virgin. She appeared to you in order to bring you here. Now she has heard your implorations. Continue your work. Be at peace.’ I put a coin into the man’s hand and walked away into the sun, feeling extraordinarily elated.

The riddle of my life. A man called Oedipus long ago travelled to Egypt to solve another riddle. That of the Sphinx. He was lucky – or so he thought after answering the riddle. But the Sphinx, a malevolent monster (Abu al-Howl, the Father of Terror, the Arabs call it), deceived him. It did not tell him of the atrocious ordeal that lay ahead. Fortunately for me, the Blessed Virgin is the loving Mother of Believers. (Quite big figure in the Qur’an, by the way.) Through her Son, the merciful, kind, benevolent patron of sinners. She does not lie. And she is on our side. Viva, viva Maria!

Sceptics will smile, I know. Joseph, Mary and Jesus journeyed through ancient Egypt as obscure, unrecognised refugees whom nobody noticed. The mysterious woman I saw was no mystery but an ordinary, poor person waiting for a bus. Striking she may have been but so what? The fellow outside St Sergius was just a beggar asking for baksheesh. It is all in my imagination, they’ll say.

Huh! How to answer them?

Like this: they can keep their Sphinx. As for me, I will keep my beautiful lady.

Revd Frank Julian Gelli

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ADLP DECLARATION RE

ADLP DECLARATION RE: TURKISH-ARMENIAN AGREEMENT

Monday 27 April 2009

Reminder: Ravished Armenia - 1919 film screening and presentation‏


Dear
Friends ,

On the occasion of the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, please join the Bay Area ANC for a unique film screening and presentation:

"Ravished Armenia"
The first Hollywood Film on the Armenian Genocide


Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 6:00 PM sharp
San Francisco Public Library, Koret Auditorium
100 Larkin St. (at Grove), San Francisco, CA 94102-4733


Film historian Anthony Slide will present and discuss the 1919 Hollywood film "Ravished Armenia," based on the memoirs of Armenian Genocide survivor Aurora (Arshaluys) Mardiganian. The film's only surviving 21-minute segment will be played, as well as clips from Slide's audiotape interview of Mardiganian, who also starred in the film. Slide will discuss his research about Mardiganian and the movie, considered one of Hollywood's most sought-after "lost" films. An original poster and photos of the production will also be on display.

“Ravished Armenia” was the personal account by Aurora Mardiganian of the brutal rape and murder of the Armenian people by the Turkish Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1918. During this first genocide of the 20th century, half of the entire Armenian population living on its historic homeland in what is now Turkey was annihilated through forced death marches into the desert, extreme abuse, and murder. Mardiganian's memoir "Ravished Armenia," also known as "Auction of Souls," was first published in 1918, shortly after her arrival in the United States. The film version was produced in 1919, and both the book and movie created a considerable stir throughout the Western world.

The full-length motion picture is believed to be lost, but a 21-minute segment from the full length motion picture "Ravished Armenia" by then well-known film director Oscar Apfel has been recovered. The segment graphically relates the narrative account of a young Armenian girl who survived the 1915 Armenian Genocide, lived to tell about it, and serves as the lead actress in the film.

ANTHONY SLIDE:
Alongside the presentation of the movie's remaining segment, film historian Anthony Slide will discuss Aurora Mardiganian and the production of the film. Slide is editor of the book, "Ravished Armenia and the story of Aurora Mardiganian," (Scarecrow Press, 1997), which reprints Mardiganian's original memoir in its entirety, as well as original documentation on the film.

“I came across the 'Ravished Armenia' book about 30 years ago, and at first, I couldn't believe that there was actually someone who experienced all of those events. I thought the stories might have been an accumulation of experiences of several Armenian women," Slide recently told Bay Area ANC Chairwoman Roxanne Makasdjian. "But, I confirmed that Aurora indeed existed, and I found her in Los Angeles." After several attempts to meet her, Slide eventually succeeded in interviewing Mardiganian, and he will present clips from that audiotape interview.

Slide has authored or edited more than fifty books on the history of popular entertainment. The Los Angeles Times called Slide "a one-man publishing phenomenon." He has served as associate archivist of the American Film Institute, resident film historian of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, has produced a number of documentary films on silent screen personalities, and has lectured widely on film history.

---
Armenian National Committee
San Francisco - Bay Area
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
Tel: 415-387-3433
Fax: 415-751-0617
mail@ancsf.org
www.ancsf.org
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Sunday 26 April 2009

More on Obama Speech Aftermath‏

Hurriyet, Turkey
April 25 2009
He Did Not Say Genocide, But Made it Worse
by Zeynep Gurcanli

US President Barack Obama did not say "genocide" [Turkish soykirim] in
his expected statement. He did not use the word "genocide", which is
the English word for this. But he did do something that surprised
everyone, and included in his statement the Armenian words that the
Armenians use for the events of 1915; he employed, in his English
text, the Armenian term, that is, "Meds Yeghern," for the events of
1915.

The Armenian dictionary equivalent for this word is "Great
Disaster"...

Indeed, the Turkish Foreign Ministry as well has chosen to take this
term that Obama used in its "dictionary meaning." The Foreign Ministry
read the Armenian term in the text as "great disaster."

But some in the Armenian diaspora, however, use this as the equivalent
of "genocide."

In short, Obama, in making his statement, left a question mark.

Now the debate is this:

Did he say "genocide" or not?

Perhaps he did not say "genocide," but the message was very harsh

Even if Obama, in his message, did not use the English word
"genocide," the message he issued was extremely harsh.

He spoke of the 1915 incidents as "the 1.5 million Armenians who were
subsequently massacred or marched to their death." He characterized
the things that took place in the final period of the Ottomans as
"terrible events" and went even further:

He said: "The terrible events of 1915 remind us of the dark prospect
of man's inhumanity to man."

Stressing that he has consistently expressed his views on the events
of 1915 and that these views have "not changed," Obama said: "My
interest remains the achievement of a full, frank and just
acknowledgment of the facts."

In other words, the US president does not say "genocide," but he does
point out that, during his election campaign, he had characterized the
events of 1915 as "genocide," says "I am of the same opinion on this
issue," and moreover conveys to Turkey and the Turks a message that
"you as well should accept the events in this way."

Supporting in his message the new process beginning between Turkey and
Armenia, Obama uses "Meds Yeghern" a second time in the final portion,
and again conveys a very harsh message:

"Nothing can bring back those who were lost in the Meds Yeghern. But
the contributions that Armenians have made over the last ninety-four
years stand as a testament to the talent, dynamism and resilience of
the Armenian people, and as the ultimate rebuke to those who tried to
destroy them..."

Bush had said "tragedy"

US presidents traditionally issue a message on the 1915 events every
year on 24 April.

But the message that Obama issued this year was, in comparison to
those of the previous two presidents, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton,
quite harsh.

Bush had spoken in his messages of the 1915 events as "the great
tragedy of the 20th century." The 24 April message that Bush issued
last year as US President began as follows:

"On this day of remembrance, we honour the memory of the victims of
one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, the mass killings
and forced exile of as many as 1.5 million Armenians at the end of the
Ottoman Empire..."

In the continuation of his message, Bush praised the contributions to
American society of people of Armenian origin, and related the
importance he ascribed to US-Armenian relations.

Bush, who had issued a similar message in 2007, had used the
expression "horrible tragedy" in 2006 for the events of 1915.

Clinton had spoken of "great tragedy" and "massacre"

As for Bill Clinton, he had preferred in the message he had issued as
US president in 2000, to speak of the events of 1915 as a "great
tragedy."

Clinton, who had used more cautious language in 1999, had then spoken
of the 1915 incidents as "one of the saddest chapters of history." In
his other messages, Clinton had described the incidents as "the
deportations and killing of the Armenians."

American Conservative Magazine
April 25 2009
A Decent Compromise
Posted on April 25th, 2009 by Daniel Larison

I failed to mention the commemoration of the Armenian genocide
yesterday. After seeing Obama's remarks, I thought I would make a
couple of observations. Obviously, Obama refrained from referring to
it directly as genocide in English, and the Armenian phrase he used to
describe it, Mets Yeghern (or, in the Western dialect transliteration
being used in the official remarks, Meds Yeghern), primarily means
slaughter or crime, but it can be and has been used to refer to
genocide.

The official name for the genocide in Armenian is a calque,
tseghaspanut'yun, which refers specifically to the killing of a race
or people, so it is not quite full recognition, but it is also as
close to full recognition as possible under present circumstances.

This provides a face-saving way to acknowledge the reality of what
happened without unduly irritating Turkey
, and I think it shows enough
respect to Armenian history without jeopardizing the improving
relations between Turkey and Armenia.

Anadolu Agency, Turkey
April 25 2009
Turkish Foreign Ministry says some parts of Obama's Armenia speech
unacceptable

Ankara, 25 April: The Turkish foreign minister defined on Saturday [25
April] US president's comments on the incidents of 1915 as
unacceptable.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry released a statement and considered some
statements in US President Barack Obama's speech on the "Armenian
remembrance day" as unacceptable.

"We consider some expressions in that statement and the perception of
history it contains concerning the events of 1915, as unacceptable,"
the ministry said.

The ministry said that nobody should forget that several hundreds of
thousands of Turks also lost their lives in those days.

"History can be construed and evaluated only on the basis of
undisputed evidence and documentation," the ministry statement said.

The ministry said that common history of the Turkish and Armenian
nations had to be assessed solely through impartial and scientific
data, and historians must base their evaluations only on such
material.

"It is with such an understanding that we support the historical
dimension of the Turkish-Armenian dialogue," it said.

The ministry also said that it considered positively the stance of
President Obama on the Turkish-Armenian normalization process.

Agence France Presse -- English
April 24, 2009 Friday 12:51 PM GMT
Gul says Obama 'better informed' on Armenian massacres
ANKARA, April 24 2009

Turkish President Abdullah Gul hinted Friday that he did not expect
his US counterpart Barack Obama to brand the mass killings of
Armenians under the Ottoman Empire a genocide.

He told reporters that they had discussed the question "very broadly"
during Obama's visit to Turkey earlier this month, adding that the US
president "is now better informed."

During his 2008 White House run, Obama pledged to recognise the World
War I massacres as genocide, and had an opportunity to do so in the
annual April 24 statement from the White House commemorating the
events.

But analysts said it was unlikely after Wednesday's announcement by
Armenia and Turkey that they had agreed "a comprehensive framework"
for normalising bilateral ties.

Gul predicted that Obama's message "will encourage ... all our
well-intentioned work," referring to the negotiations between Ankara
and Yerevan.

He said that Washington had "intensified very productive efforts to
produce a climate favouring a resolution of regional problems."

Armenians say 1.5 million of their people were victims of genocide in
eastern Turkey from 1915 and many countries, including France and
Canada, have officially recognised the killings as such.

Turkey rejects the genocide label and says 300,000-500,000 Armenians
and at least as many Turks died in civil strife when Armenians took up
arms in eastern Anatolia and sided with invading Russian troops.

Gul also said that Wednesday's accord would help Azerbaijan, a close
ally with Turkey at odds with Armenia over Nagorny Karabakh, an ethnic
Armenian enclave of Azerbaijan that fought to break free of Baku's
control.

"I have spoken often with (Azerbaijan's President) Ilham Aliyev in
recent days," he said. "We are in agreement that everything that is
being done is of advantage to both our countries, Azerbaijan and
Turkey."

Azerbaijan on Thursday urged Turkey to link reconciliation efforts
with Armenia to the withdrawal of Armenian forces from Nagorny
Karabakh.

Earlier this month, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan ruled
out a deal with Armenia unless Yerevan resolved its conflict with
Baku.

Baku has long insisted that any agreement should depend on Armenian
concessions in the dispute over Nagorny Karabakh.

Azerbaijan Defence Minister Safar Abiev was in Ankara Friday for talks
with Turkish armed forces chief General Yasar Buyukanit which were
expected to cover the accord with Armenia.

WPS Agency, Russia
April 24, 2009 Friday
TURKISH GAMBIT;
Serj Sargsjan brought with him a sensation
by Arkady Dubnov, Gajane Movsesjan

ARMENIA AND TURKEY DECIDED TO NORMALIZE BILATERAL RELATIONS;
Normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey will alter the
regional situation in more ways than one.

Deplaning in Moscow for a working visit on April 22, President of
Armenia Serj Sargsjan already knew what the rest of the world was only
bound to discover the following morning: Armenia and Turkey had agreed
to normalize bilateral relations. Foreign ministers of these countries
signed the appropriate declaration at the talks brokered by
Switzerland on the night on April 23. The document stated that Turkey
and Armenia decided "to launch a complex process of normalization of
the relations" that would "promote mutual interests". The so called
Road Map plan of the future negotiations between Ankara and Yerevan
was adopted. Among other things, it stands for the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border which Ankara closed in 1993 protesting against
occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia in the wake of a
conflict between these two countries. Currently on a visit to Poland,
Ovik Abramjan of the Armenian National Assembly (parliament) said that
the Armenian-Turkish border might be opened and diplomatic relations
established in 2009.

"It was probably no coincidence at all that the Armenian-Turkish
declaration was signed on the eve of April 24 when victims of Armenian
genocide in the Ottoman Empire are solemnized,"
to quote Arman
Melikjan, formerly foreign minister of the self-proclaimed and
unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and former candidate for
president of Armenia. "US President Barack Obama is scheduled to speak
in Washington later today. Armenians all over the world would dearly
like him to keep his promise and use the term "genocide" in his speech
today."

Judging by activeness of US diplomacy in general and that of Matthew
Bryza, American Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, official Washington
in its turn would dearly like to do without the use of so strong a
term in the president's speech. It will complicate atmosphere of the
Armenian-Turkish relations and impair the Road Map which is nothing
Yerevan or Ankara will want, of course. Well-informed and trustworthy
sources report that Washington put the Armenian leadership under
certain pressure to compel it to sign the joint declaration "without
any preliminary terms or conditions". Representatives of the
Dashnaktsutjun party explained meanwhile that the terms and conditions
in question included Yerevan's demands for acknowledgement of genocide
by Turkey and restoration of the Armenians' rights. Dashnaktsutjun
leadership condemned the joint declaration signing as "despicable and
unacceptable behavior" that indicated "a negative change in the
foreign policy of Armenia." It even promised to consider expediency of
continued participation in he government coalition one of these days.

Approached for comments, Alexander Iskandarjan (Director of the
Armenian Institute of the Caucasus), admitted that he was "reasonably
confident that Obama will make a stiffly-worded statement indeed, but
omit the term "genocide" from it." "What will happen in Washington
this Friday is important to Turkey. What is happening in the relations
between Armenia and Turkey on the other hand is important to
Washington," the political scientist said.

"The joint Armenian-Turkish declaration gives Obama leave not to use
the term "genocide" in his speech," Melikjan said. "That's a tactical
move, one that enables the Americans and Turks alike to save
face. Were it not for Armenia's goodwill, the relations between them
could be compromised." Melikjan suggested that Ankara, while remaining
Washington's ally, might initiate a closer rapprochement with
Russia. "It will make these two countries (Russia and Turkey - Vremya
Novostei) strategic partners and alter the correlation of forces in
the region," Melikjan said.

There is, however, a possibility of a wholly different turn of events,
one that will affect Russia's current positions in the
region.
"Suggesting normalization of relations with Armenia, Ankara
put forth several demands including withdrawal of the Russian troops
from Armenia and specifically from the Turkish-Armenian border,"
Melikjan explained. He said that the Armenian-Turkish border might be
opened indeed, but with the risk of closing again. "This particular
issue will always be on the agenda, pending the establishment of a new
geopolitical configuration."

As if to add to the intrigue of the latest developments, all these
matters were discussed by presidents of Armenia and Russia in Dmitry
Medvedev's residence near Moscow, last night. Presidential press
service reported that the talks were centered around bilateral
cooperation, security issues, and Nagorno-Karabakh settlement.

Sargsjan thanked Medvedev for his "invaluable contribution to Karabakh
settlement" and for having retained Russia's previous position even
after the visit of the president of Azerbaijan to Moscow. Elaborating
on this position, Sargsjan said that Russia believed in settlement of
the conflict in accordance with international law (it was clearly a
reference to the right to self-determination).

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev did visit Moscow several days ago
and also praised Russia's faithfulness to international law. unlike
Yerevan, however, official Baku made an emphasis on recognition of the
principle of territorial integrity (of Azerbaijan, of course). The
whole conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh is a collision between these two
principles promoted by the warring sides. It seems that Baku and
Yerevan had better meet each other halfway and agree to table the
matter of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh (to be determined by a
referendum in the enclave itself). At least, this is what Medvedev and
Aliyev agreed on in the course of the talks.

There is no saying if Medvedev succeeded in persuading Sargsjan to
refrain from participation in NATO's military exercise in Georgia
scheduled for early May. Armenia is the only member of the CIS
Collective Security Treaty Organization that accepted the invitation
to the exercise. A seasoned Russian diplomat commented that relations
of allies with Yerevan notwithstanding, the new president of Russia
finds his Azerbaijan opposite number easier to deal with than the
Armenian counterpart.

Source: Vremya Novostei, No 71, April 24, 2009, pp. 1 - 2
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Saturday 25 April 2009

Articles on Obama's disappointing statement‏


OBAMA BRANDS ARMENIAN KILLINGS 'GREAT ATROCITIES'
By Desmond Butler And Ben Feller
Associated Press
24 April 09

President Barack Obama on Friday refrained from branding the massacre
of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians in Turkey a "genocide," breaking
a campaign promise while contending his views about the 20th century
slaughter had not changed.

The phrasing of Obama's written statement attracted heightened scrutiny
because of the sensitivity of the issue and because Turkey and Armenia
are nearing a historic reconciliation after years of tension. The
Obama administration is wary of disturbing that settlement.

Marking the grim anniversary of the start of the killings, the
president referred to them as "one of the great atrocities of the
20th century."

"I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and
my view of that history has not changed," Obama said. "My interest
remains the achievement of a full, frank and just acknowledgment of
the facts."

"The best way to advance that goal right now," Obama said, "is for
the Armenian and Turkish people to address the facts of the past as
a part of their efforts to move forward."

For Obama, referring to the killings as genocide could have upended
recent pledges of a closer partnership with Turkey, a vital ally in
a critical region. Steering around the word, however, put him at odds
with his own pledges to recognize the slaughter as genocide.

Obama said the Armenians who were massacred in the final days of the
Ottoman Empire "must live on in our memories." He said unresolved
history can be a heavy weight. "Reckoning with the past holds out
the powerful promise of reconciliation," he said.

"I strongly support efforts by the Turkish and Armenian people to
work through this painful history in a way that is honest, open,
and constructive," he said.

The administration closely coordinated its statement about the apparent
breakthrough with the Turkish government and Swiss mediators. Turkey
and Armenia announced on Wednesday they were closing in on some kind
of reconciliation.

At least one Armenian-American group said it felt let down by Obama.

"Today's statement does not reflect the change the president promised,"
said Bryan Ardouny, executive director of the Armenian Assembly of
America. He said Obama "has needlessly delayed the cause of genocide
affirmation and diminishes U.S. credibility with regard to genocide
prevention."

To Lincoln McCurdy, president of the Turkish Coalition of America,
which advocates close U.S.-Turkish ties, Obama sent "a clear message
to America and the world that his administration will not sacrifice
long-term strategic allies for short-term political gains."

The dispute involves what scholars widely view as the first genocide of
the 20th century. Turkey denies that the deaths constituted genocide,
contending the toll has been inflated and that the casualties were
victims of civil war and unrest.

During a trip to Turkey this month, Obama emphasized U.S. support for
the reconciliation efforts and avoided the term genocide in a speech
to the Turkish parliament.

Turkey and Armenia agreed Wednesday on a road map for normalizing
relations and reaching reconciliation. But it was not immediately
clear how they would tackle the bitter dispute over the Ottoman-era
killings of ethnic Armenians.

On Thursday, Vice President Joe Biden spoke by telephone with Armenian
President Serge Sarkisian and welcomed that announcement.

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic ties, and their border has been
closed since 1993 because of a Turkish protest of Armenia's occupation
of land claimed by Azerbaijan.

In September, Turkish President Abdullah Gul became the first
Turkish leader to visit Armenia, where he and Sarkisian watched their
countries' soccer teams play a World Cup qualifying match. The Armenian
government appears to be interested in further talks.

Armenian-American groups and supporters in Congress are focused on
passing a resolution that describes the killings as genocide and
argue that it should not undermine diplomatic efforts.

Gul said Friday in Ankara that he expected Obama to deliver a
statement that would reinforce the reconciliation talks. "I believe
that (Obama's statement) should be one that is supportive of our good
intentioned efforts," Gul told reporters.

PROMISES, PROMISES: OBAMA, ARMENIANS AND GENOCIDE
By Calvin Woodward
Associated Press
Saturday, April 25

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama was unequivocal during the campaign: As
president, he would recognize the nearly century-old massacre of
Armenians in Turkey as genocide.

In breaking that promise Friday, the president did the same diplomatic
tiptoeing he criticized the Bush administration for doing.

Like George W. Bush before him, Obama did not want to alienate vital
ally Turkey by declaring the slaughter of an estimated 1.5 million
Armenians to be genocide _ especially with Turkey and Armenia now
exploring reconciliation.

Instead, he said he had not changed his view from the campaign,
even as he declined to state it, and added: "My interest remains the
achievement of a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the facts."

In a statement on the anniversary of the start of the killings in 1915
_ a day when U.S. presidents typically honor the Armenian victims _
Obama said: "Each year, we pause to remember the 1.5 million Armenians
who were subsequently massacred or marched to their death in the
final days of the Ottoman Empire."

The statement was less than the full and frank acknowledgment he
promised Jan. 19, 2008, when he vowed that as president, "I will
recognize the Armenian Genocide," and repeatedly used the word.

An excerpt from that 2008 campaign statement, one of several he
released on the subject:

"I also share with Armenian Americans _ so many of whom are descended
from genocide survivors _ a principled commitment to commemorating and
ending genocide. That starts with acknowledging the tragic instances
of genocide in world history. As a U.S. Senator, I have stood with
the Armenian American community in calling for Turkey's acknowledgment
of the Armenian Genocide.

"Two years ago, I criticized the Secretary of State for the firing
of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, after he properly used
the term 'genocide' to describe Turkey's slaughter of thousands of
Armenians starting in 1915. I shared with Secretary (Condoleezza)
Rice my firmly held conviction that the Armenian Genocide is not
an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a
widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical
evidence. The facts are undeniable. An official policy that calls on
diplomats to distort the historical facts is an untenable policy.

"As a senator, I strongly support passage of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106), and as President I will recognize
the Armenian Genocide."

Scholars widely consider the events of 1915 to be the first genocide
of the 20th century. Turkey contends the death toll was inflated and
resulted from civil war and unrest, not genocide.

Ken Hachikian, chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America,
said Obama's statement Friday "represents a retreat from his pledge
and a setback to the vital change he promised to bring about in how
America confronts the crime of genocide."


OBAMA MARKS ARMENIAN 'ATROCITY'
BBC NEWS
2009/04/24 19:37:03 GMT

Barack Obama has refrained from calling the killing of Armenians by
Turks in World War I "genocide" despite using the term during his
election campaign.

However, the US president did describe the killing of hundreds of
thousands of Armenians as "one of the great atrocities of the 20th
century".

He appealed for Turks and Armenians to "address the facts of the past
as a part of their efforts to move forward".

The two countries agreed this week on a roadmap for normalising
relations.

" International recognition... is a matter of restoring historic
justice " Serzh Sarkisian Armenian president

While admitting many Armenians were killed, Turkey, a Nato member and
key American ally in the Muslim world, denies committing genocide,
saying the deaths resulted from wartime fighting.

Armenia has long campaigned for the loss of its people to be recognised
as a crime of genocide and it commemorated the event with ceremonies
on Friday.

'My view unchanged'

"I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915,
and my view of that history has not changed," Mr Obama said in a
written statement.

"My interest remains the achievement of a full, frank and just
acknowledgment of the facts."

In a January 2008 statement on his campaign website, Mr Obama wrote:
"The Armenian genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion or
a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an
overwhelming body of historical evidence."

"America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian
genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides," the 2008 statement
added.

On Friday, he said the Armenians killed in the final days of the
Ottoman Empire "must live on in our memories".

"I strongly support efforts by the Turkish and Armenian people to
work through this painful history in a way that is honest, open,
and constructive," he added.


TURKS AND ARMENIANS
Politico
April 24 2009

The reaction of the two sides' domestic lobbies makes pretty clear
who won this one:

Turkish Coalition of America president Lincoln McCurdy:

We applaud President Obama for deferring to historians to settle the
longstanding debate over the events of 1915-1918. This tragic period
in history led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Muslims and
Christians alike. President Obama has sent a clear message to America
and the world that his administration will not sacrifice long-term
strategic allies for short-term political gains.

Armenian Assembly of America president Bryan Ardouny:

Today's statement does not reflect the change the President
promised. His failure to affirm the proud chapter in U.S. history,
the American response to the first genocide of the 20th century, has
needlessly delayed the cause of genocide affirmation and diminishes
U.S. credibility with regard to genocide prevention.

The Armenian group sends over Obama's January, 2008 commitment:
"As President I will recognize the Armenian Genocide."


DENYING THE ARMENIANS
Spectator.co.uk
April 24 2009


So, as expected Barack Obama has reneged upon his campaign
promise to call the Armenian genocide, er, genocide. Instead it's
"slaughter". Such are the prosaic demands of office. As Mike Crowley
suggests this is not a defining moment in the Obama administration,
but nor is it a particularly edifying spectacle.

Memo to politicians: be careful what you promise! Memo to voters:
Don't believe the promises!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Roump-ue Shoudov Bidi Bayti‏

ARTICLE BY HAIG NACCASHIAN
WRITING FROM BEIRUT, LEBANON



President Obama's Statement on 24 April‏

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release April 24, 2009

Statement of President Barack Obama
on Armenian Remembrance Day

Ninety four years ago, one of the great atrocities of the 20th century began. Each year, we pause to remember the 1.5 million Armenians who were subsequently massacred or marched to their death in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. The Meds Yeghern must live on in our memories, just as it lives on in the hearts of the Armenian people.

History, unresolved, can be a heavy weight. Just as the terrible events of 1915 remind us of the dark prospect of man’s inhumanity to man, reckoning with the past holds out the powerful promise of reconciliation. I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed. My interest remains the achievement of a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the facts.

The best way to advance that goal right now is for the Armenian and Turkish people to address the facts of the past as a part of their efforts to move forward. I strongly support efforts by the Turkish and Armenian people to work through this painful history in a way that is honest, open, and constructive. To that end, there has been courageous and important dialogue among Armenians and Turks, and within Turkey itself. I also strongly support the efforts by Turkey and Armenia to normalize their bilateral relations. Under Swiss auspices, the two governments have agreed on a framework and roadmap for normalization. I commend this progress, and urge them to fulfill its promise.

Together, Armenia and Turkey can forge a relationship that is peaceful, productive and prosperous. And together, the Armenian and Turkish people will be stronger as they acknowledge their common history and recognize their common humanity.

Nothing can bring back those who were lost in the Meds Yeghern. But the contributions that Armenians have made over the last ninety-four years stand as a testament to the talent, dynamism and resilience of the Armenian people, and as the ultimate rebuke to those who tried to destroy them. The United States of America is a far richer country because of the many Americans of Armenian descent who have contributed to our society, many of whom immigrated to this country in the aftermath of 1915. Today, I stand with them and with Armenians everywhere with a sense of friendship, solidarity, and deep respect.

BREAKING NEWS

U.S. Pres. Obama Twice Uses Meds Yeghern The Armenian Equivalent Of Genocide in His Presidential Statement

By Appo Jabarian
Executive Publisher / Managing Editor
USA Armenian Life Magazine

Friday April 24, 2009

Today, U.S. Pres. Obama Twice Used Meds Yeghern The Armenian Equivalent Of Genocide in His Presidential Statement issued in commemoration of the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Several Armenian political observers agree with leading Armenian American activists such as Harut Sassounian that Armenians need to move on and pursue their quest for Justice.

Sassounian wrote on several occasions that the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide has already been achieved through the collective hard work by notable Armenian organizations during the past several decades.

In an interview with The Los Angeles Times in April 2008, Sassounian stated: “Now the genocide is an established fact. So we're not clamoring anymore about the world ignoring us. And the L.A. Times is the best example of that. The paper is on record recognizing the genocide. So are the New York Times and the Boston Globe. Even recently, Time magazine issued a statement recognizing it as genocide and saying it would be referred to as such.”

He continued: “In 1915 there was a nation living on its own ancestral homeland. They had been there long before there was a Turkey. In addition to losing 1.5 million people, we were uprooted from our homeland.”

He concluded: “Just asking for recognition from the Turks, having them come and say "Yes, 90 or 100 years ago, your ancestors were wiped out," that doesn't do anything. We already know we were wiped out. So what we want, as a right, no matter how impossible the implementation, as a right we demand justice for the Armenian people. For all the stuff that was taken from them we demand just compensation. And that can take many forms. This is where Armenians and Turks should sit down, and have a very lengthy and serious discussion about what can be done.”

Today over fifty thousand Armenians marched in Hollywood where Sassounian delivered the keynote address on the Armenian quest for justice.

Thousands more will join the protest rally in front of the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles at 4PM this afternoon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Obama retreats from Armenian Genocide pledge‏

April 24, 2009

PRESIDENT OBAMA RETREATS FROM
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE PLEDGE

Send a Free ANCA WebMail to President Obama, Vice-President Biden and your Senate and House members expressing disappointment.

Avoids "Genocide" in April 24th Statement

WASHINGTON, DC -- Despite repeated statements properly characterizing the Armenian Genocide during his Senate career and a clear pledge stating that "As President, I will recognize the Armenian Genocide," President Barack Obama today issued an April 24th statement evading the proper characterization of the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian issued the following statement regarding President Obama's April 24th statement:

"I join with all Armenian Americans in voicing our sharp disappointment with President Obama's failure to honor his solemn pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide."

"In falling short of his repeated and crystal clear promises, which reflected a thorough knowledge of the facts, the practical implications, and the profound moral dimension of Armenian Genocide recognition, the President chose, as a matter of policy, to allow our nation's stand against genocide to remain a hostage to Turkey's threats."

"The President's statement today represents a retreat from his pledge and a setback to the vital change he promised to bring about in how America confronts the crime of genocide."

"Genocide must be confronted unconditionally at the level of American values and our common humanity. As Americans, we should never allow the prevention or recognition of this crime to be reduced to a political issue that can be traded away, retreated from under pressure, or used to advance a political agenda, of any kind."

"We urge the President to act quickly to correct his Administration's stand on the Armenian Genocide by properly condemning and commemorating this crime, removing Turkey's gag-rule on its recognition by the United States, and working publicly toward the adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution before Congress," concluded Hachikian.

As a Senator and presidential candidate, President Obama pledged repeatedly to recognize the Armenian Genocide and promised "unstinting resolve" to end the Darfur Genocide, stating, "America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that President." View his record on the issue at:

http://www.anca.org/change/docs/Obama_Armenian_Genocide.pdf

President Obama's complete statement is provided below.

#####

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
_____________________________

For Immediate Release April 24, 2009

Statement of President Barack Obama on Armenian Remembrance Day

Ninety four years ago, one of the great atrocities of the 20th century began. Each year, we pause to remember the 1.5 million Armenians who were subsequently massacred or marched to their death in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. The Meds Yeghern must live on in our memories, just as it lives on in the hearts of the Armenian people.

History, unresolved, can be a heavy weight. Just as the terrible events of 1915 remind us of the dark prospect of man's inhumanity to man, reckoning with the past holds out the powerful promise of reconciliation. I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed. My interest remains the achievement of a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the facts.

The best way to advance that goal right now is for the Armenian and Turkish people to address the facts of the past as a part of their efforts to move forward. I strongly support efforts by the Turkish and Armenian people to work through this painful history in a way that is honest, open, and constructive. To that end, there has been courageous and important dialogue among Armenians and Turks, and within Turkey itself. I also strongly support the efforts by Turkey and Armenia to normalize their bilateral relations. Under Swiss auspices, the two governments have agreed on a framework and roadmap for normalization. I commend this progress, and urge them to fulfill its promise.

Together, Armenia and Turkey can forge a relationship that is peaceful, productive and prosperous. And together, the Armenian and Turkish people will be stronger as they acknowledge their common history and recognize their common humanity.

Nothing can bring back those who were lost in the Meds Yeghern. But the contributions that Armenians have made over the last ninety-four years stand as a testament to the talent, dynamism and resilience of the Armenian people, and as the ultimate rebuke to those who tried to destroy them. The United States of America is a far richer country because of the many Americans of Armenian descent who have contributed to our society, many of whom immigrated to this country in the aftermath of 1915. Today, I stand with them and with Armenians everywhere with a sense of friendship, solidarity, and deep respect.

GoodSearch: You Search...We Give!

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Search the web with www.goodsearch.com and money from Yahoo advertisers will go to the ANCA without you spending a dime. A penny per search! Use www.goodshop.com for online purchases from hundreds of popular sites and a percentage comes back to the ANCA.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fw: April 25 London‏

Contact Details:

Raffi Sarkissian

Mobile: 07973725627

REMINDER: Shushanik, Queen of Armenia - Dramatic Reading on 25 April 2009‏

A tale of faith, love and treachery set amidst the turmoil of the 5th Century

SHUSHANIK

Queen of Armenia

A full-length play

by J.E. Fairweather - based on a true story

She alone stands between the freedom of Georgia/Armenia and the yoke of the Persian Empire.

A Dramatic Reading

Saturday 25th April, 2009

At 3.p.m.

Westminster Reference Library

25 St Martin’s Street

London WC2H 7HP (off Leicester Square)

Admission Free

(A collection will be taken for actors’ expenses)

Bookings: 0207 641 5250 or pcollins@westminster.gov.uk

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday 24 April 2009

ARF Condemns Turkish-Armenian Agreement‏

Commemoration of the Genocide of the Armenians
www.keghart.com
Why Melkonian Must Reopen
By Eleni Theocharous, Cyprus Mail, 23 April 2009
http://keghart.com/node/414
Canadiana: On Democracy and the Corporate Elite
Witnessing a Democracy's decline
James Travers, The Toronto Star , Apr 21, 2009
http://keghart.com/node/413
ARF Condemns Turkish-Armenian Agreement
Asbarez Post
http://keghart.com/node/412
ANCA's Genocide Dilemma
By Bruce Tasker, Khosq, Yerevan, 23 April 2009
http://keghart.com/node/411
President Obama at the Holocaust Days of Remebrance Ceremony
The White House, 23 April 2009
http://keghart.com/node/410

You may find other interesting articles at www.keghart.com Please take a moment to have your say on the available polls at: www.keghart.com/polls Recipients who are getting Keghart.com update for the first time may check Mission? at the top of the right corner of the website beside Contact Us or click http://www.keghart.com/node/164
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

April 24, 2009‏

APRIL 24, 2009
MESSAGE BY
ADLP CENTRAL PRESS COMMITTEE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IN THE NAME OF OUR LANDS

Gibrahayer e-magazine www.gibrahayer.com
The largest circulation Armenian e-magazine on the Internet
Circulates every Wednesday - Established in 1999

IN THE NAME OF OUR LANDS

GIBRAHAYER e-magazineSimon Aynedjian - Gibrahayer e-magazine - Nicosia 22 April - Armenians in Cyprus have a singular, complex and fateful mission in these historic lands. Our conflictual history continues on an island that its own turbulent history converges, and blue-prints a common path with its people, with whom we now walk together and face the challenges of tomorrow.
We are not just another community trying to make the next day away from our lands, as our island is littered with "forensic evidence" that is being challenged day-in day-out a century later.
On the eve of the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the historic 2nd pilgrimage to Sourp Magar Monastery on May 10, our community re-evaluates, prepares and declares.

- We are travelling to Sourp Magar Monastery not as tourists but as owners of our land. Owners, not only of the lands that belong to our Church within the property of the
Monastery, but as owners of the occupied lands around it, as Cypriot citizens.
- The effects of the Genocide as well as the invasion of Cyprus are as current as the time they were perpetrated. Time will heal the wounds, only if Genocide and invasion are called with their name, evaluated and addressed as such.
- If the loots of Genocide and invasions are rewarded, we all run the risk of building societies that accept violence and build a future based on it.
- Turkish society is increasingly showing signs of coming to terms with its past. Turkish Cypriots, as witnesses of the influx of the first Genocide survivors of the Armenians in Cyprus and the first society that welcomed the Armenian refugees, have a unique role to serve as a catalyst in assisting Turks in the mainland for reconciling with their past.

The "forensic evidence" must be put on the table.

However, this is not enough.

In order to claim what rightfully belongs to us and to stay as a strong link in the history of the Armenians in Cyprus, we have to stay committed.
- Committed to taking the correct decisions when we run our community affairs, politically, culturally, and most important of all regarding our educational institutions.
- Committed to the process of a Cyprus solution that will recognise the fundamental human rights of all the people of Cyprus, free from military presence and military threats.
- Committed to showing the world that Cyprus can be a model of co-existence between the ethnic and religious minorities in which Armenian and Turkish Cypriots will serve as a model of peace.
- Committed to our history and our link to the past.
- Committed... to our land and in the name of the our lands from which we were forcefully driven away .... not just once.

On Sunday 10 May ...
when we all make our way to Sourp Magar Monastery
when we face the path that brought us here and created our community
when we face and sing "Cilicia" across the sea and the land that our forefathers called "home"

Let us renew our vows and stay committed
in the name of our lands...

PILGRIMAGE TO THE OCCUPIED SOURP MAGAR MONASTERY
Sunday 10 May, 2009
GIBRAHAYER e-magazine

The 2nd Pilgrimage to the Turkish-occupied Armenian Monastery of Sourp Magar
is organised by the office of the Armenian MP Vartkes Mahdessian
and The Armenian Prelature of Cyprus

Participants are requested to contact the office of the Armenian MP Vartkes Mahdessian
by telephoning 22-454540 and supplying the following information:
1.- Name, Surname, Birth date and city/country
2.- European Identity Card or Passport Number
3.- Citizenship

The last day to register is Thursday 30 April, 2009 at the Office of The Armenian MP

- The convoy is under the supervision of UNFICYP
- Participation Fee is 10 euros
- Make sure you have your European ID or Passports with you on the day of the Pilgrimage
- Buses leave from The Armenian Prelature in Nicosia at 11:00 am sharp



On Thursday 23 April at 11:10 pm, PlusTV will be airing a documentary on the Armenian Genocide interviewing Screamers film director Carla Garabedian and showing excerpts of the film.

Friday 24th April 2009 at 9:15 pm, For the first time ever, CyBC2 will air the award winning documentary on the Armenian genocide named "Memories" by Italian-Armenian director Avedis Ohanian.
Both The documentary is being made possible by the efforts of The Armenian National Committee of Cyprus (Gibrosi Hay Tadi Hantsnakhoump)


GIBRAHAYER e-magazine

ARMENIAN POLITICAL PARTIES IN CYPRUS ISSUE A JOINT DECLARATION
To read the joint declaration by Armenian political parties in Cyprus - Ramgavar Azadagan Party, Henchagian Party and ARF Dashnaktsoutiun - on the occasion of the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, click here
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Within our grasp‏

Dear Reader

You remember.

Not too long ago, the Armenian Genocide was all but forgotten.

Today the unpunished crime against our martyrs is a lead story for CNN and the New York Times and a red-hot point of contention in U.S.-Turkey relations.

This is the result of your energy and generosity, and the respect we've all earned for our commitment to ending the cycle of genocide.

We're at a truly pivotal moment. Recognition is within our grasp. Justice won't be far behind. We need your help more than ever.

That's why I hope you will take this moment to support the ANCA by clicking the "Donate Now" button, calling (202) 742-8701, or sending in a check to the address below.


Ken Hachikian
Chairman

1711 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918 ~ Fax: (202) 775-5648 ~ anca@anca.org ~ www.anca.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[keghart.com] Turkey recalls ambassador to Canada in genocide spat

Madagh & Orphans of Armenia (Poems)
By Juan Yelanguezian, Buenos Aires, Argentina
http://keghart.com/node/404
The Proliferation of Genocide
By Ruth L. Barnett, human rights promoter and genocide educator, London UK, 22 April 2009
http://keghart.com/node/405
“The Karabakh issue more important for Armenia’s future than Genocide recognition”
By Liana Sayadyan, Hetq , 22 April 2009
http://keghart.com/node/401
Turkey recalls ambassador to Canada in genocide spat
http://keghart.com/node/400
Has Turkey Traded Genocide for Karabakh?
By Bruce Tasker, Khosq, UK-Yerevan, April 2009
http://keghart.com/node/392

You may find other interesting articles at www.keghart.com Please take a moment to have your say on the available polls at: www.keghart.com/polls Recipients who are getting Keghart.com update for the first time may check Mission? at the top of the right corner of the website beside Contact Us or click http://www.keghart.com/node/164

ARF Condemns Turkish-Armenian Agreement

Commemoration of the Genocide of the Armenians
www.keghart.com
Why Melkonian Must Reopen
By Eleni Theocharous, Cyprus Mail, 23 April 2009
http://keghart.com/node/414
Canadiana: On Democracy and the Corporate Elite
Witnessing a Democracy's decline
James Travers, The Toronto Star , Apr 21, 2009
http://keghart.com/node/413
ARF Condemns Turkish-Armenian Agreement
Asbarez Post
http://keghart.com/node/412
ANCA's Genocide Dilemma
By Bruce Tasker, Khosq, Yerevan, 23 April 2009
http://keghart.com/node/411
President Obama at the Holocaust Days of Remebrance Ceremony
The White House, 23 April 2009
http://keghart.com/node/410

You may find other interesting articles at www.keghart.com Please take a moment to have your say on the available polls at: www.keghart.com/polls Recipients who are getting Keghart.com update for the first time may check Mission? at the top of the right corner of the website beside Contact Us or click http://www.keghart.com/node/164
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wednesday 22 April 2009

Hayasdanyan Badvo Antsakir Engerouhi Zabel Chalian-in‏

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA


Monday 20 April 2009

[Keghart.com] Simple Pleasures‏

Commemoration of the Genocide of the Armenians
http://www.keghart.com/node/389
Justice: Where Art Thou?
By Avedis Kevorkian, Philadelphia, PA USA, 17 April 2009
http://www.keghart.com/node/376
Turkey Prevails in Round 1; Kicks off Round 2 of Tricks on Armenia
By Harut Sassounian, Publisher, The California Courier, 16 April 2009
http://www.keghart.com/node/375
Again Came April
By Vahe Avetian, Washington, D.C., 16 April 2009
http://www.keghart.com/node/378
Simple Pleasures
By Kevin McGill, Nunavut, 13 April 2009
Enjoy the spring wherever you are and support the Armenians in their struggle for justice.....Read more >>
http://www.keghart.com/node/377
The Mystery of October 27 (In Eastern Armenian)
By Alexander Varpetian, Payqar, 15 March 2009
http://www.keghart.com/node/388
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday 19 April 2009

Fw: Ermenistan yeni sunum (Armenia new presentation)‏


Opening Armenia-Turkey Border in International Press

TURKEY'S BABACAN TRAVELED TO ARMENIA BUT NOTHING WAS SIGNED
Tatul Hakobyan
The Wall Street Journal
Thursday April 16, 2009


Senior Azerbaijani diplomat in Yerevan for BSEC Council meeting

Yerevan - The Wall Street Journal and other influential newspapers
citing unnamed senior diplomats had reported that on April 16 Armenia
and Turkey "could" sign an agreement to establish diplomatic relations.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali Babacan was in fact in Yerevan today,
to participate in the meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign
Affairs of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
(BSEC), but no document was signed with Armenia.

"I can say that there is no intention to sign today any document
on Armenian-Turkish relations," said Edward Nalbandian, Armenia's
foreign minister, at a press conference following the BSEC meeting,
which he chaired. Armenian-Turkish "negotiations continue. We have
made progress and think that we can really resolve these issues in
the near future," he continued.

However, the foreign ministers of Turkey and Armenia did not even
hold a separate meeting during Mr. Babacan's visit. Instead, taking
the opportunity of being in Yerevan together, Mr. Babacan and the
foreign minister of Russia, Sergey Lavrov, held a meeting. Of the 12
BSEC member states, only Armenia, Russia, and Turkey participated in
the meeting at the foreign minister level.

Iran admitted as a partner

Among the delegations at the BSEC meeting was one from Azerbaijan,
led by Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmoud Mamedkuliyev - who is married
to President Ilham Aliyev's older sister. This was the first official
Azerbaijani delegation in Armenia in years. The six-month rotating
chairmanship of BSEC moves on May 1 from Armenia to Azerbaijan;
the ceremonial handoff took place today.

Ambassador Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos, who was confirmed as BSEC's
secretary general for a second term at this meeting, noted at the
press conference that two BSEC member states, Turkey and Azerbaijan,
have no diplomatic relations with another member state, Armenia. He
said one of the main decisions of the BSEC meeting was to grant
partner status to Iran.

"Iran is a country that was missing in the area," Mr. Chrysanthopoulos
said. "BSEC will establish cooperation with Iran in different
spheres. In particular, in agriculture, energy, and transport,"
he added.

Favoring linkage

Azerbaijan's deputy foreign minister was asked about his government's
position on Armenian-Turkish dialog. His government announces,
on the one hand, that it welcomes all steps that could lead to
the resolution of existing issues in the region. On the other hand,
Azerbaijan is opposed to the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border and
the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia.

"We follow the process with interest, and our position is that the
restoration of relations between Armenia and Turkey can only be linked
to the resolution of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan,"
Mr. Mamedkuliyev said in response, after making a ritual claim that
Azerbaijan does not interfere in the "domestic affairs" of other
countries and saying that Baku regards contacts between Armenia and
Turkey to be a matter for the two countries involved.

Mr. Mamedkuliyev said, "The development of relations between Armenia
and Turkey was in time interrupted and the main reason was the
occupation of Azerbaijani territory."

Turkey's role over Karabakh

Abdullah Gul, the Turkish president, recently announced that
Turkey is participating in negotiations with Azerbaijan and
Armenia. Mr. Nalbandian was asked about the mechanism for Turkey's
participation. He noted in response that the negotiations are being
mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group, and specifically by the U.S.,
Russian, and French co-chairs of the Minsk Group. "That is the format
of the negotiations, and no other format exists. Turkey does not
play a role as a mediator in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict,
" he said.

The Azerbaijani deputy foreign minister said Baku welcomes the efforts
of any country toward the resolution of the conflict. "If there are
specific and realistic proposals, we are prepared to study them. The
continuation of the conflict gives no side an advantage; the conflict
must be resolved within the norms and principles of international
law as it exists. Turkey is a member of the Minsk Group and one of
the most important countries in the region," he said.

The president of Armenia, Serge Sargsian, received the participants
in the meeting of the BSEC Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

Armenian leadership

Armenia is one of the founding members of BSEC and is concluding its
six-month terms as chairman-in-office. With Armenia in the chair,
Mr. Nalbandian said, more than 50 documents and two declarations were
signed through the organization.

"Over the past six months Armenia exerted efforts to move BSEC
forward through the growing challenges of the contemporary world in
the condition of deepening financial crisis" said Mr. Nalbandian.

The head of the Azerbaijani delegation said, "regional cooperation
will be successful if there is the atmosphere of peace, stability and
security. Therefore our attempts will go to increase the activity of
our organization to care about existing conflicts in the Black Sea
area. Unfortunately, we are having some situation which is not very
supportive for full regional cooperation," he said.

BSEC was launched as a regionally owned initiative, with Turkey's
lead, in 25 June 1992 at the Istanbul Summit. The idea that stronger
economic cooperation among the Black Sea countries would enhance peace
and stability in the region was the underlying philosophy behind BSEC.
 
ARMENIA, TURKEY ANNOUNCE NO DEAL AFTER YEREVAN TALKS
Gaziantep Haber 27
April 17 2009
Turkey


Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan gave no indications of an
impending breakthrough in his country's relations with Armenia on
Thursday as he visited Yerevan to attend a meeting of the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (BSEC) organization 17 Nisan 2009 Cuma 16:24

His Armenian counterpart, Eduard Nalbandian, insisted, nonetheless,
that Ankara and Yerevan may still normalize their historically strained
relations "soon."

Babacan refrained from making any public statements during the one-day
trip which ended with a meeting with President Serzh Sarkisian. A short
statement by Sarkisian's office gave no details of the talks. Babacan
also took part in a separate group meeting between Sarkisian and
participants of the BSEC session.

While in Yerevan, Babacan also met with Russia's Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov and Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud
Mamedguliev.

Recent reports in Turkish and Western media said that the two
governments could use the BSEC meeting to announce agreement on a
gradual normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations. However, Turkey's
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ruled out such possibility,
repeatedly stating this month that Ankara will not establish diplomatic
relations with Yerevan and reopen the Turkish-Armenian border before
a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.


Babacan appeared to reaffirm that linkage as he spoke to CNN-Turk
television on his way to Yerevan. According to "Hurriyet Daily
News," he said the Turkish-Armenian dialogue must run parallel with
international efforts to settle the Karabakh conflict.

"Today we have no intention to sign any document regarding the
normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations," Nalbandian told
journalists after the BSEC meeting. "Negotiations continue. We have
made progress and believe that we can really be very close to solving
those issues soon."

Nalbandian also made clear that Yerevan remains opposed to direct
Turkish involvement in international efforts to settle the Karabakh
dispute. "Turkey will not play the role of a mediator in the Karabakh
peace process," he said.


The Armenian minister was speaking at a joint news conference with
Mamedguliev, whose country assumed the BSEC's rotating presidency
from Armenia at the Yerevan meeting. Mamedguliev, a rare Azerbaijani
official visiting Armenia, reaffirmed Baku's strong opposition to the
normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations before Karabakh peace. "Our
position is the following: the restoration of links between Turkey
and Armenia may only be conditional on the resolution of the conflict
between Armenia and Azerbaijan," he said.

By contrast, Lavrov welcomed the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement. "First
of all, this is the bilateral affair of Armenia and Turkey," he said
after the talks with Babacan. "We welcome all steps leading to the
normalization of relations between any countries of the region."
 
Ex-Ministers Downbeat On Turkish-Armenian Deal
Vartan Oskanian
17.04.2009
Emil Danielyan


Two former foreign ministers of Armenia remained pessimistic on
Friday about the success of the ongoing Turkish-Armenian dialogue,
urging the current authorities in Yerevan to reconsider their
diplomatic overtures to Ankara.

A top U.S. official, meanwhile, visited Armenia in what may have been
an attempt to salvage the faltering talks between the two neighboring
nations. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza met with
President Serzh Sarkisian and Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian.
Official Armenian sources gave no details of the talks, and Bryza was
not available for comment.

The diplomat, who is also the U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group,
arrived in Yerevan from Baku where he met Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. Washington has been trying to neutralize
Azerbaijan's strong resistance to the normalization of Turkish-
Armenian relations before a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-
Karabakh conflict. U.S. President Barack Obama personally discussed
the matter with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliev, in a phone
call last week.

The vehement Azerbaijani protests led Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan to publicly state earlier this month that Turkey will
not establish diplomatic relations and open its border with Armenia
without a Karabakh settlement. Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan
appeared to echo that linkage as he flew to Yerevan on Wednesday night.

"We don't say, 'Let's first solve one problem and solve the other
later,'' Babacan was reported to tell Turkish journalists. `We want a
similar process to start between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We are
closely watching the talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia.'

Nalbandian insisted on Thursday, however, that Ankara and Yerevan
could still hammer out a ground-breaking agreement `soon.' Two of his
predecessors are far more pessimistic on that score, pointing to the
statements made by Erdogan.

`I don't anticipate the signing of a Turkish-Armenian agreement in
the near future,' one of them, Raffi Hovannisian, said. He was
particularly worried about Erdogan's calls for the UN Security
Council to denounce Armenia as an `occupier' and demand Karabakh's
return under Azerbaijani rule.

Vartan Oskanian, who served as foreign minister from 1998-2008,
likewise suggested that the Turks have no intention to cut an
unconditional deal with Armenia and are instead trying to exploit the
talks to keep the United States and other countries from recognizing
the 1915 massacres of Armenians as genocide. He said they could also
be pressing international mediators to seek more Armenian concessions
on Karabakh in return for an open border with Turkey.

`When you make a Turkish-Armenian dialogue public, the Turks always
take advantage of that because they face the genocide issue, the
issue of European Union membership and the issue of friendship with
Azerbaijan,' Oskanian told a news conference. `So publicity here, if
we let it last for long, is not to our benefit. With every day
passing without border opening or normalization of Turkish-Armenian
relations, Turkey finds itself in a more beneficial position than
Armenia.

`The moment that the border is opened, we too will start to draw
dividends. The question is when that will happen.'

`The Armenian side should set a clear deadline for the Turks -- if we
sign an agreement and the border is opened on a particular day, it
will be fine; if not, let us interrupt the negotiations from that
day. Something has to be done,' added Oskanian.

Oskanian also seemed puzzled by President Sarkisian's assurances that
Armenia will `emerge stronger' from the U.S.-backed talks even if
they end in failure. `I hope that there is something that the
president knows but we don't know,' he said.

The former minister, who founded last year a private think-tank, the
Civilitas Foundation, spoke to journalists before an official
presentation of a newly published book containing speeches delivered
by him throughout his decade-long tenure. Among those attending the
event was Kaan Soyak, the Turkish co-chairman of the Turkish-Armenian
Business Council (TABC) that has long been lobbying for improved
relations and unfettered commerce between the two neighbors.

Soyak asserted that Erdogan's remarks were `a little misunderstood'
in Armenia and did not wreck the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement.
`What the prime minister wanted to say is that the normalization of
relations between Armenia and Turkey is very important and within the
context of this normalization Turkish diplomats and Turkish foreign
policy advisers will be more active in the Caucasus for the
settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan,' he told RFE/RL.

`He never set a precondition,' said Soyak. `He believes that all the
solutions must be in one package, which includes Azerbaijan and
Armenia, but not necessarily the Nagorno-Karabakh area.'

TURKISH-ARMENIAN DIALOGUE ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE
By: Emil Danielyan
Jamestown Foundation
April 14 2009

The nearly year-long negotiations between Armenia and Turkey look set
to prove fruitless after Ankara has revived its long-standing linkage
between the normalization of bilateral ties and a resolution of the
Karabakh conflict. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has
repeatedly made clear this month that his government will not establish
diplomatic relations with Yerevan and re-open the Turkish-Armenian
border without Azerbaijan's consent. In Armenia and especially
amongst its worldwide diaspora, meanwhile, there are growing calls
for President Serzh Sarkisian to abandon the Western-backed talks.

The success of those talks seemed a foregone conclusion in the weeks
leading up to President Barack Obama's visit on April 6-7. According
to reports in both the Turkish and Western media, Armenia and Turkey
have finalized an agreement on gradually normalizing their strained
relations and setting up inter-governmental commissions dealing with
various issues of mutual interest. Some of those reports quoted unnamed
Turkish officials as saying that the agreement could be signed during
or shortly after Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian's trip
to Istanbul on April 6. The resulting outcry in Azerbaijan (EDM,
April 10) suggested that Ankara and Yerevan were indeed very close
to cutting a far-reaching deal.

Erdogan called into question the possibility of such a deal when
he told a news conference in London on April 3 that Turkey cannot
reach a "healthy solution concerning Armenia" as long as the Karabakh
dispute remains unresolved (Today's Zaman, April 4). He reaffirmed
the linkage on April 8, two days after Obama stated in Ankara that
the Turkish-Armenian negotiations were "moving forward and could
bear fruit very quickly, very soon." The Turkish premier went as
far as demanding that the U.N. Security Council denounce Armenia
as an "occupier" and called for Karabakh's return under Azeri rule
(Hurriyet Daily News, April 9).

Any doubts about the practical implications of these statements
were dispelled by Erdogan during his holiday in southern Turkey on
April 10: "We will not sign a final deal with Armenia unless there
is agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia on Karabakh," he told
journalists (Anatolia news agency, April 10). In an interview with
the Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo published the following day, the
deputy chairman of Erdogan's Justice and Development Party, Haluk
Ipek, said the Turkish-Armenian border will remain closed for at
least ten more years. Ipek dismissed speculation over its impending
re-opening as "dishonest" Armenian propaganda aimed at driving a
wedge between the two Turkic nations. Turkey's more dovish President
Abdullah Gul likewise underscored the importance of Karabakh's peace
when he commented on Turkish-Armenian reconciliation in an interview
with The Financial Times on April 8.

That the Turkish-Armenian dialogue is reaching an impasse was
effectively acknowledged by Sarkisian at an April 10 news conference:
"Is it possible that we were mistaken in our calculations and
that the Turks will now adopt a different position and try to set
preconditions? Of course it is possible," he said (Armenian Public
Television, April 10). The Armenian leader insisted that Karabakh
has not been on the agenda of that dialogue. Indeed, Ankara was
clearly ready to stop linking Turkish-Armenian relations with a
Karabakh settlement acceptable to Baku when it embarked on a dramatic
rapprochement with Yerevan last summer. The two countries' foreign
ministers would have hardly held numerous face-to-face meetings since
if it was not.

For his part, Sarkisian signaled his acceptance, in principle,
of a Turkish proposal to form a joint commission of historians
tasked with examining the 1915-1918 mass killings of Armenians in
the Ottoman Empire. One of the Turkish-Armenian commissions which the
governments reportedly agreed to form would conduct such a study. The
idea was floated by Erdogan in 2005 and rejected by then Armenian
President Robert Kocharian as a Turkish ploy designed to scuttle
greater international recognition of what many historians consider
the first genocide of the twentieth century. Turkish leaders have made
no secret of using the fence-mending negotiations with the Sarkisian
administration to discourage Obama from making good on his election
campaign promise to describe the slaughter of more than one million
Ottoman Armenians as genocide.

The almost certain collapse of the talks has left Armenian politicians
and pundits questioning the wisdom of further Armenian overtures to the
Turks. "If Turkey suddenly succumbs to Azerbaijan's threats and these
negotiations yield no results soon, then I think the Armenian side
will not carry on with them," said Giro Manoyan, a senior member of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation, a nationalist party represented in
Sarkisian's coalition government (Hayots Ashkhar, April 10). Former
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian likewise advocated, in an April
7 interview with RFE/RL, Yerevan's pullout from the reconciliation
process if the sixteen year Turkish blockade of Armenia is not lifted.

Such views are indicative of the dominant mood in the Armenian
diaspora and, in particular, the influential Armenian community
within the United States. Harut Sassounian, a prominent community
activist and commentator, criticized Armenia's policy on Turkey,
effectively blaming it for Obama's failure to publicly use the word
"genocide" during his visit to Turkey. "In view of these developments,
it is imperative that the Armenian government terminates at once all
negotiations with the Turkish leaders in order to limit the damage
caused by the continued exploitation of the illusion of productive
negotiations," Sassounian wrote in an April 9 editorial by his Los
Angeles-based newspaper California Courier.

Sarkisian insisted on April 10 that the dialogue with Turkey can
be deemed beneficial for the Armenian side even if it produces no
tangible results. He said Armenia will "emerge from this process
stronger" in any case because the international community will have no
doubts that "we are really ready to establish relations [with Turkey]
without preconditions."
EU URGES TURKEY TO REOPEN ARMENIA BORDER
By Selcuk Gokoluk
Washington Post
April 15 2009

ANKARA (Reuters) - A top European Union official urged EU aspirant
Turkey to reopen its border with Armenia, piling pressure on Ankara
to normalize ties with Yerevan after U.S. President Barack Obama made
a similar call last week.

Turkey and Armenia last year launched high-level talks on establishing
diplomatic ties after a century of hostility.

The stand-off between Turkey and Armenia has destabilized the
energy-rich Caucasus region, isolated impoverished Armenia and
obstructed Turkey's efforts to join the EU.

Peter Semneby, the EU's special envoy for the South Caucasus, said
normalizing Turkish-Armenian ties would benefit the region and would
help Turkey's hopes of joining the bloc.

"Fundamentally this would be a development that I think could lead to
further positive developments that would in return benefit us, benefit
the region and would therefore benefit Turkey and the European Union,"
Semneby told a panel interview including Reuters late on Tuesday.

"It (opening the border) will certainly not hurt Turkey's EU
perspectives," he said.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 to lend support to its
traditional Muslim ally Azerbaijan. Armenia and Turkey trace their own
dispute to 90-year-old claims that Ottoman Turks committed genocide
against Armenia in World War I.

Semneby said the EU is not putting pressure on Turkey to recognize
the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915 as genocide,
a claim which Ankara strongly denies.

"I can only talk on the behalf of the European Union, and there is
absolutely no such pressure, absolutely not. This is not an issue of
ours. We are not involved on that issue."

Obama, in a visit to NATO ally Turkey earlier this month, also pressed
Ankara and Yerevan to complete talks soon.

But Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has said the deadlock over
the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, over which Armenia and Azerbaijan
fought a war in the late 1980s and early 1990s, must be resolved
before Turkey and Armenia strike a deal.

Azerbaijan, which sells gas and oil to Turkey, opposes its ally
opening the border because such a deal could take away the incentive
for Armenia to negotiate over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia has controlled Nagorno-Karabakh, which lies wholly within
Azerbaijan, since a war that broke out in the last days of the Soviet
Union. A ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh, brokered by Russia, has held
since 1994.


OPENING BORDER BETWEEN TURKEY, ARMENIA MEANS
RECOGNIZING OCCUPATION: BAYKAL
Xinhua General News Service
April 13, 2009 Monday
China

Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party Leader Deniz
Baykal warned the government against making a very serious mistake
on the issue of re-opening the border with Armenia, local Daily News
reported on Monday.

As tensions mount between Turkey and Azerbaijan, Baykal told reporters
before his party's meeting Saturday, "If the border is opened, the
occupation (of Upper Karabakh) will have been safeguarded."

The Upper Karabakh dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia has been
going on for a long time. Both Azerbaijani leaders and public opinion
have expressed serious concerns over the possibility of the border
between Turkey and Armenia being re-opened.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev refused to attend the Alliance of
Civilizations summit in Istanbul earlier this month, a move that was
seen as a protest against the pending border move.

"Turkey closed its border with Armenia in protest of the occupation
of Azerbaijan," said Baykal, adding, "this has nothing to do with
historical conflict. The issue on the opening of the border can only
be considered with the occupation of Azerbaijan."

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan
during its conflict with Armenia over the Upper Karabakh region.

On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan confirmed in Istanbul
that his country has held talks with Armenia for months to normalize
ties.

"We are working on a comprehensive solution and our talks are going
well. We have made significant progress so far and both parties have
declared satisfaction over the process several times, " said Babacan.

U.S. President Barack Obama said during his visit in Ankara last
Monday that he was encouraged by the dialogues between Turkey and
Armenia aimed to improve ties.

He said that as Turkey and Armenia are having "serious negotiations"
that could bear fruit quickly, "I will be as encouraging as possible,"
adding the world should also encourage them.

Armenians claim that more than 1.5 million Armenians were killed in
a systematic genocide in the hands of the Ottomans during World War
I before modern Turkey was born in 1923.

But Turkey insists the Armenians were victims of widespread chaos
and governmental breakdown as the 600-year-old empire collapsed in
the years before 1923.
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