International Armenian New

AFP
Genocide row threatens Gallipoli visas
Wed Sep 29, 2010

The Federal Government says it is hoping to resolve a dispute that is
threatening a planned survey of Gallilopi battlefields in Turkey.

Turkey's ambassador to Australia and New Zealand is refusing to issue
visas to archaeologists from the two countries.

He has told Radio New Zealand he is unhappy with a World War I monument
built in Sydney which commemorates the deaths of around 750,000
Assyrians.

The monument, erected by Assyrian community leaders, refers to the
alleged killing of the Assyrians by Ottoman troops as "genocide".

Oguz Ozge, Turkey's ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, says the
monument is "quite unacceptable."

"This is quite concerning to the Turkish government and as long as
remedial action is not taken we intend to do something on the part of
the Turkish government," he said.

Archaeologists from Turkey, New Zealand and Australia are next week due
to begin mapping the Gallipoli peninsula.

A final decision to suspend the Gallipoli survey has not yet been taken,
but Mr Ozge said it "could be, until we find a way out".

A Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman says discussions are
currently taking place between the Department and the Turkish ministry
of foreign affairs to sort out the issue of the delayed visas.

Vandals have attacked the monument, spray-painting it with the words,
"Assyrian dogs", and the Turkish flag.


Australian MP defends Nagorno Karabakh right to self-determination

SYDNEY: NSW Member for Ryde Victor Dominello has defended the right to
self-determination of the Armenians of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh in
an address to State Parliament last week, reported the Armenian National
Committee of Australia (ANC Australia).

Dominello, a close friend of the Armenian-Australian community and
representative of the most densely Armenian-populated state electorate,
becomes the second MP to discuss Nagorno Karabakh after colleague Jonathan
O'Dea (NSW Member for Davidson) introduced it to the NSW Legislative
Assembly in May this year.

On Friday 24 September, at approximately 1pm, Dominello stood to mark
Armenia's Independence Day before turning his attention to "the situation
in the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh".

Dominello said: "Whilst it is not an internationally recognised state,
this does not mean they [Armenians] are not afforded the right to
self-determination as outlined in article VIII of the Helsinki Final Act."

The Member for Ryde went on to provide an accurate history of the region
and its troubles, touching on the current volatility of the cease fire
agreement which is often breached by Azerbaijan, causing needless deaths
on both sides.

ANC Australia Executive Director Varant Meguerditchian said: "We thank
Mr.Dominello for bringing light to the right to self-determination of the
people of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh in an Australian legislature.

"It is our expectation that this, following on Mr. O'Dea's earlier
address, will help achieve formal universal recognition of the Republic of
Nagorno Karabakh."


MEMORIAL TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS TO BE SET UP IN
BOSTON
NEWS.am
September 28, 2010 | 19:05

After participating in the 65th session of the U.N. General Assembly,
RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian arrived in Boston, MA. He visited
the Armenian Heritage Park. Next year, a memorial to Armenian Genocide
victims is to be completed there. The action group members told the
Armenian FM about the project.

The press service of the Armenian foreign office informed NEWS.am
that Minister Edward Nalbandian delivered a report at the Fletcher
School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University, on September 27.

He pointed out that for 11 years the Tavitian Foundation has sponsored
the education of 150 diplomats, officials and NGO representatives at
the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy.

Minister Nalbandian dwelt on Armenia's foreign policy problems
and steps to resolve them, the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process and
Armenian-Turkish relations.

Thereafter, Minister Nalbandian held a meeting with Dean of the
Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy Stephen W. Bosworth. The two
discussed issues of further development.

Minister Nalbandian also participation in a reception organized in
his honor by the Armenian community in Boston. He delivered a speech
on Armenia's foreign policy and answered a number of questions.

The RA Foreign Minister is to return to Yerevan after his visit.

FOREIGN MINISTER OF IRELAND: CONFLICT IN NAGORNY
KARABAKH MUST BE RESOLVED ONCE AND FOR ALL
ArmInfo
2010-09-28 13:49:00

ArmInfo. The Irish authorities are currently reflecting the conflict
in Nagorny Karabakh in the context of Ireland's OSCE chairmanship in
2012, Foreign Minister of Ireland Micheal Martin told ArmInfo after
the conference "Mass Media and the Conflict: Challenges, Constrains
and Opportunities" recently held in Dublin with support of the EU
and the European Neighborhood Journalism Network.

"We have an absolute desire to resolve this conflict once and for all.

We'd like to help and assist the parties in moving things forward,"
the minister said.

He said the parties to the conflict should be engaged in the process
and involved in a dialogue as well as respect for the positions of the
people coming from the different backgrounds, ambitions and desires.

The minister believes that the challenge is to reconcile all these
parties and reduce cross border and cross ethnic tension.

Asked what is the priority: human rights and territories, the minister
said that human rights are above everything because people must live
together in harmony. "We should construct frames and something we
can overly concern about are the actually frameworks. The key is
asking some very simple but fundamental question: Do you want that
generation to grow up in the region free from the threat of violence
and insecurity, to grow up in harmony and mutual understanding? If
that is your common objective, then you fit structures to meet that
and you organize yourself around that goal," Martin said.


ARMENIAN EMBASSY OPENS IN SPAIN
armradio.am
28.09.2010 16:43

The Armenian Embassy was opened in Madrid on September 26. Reception
dedicated to the 19th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of
Armenia and the opening of Armenia's Embassy in Spain was organized
at the hall of the Embassy renovated with the efforts of the Armenian
community. Representatives from educational-cultural establishments
from Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga, other guests were present at the
reception.

Tens of Madrid Armenians - businessmen, culture figures, lawyers,
lecturers, students - were also invited to participate in the event.

Vicar of Armenian Catholic Church in Spain and Portugal Sasun
Zmrukhtyan blessed the Embassy. The national anthems of the two
countries were played, Armenian Charge d'affairs in Spain Khoren
Terteryan delivered a congratulatory speech.

ARMENIA OPENS EMBASSIES IN JAPAN AND THE
NETHERLANDS
Panorama
Sept 23 2010

President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on appointing Armenia's
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia
to the Republic of Greece Gagik Ghalachyan as Armenia's Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Serbia (seat
in Athens).

According to another presidential decree, Armenian Embassies have been
opened in Japan and the Netherlands (seats in Tokyo and the Hague).