COLLAPSE And How It Relates To Things Armenian
ARTICLE BY VICKEN L. ATTARIAN - MONTREAL, CANADA
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Armenian Genocide Resource Center
5 months ago
Showing posts with label 31st August 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 31st August 2008. Show all posts
Sunday, 31 August 2008
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Armenian News
IRAN AND ARMENIA FINALISE MUCH-DELAYED GAS PIPELINE DEAL, EXPORTS TO START IN OCTOBER
by Samuel Ciszuk
World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
August 29, 2008
A new deal has been reached between Armenia and Iran over the export of Iranian gas through a long-finished pipeline in exchange for Armenian exports of electricity,Upstreamreports (seeIran: 12 August 2008:). In a 2007 deal, the countries originally agreed to construct a gas pipeline and entered into a supply agreement, but gas failed to flow after the pipeline's completion by mid-2007, with unspecified technical problems on the Armenian side cited as the main cause of the standstill. The newly reached deal specifies that Iranian gas exports will start by 1 October 2008 at a rate of about 1.1 bcm/y, eventually increasing to 2.3 bcm/y. Armenia will pay Iran in electricity from a power plant close to the Iranian border at 3KWh per every cubic metre of gas.
Significance: While the recent conflict between Georgia and Russia is handy to blame for Armenia's sudden willingness to start using the Iranian import option--Armenia currently imports all of its gas from Russia through a pipeline passing Georgia--there seems to be a confluence of interests making this moment particularly opportune. Russia's Gazprom took a leading stake (57.6%) in the Russian-Armenian company that owns the pipeline, ArmRos- Gazprom, indicating that the switch to Iranian supplies--if it actually gets under way--will be in Russia's best interests too. With Armenia no longer dependent on the trans-Georgia pipeline, Russia will be free to shut down its exports to Georgia, which also supplies the country, giving it further political leverage over its neighbour.
Meanwhile, Armenia is given a golden opportunity to escape rising Russian gas export prices in favour of Iranian gas, bought from Iran with electricity at a time when Iran is in the midst of a deep electricity shortage and seems to have agreed to a more favourable pricing scheme than before (seeArmenia: 1 August 2008:). With Armenia a close ally of Russia, its large protector might not see Iran's role as Armenian supplier as a particular threat anyway, preferring for the moment to help shield its poor, but strategic ally from rising costs. However, Iran's chronic gas shortages do cast doubt over its chances of guaranteeing steady supplies to Armenia, especially later this year, when the winter kicks in.
INTERMEDIA SURVEY FINDS ARMENIANS MOST FAVORABLY INCLINED
by Samuel Ciszuk
World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
August 29, 2008
A new deal has been reached between Armenia and Iran over the export of Iranian gas through a long-finished pipeline in exchange for Armenian exports of electricity,Upstreamreports (seeIran: 12 August 2008:). In a 2007 deal, the countries originally agreed to construct a gas pipeline and entered into a supply agreement, but gas failed to flow after the pipeline's completion by mid-2007, with unspecified technical problems on the Armenian side cited as the main cause of the standstill. The newly reached deal specifies that Iranian gas exports will start by 1 October 2008 at a rate of about 1.1 bcm/y, eventually increasing to 2.3 bcm/y. Armenia will pay Iran in electricity from a power plant close to the Iranian border at 3KWh per every cubic metre of gas.
Significance: While the recent conflict between Georgia and Russia is handy to blame for Armenia's sudden willingness to start using the Iranian import option--Armenia currently imports all of its gas from Russia through a pipeline passing Georgia--there seems to be a confluence of interests making this moment particularly opportune. Russia's Gazprom took a leading stake (57.6%) in the Russian-Armenian company that owns the pipeline, ArmRos- Gazprom, indicating that the switch to Iranian supplies--if it actually gets under way--will be in Russia's best interests too. With Armenia no longer dependent on the trans-Georgia pipeline, Russia will be free to shut down its exports to Georgia, which also supplies the country, giving it further political leverage over its neighbour.
Meanwhile, Armenia is given a golden opportunity to escape rising Russian gas export prices in favour of Iranian gas, bought from Iran with electricity at a time when Iran is in the midst of a deep electricity shortage and seems to have agreed to a more favourable pricing scheme than before (seeArmenia: 1 August 2008:). With Armenia a close ally of Russia, its large protector might not see Iran's role as Armenian supplier as a particular threat anyway, preferring for the moment to help shield its poor, but strategic ally from rising costs. However, Iran's chronic gas shortages do cast doubt over its chances of guaranteeing steady supplies to Armenia, especially later this year, when the winter kicks in.
INTERMEDIA SURVEY FINDS ARMENIANS MOST FAVORABLY INCLINED
TOWARDS RUSSIA AND OPTIMISTIC ABOUT DEMOCRACY IN THEIR COUNTRY
U.S. Newswire
August 28, 2008 Thursday 10:53 AM EST
Despite a powerful Diaspora lobby in the United States, Armenians' positive feelings towards the U.S. are nearly 40 percentage points behind their feelings towards neighboring Russia. So says a survey of the small (3 million inhabitants) yet strategically located nation, conducted earlier this year by InterMedia, a Washington, D.C.- based research, evaluation and consulting organization.
The InterMedia survey found fully 90 percent of Armenians are favorably inclined towards Russia, but only 53 percent say they are so inclined towards the United States.
"The higher favorability towards Russia compared to the U.S. is not surprising," says Lyuda Andriyevska, one of InterMedia's project managers for Eurasia. "Russia has been the main strategic partner for Armenia for centuries. Currently, Russia provides landlocked Armenia
with oil and gas, invests heavily in business and infrastructure, sells weapons and supports many positions of Armenian foreign policy, the touchiest of which is its dispute with Azerbaijan over the
Nagorno-Karabakh region."
Armenia is strategically significant in the region due in part to its location at both the energy and ethnic crossroads of Europe, Asia and Middle East. With growing demand for energy resources in the world, Armenia is an important player among three regional powers -- Iran, Turkey and Russia -- all of which compete for political and economic leadership in the region.
Only slightly more than one-quarter of Armenians, 28 percent, are favourably inclined towards their northern neighbour, Georgia. "One reason is the souring of Georgian-Russian relations over the last couple of years," says Ms. Andriyevska. "Georgia serves as a lifeline for the Armenian economy, as all the inland trade with Russia goes through it. However, the ongoing conflict between Georgia and Russia has seriously disrupted communication and transportation of energy and food supplies to Armenia. This should serve to increase Armenians' animosity towards Georgia and perhaps even take some of the lustre off their feelings towards Russia."
The InterMedia survey also found Armenians are pro-European but less keen on NATO. Seventy percent of the population agree or strongly agree with the statement that "Armenia should join EU." NATO, on the other hand, has the support of only slightly more than a quarter of the population, 27 percent.
Although favorability toward Russia is high, there are fundamental differences in public sentiment between the two countries. The InterMedia survey finds Armenians are more optimistic about democratic changes in their country and have more faith in the power of the
electoral process than do Russians. Almost two-thirds of Armenians, 64 percent, anticipated increased chances for democracy and personal self expression after the presidential elections in February 2008; only 5 percent of the Russian population expected similar improvements in terms of democracy and self expression after their own 2008 presidential elections. (InterMedia's Russian survey took place in January 2008.)
InterMedia is a leading international media research, public opinion, evaluation and consulting organization creatively equipping clients to understand their audiences, gauge their effectiveness and target their communications in transitional and developing societies worldwide. Based in Washington, D.C., and active year-round in more than 60 countries, InterMedia helps clients understand complex issues in challenging research environments. The company's strengths include its people-area experts skilled in scientifically-based research and focused on client solutions-its vast global network of local research partners and contacts and its rich data archive of more than 670 media and opinion surveys carried out over the past 15 years.
Survey Details: InterMedia conducted a nationally representative survey of 2,000 face-to face interviews in Armenia between 22 January and 27 February 2008. Maximum margin of error, with a 95% confidence interval, is +/-2.2%.
U.S. Newswire
August 28, 2008 Thursday 10:53 AM EST
Despite a powerful Diaspora lobby in the United States, Armenians' positive feelings towards the U.S. are nearly 40 percentage points behind their feelings towards neighboring Russia. So says a survey of the small (3 million inhabitants) yet strategically located nation, conducted earlier this year by InterMedia, a Washington, D.C.- based research, evaluation and consulting organization.
The InterMedia survey found fully 90 percent of Armenians are favorably inclined towards Russia, but only 53 percent say they are so inclined towards the United States.
"The higher favorability towards Russia compared to the U.S. is not surprising," says Lyuda Andriyevska, one of InterMedia's project managers for Eurasia. "Russia has been the main strategic partner for Armenia for centuries. Currently, Russia provides landlocked Armenia
with oil and gas, invests heavily in business and infrastructure, sells weapons and supports many positions of Armenian foreign policy, the touchiest of which is its dispute with Azerbaijan over the
Nagorno-Karabakh region."
Armenia is strategically significant in the region due in part to its location at both the energy and ethnic crossroads of Europe, Asia and Middle East. With growing demand for energy resources in the world, Armenia is an important player among three regional powers -- Iran, Turkey and Russia -- all of which compete for political and economic leadership in the region.
Only slightly more than one-quarter of Armenians, 28 percent, are favourably inclined towards their northern neighbour, Georgia. "One reason is the souring of Georgian-Russian relations over the last couple of years," says Ms. Andriyevska. "Georgia serves as a lifeline for the Armenian economy, as all the inland trade with Russia goes through it. However, the ongoing conflict between Georgia and Russia has seriously disrupted communication and transportation of energy and food supplies to Armenia. This should serve to increase Armenians' animosity towards Georgia and perhaps even take some of the lustre off their feelings towards Russia."
The InterMedia survey also found Armenians are pro-European but less keen on NATO. Seventy percent of the population agree or strongly agree with the statement that "Armenia should join EU." NATO, on the other hand, has the support of only slightly more than a quarter of the population, 27 percent.
Although favorability toward Russia is high, there are fundamental differences in public sentiment between the two countries. The InterMedia survey finds Armenians are more optimistic about democratic changes in their country and have more faith in the power of the
electoral process than do Russians. Almost two-thirds of Armenians, 64 percent, anticipated increased chances for democracy and personal self expression after the presidential elections in February 2008; only 5 percent of the Russian population expected similar improvements in terms of democracy and self expression after their own 2008 presidential elections. (InterMedia's Russian survey took place in January 2008.)
InterMedia is a leading international media research, public opinion, evaluation and consulting organization creatively equipping clients to understand their audiences, gauge their effectiveness and target their communications in transitional and developing societies worldwide. Based in Washington, D.C., and active year-round in more than 60 countries, InterMedia helps clients understand complex issues in challenging research environments. The company's strengths include its people-area experts skilled in scientifically-based research and focused on client solutions-its vast global network of local research partners and contacts and its rich data archive of more than 670 media and opinion surveys carried out over the past 15 years.
Survey Details: InterMedia conducted a nationally representative survey of 2,000 face-to face interviews in Armenia between 22 January and 27 February 2008. Maximum margin of error, with a 95% confidence interval, is +/-2.2%.
PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Services Leading to the Blessing of the Holy Muron
On Tuesday, August 19, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided over the first of 40 prayer services, which will culminate in the Blessing of the Holy Muron (Chrism) scheduled for September 28 of this year. The prayer service, which begins a 40-day process of psalms, hymns, scripture readings and prayers, took place following Evening Vesper Services in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The cauldron, which contains the Holy Muron, was placed on the bema of the Holy Altar the previous evening, filled with pure olive oil. Pure olive oil is the first of the three primary substances that are mixed with the many additional aromatic and floral ingredients, following the blessing of which is transformed into the Muron. For the subsequent 39 days, the members of
the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, will follow the same procedure according to the ancient Canons of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church.
The 40-day countdown began with His Holiness ascending the Altar of Holy Etchmiadzin and reading from the Gospel of St. Mark. The Catholicos then read the main prayer dedicated to the blessing of Muron. His Holiness stated in his remarks, that he wishes for all faithful of the Armenian Church to raise their prayers to the Almighty during this period of prayer and prepar- ation for Sunday, September 28, which also happens to be the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varag.
The faithful of the Armenian Church are invited to join in prayer during these coming days as Holy Muron is prepared for use in Armenian Churches in Armenia and throughout the Diaspora.
For further updates and schedule of events surrounding the festivities, the faithful are encouraged to visit the website of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, www.armenianchurch.org, to follow the progress and learn new facts surrounding the Blessing of the Holy Muron.
Turkish Bodyguards `Preparing For' Gul's Trip To Armenia
By Ruben Meloyan
A team of Turkish security officials will reportedly travel to Yerevan this weekend to discuss security measures that would be put in place in the event of President Abdullah Gul's historic visit to Armenia.
President Serzh Sarkisian, meanwhile, has again expressed hope that Gul will accept his invitation to arrive in the Armenian capital and watch with him the first-ever game between Armenia's and Turkey's national football teams scheduled for September 6.
Gul said in televised remarks late Wednesday that he is `still considering' the invitation. `What is important is whether such a visit will be useful or not,' he said.
The Turkish daily `Zaman' reported on Thursday that the Turkish president's security detail is already preparing for his possible trip and planning to send a `forward unit' of 15 bodyguards to Yerevan. It said they would discuss with their Armenian colleagues security measures in and around the city's Hrazdan stadium where the qualifying match for the 2010 football World Cup in South Africa will be played.
`According to current plans, a group from the [Turkish] counterattack team, armed with M5 and M16 rifles, will be responsible for Gul's security during the visit,' `Zaman' said.
Another leading Turkish newspaper, `Hurriyet,' said the Foreign Ministry in Ankara is trying to arrange the security team's visit and is going to contact the Armenian government for that purpose. The paper said the Turks will either approach the Armenian embassy in Georgia or Armenia's permanent representative at the Istanbul headquarters of the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation organization.
A diplomatic source in Yerevan told RFE/RL that the Armenian side has not been contacted by Ankara as of late Thursday afternoon. Another Armenian source, who asked not to be identified, essentially confirmed the Turkish newspaper reports.
The invitation extended to Gul in June underscored a thaw in relations between the two estranged neighbors that followed Sarkisian's victory in Armenia's February 19 presidential election. The new Armenian president responded positively to Ankara's offers of a `dialogue' on problems hampering the normalization of Turkish-Armenian ties. Senior diplomats from the two countries held confidential talks in Switzerland in early July.
In an interview with the Turkish daily `Radikal' made public on Thursday, Sarkisian stressed the importance of what would be the first-ever trip to Armenia by a Turkish president. `If I did not believe in the visit's importance, I would not invite Mr. Gul in the first place,' he said. `We are neighbors. We went through difficult times in our history. But Armenia is prepared for a development of our relations and expects the same from Turkey.'
Sarkisian also stated that he and his Turkish counterpart `have reached the decision-making phase.' `Those will not be easy decisions,' he said. `Those decisions will not be approved by the entire publics in Armenia and Turkey. But I am sure the majority of the publics will support
positive decisions.'
Sarkisian also indicated that Yerevan and Ankara can reconcile their conflicting proposals to set up commissions discussing issues of mutual concern. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested in 2005 that the two states form a commission of historians who would look into the 1915 Armenian massacres in the Ottoman Empire and jointly determine whether they consistuted a genocide. The Armenian government turned down the offer and came up with a counter-proposal to have this and other problems hampering a Turkish-Armenian rapp- rochement tackled by an inter-governmental body.
`The best solution is the establishment of diplomatic relations,' Sarkisian told `Radikal.' `That way we can form many subcommissions and groups within the framework of the commission to be set up by the governments.'
Sarkisian was also asked whether the Yerevan government shares territorial claims to Turkey voiced by some Armenian political groups. `I don't remember a single Armenian official speaking about territorial claims,' he replied. `But I keep hearing about that from the opposite side.'
`If that was our official policy, then we would be called not the Republic of Armenia but the Republic of Eastern Armenia,' added the Armenian president.
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Developing Armenia-Turkey relations through football
HULIQ (press release), NC
Aug 30 2008
President Of Turkey Gul To Visit Armenia
According to the English version of Hurriyet the president of Turkey Abdullah Gul has accepted the invitation of the president of Armenia Serz Sargsyan to visit Armenia and to watch the football match between the national teams of Armenia and Turkey together.
Hurriyet writes "Turkish President Abdullah Gul has accepted an invitation from his Armenian counterpart to watch the World Cup qualifier between the Turkish-Armenian national teams in Yerevan as the Turkish Foreign Ministry said the visit would contribute to renewed relations between the two countries, Vatan daily reported on Saturday."
Vatan Daily has reported the news here, but it's in Turkish.
According to the newspaper Armenia, has not yet been officially informed about Gul's decision to travel to Armenia, but will be invormed officially next week.
It's very interesting that yesterday the foreign minister of Azerbaijan Mr. Elmar Mamediarov was in Turkey meeting the foreign minister Babacan and said that Azerbaijan is basically cool to Turkish president's visit to Armenia. Mamediarov also added that it's up to the Turkish president to accept the invitation or to deny it.
Months ago the president of Armenia as a good gesture invited the president of Turkey together to watch the world qualifier football match between the two national teams that will meet first time in history. This would also be a good opportunity for them to discuss the bilateral relations and bring the positions of the two countries closer through dialogue.
Yesterday Today's Zaman in an article "Reluctant Baku says Armenia visit decision up to Turkey" reported that there are mixed reactions about the Turkish visit to Armenian in Azerbaijan, but it was very interesting to read one of the reactions according to which the president of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliev should go to Armenia to join to talks and to watch the match.
""Gül should not go there because there will be provocation and chaos if he goes. No one will be welcoming if Gül agrees to visit," said Akif Rustemov, a teacher, to Cihan news agency. He softened his opposition when asked whether Gül and Sarksyan should discuss the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict. "If this is the case, then he should go. In fact, our president, Ilham Aliyev, should also join. Foreign mediators have been trying to find a solution for 17 years, but nothing happens. We have to solve this ourselves."
Woudn't it be nice if the three presidents together just watch a soccer match with one another and dialogue about the future of their countries.
Aug 30 2008
President Of Turkey Gul To Visit Armenia
According to the English version of Hurriyet the president of Turkey Abdullah Gul has accepted the invitation of the president of Armenia Serz Sargsyan to visit Armenia and to watch the football match between the national teams of Armenia and Turkey together.
Hurriyet writes "Turkish President Abdullah Gul has accepted an invitation from his Armenian counterpart to watch the World Cup qualifier between the Turkish-Armenian national teams in Yerevan as the Turkish Foreign Ministry said the visit would contribute to renewed relations between the two countries, Vatan daily reported on Saturday."
Vatan Daily has reported the news here, but it's in Turkish.
According to the newspaper Armenia, has not yet been officially informed about Gul's decision to travel to Armenia, but will be invormed officially next week.
It's very interesting that yesterday the foreign minister of Azerbaijan Mr. Elmar Mamediarov was in Turkey meeting the foreign minister Babacan and said that Azerbaijan is basically cool to Turkish president's visit to Armenia. Mamediarov also added that it's up to the Turkish president to accept the invitation or to deny it.
Months ago the president of Armenia as a good gesture invited the president of Turkey together to watch the world qualifier football match between the two national teams that will meet first time in history. This would also be a good opportunity for them to discuss the bilateral relations and bring the positions of the two countries closer through dialogue.
Yesterday Today's Zaman in an article "Reluctant Baku says Armenia visit decision up to Turkey" reported that there are mixed reactions about the Turkish visit to Armenian in Azerbaijan, but it was very interesting to read one of the reactions according to which the president of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliev should go to Armenia to join to talks and to watch the match.
""Gül should not go there because there will be provocation and chaos if he goes. No one will be welcoming if Gül agrees to visit," said Akif Rustemov, a teacher, to Cihan news agency. He softened his opposition when asked whether Gül and Sarksyan should discuss the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict. "If this is the case, then he should go. In fact, our president, Ilham Aliyev, should also join. Foreign mediators have been trying to find a solution for 17 years, but nothing happens. We have to solve this ourselves."
Woudn't it be nice if the three presidents together just watch a soccer match with one another and dialogue about the future of their countries.
Agence France Presse -- English
August 29, 2008 Friday 3:46 PM GMT
Football: Turks without Hamit Altintop and Nihat
ISTANBUL, Aug 29 2008
Turkish coach Fatih Terim on Friday unveiled a 28-man pre-squad forGroup 5 World Cup qualifiers against Armenia and Belgium.
The Turks, who lost the semi-finals of Euro 2008 to Germany 3-2, will be without Bayern Munich midfielder Hamit Altintop and striker Nihat Kahveci of Villarreal as both are injured.
The Turks meet Armenia on September 6 at Yerevan and then host Belgium four days later in Istanbul. Group 5 also contains European champions Spain, Estonia and Bosnia.
Goalkeepers
Volkan Demirel (Fenerbahce), Serdar Kulbilge (Kocaelispor), Tolga Zengin (Trabzonspor)
Defenders
Gokhan Gonul, Ugur Boral (Fenerbahce), Servet Cetin, Hakan Kadir Balta (Galatasaray), Gökhan Zan (Besiktas), Ibrahim Kas (Getafe/ESP), UgurKavuk (Antalyaspor), Mehmet Polat (Gaziantepspor), Caglar Birinci (Denizlispor)
Midfielders
Kazim Kazim, Emre Belozoglu (Fenerbahce), Mehmet Topal, Ayhan Akman, Arda Turan (Galatasaray), Serdar Ozkan (Besiktas), Selcuk Inan, Mehmet Topuz (Trabzonspor), Mehmet Aurelio (Real Betis/ESP), Gokdeniz Karadeniz (Rubin Kazan/RUS), Tuncay Sanli (Middlesbrough/ENG), Nuri Sahin (Borussia Dortmund/GER)
Strikers
Gokhan Unal (Trabzonspor), Halil Altintop (Schalke 04/GER), Semih Senturk (Fenerbahce), Mevlut Erdinc (Sochaux/FRA)
ARMENIA-TURKEY
ARMEN TSATOURYAN
Hayots Ashkhar Daily
30 Aug 2008
Armenia
Towards New Solutions
The discussions that have started in Turkey after President Serge Sargsyan's interview to the Turkish `Radical' newspaper testify to the fact that Turkey has recently started to demonstrate an increased interest in Armenia.
The Turkish Mass Media conduct thorough discussions over President Abdullah Gyul's visit to Armenia for watching the Armenia-Turkey football match to be organized on September the 6th, but the official circles of the country continue announcing that they haven't made a final decision yet.
The reason is that the new situation in the Armenian-Turkish relations has some complex processes underlying behind. It is actually the `mirror' of the new geopolitical realities developing in the South Caucasus.
The first and perhaps the most important reality is Russia's active and biased participation in the regulation of the century-old Armenian-Turkish conflict.
And the second reality which makes the task of accelerating the Armenian-Turkish dialogue an urgent issue is the international crisis `in and around Georgia'.
The ruling elite of Turkey have started to realize that it is no longer possible to implement their programs in the South Caucasus while continuing to pursue their traditional policy of isolating Armenia.
Therefore, when is seems on the one hand that the political-military situation in the region is favorable for our county and on the other hand Armenia faces the threat of being subjected to a total blockade, it becomes obvious that we may find a breakthrough in the communication blockade by way of opening the Kars-Gyumri railroad.
But because the process of unknotting the Armenian-Turkish entangled string is related to a lot of difficulties, we can't, for the time being, speak about bringing the parties' viewpoints with regard to strategic issues closer. All we can do at present is to discuss the possibilities of opening the Armenian-Turkish `railway corridor' and initiating a sincere dialogue with the help of Russia, the interested party.
Serge Sargsyan's invitation addressed to his Turkish counterpart and the subsequent discussions initiated by that country, as well as the recent rumors on the probability of constructing the Armenian `branching' of the Baku-Jeyhan oil pipeline can be accounted for by this. In such conditions, the presence of the Turkish President at the September 6 football match may become the `prelude' of the whole process.
In his recent interview, S. Sargsyan expressed belief that `all the measures will be taken to receive President Gyul in Yerevan in an appropriate manner.'
However, right after receiving relevant clarification on the `urgent Atopic', the correspondent of `Radical' immediately passed on to the traditional and strictly painful agenda of the Armenian-Turkish relations. Through the questions asked to the RA President, he tried to clarify Armenia's official attitudes towards the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the probability of presenting territorial claims to Turkey and other issues.
The answers Serge Sargsyan gave to the Turkish correspondent left no room for speculating the `package of preconditions' of the Turkish side.
In particular, the President gave the following answer to the question concerning the mutual recognition of the borders, `Armenia is for the UN Charter and a number of other international treaties, and it respects its international commitments.' And in response to the question concerning the territorial claims, the President said, `I don't remember any Armenian official expressing an opinion about territorial claims.'
By saying that, Serge Sargsyan made it clear that our state creates no occasion or pretext that may be viewed as an obstacle or put an end to the Armenian-Turkish dialogue.
The same concerns the correspondent's lame attempt of viewing the recognition of the Armenian Genocide as a `precondition of the Armenian party'. The RA President immediately interrupted the correspondent by giving the following clear-cut answer, `All over the world, there's no Armenian not believing the fact of the Genocide. However, the recognition of the Genocide is not a precondition for regulating the relations with Turkey.'
That's to say, the President of Armenia managed to find such formulations for presenting the painful points in the Armenian-Turkish relations that do not allow the Turkish side to make all that a favorable pretext for postponing the solution of the issue of resuming the bilateral relations and opening the borders.
This new `portion' of political messages the Armenian President sent to Turkey through `Radical' newspaper actually `shift the ball to the Turkish half of the field.' Turkish President Abdullah Gyul has now no pretext for rejecting the invitation of visiting Yerevan and excluding our country from regional programs.
It now rests with Russia, our strategic ally, to make its unhesitant intervention in the process of lifting the blockade of Armenia.
PRESS-RELEASE
Armenian Genocide Museum
E-mail: info@genocide-museum.am
August 30, 2008
Armenian Sport in the Ottoman Empire
From September 2 to September 15, a temporary exhibition called `Armenian Sport in the Ottoman Empire' will be on display at the Armenian Genocide Museum. A total of about 70 photos, documents, newspapers and magazines will be on show. They reflect the history of
Armenian sports clubs and football teams in the Ottoman Empire until 1915.
Armenian sports clubs and sportsmen played an important role in the development of sport in the Ottoman Empire. The number of the Armenian sports clubs in the Ottoman Empire reached 100.
In 1911-1914, four Armenian Olympic Games were held in Constantinople. From 1911 to 1914, Shavarsh Qrisyan published the Marmnamarz sports magazine, the first sports periodical in the Ottoman Empire.
For the first time in the history of Turkish Olympic Games, two Armenian sportsmen Vahram Papazian and Mkrtich Mkryan represented Ottoman Turkey in the Fifth International Olympic Games in Stockholm in 1912.
In 1915-1920, many Armenian sportsmen became victims of the genocide and most of the Armenian sports clubs were shut down.
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