Spezzatura

Obameter: Did Obama Break His Promise to Armenians ? Katie Connolly As 100th day of Obama's presidency approaches, this tracker by Politifact is worth a click. The Obameter, as it is called, has numbered Obama's campaign promises and is tracking which promises have been kept, broken, stalled and compromised. Out of the 514 promises Politifact counted, Obama has kept 27, broken 6, compromised on 7 and stalled on 3. They also identify 63 promises which are "in the works". So overall, it seems that Obama is keeping many more promises than he is breaking. But deciding whether a promise has been kept or broken can be tricky. The latest promise Politifact has analyzed is Obama's campaign pledge to recognize the Armenian genocide. As a Senator, Obama criticized the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for recalling US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans after he used the term genocide to describe the systematic violence against Armenians by the Ottoman Empire around the time of World War I. Some estimates put the resulting death toll at 1.5 million Armenians. (You can read Senator Obama's letter to Rice on the Armenians for Obama website.) Today, Turkey still refuses to use the term genocide to describe these atrocities and State Department employees are instructed not refer to the killings as such. In a 2006 letter to Secretary Rice, Obama wrote “I believe that the controversy over Ambassador Evans’ use of the term “genocide” underscores the fact that the current U.S. position is untenable....The occurrence of Armenian genocide in 1915 is not an “allegation”, a “personal opinion” or a “point of view”. Supported by an overwhelming amount of historical evidence, it is a widely documented fact.” A January 2008 statement on Obama's campaign website said "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." April 24 is Armenian Remembrance Day and the President issued a statement reflecting on the tragedy. He did not use the word genocide (nor did he use it on his recent trip to Turkey) so Politifact determines that the promise has been broken. Their argument is that Obama had indicated in the past that the use of the word itself is important. But Obama's statement did include this reference: "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." He also used the Armenian term "Meds Yeghern" (translation: "the Great Calamity") which Armenians coined to refer to the tragedy before the word genocide was conceived. Perhaps ironically, this is not a "frank" statement of his belief that the actions constituted genocide, but it's definitely a hat tip in that direction. So is that really a broken promise? Is it a compromise? I wasn't sure, so I emailed a politically savvy Armenian friend for perspective. Here’s what my friend wrote: “Obama has used recent progress in normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey as an excuse to not use the word genocide in his April 24th statement. It provides cover because he says he doesn't want to have the genocide issue take over U.S. relations. But it is common knowledge that the genocide recognition that Armenians have advocated for decades is a public declaration to the world, whether through a Presidential statement or a House resolution. And when Obama claimed that he would recognize it during the campaign, that is what he was referring to. That statement compelled Armenian-Americans to support Obama's candidacy more ardently than they had previously. The bottom line is this: even though he says his views haven't changed and yes, his previous views did clearly articulate his acknowledgment of the genocide, his campaign promise was that as President he would acknowledge the Armenian genocide. Using Meds Yeghern, in everyone's view, doesn't count. Using that word barely acknowledges the genocide to Armenians and it's not us who need reminding. We need it acknowledged to the rest of the world using the only word that can possibly characterize such atrocities.” So I’m going to agree with Politifact and count it as a broken promise, but one that may be salvaged in the future. Turns out this promise stuff ain’t easy. ссылка

Robert Fisk: Obama falls short on Armenian pledge It was clever, crafty – artful, even – but it was not the truth. For in the end, Barack Obama dishonoured his promise to his American-Armenian voters to call the deliberate mass murder of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks in 1915 a genocide. How grateful today's Turkish generals must be. Genocide is what it was, of course. Mr Obama agreed in January 2008 that "the Armenian genocide is not an allegation... 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... I intend to be that President." But he was not that President on the anniversary of the start of the genocide at the weekend. Like Presidents Clinton and George Bush, he called the mass killings "great atrocities" and even tried to hedge his bets by using the Armenian phrase "Meds Yeghern" which means the same thing – it's a phrase that elderly Armenians once used about the Nazi-like slaughter – but the Armenian for genocide is "chart". And even that was missing. Thus once more – after Hilary Clinton's pitiful response to the destruction of Palestinian homes by the Israelis (she called it "unhelpful") – Mr Obama has let down those who believed he would tell the truth about the truth. He didn't even say that Turkey was responsible for the mass slaughter and for sending hundreds of thousands of Armenian women and children on death marches into the desert. "Each year," he said, "we pause to remember the 1.5 million Armenians who were massacred or marched to their death in the final days of the Ottoman Empire." Yes, "massacred" and "marched to their death". But by whom? The genocide – the deliberate extermination of a people – had disappeared, as had the identity of the perpetrators. Mr Obama referred only to "those who tried to destroy" the Armenians. Instead, he waffled on about "the efforts by Turkey and Armenia to normalise their bilateral relations" – a reference to the appeal of landlocked Armenia appeal to reopen its border with Turkey thanks to Swiss mediation (via another of America's favourite "road maps") – and the hope that Turkish and Armenian relations would grow stronger "as they acknowledge their common history and recognise their common humanity". But the only real improvement in relations has been an Armenian-Turkish football match. Turkey is still demanding a commission to "investigate" the 1915 killings, a proposal the poverty-stricken Armenian state opposes on the grounds (as Obama, of course, agreed before he became President) that the genocide was a fact, not a matter in dispute. It doesn't have to be "re-proved" with Turkey's permission any more that the Jewish survivors of their own genocide have to "re-prove" the crimes of the Nazis in the face of a reluctant Germany. Armenian historian and academic Peter Balakian – speaking as he stood by a 1915 mass grave of Armenians in the Syrian desert – was quite frank. "What is creating moral outrage," he said, "is that Turkey is claimed to be trying to have a commission into what happened – when the academic world has already unanimously agreed on the historical record." So much, then, for one-and-a-half-million murdered men, women and children. ссылка

Armenia’s grief The agreement between Turkey and Armenia on a “road map” to normalise their relations is very good news. Their historic animosity since the slaughter and mass deportation of Armenians from the collapsing Ottoman empire in 1915 has destabilised the region, poisoned internal politics, isolated and impoverished Armenia, and cast a shadow over Turkey’s relations with Europe and America. Now there is a chance of beginning to heal the wounds. Yet first a word of caution. Last week’s declaration gave no clues to the precise terms of the agreement, nor a timetable. It seems to have been rushed out to enable Barack Obama, US president, to issue a statement commemorating the 1915 massacres without using the word “genocide” to describe them. That marked a sensible retreat from his election campaign position in order not to alienate Turkey. The prize of Turkish-Armenian reconciliation is worth it, but the process remains fragile and bedevilled by mistrust. Both sides are still only inching forward, and both face strong resistance at home to making any concessions at all. The deal would provide for diplomatic recognition, and reopening of the border between them, which was closed by Turkey in 1993 after ethnic Armenian forces seized control of Nagorno-Karabakh in neighbouring Azerbaijan. Both moves would be done gradually to build confidence. That is sensible. On two vital points, however, there is still no clarity. A historical commission is to be set up to investigate the events of 1915. How will it be constituted and how will it work? If it decides that the massacres did amount to genocide, or did not, it will still be politically explosive unless there is agreement to abide by its results. Second, what progress needs to be made on resolving the Karabakh dispute for Turkey to reopen the border fully? There seems to be a serious intent in both Ankara and Yerevan to find a way forward in spite of opposition, including from the influential Armenian diaspora in the US and European Union. But pressure on them both from Washington, Brussels and – most significantly – from Moscow for more progress and a clear timetable is still essential. The one country that might try to scupper progress is Azerbaijan, fearful that reopening the border would take away pressure for Armenia to do a deal over Karabakh, or at least to withdraw from the buffer zone where 500,000 Azeri refugees used to live. But the 19-year border closure has done nothing to hasten an agreement on that score. All sides have an interest in reconciliation, not confrontation. ссылка

'We Are All Armenians' Obama was right not to jeopardize reconciliation between Ankara and Yerevan. By Hugh Pope Istanbul President Barack Obama trod a fine moral line this month between his past campaign promises to use the word genocide to describe the World War I massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire and his present opportunity to nurture normalization between Armenia and Turkey. But his compromise was no capitulation to the realpolitik of U.S.-Turkish strategic interests, as some Armenians may suspect and some Turks may hope. It is actually a challenge to both parties to move beyond the stalemates of history. The opportunity could hardly be better. After a decade of civil society outreach and growing official engagement, Armenia and Turkey jointly announced on Wednesday a Swiss-mediated deal to establish diplomatic relations and open borders. The two sides will also set up a bilateral commission to study what Armenians commemorate each April 24 as the beginning of a genocide against their people by the Ottoman Turks in 1915, and what Turkey says were forced relocations, uprisings and massacres during the chaos of World War I. Before implementing the deal, however, Turkey is now seeking an Armenian commitment to withdraw from territory in Azerbaijan that ethnic Armenian forces occupied in the 1992-94 Nagorno-Karabakh war. But Ankara would be ill-advised to hold up rapprochement with Yerevan because of protests from its ally, Azerbaijan. In fact, normalizing relations with Armenia is the best way for Turkey to help its ethnic and linguistic Azerbaijani cousins. It would make Armenia feel more secure, making it perhaps also more open to a compromise over Nagorno-Karabakh. The border closure these past 16 years has done nothing to force a settlement over the contested region. The fragility of the 1994 cease-fire truce suggests that a new way forward is imperative. Armenian normalization with Turkey will not be sustainable in the long run, though, unless Yerevan and Baku agree to the ongoing international Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, leading to Armenian troop withdrawals. It is this complex situation that explains Mr. Obama's diplomatic language. In this year's April 24 memorial statement, the U.S. president chose not to use the word "genocide" to describe the events of 1915. The Turks resent this term partly because they want their view of the events to be taken into account and partly because the term genocide has potential legal implications involving possible demands for reparations and compensation. The Swiss-brokered deal will include an Armenian recognition of Turkey's borders, banishing the shadow of long-lingering territorial claims. Instead, President Obama chose the Armenian term for the atrocities, "Mets Yeghern," meaning "Great Man-Made Catastrophe." The U.S. Congress, where a resolution to recognize the Armenian genocide was introduced on March 17, may want to follow the president's lead and avoid confrontation in order to give the current Turkey-Armenia normalization process a chance. Armenians have a point when they argue that the past decade of international resolutions and statements recognizing the Armenian genocide have forced Turkey to end its blanket denial of Ottoman wrongdoing. But such outside pressures have got no closer to making Turkey accept the term genocide itself, especially when the bills before Congress and other parliaments are clearly the result of domestic political calculations rather than high-minded deliberation. On the Armenian question, many Turks, including government officials now publicly express regret over the loss of Armenian life. After more than eight decades of silence, when any open discussion of what happened in 1915 was considered taboo, the Turkish public is digesting an onrush of new facts and opinions about those past events. The past decade has seen much convergence between Turks and Armenians in understanding the history of 1915 as academic exchanges have grown and information become widely available. A 2005 conference on the Armenian issue by the front ranks of the Turkish intelligentsia demonstrated that the country's academic and cultural elite wants to do away with the old nationalist defensiveness. In the east of Turkey, efforts have begun to preserve the surviving Armenian heritage. Far from worsening Turkish-Armenian relations, the murder of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink in 2007 by a shadowy nationalist gang triggered a march of 100,000 people in Istanbul carrying signs saying "We Are All Armenians." Opinion polls show two-thirds of Turks supported President Abdullah Gül's decision in September to accept his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian's invitation for a World Cup qualifier soccer match and to become the first Turkish head of state to visit Armenia. Then in December, 200 leading Turkish intellectuals began a signature campaign to apologize for what they called the "Great Catastrophe" of the Armenians. Nearly 30,000 people have signed it so far. Overall, Turkey's efforts with Armenia also fit into decade-long efforts to improve ties with other neighboring countries. Ankara has successfully normalized its once tense relations with Syria, Greece and Iraqi Kurdistan. Ankara also tried its best to bring about a reconciliation between Turkish and Greek Cypriots. New trends are visible in Armenia too. As pride and security in the new Armenian statehood grows, genocide recognition no longer overrides all other national interests. Issues such as the need for more economic opportunities, a broader-based regional strategy and an open Turkish border that can be a direct gateway to the West are taking center stage. Armenians increasingly spend their vacation in Turkish resorts. Change is also evident in the diaspora, which outnumbers the population in Armenia and has a strong influence on Yerevan. The Armenian community in France led an international campaign, joined by Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan and more than 100 public intellectuals, to say "Thank You" for the Turkish apology efforts. Armenian-French intellectuals are increasingly seeking to reconnect with their heritage by cultivating their links to Turkey and Turks and visiting Istanbul. As President Obama has recognized, it is this trend of convergence that offers the best chance in decades to open the borders between these two states, moving beyond nearly a century in which Turks and Armenians have been held hostage to frozen conflicts, nationalist confrontation and the ghosts of the past. Mr. Pope, author of "Turkey Unveiled: A History of Modern Turkey," is the Istanbul representative of International Crisis Group. ссылка

Raffi is baaaaaaaaack ’No preconditions to succeed in talks’ YEREVAN - The former foreign minister of Armenia, between 1991 and 1992 right after the country’s independence under the leadership of Levan Ter-Petrosyan, says that success in the reconciliation talks between Turkey and Armenia requires both sides to withdraw their preconditions Success in the reconciliation talks between Turkey and Armenia requires both sides to withdraw their preconditions, according to Armenia’s first foreign minister. "There is asymmetry. Though in fact Armenia should put preconditions [before the reconciliatory talks], it’s Turkey that does it. If it continues like this, they won’t be possible to establish ties," Raffi K. Hovannisian told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review in an interview. Historical opportunity Hovannisian served as the first foreign minister between 1991 and 1992 right after the country’s independence under the leadership of former President Levan Ter-Petrosyan, who pursued a moderate policy toward Turkey. "It was a missed historical opportunity for Turkey. Turkey introduced preconditions just as it does today. Its official stance did not allow establishing diplomatic ties with Armenia. We have exerted great effort but we have not been able not succeed. After Petrosyan, Turkey also realized that the opportunity was missed," Hovannisian said. According to Hovannisian, Turkey’s preconditions before establishing ties were settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and giving up international efforts for the recognition of the Armenian "genocide." "All three presidents of Armenia deserve criticism of their human rights and democratic records but all of them attached great importance to relations with Turkey and reiterated their calls for dialogue without any precondition," he said. Turkey recognized the state of Armenia but did not establish diplomatic ties because Yerevan occupied one-fifth of Azerbaijan’s territory in early 1990s. The border with Armenia was also sealed due to the same reason. Turkey and Armenia last week declared that they have agreed on a road map and framework to establish diplomatic ties, as a result of ongoing reconciliation talks. The framework includes the foundation of a joint commission of history that will analyze the 1915 events during which hundreds of thousands of people died as the Ottoman Empire crumbled. "The historians should not study whether it was genocide or not. It’s very obvious that what happened in 1915 constitutes genocide. Thus they should study how it occurred," he said. "My roots are in Ordu, a coastal town [in Turkey] near the Black Sea. Many members of our family were the victims of genocide. But it was a Turkish family who saved my mother. We cannot blame all Turkish people for what happened at that time," Hovannisian said. ссылка

US envoy summoned to ministry over Obama message US Ambassador in Ankara James Jeffrey has been summoned to the Foreign Ministry where he listened to criticism over a Friday statement by President Barack Obama commemorating Armenians killed in the last days of the Ottoman Empire in Anatolia, officials said yesterday. Obama refrained from using the word genocide in his traditional message, in order not to harm a process of reconciliation ongoing between Turkey and Armenia, but called the events "one of the great atrocities of the 20th century" and used the Armenian phrase "Meds Yeghern" used to describe the events twice throughout the text. The term is commonly translated as "Big Calamity" and some analysts commented that using it was identical to using the word "genocide." Turkish leaders objected to Obama's statement, with President Abdullah Gül insisting the Turks, who perished at the hand of rioting Armenians should also be remembered and the Foreign Ministry, in a weekend statement, saying the statement's perception of history was "unacceptable" and appealing for an impartial study of the history. Jeffrey was summoned to the Foreign Ministry headquarters on Saturday but no official protest has been conveyed. Turkish officials expressed "views, comments, assessments as well as the reaction" of Turkey during the meeting, officials said. Ankara denies claims that Armenians were subject to genocide at the hands of the late Ottoman Empire and says the killings occurred when Ottoman Empire tried to quell an Armenian revolt in cooperation with Russian forces then invading the eastern Anatolia. ссылка

Tурки положили пожарный шланг на амеров и проводят совместные учения с заклятым другом Израиля, асадовской Сирией. Turkey and Syria conduct military drill, Israel disturbed Turkey and Syria began an unprecedented, three-day joint military exercise on their border yesterday, a step farther in their ever-expanding cooperation, which disturbed Syria's arch-foe Israel The Turkish military announced on Sunday it would hold its first drill with Syria this week, using ground forces in a border area. The drill is due to last into Wednesday. "Today we see a Syrian-Turkish drill, which is certainly a troubling development," Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told reporters on Monday. "But I believe that the strategic ties between Israel and Turkey will overcome even Turkey's need to take part in this drill." Israel has extensive defense ties with Turkey, a NATO member and one of the few Muslim nations to have built an alliance with the Jewish state. The Israeli and Turkish air forces and navies have held joint exercises. Despite the cooperation in the area of defense, however, tensions occasionally flare up in the political field as Turkey is also a harsh critic of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians. Tensions between Turkey and Syria were once high because Abdullah Öcalan, the now-jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), was based in Syria. Damascus then expelled Öcalan and he was captured in Kenya in 1999. Relations began to warm following the coming to power of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in Turkey in 2002. The joint military drill is the latest step as Turkey and Syria build and expand cooperation in the area of defense. "The aim of the exercise is to boost friendship, cooperation and confidence between the two countries' land forces, and to increase the ability of border troops to train and work together," the Turkish military said in the statement on Sunday. It said teams from each country will cross the border and visit outposts as part of the three-day exercises to improve security. The two countries are also planning to sign a letter of intent giving the green light for cooperation in the defense industry. The letter of intent was expected to be signed on the sidelines of the 9th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF'09), which opened in İstanbul on Monday. Turkish defense industry sources have told Today's Zaman that Turkey and Syria were not to enter immediately into cooperation in arms production, underlining that the letter of intent was a sign of the level that political relations had reached between Turkey and Syria. As a country that maintains close ties with both Israel and Syria, Turkey announced last year that it was mediating peace talks between the two countries. Following four rounds, the Turkish-mediated talks collapsed in January when Israel launched a deadly offensive on Gaza. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Sunday he was willing to talk peace with Syria if there would be no preconditions. It was a response to Syria, which recently said it would be willing to resume indirect peace talks with the new Israeli government as long as they focused on a complete withdrawal from the Golan Heights. Israel captured the strategic plateau from Syria in the Six Day War of June 1967. "I'd be glad to negotiate with Syria this evening, but without preconditions," Lieberman told Israel Radio. "They say, first go back to the '67 lines and give up the Golan. If we agree to that, what is there to negotiate?" he said. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem declined to comment on Lieberman's remarks. ссылка

Сирия не член. Иран, (садамовский) Ирак и Северная Корея члены клуба Злости.

Любой человек мало мальски знакой с игроками на армянском политполе и их предрасположености к мелодраме мог бы с легкостью предсказать что будет shitstorm. Я так думаю ©

@ адабас В АНК есть национал-патриоты ? Кто они, как они выглядят ? © Я вот что подумал. Когда выбора мэра Еревана не за горами, зачем тогда было Азатычу так подставлять провластного кандитата ? Если президент на переговорах с икидовлятчиками сдал все армянские позиции, как оно утверждают АРФ и партнеры ? (Они правда сами не видели деталей ДЖ, но эта песня не о том.) Зачем же так ножвспину ® своего протеже зная что накануне выборов городский электорат будет подведен к состоянию: Кипит Наш Разум Возмущенный © ? Какой смысл ? И где Арменпресс нашел это чудо природы Зоряна, что его Нлбо должен в эфире поправлять что вообще то говоря формурилировать внешнию политику в ходит в прерогативу президента страны. МИД лишь претворяет её в жизнь ? Как стали говорить на Чукотке, ОЙ ВЕЙ !

Armenians in US turn attention to Congress WASHINGTON - Unhappy with President Barack Obama's declining to describe the World War I-era killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as "genocide," U.S. Armenians will focus on passing a "genocide resolution" already pending in Congress. "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," said Ken Hachikian, chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America, or ANCA. Both Hachikian and Bryan Ardouny, the executive director of the Armenian Assembly of America, or AAA, accused Obama of failing to keep his earlier promises, made during last year's election campaign, to recognize the Armenian killings as genocide. The ANCA and the AAA are the two largest U.S. Armenian organizations. "We urge the president to act quickly to correct his administration’s stand on the Armenian genocide by properly condemning and commemorating this crime... and working publicly toward the adoption of the Armenian genocide resolution before Congress," Hachikian said. The resolution, introduced in March and now being supported by nearly 100 of the 435 lawmakers in the House of Representatives, the U.S. Congress' lower chamber, is pending before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The release of Obama's written statement Friday came two days after Turkey and Armenia jointly announced that they had agreed in principle to normalize their troubled relationship. The roadmap for the two countries includes measures toward establishing full diplomatic relations, Turkey's opening of its land border with Armenia and a joint probe of their shared history. The Obama administration welcomed the Turkish-Armenian announcement, but State Department spokesman Robert Wood called for the road map to be implemented within a "reasonable time." "Obama's move to avoid the g-word has practically killed the possibility of any formal U.S. genocide recognition in the next few months," one analyst said. "But if Turkey fails to keep its promises of normalizing ties with Armenia over those months, then the House resolution will be swinging over Ankara's head like the sword of Damocles. And that's what many U.S. Armenians will be looking forward to seeing." In his statement, Obama urged the Turkish and Armenian governments to deliver on their pledge to improve relations. "I also strongly support the efforts by Turkey and Armenia to normalize their bilateral relations," he said. "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." Although Obama avoided the term "genocide," his statement was tough on the Turks. "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," he said. "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." ссылка

Despite much resistance, experts urge steadfastness in Turkey-Armenia talks Angered by the US president's description of the events of 1915 as a "great atrocity" that fell upon Armenians living in Ottoman lands, the Turkish public reacted strongly to Barack Obama's statement, despite its omission of the "g-word." But cool heads in Ankara and Yerevan urge the Turkish government to remain steadfast in its ongoing dialogue with Armenia. "Given the unique opportunity now before us, we can only hope that Turkey and Armenia will be able to move forward together, coming to terms with the legacy of the past, but based on a shared commitment to the future," said Richard Giragosian, the director of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies in Yerevan. Speaking to Today's Zaman, he said, "There is a new sense of opportunity from within Turkey evident in the dynamic and genuine nature of change within the country and with a growing and increasingly critical examination of the past." Giragosian believes the Turkish efforts in this process are sincere and should be supported. "Much more than any 'public relations' ploy or political tactic, this effort now under way within Turkey today to set aside previous taboos regarding many issues, ranging from the Kurdish issue to the Armenian genocide, must be encouraged," he noted. "The dialogue process must go on despite all pressures to break it down," said Ersin Onulduran, who heads the department of international relations at Ankara University. In an interview with Today's Zaman, Onulduran questioned what Turkey has gained so far by keeping the border closed and imposing an embargo on Armenia. "Armenians have not changed their position one bit," he said. "With increasing trade and more active engagement, we can greatly benefit from normalization and help lift the pressure applied on us by the international community," Onulduran explained. Yet the grievances and concerns raised by Azerbaijan continue to be a major stumbling block to the process despite all assurances having been given to Baku by the president and prime minister of Turkey, both of whom had said Ankara would never endanger Azerbaijani interests. "I think the Azerbaijanis are acting emotionally and are playing a dangerous game with Russia," said Onulduran, stressing that the Turkish government cannot allow its foreign policy to be hijacked by the Azerbaijanis. Bülent Aras, a professor of international relations at the İstanbul-based Işık University, says he completely understands Azerbaijan's position. "The Azerbaijanis would like to let Russia know that they understand Russia is in control and, as such, that they are paying respect to the biggest power broker in the region." He said the Azerbaijanis learned the lesson last year when Russia occupied parts of Georgia and are very sensitive to Russian demands. Nonetheless, the process, with the backing of the international community and especially the US and the EU, will go on and the border will likely be opened within two to three months, Aras predicted. "Russia is also interested in seeing a stable region, but demands to get credit for any peace-brokerage deal," said Aras, who also cautioned that Baku's slipping away from Turkey's sphere of influence will weaken Turkey's hand in the Nabucco project, a pipeline that connects Caspian gas to Europe via Turkey. On the other hand, Giragosian argues that "for the Turkish side, the rather strong and determined pressure from Azerbaijan, calling on Turkey to back away from any deal with Armenia poses a significant new obstacle." He concedes, however, that "such recent difficulties have also arisen on the Armenian side, as well, with passions all the more heightened because of the traditional April 24 commemoration of genocide by Armenians throughout the world." After a long and difficult process of secret diplomacy that culminated in the first visit to Armenia by a Turkish head of state last September, Giragosian says, "The outlook for Turkish-Armenian normalization has demonstrated that both sides now finally seem ready to re-examine their past and redefine their future." He warns, however, that both sides have done little to prepare their respective public opinions for a possible breakthrough. "The most significant limitation is the lack of preparation by both the Turkish and the Armenian governments, which must build support within the society and shape public opinion in advance of any agreement to normalize relations," Giragosian underlined. Onulduran suggests the government needs to pursue relations with Armenia despite opposition from the public. He estimates that the backlash would not be very great and that the Turks will eventually understand the motive behind the diplomatic engagement. "For Turks, the issue of Cyprus is far more sensitive than the Nagorno-Karabakh problem," he added. ссылка

Эрдоган отжигает не по децки Obama's April 24 statement is an 'unacceptable interpretation of history,' says Prime Minister Erdoğan, warning that Turkey is not a country which can be 'flattered and then fooled'. Erdoğan said history should not be a tool to attain domestic political goals and insisted that historical questions should be left to historians. "Turkish-Armenian relations will be normalized, historical matters will be enlightened and the road will be paved for peace if countries that have nothing to do with the issue stop getting involved," he told a meeting of his Justice and Development Party (AK Party). Erdoğan complained that he had not even received a reply from Armenia to his 2005 proposal to set up a joint committee of historians to study the events. "Obama's statement shows that efforts to please outsiders by giving concessions are not yielding any result," main opposition leader Deniz Baykal said on Saturday. "And we have managed to alienate Azerbaijan, too," he added. продолжение отжига

Дашнаки уходят в оппозицию План урегулирования отношений с Анкарой вызвал трения в армянских верхах Армянская революционная федерация «Дашнакцутюн» (АРФД) в субботу отказалась участвовать в заседании Совета национальной безопасности. Демарш вызван «дорожной картой», о подписании которой в совместном заявлении в среду объявили МИДы Армении и Турции. Следующим шагом АРФД может стать выход из правящей коалиции. Об этом может быть объявлено сегодня. Один из лидеров АРФД, глава постоянной парламентской комиссии по внешним сношениям Армен Рустамян, сообщил журналистам, что партия рассматривает вопрос выхода из правящей коалиции, а потому «участвовать в работе Совбеза было бы некорректным». «Дашнакцаканы» чувствуют себя обманутыми – составляя правящую коалицию, они узнали о выработке «дорожной карты» армяно-турецкого примирения лишь после обнародованного заявления МИДа. В правящую коалицию кроме АРФД входят собственно партия власти – Республиканская, а также «Страна законности» и «Процветающая Армения». Потеря влиятельного союзника перед значительными в политической жизни страны выборами мэра Еревана может обернуться неприятными последствиями для республиканцев. Особенно в условиях жесткой конкуренции с оппозиционным Армянским национальным конгрессом (АНК), выдвигающим в качестве кандидата первого президента Левона Тер-Петросяна. АНК, как и АРФД, требует от властей обеспечить прозрачность «дорожной карты». Засекреченность документа вызывает озабоченность и политических сил Армении, и общественности. «Мы требуем опубликовать документ, поскольку он затрагивает интересы не только Армении, но и всех армян», – говорится в заявлении АНК. Власти, однако, не спешат с этим. На упоминавшемся заседании Совбеза президент Серж Саргсян лишь заверил собравшихся в том, что ни о каком предательстве интересов армян речи быть не может, а документ лишь фиксирует действия, которые Ереван и Анкара предпримут для улучшения взаимоотношений. Никак не комментируют «дорожную карту» и турецкие власти. Хотя известно, что и в Анкаре нашлись силы, подозревающие власти в «неоправданных уступках Армении» и требующие рассекретить документ. Заинтересованность «дорожной картой» проявляет и стратегический партнер Турции – Азербайджан, опасающийся «предательства со стороны старшего брата, налаживающего отношения с Арменией до урегулирования карабахского конфликта». В ближайшие дни, согласно достоверным источникам, в Баку сглаживать ситуацию выедет премьер-министр Турции Реджеп Тайип Эрдоган. Известно также, что в мае он прибудет в Москву – Кремль тоже внимательно следит за изменениями на Южном Кавказе. На сегодня официально поддержали документ, подписанный внешнеполитическими ведомствами Турции и Армении, лишь США. Президент Барак Обама 25 апреля в традиционном послании армянам, посвященном геноциду в Османской империи, приветствовал шаги Анкары и Еревана навстречу друг другу. Обещавший признать в ходе предвыборной кампании геноцид армян, Обама, как и все его предшественники, слово «геноцид» употреблять не стал, заменив его армянским словосочетанием «Мец Ехерн» («Большое бедствие» – именно так сами армяне именуют трагедию 1915 года, поскольку термин Genocide был введен в международный оборот по прошествии более 30 лет). Однако хитрость Обамы – чтобы и волки были сыты, и овцы целы – не удалась. МИД Турции назвал неприемлемым ряд слов Обамы и выразил сожаление, что он не упомянул турок, погибших в столкновениях с армянами. Официальный Ереван на выступление Обамы не отреагировал, зато недовольство выразили зарубежные армянские диаспоры. ссылка

Игорь, отсыпь "веселой" травы. Сэньку. Bardak Harama аж выучивший перед 24-м числом "западно-армянский" язык (хорошо что ещё на голову не встал) лижь бы не покоробить нежные уши турок ужасным словом "геноцид" это наверное было одним из звеньев большой цепи по указанию Турции где её место. И спрашивать у амеров разрешения можно им или нет иметь дело с Хамасом турки как и раньше не будут. Хотят ли в Вашингтоне "изолировать" их от ближне-восточного урегулирования или нет. Армения же интересует амеров как последняя связка России с Южным Кавказом. Откуда Запад хочет её наконец додавить уже послeдние 20 лет. России которой, в силу собственного резона, Армения нужна в перебинтованном состоянии и на костылях.

Кому интересно читать материалы из категории На Следующий День, могу порекомендовать - с мелкими оговорками - Саcсуняна. (Есть ещё пара источников whose names escape me right now.) От того что выдают на гора комментаторы, блогеры и просто доморощенные аналитики из Армении часто хочется ускакать в степь и застрелится © Такое впечатление как будто люди пишут из паралельного мира, извините за прямоту. В вопросах международных отношений, международного права, геополитики, геостратегии, текущей фазы of The Great Game, транcформации Турции в региональную сверхдержаву, курдских амбиций, Иранских ядерных претензий, Израильской паранои, перехода России на роль европейксого склада энергоресурсов с амбициями континентальной супердержавы, жизнеспособности cвязки Армения-Россия и т.д. было бы совсем неплохо иметь элементарное представление о предмете разговора прежде чем пальцы побегут по клаве.

Если бы так было, тогда тофики из своего стабфонда не пожалели бы отсегнуть бабла чтобы памятник закончить. Потому что эти бетонные крокодилы уже не первый год гниют под снегом и дождем. У Акопыча в свое время был brainfart поставить Брадиа Простите памятник который смотрит и на ту и на другую сторону.

Political meddling harms Turkey-Armenia dialogue: Turkish PM ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned on Sunday that politicising the dispute over the Ottoman-era mass killings of Armenians threatened reconciliation efforts between Turkey and Armenia. He was speaking after Turkey branded as “unacceptable” US President Barack Obama’s message to commemorate the massacres and recalled its envoy to Canada after Ottowa reaffirmed its position that the killings constituted genocide. “The constant use of such a sensitive historical issue as political material and its exploitation by lobby groups prevents the normalisation of ties betwen peoples and countries,” Erdogan said in a televised speech. “If countries which are not a party to this issue stop interfering, it will facilitate a normalisation of ties, shed light on history and prepare the ground for peace,” he added. Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic ties and their border has been closed for more than a decade. Their relationship has been taken hostage by deep differences over the massacres of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century, the predecessor of Turkey. Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their people were killed in what was a genocide by Ottoman Turks starting from 1915 as the empire fell apart—a claim supported by several other countries much to Ankara’s ire. Turkey rejects the genocide label and argues that 300,000-500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife when Armenians took up arms for independence in eastern Anatolia and sided with invading Russian troops. Earlier this week, Ankara announced that it had agreed on a roadmap with Armenia to normalise relations in reconciliation talks mediated by Switzerland and held away from the public eye. On Friday, Obama issued a written message to mark April 24, the date on which Armenians remember the killings, in which he refrained from using the word “genocide” despite a campaign promise to do so. He instead used the Armenian term “Meds Yeghern” which has been variously translated as “The Great Calamity” or “Great Disaster”. Ankara retorted that the message represented an unbalanced view of history that ignored the Turkish victims of the atrocities. On Wednesday, Turkey also announced that it had summoned its ambassador to Canada back for consultations after Canadian ministers attended commemorations ahead of April 24 and Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a letter of support. Canada said its position was “not an indictment of modern Turkey.” ссылка

Этот шедевр случаем не со времен Акопыча ? The unfinished statue of "Peace and Brotherhood" in Kars. Overlooking the Turkish city of Kars, near the border with Armenia, the "Peace and Brotherhood" monument aims to symbolize hope of peace between the two nations.

Turkish minister denies reports of gas price hike by Azerbaijan ANKARA - The Turkish energy minister denied on Sunday the news that Azerbaijan had raised the price of natural gas it was selling to Turkey. Hilmi Guler said that the stories that Azerbaijan had raised the price of natural gas it was selling to Turkey were not accurate. "I am having talks with the Azerbaijani executives for two days, and they haven't said such a thing. There is no rise," Guler told reporters. Guler also said that two countries had signed a contract, and it was not possible for Azerbaijan to do so. Some Turkish newspapers published reports in their Sunday editions that Azerbaijan had raised the price of natural gas it was selling to Turkey as a reaction to Turkey's rapprochement with Armenia. ссылка

Turkish PM sees Obama's remarks for 1915 incidents as unaccaptable ANKARA - Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said he saw U.S. President Barack Obama's remarks regarding the incidents of 1915 as unacceptable. "We see the previous day's remarks on the incidents of 1915 as an unacceptable interpretation of history that does not reflect the realities," Erdogan said during a meeting of his Justice and Development Party, or AKP, in the Turkish capital of Ankara. Erdogan said that his party had only exerted to win friends, not enemies since it became the government, but Turkey's sensitivity was not perceived well. "Such a sensitive issue of expertise, which should in fact be left to historians, is continuously being used as a tool for politics and a matter of misuse by lobbies every year, and this prevents normalization of relations between people and countries," he said. Erdogan said Turkey had been in a since effort to examine and bring to daylight the incidents of 1915 by historians, but its good-willed proposals like setting up a joint committee of historians were not taken into consideration. "I would like to express my deep sorrow over efforts of many politicians to try to win votes over misuse of 1915 incidents, and history is an esteemed branch of science that cannot be made a tool for internal politics," he said. Erdogan expressed Turkey's wish to leave history to historians, and said if countries that had no connection with the issue gave up dealing with the issue, this would lead to normalization of relations, illumination of history and laying the groundwork for peace. The Turkish prime minister said it was not a remark satisfying Turkey, but it was a statement which kept promises made at election grounds. Erdogan also said that Turkey was not a country that could be fooled. ссылка

Turkey criticizes Obama for not mentioning slain Turks in 1915 ISTANBUL - Turkish President Abdullah Gul criticized Saturday U.S. President Barack Obama for not mentioning slain Turks during 1915 incidents. Turkish Foreign Ministry said some parts of the statement are “unacceptable”. "There are some parts in the Obama's statement which I disagree. There hundreds of thousands Turks and Muslims who lost their lives in 1915. Therefore he should have shared the pain of everybody who lost their lives," Gul was quoted as saying by the state-run Anatolian Agency. His remarks are the first official reaction to Obama's statement. Obama, who pledged to recognize the Armenian claims regarding the 1915 incident during presidential campaign, refrained to use the word "genocide" while describing the events in his annual April 24 statement to mark the "day of remembrance of the Armenian deaths." Instead, he used the Armenian term for the killings, "Meds Yeghern" which has been variously translated into English as "The Great Calamity" or "Great Disaster." He also branded the events as "one of the great atrocities of the 20th century." Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Obama’s message, declaring some parts are unacceptable. "We consider some expressions in that statement and the perception of history it contains regarding the events of 1915, as unacceptable," the ministry said. The fact that several hundreds of thousands of Turks also lost their lives during the incidents should not be forgotten, the statement added. "History can be construed and evaluated only on the basis of undisputed evidence and documentation," it said, adding, on the other hand, Obama’s stance on the ongoing dialogue process between Turkey and Armenia is positive. Turkish opposition also expressed its displeasure with Obama's statement. The leader of Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, Devlet Bahceli, also said Saturday that the statement is "harsh and unacceptable". ARMENIANS DISSAPOINTED Armenian American groups criticized Obama for not keeping a campaign pledge to stick to the genocide characterization, saying he chose to allow Armenians position on the 1915 incidents to remain a hostage to Turkey's threats.” "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," Ken Hachikians, head of the Armenian National Committee of America, said in a written statement posted on the organization's Web site. "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." Obama's statement came a while after Turkey and Armenia announced that under Switzerland's mediation they have agreed on a comprehensive framework for the normalization of ties between the two neighboring countries that have not had diplomatic relations for more than a decade. U.S. President extended his support to the normalization process. TURKS THANK PRESIDENT The Turkish Coalition of America, however, offered praise and thanked the President for refraining to use the word genocide by withstanding enormous political pressure in this respect. "We applaud President Obama for deferring to historians to settle the long-standing debate over the events of 1915-1918," said Lincoln McCurdy, the group's president. "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." Obama has sent a clear message to America and the world that his Administration will not sacrifice a long-term strategic alliance with Turkey for an issue that cannot be resolved by third parties and is best addressed jointly by Turks and Armenians, the statement on the organization's Web site added. The issue of the 1915 incidents is highly sensitive one both in Armenia and Turkey. Armenia , with the backing of the diaspora, claims up to 1.5 million Armenians were slaughtered in orchestrated killings in 1915. Turkey rejects the claims, saying that 300,000 Armenians, along with at least as many Turks, died in civil strife that emerged when Armenians took up arms, backed by Russia, for independence in eastern Anatolia . Turkey has offered to form a joint commission to investigate what happened in 1915 and has opened all official archives. ссылка

Мечеть то сюнитская, так что в неё шиитам по любому не ногой. Хотя я не уверен что все мусульмане пост-коммунистического Азербайджана в курсе таких нюансов Пусть лучше попробуют закрыть мечеть чью постройку профинансировал Иран. Персы им такой бизимдирь устроят что они потом сидеть не смогут. Долго...

Людям свойственно забывать прошлый позор. А нашим ялбанским соседям это свойственно вдвойне. Почитайте воспоминания очевидца эвакуации Кельбаджара, супер друга турков всей планеты, Гольца. О том как взрослые, здоровые мужики вышвиривали из люков женщин с детьми лишь бы самим занять последнее место в вертолете. Почитайте депеши которые шли в Карабах из Баку со словами: Его Превосходительству Главнокомандующему Господину Самвелу Бабаяну Они уже забыли про это все. Сейчас они хотят все районы, они хотят Шуши - а вот потом, может быть, они рассмотрят вопрос самой автономной автономии в истории автономий, но ТОЛЬКО в границах Азербайджана. И вопрос который необходимо задать это не почему ялбанцы за 15 лет всякий ориентир потеряли - а какой херней все эти годы страдали горе-дипломаты Армении ?

Турки не довольны тем что Bardak Harama в своем обращении не упомянул сотни тысяч турков и мусульман убиенных в тот же период. "It is not possible for politicians, for statesmen to make decisions on historic events." "Common history of the Turkish and Armenian nations has to be assessed solely through impartial and scientific data, and historians must base their evaluations only on such material." остальное тут