Steering clear of G-word?: Dashnaks Slam Obama Invitation as Pre-April 24 “Trap”

US President Barack Obama’s invitation sent to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to visit Washington DC in mid-April is considered by some politicians in Armenia to be another “trap” and another attempt for Obama to avoid using the word genocide in his speech on April 24 — the Armenian Genocide commemoration day. (Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also invited).

On March 12, on the initiative of the American side, a telephone conversation took place between US State Secretary Hillary Clinton and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, during which Clinton passed Obama’s invitation to Sargsyan to participate in the Global Nuclear Security Summit, Washington DC, on April 12-13.  Read more... (382 words)

US State Department Report on Human Rights 2009 in Armenia: Another Year; More Abuse By Authorities

Authorities restricted the right of citizens to freely change their government in mayoral elections in Yerevan. During the year authorities subjected citizens, particularly those considered by the government to be political opponents, to arbitrary arrest, detention, and imprisonment for their political activities; lengthy pretrial detention also continued to be a problem.

Authorities continued to use harassment and intrusive application of bureaucratic measures to intimidate and retaliate against political opponents. Authorities used force to disperse political demonstrations and constrain citizens seeking to publicize them. Police beat pretrial detainees and failed to provide due process in some cases. The National Security Service (NSS) and police acted with impunity in committing alleged human rights abuses. In spite of renovations and new construction, prison conditions remained cramped and unhealthy. Authorities denied citizens the right to a fair trial.  Read more... (255 words)

US Aerospace and Defense Industry Say Armenian Genocide Resolution Would Hurt Trade With Turkey

The US aerospace and defence industry is urging House of Representatives lawmakers to reject a measure that would call a World War One-era massacre of Armenians by Turkish forces genocide, warning it could jeopardize US exports to Turkey.

The chief executives of Lockheed Martin Corp, Boeing Co, Raytheon Co, United Technologies Corp and Northrop Grumman Corp issued a rare joint letter, warning that passage of the measure by the House Foreign Affairs Committee could lead to “a rupture in U.S.-Turkey relations” and put American jobs at risk.

“Alienating a significant NATO ally and trading partner would have negative repercussions for US geopolitical interests and efforts to boost both exports and employments,” the CEOs warned in a Feb. 26 letter to the committee’s Democratic chairman, Representative Howard Berman.  Read more... (235 words)

Turkish Groups Resume Lobbying Efforts Against Armenian Genocide Bill

Two groups of Turkish parliamentarians resumed Tuesday their lobbying efforts against the Armenian genocide bill that will be voted on by the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

Turkish Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission head Murat Mercan said that such a measure will be seen by the Turkish public as “inappropriate pressure on Turkey,” warning: “There will be an overwhelming public reaction and outcry over the bill.”

Şükrü Elekdağ, former Turkish ambassador to the United States and an opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, member said the Armenian issue should not be allowed to have a detrimental effect on U.S.-Turkish relations.  Read more... (294 words)

US Congress – Not The Place To Debate History

US Congress’s annual determination to debate the history of the Ottoman Empire is a sign of spring. The Turkish government’s approach to the American Jewish community to help sink the proposed Congressional resolution officially recognizing the horrific killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in the early 20th Century as Genocide is a similar ritual. Unlike the swallows, however, both Congress and the Turks are out of their habitat.

During the flowering of Turkish-Israeli political and security relations, it was easy for representatives of the “organized” Jewish community to speak on behalf of its Turkish friends and against the resolution.  Read more... (492 words)

U.S. State Department Refrains From Direct Opposition to Armenian Genocide Resolution

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contrast to previous State Department positions, refrained from direct opposition to the Armenian Genocide resolution, when responding to inquiries Thursday at two separate hearings in Congress, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

In response to a question from Arkansas Republican John Boozman, whose incomplete sentences and hesitant demeanor clearly indicated that he was prompted to address the issue during the hearing, Clinton reiterated the Obama administration’s interest in “a full, frank and just acknowledgements of the facts.”  Read more... (774 words)

Hillary Clinton’s Meeting with Armenian Organizations in U.S. Postponed

Meeting of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with representatives of Armenian organizations in the United States, scheduled for February 9, was postponed for an indefinite time. 

“The meeting on Armenian-Turkish Protocols  was delayed due to adverse weather conditions in Washington,” Armenian Weekly quoted a source in the White House as saying.

The proposal to hold consultations with Armenian NGOs of U.S. was initiated by the Secretary Clinton. Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly), the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), Eastern and Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the United States, The Knights of Vartan and the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) were invited to take part in the meeting.    Read more... (183 words)